Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[dhaga]

How's this?

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a lesser cetus must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can attempt to swallow the foe the following round.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A lesser cetus can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Huge or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes x+x points of crushing damage plus x points of acid damage per round from the lesser cetus's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal X points of damage to the gizzard (AC X). Additionally, the lesser cetus's interior is resilient, having damage reduction 5/adamantine. Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed creature must cut its own way out. A Gargantuan lesser cetus's interior can hold X Huge, X Large, X Medium, X Small, X Tiny, X Diminutive, or X Fine opponents.

That looks great, Shade
We can clean up some X's later on.

Proposed Abilities: Str 32, Dex 4, Con 24, Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 8

A cetus' tusks are worth 4,000 gp each. This high value is due not merely to their size but also to their magical nature.

I think the cetus' gore attack should count as a magic weapon, for purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

 

[Shade]

Why so low on the Dex? Even the clunky dragon turtle has Dex 10.

Here are some ability scores of similarly sized and shaped critters...

Sea Drake: Str 35, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 18
Very Old Crested Sea Serpent: Str 33, Dex 14, Con 27, Int 14, Wis 19, Cha 28
Very Old Lantern Sea Serpent: Str 33, Dex 10, Con 27, Int 20, Wis 21, Cha 20
Ancient Spiked Sea Serpent: Str 33, Dex 12, Con 29, Int 10, Wis 21, Cha 20

 

[dhaga]

Why so low on the Dex? Even the clunky dragon turtle has Dex 10.

That is true. The text makes references to how slow and clumsy this creature is; guess I took it a little too far Dex 10 would be fine.

 

[Shade]

Updated in Homebrews.

 

[Mortis]

Let's look at some of those Xs, these are only suggestions obviously

Natural Armor: +14 which gives AC 20
Gore: 3d6+11
Tail slap: 2d8+11
CR: 10
Skills: (96 points max skill ranks = 16 for 6 skills)
Listen, Search, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Swim - 16 ranks each or more skills at reduced bonuses?

Feats: Blind-fight, Cleave, Improved Critical (gore), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (gore)

Crushing damage: 2d8+11 and 8 points of acid
Interior AC: 18
damage needed: 25 points
AA Gargantuan lesser cetus's interior can hold 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, 128 Tiny, or 512 Diminutive or smaller opponents.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

That all looks good.

Here's what's left...

Treasure: Standard?
Alignment: Always(?) chaotic evil

 

[Mortis]

That all looks good.

Here's what's left...

Treasure: Standard?
Alignment: Always(?) chaotic evil

they too look good - standard treasure and always CE.

An update in homebrews to check and we should be able to call this one done.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

they too look good - standard treasure and always CE.

An update in homebrews to check and we should be able to call this one done.

Heh...I've been doing just that since my last post.

A few other things...

Weight? A purple worm is 20 feet longer and weighs 40,000 pounds. I'd imagine a cetus might be heavier due to its platelike scales.

It was suggested upstream that we use something similar to a unicorn's horn for the cetus's tusks:

The horn is a +3 magic weapon, though its power fades if removed from the unicorn.

Do we want to use this, and if so, stick with +3?

Ceti tusks are highly valuable, fetching 4,000 gp or more from interested buyers. These tusks reduce the cost to create any magic item involving ivory (such as the ivory goats figurines of wondrous power) by X gp.

Lesser ceti speak ... ?

 

[Mortis]

Weight? A purple worm is 20 feet longer and weighs 40,000 pounds. I'd imagine a cetus might be heavier due to its platelike scales.

But not by too much, say 45,000 pounds?

Do we want to use this, and if so, stick with +3?

Why not

Ceti tusks are highly valuable, fetching 4,000 gp or more from interested buyers. These tusks reduce the cost to create any magic item involving ivory (such as the ivory goats figurines of wondrous power) by X gp.

We have two options - the first being that a magic item's cost is reduced by a set amount say 6,000 gp (it would to be at least 4,000 gp or why pay that much in the first place?)

The second option is that it reduces the cost by a percentage.

We may also need to state how many items each tusk can be used for - keep it simple and say one?

Lesser ceti speak ... ?

barely with that intelligence

Sorry - Draconic?

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

But not by too much, say 45,000 pounds?

That'll work.

We have two options - the first being that a magic item's cost is reduced by a set amount say 6,000 gp (it would to be at least 4,000 gp or why pay that much in the first place?)

The second option is that it reduces the cost by a percentage.

We may also need to state how many items each tusk can be used for - keep it simple and say one?

We also have a third option: remain vague like so...

A unicorn horn is renowned for its healing properties. Evil and unscrupulous beings sometimes hunt a unicorn for its horn, which can fetch up to 2,000 gp, for use in various healing potions and devices. Most good creatures refuse to traffic in such things.

barely with that intelligence

Sorry - Draconic?

Barely Draconic sounds good.