Converting Al-Qadim creatures

[Cleon]

Added to Homebrews.

I don't think they should have class level advancement, but I could see giving them the martial training ability we've given in the past, granting a creature fighter BAB and treated as a fighter of a level equal to its HD for the purposes of qualifying for feats, etc. I definitely agree with the assessment that they can be advanced to higher HD to reflect creating a more powerful nasnas.

DR 5 seems appropriate for their probably CR.

Giving them Martial Training's a good idea, and DR 5 is fine by me.

I don't mind a racial bonus to Balance, and I think we should retain the fachan's +12 racial bonus to Jump.

+4 racial to Balance to go with a +12 racial to Jump?

Maybe something like this...

Frightening Hoot (Su): When a nasnas hoots and screams, all creatures except its creator and other nasnas within a 10-foot spread must succeed on a DC X Will save or become frightened (panicked?) for 1d4+1 rounds. This is a sonic mind-affecting fear effect. Whether or not the save is successful, an affected creature is immune to the same nasnas's hoot for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

The original description says its opponents are paralysed, which is even nastier!

Do we want to keep the paralysis or change it to panicked?

The original description says they issue their terrifying cries when in combat. Does that mean they're attacking at the same time? If so, we need to make it a free or swift action.

Or we could make it a two-save deal - first save to prevent panic, and if that fails a save to avoid paralysis.

In any case, this is potentially a rather nasty power for low-level PCs.

Oh, and I don't much care for the name "Frightening Hoot", so can we come up with any alternatives? "Terrifying Screams" has a bit better ring to it, methinks.

 

[Number 6]

What about the additional feat?

If we consider a chain of feats for the Nasnas with more Hit Dice, it might make the most sense to start with Power Attack... though Toughness or certainly seems reasonable for these guys.

It says they mature quickly, but doesn't say how quickly. I'd prefer it to be a matter of months - say another nine months to reach full growth?

"needing very little food and sleep to survive" suggests a "poor" diet would be enough. The 1sp/day cost for their growth to maturity should be included in their creation cost.

So in addition to creation costs for the potion or elixir for the fruit we're looking at about 27 gp of upkeep to feed a single Nasnas until the time when it becomes a useful guard creature.

I know this isn't necessarily useful information for the monster sheet, but I appreciate hearing back from you guys on this as it is useful for a campaign.

I'd think their bizarre physionomy should mean their armour uses the "Armor for Unusual Creature's" nonhuman costs, so twice the normal price.

That's a good reason for equipping them in something cheap, like leather.

Studded leather or perhaps a chain shirt might be typical... and it will keep Armor Check Penalties to a minimum on Jump checks.

 

[Number 6]

The original description says its opponents are paralysed, which is even nastier!

Do we want to keep the paralysis or change it to panicked?

The original description says they issue their terrifying cries when in combat. Does that mean they're attacking at the same time? If so, we need to make it a free or swift action.

Or we could make it a two-save deal - first save to prevent panic, and if that fails a save to avoid paralysis.

In any case, this is potentially a rather nasty power for low-level PCs.

One of the great improvements of 3rd edition... they specifically tell you when they are working with a game term.

It is worth noting that when a Panicked creature becomes cornered it then Cowers... which sounds like the original intent.

Alternatively, we could give nasnas the fear ability as Shade wrote up, as many times as they like... but give them Paralyze With Fear (perhaps as a Supernatural ability) once per day and treat it as Hold Person.

Oh, and I don't much care for the name "Frightening Hoot", so can we come up with any alternatives? "Terrifying Screams" has a bit better ring to it, methinks.

Although, descriptions of nasnas often use the word "hoot", you're right... it strikes me as less impressive. Frightening Screams or Terrifying Screams fits.

 

[Cleon]

What armour proficiencies shall we give them.

All types of armour but no shields?

Light armour only to sustain their mobility?

For Environment, Any Land seems suitable as they'll be found wherever an evil wizard creates them, in a similar way to how the SRD golems have Any Land as an Environment. They do seem to like hanging around ruins, so we may want to add that in.

Environment: Any land or ruins ?

Treasure-wise, the listed types suggests mostly coins and gemstones than items, so maybe Standard coins, standard goods, 50% items?

 

[Number 6]

What armour proficiencies shall we give them.

All types of armour but no shields?

Light armour only to sustain their mobility?

I think they should have Light and Medium Armor proficiencies in case the spellcaster wants to throw down more cash for better protection... but as you say, no shields.

I remember reading one of the Al-Qadim conversions to 3rd edition that opted to remove proficiency with Heavy Armor for folks in Zakhara as it was so rare due to weather and environment.

Environment: Any land or ruins ?

Very reasonable.

Treasure-wise, the listed types suggests mostly coins and gemstones than items, so maybe Standard coins, standard goods, 50% items?

These things would be most useful in a courtyard or passages and not guarding treasure rooms, and consider the treasure value to a nasnas encounter could be all standard and found elsewhere in the adventure... but that's just me.

Then again, the treasure value could easily be used to bump up the nasnas forces... masterwork weapons and armor, magical weapons, or items that improve Armor Class, Dexterity, Constitution, and Strength.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

I prefer Power Attack to Toughness, as it is a prereq for many better feats.

I think paralyzed with fear is just a bit too tough at this level.

Standard action for the hoots, like the shadow mastiff's bay seems reasonable, but I could see switching it to a swift action.

 

[Number 6]

As we have it, these things essentially have a score on their Jump skill of 17 without putting any ranks in. That makes a 15' long jump and a 4' high jump fairly certain... a 20' long jump and a 5' high jump relatively easy... and a 25' long jump and a 6' high jump a common success.

I don't necessarily disagree... I'm just thinking aloud with my keyboard.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/5122777-post879.htmlI prefer Power Attack to Toughness, as it is a prereq for many better feats.

It fits... as they seem like brutes.

I think paralyzed with fear is just a bit too tough at this level.

If we made Paralyze with Fear an ability, a tough ability at that, it could be toned down by requiring a Full Round action to activate.

Standard action for the hoots, like the shadow mastiff's bay seems reasonable, but I could see switching it to a swift action.

Make it a Swift action... it seems like this ability is as natural as breathing to them.

 

[Cleon]

I prefer Power Attack to Toughness, as it is a prereq for many better feats.

Yes, Power Attack suits these thugs.

I think paralyzed with fear is just a bit too tough at this level.

With a little regret I'll agree we're better off making it panicked or frightened.

Standard action for the hoots, like the shadow mastiff's bay seems reasonable, but I could see switching it to a swift action.

I prefer swift.

 

[Number 6]

With a little regret I'll agree we're better off making it panicked or frightened.

Save the idea for the bigger and badder nasnas! A 6 HD with the ability to paralyze opponents with fear, a higher Damage Reduction, as well as a nice chain of Strength-based feats like Improved Overrun or Improved Sunder ought to add quite a bit to a spellcaster's lair.

 

[Number 6]

Should nasnas get racial penalties of -2 to Grapple and a -4 to Climb, Escape Artist, and Swim checks because of their single arm and single leg?