Converting Maztica and Horde monsters

[freyar]

Sounds good.

 

[Shade]

Here's how the skills break down before we assign the 4 ranks:

Balance +7, Hide +7*, Jump +15, Listen +9, Move Silently +7

Put all 4 ranks into Spot? Split between Hide and Move Silently? Something else?

 

[freyar]

I think it should have more in spot than just the +1 from Wis, so let's put it all into spot. It's prey will probably all have hide and move silently bonuses, also, so it needs the spot.

 

[Shade]

Agreed. Updated Homebrews.

Ecology: The sand cat is a natural force in the local ecology, keeping down the numbers of small vermin in a region. Unfortunately, the sand cat is also valued by humans. The kittens, if taken young enough, can be trained. Among the tribes of the desert and steppe, sand cats trained to hunt are the gifts of sheiks and khans. These animals can run down hares and other game for their masters. Others are sold to traders, who in turn sell the little cats in the cities. Here they are raised as pets--dangerous and savage little pets. A sand cat kitten is easily worth 500 to 2,000 gold pieces.

Since it is an animal, we probably don't need special training rules. Should we just mention the kitten value?

 

[freyar]

Just the kitten price, agreed. CR1?

 

[Shade]

Sounds good. Updated.

 

[freyar]

So these are done, I guess.

 

[Shade]

Kamatlan
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any tropical
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivorous
INTELLIGENCE: Semi- (2-4)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 15
HIT DICE: 5 + 2
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 7
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3/1-3/1-8/1-4 (x4)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (6'-7' long)
MORALE: Steady (11-12)
XP VALUE: 975

Kamatlan resemble large jaguars with two snakes growing from each shoulder. They are very likely related to displacer beasts.

A kamatlan's coat is generally medium yellow in hue, and is covered with dark spots. The snakes extend about three feet from its shoulders, and are sandy colored with a diamond pattern. A rattle, much like that of a rattlesnake, tips the kamatlan's tail, and rattles when the beast is frightened or otherwise agitated.

COMBAT: A kamatlan stalks its prey cautiously before attacking, though its rattle sometimes betrays its presence. The kamatlan is a fearsome opponent, hissing, growling, and rattling during battle. When it attacks, it uses its front claws and its bite, as well as the bites of the snakes. Victims bitten by a snake must make saving throws against poison at +3 or contract an incapacitating illness which has an onset time of 1-4 turns and lasts for 2-8 days.

HABITAT/SOCIETY: Kamatlan are relatively new additions to Maztica, having appeared in various places during the Night of Wailing. Presumably, they were spawned in some manner by Zaltec.

Kamatlan prowl the uncivilized parts of Maztica, and may be found in jungle, desert, or mountains. They climb and swim superbly, and spend a great deal of time in tree tops when in a forested area. They often stalk their prey for hours before pouncing.

Kamatlan are solitary and territorial, and they come together only rarely and briefly to mate. Mating may take place at any time of year. Two months after mating, the female lays 1-4 large, leathery eggs, which she buries in a shallow hole. The eggs hatch two months later, producing half-sized young with only 2+2 Hit Dice but all the attack abilities of an adult. The young mature in about six months.

ECOLOGY: Kamatlan have little to fear from other predators, except for those much larger like dragons and giants. Being a mixture of snake and jaguar, however, they provide excellent materials for hishna magic, and almost any part of a kamatlan's body can be put to use by a hishnashaper. Men, therefore, hunt them whenever they are discovered.

From Maztica Campaign Setting (1991).

 

[Shade]

Here are the similar bits from the kamadan in the Tome of Horrors revised:

Large Magical Beast
+5 natural armor
Attack: Claw +7 melee (1d6+4) or snakes +7 melee (1d4) or bite +7 melee (1d8+2)
Full Attack: 2 claws +7 melee (1d6+4) and 6 snakes +2 melee (1d4) and bite +2 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with snakes)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 9
Skills: Balance +10, Hide +3*, Listen +5, Move Silently +8, Spot +5
Feats: Alertness, Dodge
Challenge Rating: 4
Advancement: 5-9 HD (Large); 10-12 HD (Huge)

Snakes (Ex): Each snake attacks independently each round at the listed attack bonus. The snakes do not gain the kamadan’s Strength bonus to damage.

Skills: Kamadans have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance checks. *In areas of tall grass or undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.

The poisonous kamadan is CR 6 and uses the same statistics as the normal kamadan, but each snake head delivers a poisonous bite.

Poison (Ex): Snakes, Fortitude save DC 14; initial and secondary damage 1d6 Constitution. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[freyar]

Well, from looking further at the Maztica campaign setting, this should just be a poisonous kamadan with 2 fewer snakes, basically. So I think we should plunder liberally from the kamadan. Notes: the kamatlan should have a slightly lower Int (let's peg it at 3, say?). It also has one more HD and is slightly larger, so maybe bump Str by a couple. (This also jives with the fact that the original has a larger bite damage than the kamadan.)

So...

Large Magical Beast
+5 natural armor
Attack: Claw +9 melee (1d6+5) or snakes +9 melee (1d4+poison) or bite +9 melee (1d8+2)
Full Attack: 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+5) and 4 snakes +4 melee (1d4+poison) and bite +4 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with snakes)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 9
Skills: Balance +10, Hide +4*, Listen +5, Move Silently +8, Spot +5
Feats: Alertness, Dodge
Challenge Rating: 5?
Advancement: 6-10 HD (Large); 11-15 HD (Huge)

Snakes (Ex): Each snake attacks independently each round at the listed attack bonus. The snakes do not gain the kamatlan’s Strength bonus to damage.

Skills: Kamatlans have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance checks. *In areas of tall grass or undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.

Poison (Ex): Snakes, Fortitude save DC 14; initial and secondary damage 1d6 Constitution. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Not positive about the CR. The poison adds a bit (even if there are 2 fewer snakes, 4 chances in a full attack is still pretty good), but no breath weapon. So I'd go with 5 or maybe even 4.