Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead

[freyar]

Maybe relentless should be Ex, but either way I like it.

The underbar is nice. We can point DMs with Monsters of Faerun to the crawling claw for the hands.

 

[Cleon]

Added to Homebrews.

Why have you given the first Walking Dead a +6 Reflex save?

I make it a +0 Ref (poor save for Undead, +1 for 4HD, -1 for Dex 8).

The +2 Fort is one too much as well (poor save, +1 for 4HD, no ability adj.).

I'm thinking the Challenge Rating may prove a little tricky since a Walking Dead's CR should presumably incorporate the challenge level of both its deteriorating stages.

 

[Shade]

Maybe relentless should be Ex, but either way I like it.

Yeah, that's a tough one to pinpoint.

The underbar is nice. We can point DMs with Monsters of Faerun to the crawling claw for the hands.

Great idea!

Why have you given the first Walking Dead a +6 Reflex save?

I make it a +0 Ref (poor save for Undead, +1 for 4HD, -1 for Dex 8).

The +2 Fort is one too much as well (poor save, +1 for 4HD, no ability adj.).

Oops. The Will save is off, too. That's probably a holdover from the undead from which I cut n' pasted.

I'm thinking the Challenge Rating may prove a little tricky since a Walking Dead's CR should presumably incorporate the challenge level of both its deteriorating stages.

Not really. Think of the lesser versions as "summoned creatures". It's probably safe to just base it on the full strength version, and possibly adjust upward by a CR for the additional 38 hp. Of course, many creatures have abilities that allow them to fight beyond 0 hp (like ferocity or the Diehard feat), so it's probably not a huge issue. The half-dead and mostly dead versions will be less of a threat to parties of the appropriate level, due to the lower HD (and thus, lower attack modifiers).

Updated.

We should probably list creation rules for these guys as well.

 

[freyar]

With Relentless, maybe they're worth CR 4 at most. I can't see any more than that, though.

Maybe create undead, CL around 12-14 like a ghast?

 

[demiurge1138]

CL 14th for a create undead spell seems appropriate.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

All done?

 

[demiurge1138]

They look pretty solid to me. I would consider, however, making the mostly dead Small, rather than Medium.

 

[Shade]

That makes sense, assuming a crawling torso.

I don't see any need to lower the Str based on the sized change, either, as the remaining part of the upper body hasn't changed size. Its bite is as big as it always was.

Updated. I added some additional flavor text to explain the various stages (and the size change).

 

[Cleon]

That makes sense, assuming a crawling torso.

I don't see any need to lower the Str based on the sized change, either, as the remaining part of the upper body hasn't changed size. Its bite is as big as it always was.

Updated. I added some additional flavor text to explain the various stages (and the size change).

Looks good, except it shouldn't have "Even though its bite is a seconary [sic] attack," in the Powerful Bite.

Is it worth adding "walking dead cannot speak" to the description?

 

[Shade]

Looks good, except it shouldn't have "Even though its bite is a seconary [sic] attack," in the Powerful Bite.

I'll fix it. Nice catch.

Is it worth adding "walking dead cannot speak" to the description?

Nope. It goes without saying (pun intended) that mindless creatures cannot speak.