Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[BOZ]

ability scores look good like that?

 

[Krishnath]

Friggin' Good.

 

[BOZ]

watch your friggin language.

 

[Shade]

Now I know why Krishnath always posts in blue. It's his colorful language.

 

[BOZ]

you should see him in nutkinland. for that matter, you should see me. i'm so naughty...

 

[BOZ]

How about this:

Skill ranks: Craft (any one) 1, Listen 4, Ride 4, Spot 4, Tumble 2
Plus, Rakasta get all the bonuses regular housecats get: +4 to Climb, Hide, Move Silently, and +8 to Balance and Jump, and use their Dex for Climb & Jump.

Feats: Acrobatic, Weapon Finesse (B)

 

[Shade]

That'll work.

 

[Tzeentch]

1 rank in craft is pretty lame. Suggest putting that point into Tumble.

Also, I don't see why they should get Finesse for free. Actual cats themselves don't get a bonus Feat.

Giving them the same bonuses as a housecat looks a bit silly. Those bonuses may be applicable to a Tiny, quadrupedal version of the race though. Suggest going with the more limited bonuses given to larger cats, like the Tiger. I have no problem letting them get a "catlike" bonus for Jump and Climb as per the smaller beasties. So maybe:

Skills: Rakasta have a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Hide, and Move Silently checks, and can use their Dex for Climb and Jump.

Stats, how about : Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10

-- Uhm. Can we tone their Dex down? As well as their Int and Wis? I have a hard time swallowing this race as balanced with Str +2, Dex +6, Int +2, Wis +2. Oh, but their balanced by ONLY having normal Cha ... right. It also doesn't emulate the Gazetteer stat modifications. Suggest maybe -2 Str, +4 Dex, -2 Wis. Or +4 Dex, -2 Wis. If you want their statblock to be better, then give the Rakasta in the statblock a Nonelite Array first. This is common in MM for PC races presented as "monsters."

 

[Zaster]

Also, I don't see why they should get Finesse for free. Actual cats themselves don't get a bonus Feat.

But the Rakasta are specialists with one particular, non-natural weapon (the kasa). I think the bonus feat makes sense because it reflects that trained weapon specialization.

Giving them the same bonuses as a housecat looks a bit silly. Those bonuses may be applicable to a Tiny, quadrupedal version of the race though. Suggest going with the more limited bonuses given to larger cats, like the Tiger. I have no problem letting them get a "catlike" bonus for Jump and Climb as per the smaller beasties. So maybe:

Skills: Rakasta have a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Hide, and Move Silently checks, and can use their Dex for Climb and Jump.

I tend to agree with these suggestions.

-- Uhm. Can we tone their Dex down? As well as their Int and Wis? I have a hard time swallowing this race as balanced with Str +2, Dex +6, Int +2, Wis +2. Oh, but their balanced by ONLY having normal Cha ... right. It also doesn't emulate the Gazetteer stat modifications. Suggest maybe -2 Str, +4 Dex, -2 Wis. Or +4 Dex, -2 Wis. If you want their statblock to be better, then give the Rakasta in the statblock a Nonelite Array first. This is common in MM for PC races presented as "monsters."

I agree the Dex should be toned down to 15. But I like Boz's current stats for Strength and Wisdom. Cats are pretty strong and muscular for thier size (which you can really see in a human-size cat like a cougar, for example). And the 12 Wisdom is pretty standard for predatory animals (to reflect thier superior senses).

 

[Phoenix]

Any chance of seeing a conversion of the Carnifax? Loved those crazy critters...