Converting Planescape monsters

[Cleon]

Agreed to keeping "dire whiner" and adding a fiendish name.

"-loth" is for yugoloths, but we could use "-lith" (like the marilith, bebelith, and so on).

Good point. Lets see if we can come up with something better than "Disparalith".

Let's figure out ability scores so we can Homebrew this thing.

Similarly HD demons...
Hezrou: Str 21, Dex 10, Con 29, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 18
Vrock: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 25, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 16
Cerebrilith: Str 22, Dex 13, Con 25, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21
Alkilith: Str 16, Dex 25, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15

The alkilith is oozlike, so since we're going with sluglike, we could borrow its Str and Con. Mental prowess should be closer to the psionic cerebrilith.

That gives us Str 16, Dex x, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21

For Dex, do we want to make it sluggish, going with the hezrou's score of 10? If so, we'll need +10 natural armor to get the original AC. The alkilith has +6 natural armor, which might be a better fit. In that case, we'd need Dex 18-19, or give it some sort of deflection or insight bonus.

I think we should be aiming for an AC a bit higher than a straight conversion of the original, going by the examples of 3E demons. I feel a Dexterity of 15 or so and a Wisdom- or Charisma-based bonus is the way to go.

 

[Shade]

Dex 15 works for me.

Let's look at Latin words for a possible "fiendish name"...

Obtestor = To implore, entreat, beg, call as a witness
Requiro = to ask for, look for, demand, desire, miss
Precor = to pray, beg, entreat, invoke
Oro = to speak, argue, plead, orate, beg, entreat
Peto = to ask for, beg, request, demand / to sue for

Some other demonic suffixes include "-zu", "-zau", "-us", "-su", "-tu".

So maybe "Obtestu", "Precori", "Orozu", "Petolith", or "Requirozu"?

 

[demiurge1138]

I like Obtestu, and I agree to the higher natural AC than the straight conversion would suggest.

 

[freyar]

I also like Obtestu. I'm fine for higher AC, with Dex 15, Wis based insight, and possibly some natural if we wish.

 

[Cleon]

Dex 15 works for me.

Let's look at Latin words for a possible "fiendish name"...

*SNIP*

I like the ring of "Precorlith".

Since we seem agreed on a higher Armour Class for this whatever-we'll-call-it, shall we settle on an AC and then reverse-engineer the modifiers?

I was thinking somewhere around AC 24-25, between a Glabrezu (12HD AC27) and a Hezrou (10HD AC23).

Let's try AC24, for the sake or argument.

-1 Large (size penalty)
+2 Dexterity
+4 Wisdom (Insight bonus)

That adds up to 15, leaving it needing a +9 with it can get from a natural armour bonus.

Assuming its insight bonus doesn't apply when flat-footed, that works out:

AC 24 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +4 insight, +9 natural) touch 15, flat-footed 18

Does that seem OK, or would you prefer something a bit higher?

 

[Shade]

I too favor "obtestu".

Added to Homebrews.

I checked other outsiders with insight bonuses, and they are retained while flat-footed. Probably a sort of "sixth sense" if you will.

For the attack lines, the original has a single unnamed attack that deals 6d6 points of damage. I think a single bite attack makes the most sense for its natural form, but I could be persuaded to add something else if the majority would prefer to do so. The image of a bloated slug with a large, many-toothed maw for its natural form pops into my head.

Drop summon tanar'ri since they are so loathed by their own kind? Or just give 'em a horrible chance of success?

 

[freyar]

If we go with the giant bite, then I'd say add imp grab and swallow whole (up to 1 size category smaller, even). Just seems to fit.

Drop summoning, I think.

 

[demiurge1138]

Giant bite, imp grab and swallow whole seems pretty good to me! Maybe they even curse those they swallow and spit them back out, just to add to the misery.

 

[Shade]

I like that idea!

Perhaps the curse makes the victim a pariah as well?

The whine ability acts as a suggestion spell. It is used to force the victims of the dire whiner to bring it food and treasure. The complain ability acts as a druidic feeblemind spell. It is used against any magic-using creatures that enter her lair. The final ability, put down, acts as a verbal symbol of hopelessness spell, and is used to break new victims to her will. These abilities can be used one at a time at will. All abilities affect all creatures within earshot.

Should the whine be a supernatural, sonic, mind-affecting abilty with a multitude of effects, or should we just use SLAs? I think I favor the former.

 

[freyar]

Pariah-making curse sounds good to me, too! I wrote a regurgitation version of swallow whole, too, which I can dig up if we need.

Su unique effect for the whine, I think.