Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Shade]

Updated some of the other stuff while we continue to discuss this ability.

Does the mapmaker's stick writeup look serviceable?

[demiurge1138]

So, weak spot plus melee evasion?

[freyar]

The stick looks fine to me.

Also, I like weak spot plus the Ref save vs melee 1/day.

[Shade]

Like so?

Evade Blow (Ex): Once per day, a mapmaker may attempt to block an incoming blow with its deflective frill. To do so, the mapmaker makes a Reflex save (DC equals opponent's attack roll) against a successful attack to take half damage.

Weak Spot (Ex): A confirmed critical hit on a natural 20 with a slashing or piercing weapon allows a creature to take advantage of a mapmaker's weak spot upon its hump (if it remains exposed), increasing the weapon’s damage multiplier by one step (for example, a longsword which has a multiplier of x2 would have a multiplier of x3 against a mapmaker's weak spot).

[demiurge1138]

Drop that "if it is still exposed" bit. Otherwise... looks good.

[Shade]

Updated.

Improved grab with the tail? "Gnaw", or whatever we called the ability that allows a free bite attack on a grappled foe?

PSYCHIC PANDEMONIUM: This psionic attack mode attacks exactly like a Mind Thrust, but it may only be defended against with Tower of Iron Will, and then takes double pts. from the defender.

Here's 3.5 mind thrust...

Mind Thrust
Telepathy [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Psion/wilder 1
Display: Auditory
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 1

You instantly deliver a massive assault on the thought pathways of any one creature, dealing 1d10 points of damage to it.

Augment: For every additional power point you spend, this power’s damage increases by 1d10 points. For each extra 2d10 points of damage, this power’s save DC increases by 1.


Tower of Iron Will now grants power resistance.

So should psychic pandemonium simply function as mind blast, with a greater chance of overcoming power resistance? Or should we make it a Su ability, similar to a mind flayer's mind blast, and make it similar (but slightly different) to mind thrust?

[Cleon]

I like the idea of making it a weak spot on a natural 20, it stops high threat-range weapons getting a big advantage.

EDIT: The Mapmaker's stick write up looks spot-on. I like the use of the erase spell.

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by Shade

Updated.

Improved grab with the tail? "Gnaw", or whatever we called the ability that allows a free bite attack on a grappled foe?

Mind Thrust
*SNIP*

Yes to both Improved Grab & Gnaw.

As for the psychic attacks, how did Mind Thrust work in 1st edition? I have a feeling that might give us a better baseline for Pyschic Pandemonium than the 3E version, but I can't remember how AD&D handled it, probably because I never used psionics in my campaign.

[Shade]

It was simply an attack/defense mode, which IIRC, were simply a rock-paper-scissors battle between two psionic characters.

[demiurge1138]

Make psychic pandemonium a SLA similar to a mind flayer's mind blast. Improved grab plus gnaw sounds perfect.

[Shade]

Pyschic Pandemonium (Sp): This psionic attack delivers a massive assault on the thought pathways of a single target within 60 feet. The victim takes 6d10 points of damage. A successful DC X Will save halves the damage. The save DC is Charisma-based, and includes a +3 racial bonus. This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell.

The racial bonus is to emulate the augmented save DC due to manifester level.

Also, I was mistaken. The illithid's mind blast ability is Sp, not Su, emulated above.

To "Pandemoniumize" it, how about adding a secondary effect of confusion for 2d4+1 rounds if the save is failed? This would emulate many of the wind effects on Pandemonium.

[freyar]

This all looks good, including the confusion. But then I think we're going past the equivalent of a 1st level spell.

[Shade]

Good point, although I see no problem with making the equivalent of a higher-level spell.

[RavinRay]

Late comment on the scintillating effect from the wings; it's reminiscent of the 2e mercury dragon's blinding wings and the scintillating scales of many neutral dragons.

[demiurge1138]

Well, seeing as it's augmented to 6th manifester level, it should be the equivalent of a 3rd level spell. Also, mind thrust is save-for-none.

[Shade]

Revising...

Psychic Pandemonium (Sp): This psionic attack delivers a massive assault on the thought pathways of a single target within 60 feet. The victim takes 6d10 points of damage (no save) and is confused for 2d4+1 rounds (DC X Will negates). The save DC is Charisma-based, and includes a +3 racial bonus. This ability is the equivalent of a 3rd-level spell.


Should we limit it to once every 1d4 rounds, or maybe 3/day?

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by Shade

Revising...

Psychic Pandemonium (Sp): This psionic attack delivers a massive assault on the thought pathways of a single target within 60 feet. The victim takes 6d10 points of damage (no save) and is confused for 2d4+1 rounds (DC X Will negates). The save DC is Charisma-based, and includes a +3 racial bonus. This ability is the equivalent of a 3rd-level spell.


Should we limit it to once every 1d4 rounds, or maybe 3/day?

6d10 no save is too high surely, it would rarely use any other attack. I'd cut the damage to 1d10 and make it an at-will.

[demiurge1138]

Not no save, save-for-none. As in, a successful save negates the effect.

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

Not no save, save-for-none. As in, a successful save negates the effect.

Yes, that's how Mind Thrust works, but the description of Psychic Pandemonium says "6d10 points of damage (no save)", which doesn't say save-for-none to me.

It looks like it needs rewriting to something like:

Psychic Pandemonium (Sp): This psionic attack delivers a massive assault on the thought pathways of a single target within 60 feet. The victim takes 6d10 points of damage and is confused for 2d4+1 rounds, a DC X Will save negates both effects. The save DC is Charisma-based, and includes a +3 racial bonus. This ability is the equivalent of a 3rd-level spell.

[freyar]

Save negates sounds right.