Converting "generic setting" Second Edition monsters

[Cleon]

Yeah, I'm not fond of requiring magic items as material components, especially since they require spell prereqs, which might have material components of their own!

A pricy crystal or gem seems a good compromise.

6th-level sounds about right. It can give far more information than contact other plane, but also runs the risk of releasing a dangerous outsider.

Okay, shall we start roughing it out then:

Question Ball
Conjuration?
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Duration: Concentration

A question ball spell conjures a magical sphere containing an extraplanar being which answers any questions put to it. The caster places a gem or piece of crystal atop a pile of sulphur and sets fire to it. While the flames consume the sulphur, the caster performs the verbal and somatic components of the spell, upon the completion of which the gem or crystal disappears in a sulphurous flash (no damage), leaving behind the "question ball", which resembles a shimmering sphere of crystal.

The being inside the question ball is bound to answer the caster's questions as payment for the gemstone that disappeared. It will answer one question per caster level. The caster must concentrate on maintaining the spell (a standard action) in order to ask questions or receive to the being's answers.

Some stuff about what questions it can answer. The being of the ball may give answers ranging from a simple "yes" or "no" to multiple sentences, but no answer will be longer than a minute. These beings have a 50% chance of answering accurately, the other 50% of the time the answer will be a well-crafted lie (the being has a +Y Bluff check).

If the question ball is broken, the being of the ball will appear and may attack the caster or anyone else in the vicinity before plane shifting away with whatever valuables it can lay its talons on. The ball can be broken by great physical force (AC A, hp B, DR C, Break DC D), or by having any dimensional travel, soul-trapping, banishment or monster summoning spell cast on it (no saving throw) - e.g. trap the soul, plus some other spells.

The question ball will vanish once the caster ceases concentrating or has used up all their questions.

Material component: A gem or piece of crystal worth at least X gold pieces.

 

[Shade]

A great start!

It's Bluff modifier is +16.

Things it might be able to answer could include anything pertaining to the planes, planar personages of note, and planar history.

The ball can be broken by great physical force (AC A, hp B, DR C, Break DC D), or by having any dimensional travel, soul-trapping, banishment or monster summoning spell cast on it (no saving throw) - e.g. trap the soul, plus some other spells.

Let's ditch the monster summoning spells (the range of spells is too wide, and it feels odd to me), and let's limit "dimensional travel" spells to specific high-level ones, such as plane shift and gate.

 

[Shade]

Updated with underbar using the proposed revisions.

5,000 gp for the material component?

 

[Cleon]

A great start!

It's Bluff modifier is +16.

Things it might be able to answer could include anything pertaining to the planes, planar personages of note, and planar history.

Let's ditch the monster summoning spells (the range of spells is too wide, and it feels odd to me), and let's limit "dimensional travel" spells to specific high-level ones, such as plane shift and gate.

That's OK by me. Shall we select some spells then - gate, greater shout, plane shift, trap the soul? How about adding the baleful teleport power?

I'd also like to rework the first sentence of that paragraph from "If the question ball is broken, the being of the ball will appear and may attack the caster or anyone else in the vicinity before plane shifting away with whatever valuables it can lay its talons on."

We've still got to decide the extent of the Being's knowledge for the "Some stuff about what questions it can answer" bit. I'm thinking "The being of the ball can answer questions about any object or creature except for divine beings, artifacts, and subjects concealed from divination by powerful magic such as the sequester or screen spells."

As for the 5,000 gp material cost that seems about right. A scroll of legend lore costs at least 950 gp and a question ball is a good deal more useful. Indeed it may be too useful, I am considering cutting it down to 1 question per 2 caster levels, like a contact other planes spell.

I'll stick some appropriate-feeling numbers in for the question ball's physical defences.

Revising...

Question Ball
Conjuration
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Duration: Concentration

A question ball spell conjures a magical sphere containing an extraplanar being which answers any questions put to it. The caster places a gem or piece of crystal atop a pile of sulphur and sets fire to it. While the flames consume the sulphur, the caster performs the verbal and somatic components of the spell, upon the completion of which the gem or crystal disappears in a sulphurous flash (no damage), leaving behind the "question ball", which resembles a shimmering sphere of crystal.

The being inside the question ball is bound to answer the caster's questions as payment for the gemstone that disappeared. It will answer one question per caster level. The caster must concentrate on maintaining the spell (a standard action) in order to ask questions or receive to the being's answers.

The being of the ball can answer questions about any object or creature except for divine beings, artifacts, and subjects concealed from divination by powerful magic such as the sequester or screen spells. The being of the ball may give answers ranging from a simple "yes" or "no" to multiple sentences, but no answer will be longer than a minute. These beings are deceitful. They have a 50% chance of answering accurately, the other 50% of the time the answer will be a well-crafted lie (a being of the ball has a +16 Bluff check). A being of the ball never answers "I don't know", it will always lie rather than admit ignorance.

If the question ball is broken, the being of the ball will appear and seek to kill its summoner and any other creature in its vicinity, if it wins the fight it will devour its summoner (or another victim if the summoner escaped its wrath) and then plane shifts away with any valuables it has taken a fancy to. The ball can be broken by great physical force (AC 20, hp 30, DR 10/adamantine, Break DC 30) or by having the psionic power baleful teleport or the spells gate, greater shout, plane shift or trap the soul cast upon it (no saving throw).

The question ball will vanish once the caster ceases concentrating or has used up all their questions.

Material component: A gem or piece of crystal worth at least 5,000 gold pieces.

 

[Shade]

It looks great!

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

It looks great!

Updated.

Does that mean they're done then?

The only thing that looks a bit suspect is the "A being of the ball's natural weapons, as well as any weapons it wields, are treated as evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction."

They're neutral, so should we change this to "are treated as magical" ?

 

[Shade]

Oops! Nope, we should just remove it.

Updated. I think we're finished. I like how these originally "barebones" creatures developed!

 

[Cleon]

Oops! Nope, we should just remove it.

Updated. I think we're finished. I like how these originally "barebones" creatures developed!

Yup, I think this being turned out particularly nicely.

Anyhow, it looks done.

 

[freyar]

I wouldn't mind making it a little easier for the ball to break accidentally, but I can live with it as is.

Actually, shouldn't the ball have hardness rather than DR, as an object?

 

[Shade]

Actually, shouldn't the ball have hardness rather than DR, as an object?

Yes, yes it should. Hardness 10?