Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Shade]

Based on its HD, role, and general shape, I think we can look to the nabassu and sorrowsworn demons for ability score inspiration.

Mature Nabassu: 15 HD, Str 28, Dex 20, Con 28, Int 20, Wis 21, Cha 23
Sorrowsworn Demon: 18 HD, Str 29, Dex 17, Con 32, Int 20, Wis 22, Cha 21

Int is Very (11-12), and they aren't SLA-reliant, so maybe...

Str 28, Dex 19, Con 30, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 15?

 

[freyar]

Sounds good.

 

[RavinRay]

Yup; they're not very charming creatures so that low Cha is justified. I'm thinking of them as dour angels of death.

 

[Cleon]

These guys are awesome. May I petition, though? Keep the death ray doing 1d100 damage, rather than having it a save or die. The damage is much cooler--more unique.

I thought it was 1-100 damage and save versus death. These are a personification of death, after all.

I wonder whether they cry "Fatality" when they shoot out their kill-beams?

They do look a bit fragile - AC 4, no spell resistance and +1 weapons to hit? Surely they'll need a boost there.

 

[Cleon]

Yup; they're not very charming creatures so that low Cha is justified. I'm thinking of them as dour angels of death.

Since I thing their death ray should include a save vs death, it would probably be Charisma-based so Cha 15 would cut its save DC. Although a lowish Charisma does seem appropriate given their description. Maybe they have a racial bonus to Death-effect DCs, being servants of death and all?

Int 12 seems very low though, but I guess if Death deliberately limits their intelligence it's not unreasonable.

I'd prefer a higher Wisdom though, to reflect their "knowledge of things hidden to mortals" and give them a boost to tracking down souls.

Maybe Int 12, Wis 21, Cha 15

 

[demiurge1138]

Yeah, I was operating under the assumption that the death ray had a Cha based DC, so I'd prefer that was higher. Adding DR and SR seems like a given, really.

 

[freyar]

Yeah, I was operating under the assumption that the death ray had a Cha based DC, so I'd prefer that was higher. Adding DR and SR seems like a given, really.

Could be Con-based, but Cha-based does seem more normal.

SR and DR sound appropriate, yes.

I can see the case for higher Wis and Cha, but it's weird to go higher with the Int 12 handed to us.

 

[demiurge1138]

They can be not-too-bright, but insightful, strong-willed and deeply, deeply terrifying.

 

[Shade]

Indeed. So Str 28, Dex 19, Con 30, Int 12, Wis 21, Cha 22?

 

[freyar]

Seems to fit!