Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

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Shadow Wolves
Armor Class: 3
Hit Dice: 4+1
Move: 180’ (40’)
Attacks: 1 bite
Damage: 1-4+special
No. Appearing: 2-12 (1-6)
Save As: Magic user 5
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: Nil
Intelligence: 6
Alignment: Chaotic
XP Value: 275

Shadow Wolves are creatures of pure shadow, which can be called into being by powerful magic users (cf. shadows – BD 36). In appearance, they are very much like normal grey wolves, except that, in bright light, they are slightly translucent. They can only be harmed by magical or silver weapons.

In addition to causing damage, the bite of a shadow wolf causes its victim to fade into shadow. In the process the victim loses 1 hit point per round and gradually becomes greyer and slightly translucent to onlookers. This fading process continues until the victim is reduced to zero hit points, in which case hoe or she becomes a shadow wolf, or a successful saving throw vs. Paralyzation is made. Additional bites inflicted while a victim is fading do not increase the rate of hit point loss.

You should keep separate records of bite and “fading” damage caused to each victim, since the latter is resistant to magical methods of healing, such as cure spells and potions. Two “hit points worth” of magical healing are required to restore each hit point lost as a result of fading. Victims who choose to rest and recover do so at the normal rate (1 hit point per day of rest).

Originally appeared in ST1 - Up the Garden Path (1986).
 


The "fading" sounds like a supernatural disease, akin to mummy rot.

These seem like a cross between a Shadow and a Shadow Mastiff.

First question, are we making them incorporeal?

I'm thinking we should, due to their translucency and "fading attack".

Their ability to turn their victims into more shadow wolves suggests they're Undead, although I could see them being Outsiders as there's no mention of them being turnable. (Then again, early D&D Shadows weren't Undead and they became Undead in later editions).
 


I'd prefer incorporeal extraplanar outsiders, hailing from the Plane of Shadow.

Fine by me!

Since they're incorporeal I'm assuming they'll gave a deflection bonus on AC. How about +4 deflection and +3 Dex to give them their AC17?

Something like:

Abilities: Str --, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 13, +4 deflection
 

The deflection bonus should be +1 or the Cha bonus, whichever is greater, so let's just make Cha 19. Or else boost the Dex a bit.
 

OK I'm a bit of a blast from the past but I felt the urge to make a comment...

I've been thinking about the fade ability. Here's a brief take on it.

As the victim fades from view on the Material Plane he slowly gains substance on the shadow wolf's native plane (Plane of Shadow). Once the victim has full materialised (ie dead on the Material) the shadow wolf can eat its meal in piece.

Shadow Wolves in Mystara
Everything written above is true for Mystaran shadow wolves except for one point. A Mystaran shadow wolf is native to the Plane of Limbo. This has resulted in a very sinister practice. Unscrupulous people on the Plane of Limbo have domesticated shadow wolves and use them to capture victims from the Prime Plane. This is because life energy is the currency of the Plane of Limbo [see Dragon #180] and the hunters gather the victim's life force in specially prepared gems to be 'spent' at a later date.

Regards
Mortis
 

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