Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[Shade]

Updated.

Do we want to borrow this from the greater mummy?

Greater mummies receive a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks.

Skills: 5 at 19 ranks
Mummies have Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot
Giant crocs have Hide, Listen, Spot

Feats: 6
Mummies have Alertness, Great Fortitude, Toughness
Giant crocs have Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide)

 

[demiurge1138]

The +8 racial bonuses are pretty ridiculous (I know they're basing it on the vampire, of course, but still). +4, maybe.

Feats: Ability Focus (mummy scourge), Improved Initiative, Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Weapon Focus (claw).

 

[Cleon]

Not bad, although water elementals aren't evil.

I'd already considered that point. The SRD says elementals are usually Neutral, so the rules allow for Evil water elementals.

Can we simplify it to just this?

Change Shape (Su): A crocodile composite mummy can assume the shape of a crocodile or giant crocodile as a standard action.

That's what I was assuming you'd do. Obviously, my take on it would be far more complicated.

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Do we want to borrow this from the greater mummy?

Greater mummies receive a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks.

Skills: 5 at 19 ranks
Mummies have Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot
Giant crocs have Hide, Listen, Spot

Feats: 6
Mummies have Alertness, Great Fortitude, Toughness
Giant crocs have Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide)

I agree with demiurge that the greater mummy's racial bonuses are excessive, although I would be OK with a +2 or a +4 racial bonus on some or all of those skills.

I was originally just going to give the same racial bonuses as a crocodile - +8 Swim and "*A crocodile gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when in the water. Further, a crocodile can lie in the water with only its eyes and nostrils showing, gaining a +10 cover bonus on Hide checks."

They do have a crocodile's head, so presumably they can hide in the water with just their eyes showing just like a real croc.

Shall we max out Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot and divide the remaining points between Search and Sense Motive?

Hide 19, Listen 19, Move Silently 19, Search 10, Sense Motive 9, Spot 19.
​

Hmm, I think the Search and Sense Motive could do with being a bit higher. I think I'd transfer a few points from Listen, MS and Spot.

Hide 19, Listen 17, Move Silently 16, Search 13, Sense Motive 13, Spot 17.
​

That looks OK to me.

EDIT: Including size and ability adjustments that gives us the following, not including whatever greater mummy racial adds we decide to give it (if any).

Skills:Hide +16 [+20 in water, +30 mostly submerged], Listen +19, Move Silently +17, Search +14, Sense Motive +15, Spot +19
​

EDITED EDIT: Oh yes, demiurge's proposed feats look fine to me, although I'll probably tweak them slightly for my version.

 

[freyar]

Uh, I think I'm good with everything in the version so far, including suggested feats and skills.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Organization: Some combination of mummy, crocs, and giant crocs? Maybe a second grouping with standard mummies?

Challenge Rating: x

Treasure: Standard (like normal mummy) or double standard (to represent gifts and offerings)?

Advancement: 17–24 HD (Large); 25-48 HD (Huge)?

Summon Crocodiles (Sp): Once per day, a crocodile composite mummy can automatically summon xdx crocodiles or xdx giant crocodiles. This ability is the equivalent of a 5th-level spell.

Crocodile composite mummies stand x feet tall and weigh x pounds. (9 feet tall and 500 pounds like a devourer?)

Composite mummies speak x. (x=any languages they knew in life [usually Common]?)

 

[freyar]

Org: Solitary, Nest (1-2 plus 2-4 mummies), or Congregation (1-2 plus 6-10 crocodiles plus 2-4 giant crocodiles plus 2-4 mummies) (Congregation is a RW group of crocodiles, btw.)

CR 14 or 15? Can't make up my mind on how it compares to the mummy lord.

Double standard.

Advancement is good.

1d8 crocs or 1d4 giant crocs?

Size and languages sound good.

 

[Shade]

Just advancing a mummy to 16 HD and Large would yield CR 8.

The mohrg is CR 8 at 14 HD.

I figure unholy power and toughness are worth at least a CR or 2.

I'm pegging 'em around CR 10. I don't think they are quite as dangerous as a devourer or vitreous drinker at CR 11.

 

[demiurge1138]

CR 10 seems fair. If it's the equivalent of a 5th level spell, the mummy should be able to summon 1d3 giant crocodiles or 1d4+1 regular ones. Let's give the regular crocs a bit of a boost, to 1d6+1?

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

I make its Hide +18 (19 points -4 size +2 racial +1 Dex) not +17, did you forget its +1 Dex bonus?

Advancement: 17–24 HD (Large); 25-48 HD (Huge)?

That's what I was thinking of too.

Crocodile composite mummies stand x feet tall and weigh x pounds. (9 feet tall and 500 pounds like a devourer?)

I imagine them as being relatively squat and burly, with a height similar to an ogre. The SRD mummy is 5-6 feet and weighs 120 pounds, presumably because it's withered and dried out, which I guess means its from half to two-thirds what it weighed in life.

So, how about 10 feet tall and 500 pounds?

(twice 5 feet = 10 feet, eight times 120 pounds = 480 pounds, which would be ~720-960 pounds if they were a fleshed-out living creature, heavier than an average ogre)

Composite mummies speak x. (x=any languages they knew in life [usually Common]?)

That makes sense.