Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Cleon]

Shadow mastiffs are rather dense, aren't they? And hell hounds seem rather anorexic.

Shall we drop the length and go with 80lb? That comes from scaling the yeth hound.

80 pounds is awfully light for a dog that's 3 feet tall at the shoulder. That's more the weight of an robust German shepherd and they're about 2 feet tall.

I'd prefer around 180 pounds for the Rummele, which is actually pretty rangy (but then Rummeles' have a slim wolfhound-like build, going by their picture).

 

[Shade]

180 it is. Updated.

 

[Cleon]

180 it is. Updated.

Come to think of it, the Slow Fall's "A rummele within arm’s reach of a wall" doesn't make a lick of sense if it's in its natural form, which doesn't have arms. Change to "paw's reach"?

Apart from that quibble it's looking pretty finished.

I'm not sure quite about the CR. At-will invisibility, blink and dimension door plus 1/day haste and baleful polymorph is a pretty potent combination and their stats are pretty good.

Maybe CR 5?

 

[freyar]

CR 5 is ok with me. Baleful polymorph is hefty, too, and the DC is high enough.

 

[Cleon]

CR 5 is ok with me. Baleful polymorph is hefty, too, and the DC is high enough.

That's what I was thinking. Apply those changes and I think they're done.

 

[Shade]

"Paw's reach" and CR 5 work for me. Updated.

Here's the next one...

Forchoreai
FREQUENCY: Common on Happy Hunting Grounds; very rare elsewhere
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 33”
HIT DICE: 4 + 10
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 6-24
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise 95% of the time
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Rarely surprised, regeneration, spell use, save as a 10th-level cleric, +1 on reactions
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic good
SIZE: L (7’ tall at shoulder)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: V/330 + 5/hp

Forchoreai (for-KOR-ee-aye) are creatures found on the Happy Hunting Grounds, residing there naturally along with unicorns, pegasi, and scores of odd varieties of wildlife. Forchoreai appear to be large, white or gray stags, with pearly antlers valued as high as 750 gp per set on the Prime Material Plane.

Forchoreai are very quick; this is the reason for their low armor class and superior saving throws. They gain a +1 on all reaction throws, and are surprised only on a 1 in 8 chance. They regenerate at a rate of 2 hp/round and move silently, hear noise, and hide in terrain (like hide in shadows) as a 17th-level thief, surprising opponents 95% of the time. In addition, they have the following spell-like powers which they cast, one at a time, once per round, at the 10th level of ability: detect snares and pits, nondetection, pass without trace, protection from evil, and speak with plants and animals. Once per day, they may use invisibility mirror image, misdirection, and plant door. A forchoreai may cast heal on any being but itself, once per week. The powers above will work on the wildlife and residents of both the Happy Hunting Grounds and the Prime Material Plane.

Forchoreai that are killed as part of a hunt on the Happy Hunting Grounds will be resurrected after a period of three days. This is a common trait of many of the animal-like creatures of this plane, which are hunted for sport and in ritual by the plane’s inhabitants. Forchoreai will only fight if cornered, and then only with their powerful antlers.

These beasts are very rarely encountered on the Prime Material Plane, usually in the service of a powerful, good (but non-lawful) ranger or elf. The circumstances under which such a character may gain a forchoreai vary, but such help can be had but once in a person’s lifetime.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #101 (1985).


Magical Beast (Extraplanar) or Outsider?

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Magical beast.

 

[freyar]

I like magical beast, but I might have to go with outsider in parallel with the achaierai. Hmmph.

 

[Shade]

These seem more "beastly" to me, for some reason.

Speed translates to 90 feet.

Forchoreai are very quick; this is the reason for their low armor class and superior saving throws. They gain a +1 on all reaction throws, and are surprised only on a 1 in 8 chance.

Lightning Reflexes as a bonus feat and/or something like unearthly grace? Racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks?

Maybe also add evasion/improved evasion and/or uncanny dodge/improved uncanny dodge?

They regenerate at a rate of 2 hp/round and move silently, hear noise, and hide in terrain (like hide in shadows) as a 17th-level thief, surprising opponents 95% of the time.

Fast healing or regeneration? If the latter, overcome by lawful or evil weapons?

It sounds like a good racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks.

In addition, they have the following spell-like powers which they cast, one at a time, once per round, at the 10th level of ability: detect snares and pits, nondetection, pass without trace, protection from evil, and speak with plants and animals. Once per day, they may use invisibility mirror image, misdirection, and plant door. A forchoreai may cast heal on any being but itself, once per week. The powers above will work on the wildlife and residents of both the Happy Hunting Grounds and the Prime Material Plane.

Those all seem pretty straightforward.

Forchoreai that are killed as part of a hunt on the Happy Hunting Grounds will be resurrected after a period of three days. This is a common trait of many of the animal-like creatures of this plane, which are hunted for sport and in ritual by the plane’s inhabitants. Forchoreai will only fight if cornered, and then only with their powerful antlers.

Rejuvenation?

Some comparable creatures for ability scores:

Elk (Silver Marches version): Str 14, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Elk (Dragon #333 version): Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 6
White Hart: Str 20, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 18

Int converts to 11-12. The white hart is a Large, 7 HD magical beast, so is quite comparable. Perhaps modify its stats a bit? Probably boost the Dex due to this creature's amazing alacrity?

 

[freyar]

Lightning Reflexes as a bonus sounds right, but unearthly grace doesn't quite fit the description. Evasion and uncanny dodge would, though. I like those for these guys. A racial bonus on those skills or Imp Init as a bonus are fair ideas.

I prefer fast healing (that kind of regen sounds more "outsiderly") unless we're adding an alignment subtype maybe. Those skill bonuses sound good too.

Take the white hart, maybe decrease Str to 18 and boost Dex to 23?