The Monster Project

[the Jester]

Originally Posted by Rechan

Hey Jester! I've noticed something: You haven't done any elites or solos.

Care to give one a try? No, I don't have a suggestion as to what.

I have, though:

Black bear (lvl 2 elite brute)
Brown bear (lvl 4 elite brute)
Voice of Demogorgon (under ixitxachitl) (lvl 8 elite artillery)
Myconid king (lvl 13 elite controller)
Acid spider (lvl 16 elite brute)
Girallon (under ape) lvl 19 elite soldier
Bile Lord (lvl 27 elite controller, not yet posted)

Now, solos I haven't done yet, but I'll put one on the list for early posting to ENW2!

[Rechan]

Oh snap, you are right.

Wait, where is the acid spider?

[the Jester]

Originally Posted by Rechan

Oh snap, you are right.

Wait, where is the acid spider?

Should be under "spider" at level 1, iirc.

[OgreBane99]

The links don't work now since the change over. Are we going to get these fixed? I really like this project. I've already used several of the posted monsters.

[Lord Tirian]

Originally Posted by OgreBane99

The links don't work now since the change over. Are we going to get these fixed? I really like this project. I've already used several of the posted monsters.

Copy and paste the links into the adress bar, then insert "/forum" directly after "www.enworld.org" (i.e. "www.enworld.org/something" becomes "www.enworld.org/forum/something"

That should do, at least until the Jester updates the links!

Cheers, LT.

[the Jester]

Originally Posted by OgreBane99

The links don't work now since the change over. Are we going to get these fixed? I really like this project. I've already used several of the posted monsters.

I hadn't realized this, thanks for letting me know! I'll fix them ASAP- I'm betting all the individual threads need their links fixed as well. Ugh.

Which monsters have you used, btw? How did things go? I'm excited to hear that someone is getting some use out of this!


Edit: OK, the links should all be fixed. If you find one that I missed or messed up, let me know!

[OgreBane99]

Originally Posted by the Jester

I hadn't realized this, thanks for letting me know! I'll fix them ASAP- I'm betting all the individual threads need their links fixed as well. Ugh.

Which monsters have you used, btw? How did things go? I'm excited to hear that someone is getting some use out of this!


Edit: OK, the links should all be fixed. If you find one that I missed or messed up, let me know!

Sorry, I should clarify. I'm going to be using a few of these monsters in an adventure I'm writing. So far I've picked the ankhegs (one of my fav monsters of all editions... I can't believe they didn't make the cut in 4e! ) I've also grabbed the shadow and a few bears. I'll let you know how they go when we play my adventure in a few weeks!

Keep up the great work. I check this thread for new stuff daily... usually multiple times a day.

[jimmifett]

I borrowed your Level 6 Tarantella to test out XML for Monsters in my xml thread.

I'm looking at also doing the rest of your monsters.

Cheers.

-J

[Evilhalfling]

how bout a dretch? or 2 (brute & minion)
I used them alot in 3.x, although normally as comic relief more than a threat.
Im not sure what to do with sticking cloud and scare powers, and there is no way they get summoning - its now the province of the big boys.

Without these they are just a sad sack of hit points, with no iconic ablilities left to focus on other than minion status and comic value.
Any ideas?

[Andrew D. Gable]

There's not a link to the level 6 monsters on here yet -- just an FYI.

[the Jester]

Originally Posted by Andrew D. Gable

There's not a link to the level 6 monsters on here yet -- just an FYI.

Whoops, thanks!

I am starting to think that calling any given level "done" is a very temporary thing...

[Alphastream]

I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on the Ant Lion, appearing in MMII (the AD&D book).

The Ant Lion is an 8HD creature that hides in a cone-shaped depression in the sand. A creature investigating the depression (which can look like a cave 50% of the time) has a 50% chance each round to slip and slide down the sides, landing at the bottom. The Ant Lion then emerges. It attacks with large mandibles, and a hit indicates the jaws are wrapped around the victim. Damage is then 5-20 (AD&D) each round, automagically. AC is 2, so fairly decent.

Sounds like a Level 8 Lurker Solo monster. Ability to have perfect concealment under the sand before combat, perhaps even can go back under during combat? Is there an existing mechanic for the grab and deal damage each round that seems reasonable? Add some sort of poison bite and make it a slow/immobilize like the Carrion Crawler? Just an attack with more damage like the Chuul? I'm thinking making it more like a Choker. I just don't have the experience of how well a solo works grabbing... it could only damage one PC at a time.

I am also not sure whether it is best to have the sand cone be part of the solo creature, or make him an elite combined with an equal level trap. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Teos

Edit: Ok, sounds like no opinions. I've come up with a plan and will run it this Friday. I'll post the monster afterward (in case I need to tweak the critter based on the playtest).

