Converting Epic Level Creatures

[freyar]

Wow, that's pretty, well, monstrous. I definitely like all the above. Stats look reasonable. For the severing, maybe Reflex works better than Fortitude as the save (getting your leg out of the way). Maybe missing a hand gives a -4 penalty to all weapon attack rolls (and removes a claw or slam attack if any); missing a foot gives a -4 to AC and 20 ft reduction in land speed (minimum 5 ft)? Or is that too wimpy? I have no idea at this kind of CR.

[demiurge1138]

Then increase those damages to 10d6 for claws, 12d6 for the bite! This is epic! The actual damage done doesn't matter as much as the Fort-save-or-die made every round!

I'm only partly joking.

Since it's so damn big, I say give it Trample. Looking to inspiration from all those kaiju I wrote up way back when might net us some more abilities, like...

Battle Frenzy (Ex): When Godzilla is reduced to 25% of its total hit, he gains a +4 inherent bonus to Strength and can make an additional melee attack with its claws each round at a –5 penalty (since Fenris' primary attack is his bite, we should change it to that). These benefits cease when Godzilla is healed above 25% of it hit points or reaches zero hit points.

Feed (as per a barghest; we could even say that Fenris' spittle formed barghests as he struggled against his chains)


Shockwave (Ex): Anguirus can hurl himself to the ground as a standard action to create a localized earthquake. All creatures within 100ft of Anguirus must make Reflex saves (DC 58) or fall prone. Structures in the radius take 4d6 points of damage instead.

Demiurge out.

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews. Wow!

Its speed translates to 60 ft., fly 30 ft. The brachyurus has a speed of 80 ft., and I think it should be at least that fast. I'm not really sure why it has a fly speed, either.

Other brachyurus traits we may want to borrow/amplify:

Blindsight 240 ft., damage reduction 10/epic, fast healing 10, resistance to acid 20, cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20, and sonic 20, scent

[freyar]

Let's go to 100 ft for a base speed. Really not sure about the flight. The rest of the brachyurus traits sound good.

Quoting myself on the augmented critical:

For the severing, maybe Reflex works better than Fortitude as the save (getting your leg out of the way). Maybe missing a hand gives a -4 penalty to all weapon attack rolls (and removes a claw or slam attack if any); missing a foot gives a -4 to AC and 20 ft reduction in land speed (minimum 5 ft)? Or is that too wimpy? I have no idea at this kind of CR.

The frightful howl should have a larger radius. Maybe 1 mile? Should be more than the 300 ft that shadow mastiffs and yeth hounds get.

I think the shockwave should do sonic damage as well as making characters fall prone, maybe 4d6 like structures? Doesn't need to be too much.

[Shade]

OK, so how about:

-Speed: 100 ft. (no fly speed)
-Blindsight 240 ft.
-Damage reduction 20/epic
-Fast healing 20
-Resistance to acid 30, cold 30, electricity 30, fire 30, and sonic 30
-Scent
-Frightful howl radius of 1 mile

I'm not sure if the shockwave needs to deal sonic damage on top of everything else. Anyone else?

Can anyone figure out the formula for the savage ability? The brachyurus successfully deals an additional 15d6+25 of damage with its savage ability. Its attacks are 2 claws (2d6+10/19-20) and bite (3d6+5/19-20). I'm failing to see how that equates to 15d6+25 (unless it simply quintuples the bite damage and its associated Str bonus to damage).

Originally Posted by freyar

For the severing, maybe Reflex works better than Fortitude as the save (getting your leg out of the way). Maybe missing a hand gives a -4 penalty to all weapon attack rolls (and removes a claw or slam attack if any); missing a foot gives a -4 to AC and 20 ft reduction in land speed (minimum 5 ft)? Or is that too wimpy? I have no idea at this kind of CR.

Per the wither limb spell: "You choose to wither either the arms or the legs of a humanoid. Withered legs force a subject to fall prone while at the same time reducing the subject's land speed to 5 feet. Withered arms make it impossible for the subject to use objects or cast spells with somatic components."

Per the DMG Variant: Damage to Specific Areas: "When a specific body part takes damage, you can apply a -2 penalty to any action that the character undertakes using that portion of his body. Arm = Climb and Swim checks; attack rolls; Strength checks. Foot/Leg = Climb, Swim, Jump, Ride, Tumble, Balance, and Move Silently checks; Dexterity checks; Reflex saving throws."

[demiurge1138]

Let's go with the limb-withering variant.

And I say sure! Quintuple the damage! Muahahaha!

Demiurge out.

