Converting Forgotten Realms monsters

[demiurge1138]

In other news, I like the idea of them automatically casting defensively. These guys are powerful enough that we might want to go with DR 10/bludgeoning and lawful.

Give them cold vulnerability? I'm not really sure if they have the fire subtype...

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews. (500th monster for that thread!)

[freyar]

I'll second DR 10.

demiurge, these things are actually somewhat resistant to cold (both with what Shade has and in the orginal text). Resistance to cold 10 is probably the right amount, though I could see an argument for 5 based on the fact that they're fiery.

The spell resistance line needs to say "burnbones" instead of "dark lord."

SLAs: should we just say that a burnbones prepares spells or gains spell slots as its divine caster class, but those spells are automatically converted to SLAs? Does that mean metamagic feats cannot apply?

Also, in the prereqs line, let's make it ability to cast 6th level divine spells or else divine caster level 12 (rather than divine spellcaster of 12th level, which feels slightly vague to me -- what about cleric 1/fighter 11, right?).

[demiurge1138]

Spells automatically convert to SLAs works for me, and I think the lack of metamagic is a good balance... although it could always take meta-SLA feats.

[freyar]

What bothers me is that these, as clerics, might have taken metamagic feats "before" becoming burnboneses.

[Shade]

I'm torn on how to handle the SLAs.

On the one hand, we could simply "lock them in", selecting a number based upon the cleric level at the time the template is acquired (and allowing for adding additionals if further cleric levels are taken).

On the other hand, I could see keeping the current divine spellcasting, and stating that the daily spells selected are then treated as 1/day SLAs. We could always state that they can be modified by Metamagic feats, prior to the "conversion" to SLAs.

A third option would be keeping the current divine spellcasting, and just stating that none of the spells require verbal, somatic, or material components. That would allow for the use of Metamagic feats.

[demiurge1138]

...Hm.

Let's take the third option.

[freyar]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

...Hm.

Let's take the third option.

The second and third are almost the same (except for spontaneous inflicting for clerics, I guess). I'm agreed with the third also.

[Shade]

Like so?

Spells: A burnbones continues to prepare and cast divine spells as it did in life. However, as a gift from its dark deity, none of its spells require verbal, somatic, or material components.

A burnbones may attack with one hand and cast a spell with another simultaneously.

How's this?

Battle Casting (Ex?): When making an attack or full attack, a burnbones may cast one spell each round as a swift action. It may not use this ability in tandem with casting another spell.

[freyar]

Excellent, I missed that one! Free quickening, almost. Ex seems right, too, unless we also want to make this a gift from the dark deity.

[Shade]

Updated.

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Int +4, Wis +x, Cha +x. Being undead, a burnbones has no Constitution score.

Environment: Any land or underground?
Organization: Solitary?
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +x.
Treasure: None (except holy symbol)?
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +x.

[demiurge1138]

Wisdom +4, Cha +4 sounds good.

Level adjustment is going to be tricky. The swift casting is really nice.

[Shade]

Indeed.

They are at least as good as a lich, at CR +2, LA +4.

They seem about as good at a death knight at CR +3, LA +5.

Swift casting might push them up to an even higher LA.

[freyar]

CR+3, LA+6?

Fiery resolve needs to refer to spells rather than SLAs. Other than that, looks pretty good.

[Shade]

Updated.

Time for a sample creature?

[freyar]

If we want to go with the Cyric theme, an 11th or 12th level human cleric with Destruction and Trickery domains or else just Chaos and Evil domains if we want to be generic.

[demiurge1138]

Destruction and Trickery sound better than Chaos and Evil.

[Shade]

Getting started with the sample...

12th-level human cleric
Medium Humanoid (Human)
Hit Dice: 12d8+12 (66 hp)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 9 (-1 Dex), touch 9, flat-footed 9
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+10
Attack: Weapon +10 melee (xdx+1)
Full Attack: Weapon +10 melee (xdx+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Rebuke undead, spells
Special Qualities: -
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +8
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 14
Skills: 30
Feats: 5
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +0

Cleric Spells Prepared: (Caster level 12th)
6th—2+1;
5th—2+1;
4th—3+1;
3rd—5+1;
2nd—5+1;
1st—6+1;
0—6;
*Domain spell. Deity: Cyric. Domains: Destruction, Trickery.

The human cleric presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments and level increases: Str 13, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14.

[freyar]

Skills: Concentration, Bluff?

Feats: Spell Penetration, Maximize Spell, Extend Spell, Widen Spell, Weapon Focus (x)

Abilities go to Str 13, Dex 8, Con -, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 18.

[Shade]

Added to Sample Creature section of Homebrews entry.

Let's also mix in a healthy dose of Knowledge (religion) and Spellcraft.

We have a bit of a discrepancy. We have treasure listed as None (except holy symbol), but the attack lines still list wielding a weapon. Do we want to assume that they only use their touch (because the fiery aura melts everything), or revise the treasure entry to Standard? I'd prefer the latter, because I'd imagine Cyric would still want them wielding his favored weapon.

Assuming the latter, Cyric's favored weapon is "Razor's Edge" (longsword), so let's go with that for the attack lines.

Weapon Focus (longsword) or Weapon Focus (searing touch)?