Converting Epic Level Creatures

[freyar]

So, is 25 HD about right still? Without taking into account a Con bonus, that's about 4.5 hp per HD.

For stats, a bit higher on Str than Dex? Godlike Int = ?

[demiurge1138]

Godlike was 22+ in 2e.

Although giant size is a non-core spell these days, it's easy to replicate. We just give it the Sp ability to become Colossal, with all the stat changes that entails.

[Shade]

Yep, 25 HD is still good.

Looking at other similar-HD uniques, its ability scores should add up to around 150-160.

How about...

Str 30, Dex 28, Con 23, Int 30, Wis 23, Cha 25

[freyar]

Those sound good to me. Alternate Form or Change Shape?

[Shade]

Probably alternate form.

Added to Homebrews assuming those ability scores.

Shall we give him some of the bauh-yin abilities (incite riot, sneak attack)?

I think he should also be able to summon bauh-yin.

[demiurge1138]

I'd say switch the Int and Cha scores.

He should be able to summon a lot of bauh-yin. I like him having incite riot and sneak attack. Lots of sneak attack.

[freyar]

Agreed. Give him all of it!

[Shade]

+15d6 sneak attack?

Maybe improved evasion and/or improved uncanny dodge?

Summon 5d4 bauh-yin with auto success?

[freyar]

Sounds about right.

Black Leopard creates awe in all who view him that are less than 4th level (no saving throw). ...He may also cast spells like a 10th level shukenja.

Some sort of frightful presence, like a dragon? Innate sorc spellcasting?

[Shade]

We could modify this from the t'uen-rin:

Awe (Su): Once per day, a t’uen-rin may create an aura that can deeply affect mortals. It does this by rearing up on its hind legs, and letting out a commanding cry. Creatures that can see the t’uen-rin must succeed on a DC 28 Will save to avoid the effects. A creature that succeeds on its saving throw remains immune to that t’uen-rin's awe for 24 hours. This effect lasts for 2d6+6 rounds. This is a mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

A t’uen-rin can choose from the following effects each round as a free action while its awe power is in effect:

Daze: Affected beings just stare at the t’uen-rin in fascination. Awed creatures may defend themselves normally, but can take no actions. If a creature attacked physically, it will recover in the following round.

Fright: Affected beings become shaken and suffer a –2 morale penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks. The merest glance or gesture from the t’uen-rin makes them frightened, and they flee as quickly as they can, although they can choose the path of their flight.

Resolve: The t’uen-rin’s allies receive a +4 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and checks, while the t’uen-rin’s foes receive a –4 morale penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks.

[freyar]

Hmm. That's not exactly what the original black leopard has, but it seems appropriate. Do we want to put a 4HD cap on the Daze effect?

[demiurge1138]

4 HD cap on dazing. We could make it so that its presence can still dazzle higher level characters.

What do we want to do for spellcasting? Because 10th level is going to be a drop in the bucket for a high CR unique like this... and shugenja is not a core class. I'd suggest if we want to do 10th level casting only, let it cast assassin spells. Otherwise, Sor/Wiz or cleric casting? Shugenjas are alt-clerics, after all.

[freyar]

I'm thinking maybe cleric casting, then, but probably bump to higher level (18-20?). Another alternative is to give him a boatload of SLAs, like what we did with the sea titan.

Awe (Su): Once per day (?), the Black Leopard may create an aura that can deeply affect mortals. All creatures that can see the Black Leopard must succeed on a DC X Will save to avoid the effects. A creature that succeeds on its saving throw remains immune to that t’uen-rin's awe for 24 hours. This effect lasts for 2d6+6 rounds (?). This is a mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

The Black Leopard can choose from the following effects each round as a free action while its awe power is in effect:

Fascinate: Affected beings of 4HD or less stare at the Black Leopard in fascination. Awed creatures may defend themselves normally, but can take no other actions. Creatures of more than 4HD are instead dazzled.

Fright: Affected beings become shaken and suffer a –2 morale penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks. The merest glance or gesture from the Black Leopard makes them frightened, and they flee as quickly as they can, although they can choose the path of their flight.

Resolve: The Black Leopard’s allies receive a +4 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and checks, while the Black Leopard’s foes receive a –4 morale penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks.

How's that look?

[Shade]

Looks good. Updated.

How about sorcerer spellcasting, but can draw from the cleric spell list and the Chaos and any other appropriate domains (like dragons)?

Caster level 18-20th does sound better.

[freyar]

Should we also put a 4HD cap on Fright? Otherwise, it seems a lot more powerful than Fascinate.

I like the spellcasting idea. Let's go for 20th level.

[Shade]

Limit the frightened part to 4 HD, and shakened for the rest?

Chaos, Strength, and Liberation (thankfully in the SRD) as the domains?

[demiurge1138]

Add Trickery to that domain list and I think we're good to go.

[Shade]

Heres a start on spells. So far I just tried to pull out the unique or lower-cost spells from the domains.

Spells: The Black Leopard casts spells as a 20th-level sorcerer and can also cast cleric spells and those from the Chaos, Liberation, Strength, and Trickery domains as arcane spells.

Sorcerer Spells Known (6/9/9/8/8/8/8/7/7/7):
0—9;
1st—5;
2nd—5;
3rd—4;
4th—chaos hammer, freedom of movement, spell immunity, 1 more;
5th—dispel law, righteous might, 2 more;
6th—3;
7th—refuge, word of chaos, 1 more;
8th—cloak of chaos, 2 more;
9th—3.

[freyar]

0th -- resistance, detect magic, read magic, dancing lights, mage hand, prestidigitation, message, detect poison, ghost sound ?
...
9th -- freedom, crushing hand, time stop ?

[demiurge1138]

I'd personally replace crushing hand with astral projection.

8th--cloak of chaos, maze, mass charm monster

7th--refuge, word of chaos, prismatic spray

6th--heal, mass suggestion, greater dispel magic

5th--dispel law, righteous might, telekinesis, true seeing