Converting monsters from Tales From The Infinite Staircase

[freyar]

I'd be happy to drop any powers with mental-based DCs. Do we have any precedent for that?

 

[Cleon]

I'd be happy to drop any powers with mental-based DCs. Do we have any precedent for that?

None spring immediately to mind.

 

[freyar]

Well, let's do it anyway!

 

[Cleon]

Well, let's do it anyway!

Let's do it then.

I'll try to whip up a rough draft once I've finished working today.

 

[freyar]

You know, I don't think I'd change the HD size, just following the idea that these things are largely physically unchanged from the base creature.

Anyway, for special attacks, how about "A Phlegamor's servant loses all special attacks derived from character classes, all Sp abilities, and all special attacks with Int-based, Wis-based, or Cha-based save DCs."? Think we should make the SQ line more specific also?

 

[Cleon]

You know, I don't think I'd change the HD size, just following the idea that these things are largely physically unchanged from the base creature.

Well they must have some physical changes, since they gain a Construct's bonus hit points and don't have a Constitution score.

Besides, it's debatable how much of the hit points come from the physical form anyway. A human wizard and human barbarian have very different hit dice, but their humanoid forms would be pretty similar.

Anyway, for special attacks, how about "A Phlegamor's servant loses all special attacks derived from character classes, all Sp abilities, and all special attacks with Int-based, Wis-based, or Cha-based save DCs."?

Think we should make the SQ line more specific also?

Something like it retains extraordinary special qualities that are physical but loses those based on its original mental attributes (like, say, telepathy or Hostile Mind). Oh, and it gains the normal Construct special qualities.

 

[freyar]

True enough; I don't really object to changing HD size and mostly just wanted to throw the idea out there.

Would something similar to my proposal for SAs work for SQs in your opinion?

 

[Cleon]

True enough; I don't really object to changing HD size and mostly just wanted to throw the idea out there.

Would something similar to my proposal for SAs work for SQs in your opinion?

Well there aren't that many Special Qualities that have DCs, let alone ones based on mental attributes.

The trick is to phrase it so it's reasonably clear which abilities are physical (and retained) and which required the original mind (and are lost).

 

[freyar]

True enough. Hmmm.

What about this?
Special Qualities: A Phlegamor's servant loses special qualities based on character classes or the base creature's original mind but retains special qualities based on the base creature's physical attributes. In addition, it gains the following special qualities.

 

[Cleon]

True enough. Hmmm.

What about this?
Special Qualities: A Phlegamor's servant loses special qualities based on character classes or the base creature's original mind but retains special qualities based on the base creature's physical attributes. In addition, it gains the following special qualities.

The problem is that "the base creature's original mind" is a rather vague definition. How is the proverbial DM in a hurry to decide whether a power is mental or not when there isn't a definition of a "mind"?

Hmm... I think we ought to be able to work something out using the SRD definitions for "mind-affecting abilities"?