[Rechan]

Jester, if you could do me a favor. I would appreciate a conversion of Kopru. Preferably 3-4th level-ish?

Stats for them can be found on this web enhancement for Stormwrack.

I wouldn't mind seeing a conversion of those... uh. The squid-guys. Morkoths or something.

And something like eels.

(If you haven't noticed, I need some aquatic stuff. )

[the Jester]

Sorry, time is very limited just now- even the regular conversions I'm doing have slowed down a lot (you'll notice).

For the record, I like the idea of ant lion sand traps as a trap in addition to the ant lion itself.

I plan on making kopru somewhere around 10th, prolly- morkoths are going in there somewhere too, but I am not sure where.

I have a few sharks done (2nd level), as well as ixitxachitl and brain corals... but I can't think of much else that I have already done at this point. Between trying to wrap some of my story hours up, getting my 4e game into full swing, low staffing at work, my birthday week and Burning Man I have a lot going on right now!

[Rechan]

Adding this to the list of "Monsters I'd Like to See but Don't KNow What Level is Appropriate": A Mimic.

[Orius]

No mimics? The hell? I'm think I'm beginning to agree with the opinion that 4e was released incomplete or something.

[quindia]

How about the Aspis - from A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity? I gave them a try, but I'd like to see what you might come up with since I scrapped several other conversions I made for yours!

[Alphastream]

Originally Posted by Alphastream

I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on the Ant Lion, appearing in MMII (the AD&D book).

I converted the Giant Ant Lion. I found it is also in Sandstorm (3.5) and borrowed one of the power ideas from there. The monster could likely be more powerful if combined with a trap, but I liked the ecological truth of having the environment be a power, as that's how it really works (an ant lion creates its cone, it doesn't find it).

Giant Ant Lion Level 8 Solo Lurker
Large natural beast XP 1750
Initiative +11 Senses Perception +11; darkvision; tremmorsense
HP 368; Bloodied 184
AC 24; Fortitude 23, Reflex 22, Will 20
Immune poison; Resist 10 fire; Vulnerable 5 cold
Saving Throws +5
Speed 2, burow 6
Action Points 2

m Bite (standard; at-will) ♦ Poison
Threatening Reach 2; +13 vs. AC; 2d6 + 5 damage plus ongoing 5 poison. Target is grabbed.

m Devour (minor; at-will) ♦ Poison
Only against grabbed target; +11 vs. Fortitude; 2d8 + 5 damage plus ongoing 5 poison, and target is weakened (escape ends).
Miss: Half damage plus ongoing poison 5.

r Throw Sand (standard; at-will)
Range 20; +11 vs. Reflex; 1d8 + 5 damage and the target is knocked prone (see Cunning Home for additional effects).

a Whirl Foe (standard; recharge 5,6)
Requires grabbed target. Close burst 3; +11 vs. Reflex; 3d10 + 5 damage and knocked prone. The grabbed target takes 5 damage, +5 damage for each opponent struck.

a Cloud of Dust (free, when first bloodied; encounter)
Close burst 10; targets creatures; +11 vs. Ref; the target is stunned until the end of the target’s next turn.
Aftereffect: The target is blinded (save ends).

Cunning Home (no action; encounter)
The ant lion lies in wait at the bottom of a 100’ diameter conical home of loose sand or rock. On the beginning of their turn, any creature standing in the cone must make an Acrobatics check, DC 20. Failure results in falling prone. A creature that falls prone in the cone is pulled 5 squares toward the ant lion. A prone creature may get up with a move action, and may move towards the ant lion as if it were difficult terrain. A climb (Athletics) check, DC 20, is required to move away from the ant lion or to move laterally. Failing by 4 or less results in no movement. Failing by 5 or more results in falling prone and sliding.

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Athletics +15, Perception +15
Str 20 (+9) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 17 (+7)
Con 20 (+9) Int 15 (+6) Cha 10 (+4)

Please feel free to add this to the 8th level monsters if it is of interest. My group had a blast with this monster. It was an excellent challenge, and the whirl foe and bloodied reaction were enjoyed by all.

[the Jester]

Originally Posted by Alphastream

Please feel free to add this to the 8th level monsters if it is of interest. My group had a blast with this monster. It was an excellent challenge, and the whirl foe and bloodied reaction were enjoyed by all.

Nice one! I'll add it to the 8th-level list when I get there. (It'll prolly be about a month before I have time to really get back to this project, though.)

[Hodag]

Jester, you are a deity among humanity! I'm working on converting the entire 2e Al Qadim bestiary to 4e, and you've already done 15 of them. Thank you so very much.