Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Shade]

Updated.

Damage reduction 5/good or 10/good?

How high of a racial bonus on grapple checks?

Do you get a claw or slam attack vibe from the original description?

Shambar and all mockeries of Shambar made by magic hate all those that walk or run, fly or swim.

I'd say that rules out the Swim skill and the Run feat.

Skills: 7 at 10 ranks
We already decided on Use Magic Device at the very least. Knowledge (religion) seems appropriate, considering their origin.

Feats: 3

[freyar]

DR 10.

Grapple bonus +12, make them nasty.

Somehow claw, but I could see either way.

[demiurge1138]

+8 should be enough... they don't have improved grab. Is this intentional?

I think claws are appropriate, but I could see the argument for slams. Speaking of, their Str bonus to damage is way off in the full attack line.

How about Multiattack, Iron Will and Quick Draw (so it can throw two rocks a round)? I could also see a case for Skill Focus (UMD), since the DCs are generally pretty high and they don't have a Charisma bonus.

Should we give them an ability to take 10 on UMD checks? That way, they could use wands without penalty.

[Shade]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

+8 should be enough... they don't have improved grab. Is this intentional?

I asked upthread, and no one "approved" it. I'm fine with improved grab, though.

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

How about Multiattack, Iron Will and Quick Draw (so it can throw two rocks a round)? I could also see a case for Skill Focus (UMD), since the DCs are generally pretty high and they don't have a Charisma bonus.

Sounds good. I could see making Iron Will a bonus feat so we can get all four.

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

Should we give them an ability to take 10 on UMD checks? That way, they could use wands without penalty.

I like!

[freyar]

+8 grapple, Imp Grab, all 4 feats (Iron Will bonus), and take 10 on UMD -- sounds good.

[Shade]

Updated.

What other skills?

Suggested name for the "can always take 10 on Use Magic Device checks" ability? (As seen in a recent conversion, "item master" is already used).

[demiurge1138]

Warlocks call it "decieve item".

[freyar]

"Decieve Item" is good enough for me if it's good enough for a warlock.

Climb,Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Spot?

[Shade]

Ahh, I forgot the warlock had that. Perfect!

Updated.

Intimidate, Listen, Knowledge (the planes), Search, and Spot for the remaining skills?

[freyar]

I had Climb instead of Search and Jump instead of Know (planes), but any combination of those is fine with me.

[Shade]

For some reason, I overlooked that portion of your post.

I'm fine with Climb and Jump, too.

Anyone else wanna weigh in?

[freyar]

I'm not really feeling jump right now, and they seem a bit dumb and mean to bother searching things. So let's go with Climb and Know (planes).

[Shade]

Updated.

Organization: Solitary or x?

Challenge Rating: 6?

Treasure: Standard coins, standard goods, double items?

Advancement: 8-14 HD (Large); 15-21 HD (Huge)?

A cursed crimson crawler is x feet tall and weighs about x pounds. (9 feet long/tall?)

[freyar]

These kind of sound like they'd form gangs of 4-8.

CR, Treasure, Advancement are ok.

9 ft long and 8 ft tall, 2000 lb?

[demiurge1138]

I thought they hated everything that climbs? I'd rather they had Search, personally.

They're rather better than a chain devil, but the erinyes outshines them in AC, mobility and spell-like abilities. I think that's a good argument for CR 7.

[Shade]

Good catch!

Updated.

Anything left?

[demiurge1138]

Two things.

1. Thanks to Quick Draw, they should have iterative attacks with their rock throwing, +9/+4.

2. What's the duration of the discord effect on the death throes? How can it be removed prematurely?

[Shade]

Nice catch. I've fixed the full attack line.

Since song of discord is 1 round/level, and these things have 7 HD, 7 rounds? Or, if you'd prefer a variable duration, 1d6+1 rounds?

Dispelled prematurely by calm emotions, remove curse, and break enchantment?

[freyar]

They "hate all those that walk or run, fly or swim," but that's probably enough justification for dropping Climb.

1d6+1 rounds sounds fun, and those spells make sense.

[Shade]

Updated.

Finished?