Converting Creatures from Other Campaign Settings

[Cleon]

Ok, I still wasn't sure if we're doing a template or monster.

It might make sense that "real" beholders force lesser beholderkin to pilot these things, anyway, in which case a monster treatment could make more sense. We'd just need to decide on the overall power level.

At the moment I'm thinking of them as something more monster and a template. They're built like a monster but are directed by their beholderkin pilot, so use the beholder's mental stats.

I suppose they could use some of the beholderkin's others stats (Skills? Feats? Saves if better than the golem's?), but the beholder may be unable to precisely control its movements, due to the vast difficulties in their anatomy. i.e. the beholder would mentally order the golem to "lift that bale", but it would not be like the beholder is possessing the golem's body and using its bale-lifting skills and feats.

 

[Shade]

Originally, I thought it would work best as a template. As this has developed, however, I think a straight monster format works back. Rather than using the beholder(kin)'s mental stats, it should simply follow the commands of its pilot, like other constructs follow the mental commands of their creators. The pilot would still be able to use its own mental faculties for its own abilities.

Perhaps it should require concentration for the pilot to move or attack with the suit?

 

[Cleon]

Originally, I thought it would work best as a template. As this has developed, however, I think a straight monster format works back. Rather than using the beholder(kin)'s mental stats, it should simply follow the commands of its pilot, like other constructs follow the mental commands of their creators. The pilot would still be able to use its own mental faculties for its own abilities.

Perhaps it should require concentration for the pilot to move or attack with the suit?

Doesn't that clash with the "While the beholder controls the Sentinel, it may make no other action, for all of its abilities are channelled into the armor." bit of the original?

I think treating it as a golem with some of the beholder's traits is a better fit to the original description.

 

[freyar]

I agree with Cleon here, so somehow we want a monster that acts a little template-ish. Perhaps the controlling the Sentinel only leaves so much mental facility left over for "Intelligence"?

 

[Shade]

OK. Added to Homebrews.

In addition to the Armor Class conferred by the bronze plating, Sentinels are immune to any normal weapon that does not have a + 1 or better enchantment.

I'd vastly prefer DR x/adamantine like most metallic golems than x/magic.

These constructs do not have the vulnerability to electricity possessed by iron golems, but they are not healed by fire, either. While animated by a beholder, the suits have spell resistance equivalent to that provided by a minorglobe of inuulnerability.

So, essentially, it's immune to all spell effects of 3rd level or lower. Odd, but do-able.

 

[Cleon]

I'd vastly prefer DR x/adamantine like most metallic golems than x/magic.

Me to. Let's make it Damage Reduction 10/adamantine. It's not as tough as an Iron Golem, but being made of metal should give it a higher DR than a Fleshie.

So, essentially, it's immune to all spell effects of 3rd level or lower. Odd, but do-able.

Yes, it's easy enough. Something like:

Minor Spell Invulnerability (Su): A sentinel golem that is being piloted by a beholder or beholder-kin can not be affected by any spell or spell-like ability of 3rd level or lower, just as if it were within the area of a lesser globe of invulnerability spell (caster level equal to the beholder's hit dice). The golem's spell invulnerability also protects all objects the golem is carrying, including its beholder pilot. This defense can be brought down by a targeted dispel magic, but will automatically reinstate itself at the end of the golem's next round.
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Maybe add a Greater Sentinel that excludes 4th level spells too, like a full globe of invulnerability?

 

[freyar]

DR 10/adamantine is good, and so is the spell invulnerability.

 

[Shade]

Good ideas all around. Updated.

How does this look for the tri-beam writeup?

Tri-beams (Su): A beholder pilot can channel its eye rays through the sentinel's trident to produce a magical tri-beam once per round as a free action. These three black beams of negative energy may be targeted at a single creature within 60 feet. A successful hit deals 6d6+3 points of negative energy damage (a successful Will save halves the damage). Additionally, a creature damaged by the tri-beam must succeed on a Fortitude save or fall unconscious for x rounds. The save DCs are equal to 10 + 1/2 sentinel's Hit Dice + Cha modifier of beholder pilot (18 + Cha modifier of beholder pilot for a typical sentinel).

Since undead are powered by negative energy, a tri-ray cures such a creature of a like amount of damage, rather than harming it. A tri-beam follows all the rules for a ray (see Aiming a Spell, page 175 of the Player's Handbook).

 

[freyar]

Works for me!

 

[Shade]

Suggested duration for unconsciousness?