[Shade]

Updated.

Brachyurus has +17 natural armor. Upsizing to Colossal adds +12, for a total of +29.

That gives us AC 44 (-8 size, +13 Dex, +29 natural).

Is that sufficient?

Skills: 6 at 91 ranks (546 total)
Brach has max ranks in Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, and Survival
Wolves and dire wolves have similar skills.

Wolves and dire wolves have a +2 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks. *They also has a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

Brachs have no racial skill bonuses.


Feats: 23 (16 can be epic)
Brach has Alertness, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Multiattack, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (claw)
Dire wolf has Alertness, Run, Track (B), Weapon Focus (bite)
Wolf has Track (B), Weapon Focus (bite)

[demiurge1138]

The AC is probably way too low for the CR it's supposed to be.

I say give it wolf racial bonuses. Ramp 'em up to bigger (+10?) numbers.

Demiurge out.

[Shade]

This thing is Xixecal-tough, and that fella's got AC 58 (+55 natural).

I like the idea of pumping up the wolf's racial skills.

Max ranks in the usual wolf skills (Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, and Survival)?

Feats: 23 (16 can be epic)
Alertness, Awesome Blow, Cleave, Combat Expertise, Devastating Critical (bite), Dire Charge, Epic Fortitude, Epic Will, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Legendary Leaper, Multiattack, Power Attack, Overwhelming Critical (bite), Superior Initiative, Track (B), Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (claw)?

[freyar]

Wow, moving right along. This all looks good. Why not go with at least +43 natural? Maybe +50 if AC 65 isn't too high.

[Shade]

I'm telling ya...epic level creatures are actually easier to convert. It is one of life's great conundrums.

I think +50 is reasonable. This thing is the child of a deity, after all.

[Shade]

Updated.

Fill in the X's:

Swallow Whole (Ex): The Fenris wolf can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Huge or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes x points of crushing damage plus x points of acid damage per round from the Fenris wolf’s digestive juices. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by dealing x points of damage to the Fenris wolf's digestive tract (AC 35). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. The Fenris wolf's gullet can hold x Huge, x Large, x Medium, x Small, or x Tiny or smaller creatures.

[freyar]

Dear heavens. How about 24d6+Str crushing and 12d6+Con acid? Maybe 200 hp to cut out? How about 2 Huge, 4 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, 128 Tiny, 512 Diminutive, 2048 Fine?

[Shade]

Sounds good. I dropped the separate number for fine and just went with "Diminutive or smaller creatures). Flies everywhere just breathed a sigh of relief.

Updated.

All that remains is CR and weight.

It compares favorably to the xixecal at CR 36. Maybe a few CR higher due to the extra 900 or so hp and slightly higher attack modifiers?

The similarly 50-foot-tall tarrasque weighs 130 tons.

[freyar]

I'm totally just guessing on CR, but does CR 40 make sense?

130 tons is fine with me, though maybe a wolf-thing would be a little lighter than a godzilla-thing. I'd be ok with going as light as 100 tons.

[Shade]

He's fairly thin in the pictures on Wikipedia, so I could see that.

Updated.

All done?

[demiurge1138]

Switch "an" to "any" in the unfetterable entry, and it looks good. Although you might want to mention that epic-level magic can bind Fenris Wolf, although a specific item or spell would have to be designed (as indeed it was).

Demiurge out.

[Shade]

Good suggestion. Updated.

[freyar]

Looks good from here, too.

[Shade]

Thunder Bird
Freq: Unique
# App: 1
AC: -2
Move: 15"//24"
Hit Dice/Points: 200
% in Lair: 25%
Treasure Type: U (x 3)
# Att: 2
Dmg/Att: 2-20/1-10
SA: Lightning
SD: Never surprised
MR: 32%
Int: Genius
Alignment: Chaotic good
Size: L (12')
Psionics: Nil
Level/XP Value: X/22,600

This great bird attacks by biting with its beak for 1-10 points and bludgeoning with its wings for 2-20 points of damage. It can cast one lightning bolt per round at any target from 50 to 300 yards away. Each bolt does 30 points of damage (save for half damage). It is never surprised because of the warning that its superb senses give the creature. When it is ready to attack, its wings beat together and thunder sounds.

The Thunder Bird warns of great disaster and is often found fighting evil creatures of great power that have been summoned by the enemies of good tribes. This creature is never invoked. It always comes of its own will and does not leave until the battle is done. It has been known to die in several battles against powerful beings, only to appear again years later to confront another evil.

Originally appered in Deities and Demigods (1980).