Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead

[freyar]

Well, normally a victim of energy drain would rise as a wight, but a bodak would be pretty cool in this case.

Demon fever or some appropriately boosted version would seem appropriate for the disease conveyed by the left hoof. And I'm sure we've worked out an aging effect (or several) before now. Also, do we want to keep the right/left hoof business or give him the choice on either hoof?

 

[Cleon]

Well, normally a victim of energy drain would rise as a wight, but a bodak would be pretty cool in this case.

Demon fever or some appropriately boosted version would seem appropriate for the disease conveyed by the left hoof. And I'm sure we've worked out an aging effect (or several) before now. Also, do we want to keep the right/left hoof business or give him the choice on either hoof?

I like the sinister and dexter hooves, let's keep them.

 

[freyar]

Then we'll have Attack: right hoof +X melee (1d10+12 plus "aging") or left hoof +X melee (1d10+12 plus disease) and Full Attack: right hoof +X melee (1d10+12 plus "aging") and left hoof +X melee (1d10+12 plus disease). Sound good?

 

[Shade]

24 HD and bodak as the result of the gaze both appeal.

Updated.

I'd like to rename the gaze as "death stealer" is really the nabassu's niche. How about "tenebrous gaze", after Orcus's alternate identity?

Demon fever is normally 1d6 Con, and the character must succeed at another saving throw or 1 point of temporary damage is permanent drain instead. Boost it to 2d6 and chance of 2 points drain?

Here's an aging effect we used previously...

Voidstrike (Su): The touch of a dark lord deals 1d12 points of negative energy damage and subjects the victim to its energy drain attack. Additionally, a successful hit prematurely ages the victim unless it succeeds on a Fortitude save. This imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, and causes the victim's hair to turn white, skin to wrinkle, and posture to stoop. This effect is permanent and can only be removed by a break enchantment effect.

...and another...

From the ker's "ker blight":
The second successful hit against a single target prematurely ages the victim unless it succeeds on a DC 18 Fortitude save. This imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, and causes the victim's hair to turn white, skin to wrinkle, and posture to stoop. This effect lasts for 1 year our until the victim receives a remove curse spell.

 

[Cleon]

24 HD and bodak as the result of the gaze both appeal.

Updated.

I'd like to rename the gaze as "death stealer" is really the nabassu's niche. How about "tenebrous gaze", after Orcus's alternate identity?

Demon fever is normally 1d6 Con, and the character must succeed at another saving throw or 1 point of temporary damage is permanent drain instead. Boost it to 2d6 and chance of 2 points drain?

That just means "dark gaze" though. I'd prefer something that meant "death gaze" such as Thanatist Gaze.

Here's an aging effect we used previously...

Voidstrike (Su): The touch of a dark lord deals 1d12 points of negative energy damage and subjects the victim to its energy drain attack. Additionally, a successful hit prematurely ages the victim unless it succeeds on a Fortitude save. This imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, and causes the victim's hair to turn white, skin to wrinkle, and posture to stoop. This effect is permanent and can only be removed by a break enchantment effect.

...and another...

From the ker's "ker blight":
The second successful hit against a single target prematurely ages the victim unless it succeeds on a DC 18 Fortitude save. This imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, and causes the victim's hair to turn white, skin to wrinkle, and posture to stoop. This effect lasts for 1 year our until the victim receives a remove curse spell.

Well if they're rendered old and decrepit, I'd think it would slow them down too. How about "This imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution and the victim can not run or charge" for the effect?

Oh, and is the penalty cumulative, so three kicks are a -12 penalty?

Something like:

Curse of Aging (Su): Every time a Hamaculi hits with its dexter hoof, its opponent must succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or prematurely age - causing the victim's hair to turn white, skin to wrinkle, and posture to stoop. This curse imposes a -4 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution and the victim can no longer run or charge. The penalty is cumulative (so three failed saves would result in a -12 Str, Dex and Con), and should the victim's Con drop to 0 they will die. This effect is permanent, but can be removed by a wish, miracle or break enchantment spell, or by the victim drinking an elixir of youth or similar potion (the elixir removes the curse but does not reduce the drinker's age as it normally would). A spellcaster must succeed at a DC X level check to use break enchantment to remove the curse of aging.

 

[Shade]

I'd rather not reduce the speed because, while logical, none of the other D&D aging effects do that. I'd prefer game consistency to realism.

That's an excellent question about the cumulative nature. I'm surprised that didn't arise when we discussed the dark lord. I'd say "no", since it essentially is pushing a character past "venerable" on the age chart. Beyond that, they'd be dead.

Let's also stick to "left" and "right", as I'm not sure most DMs know what "dexter" and its companion mean (I don't! )

 

[freyar]

I'll agree not to reduce speed/allow them to run and charge for the same reasons as Shade.

Hmm. I kind of like the cumulative idea, but I can see the reason not to do that.

Ah, good old Latin. Note how left-handed people are "sinister." My wife, who's a lefty, really hates that. There's also a theory (that's discredited but sadly still hanging around the medical establishment) that left-handedness is caused by brain damage. If you ever see a neurologist, one of the first things they'll ask is if you're left-handed.

 

[Shade]

Ah, good old Latin. Note how left-handed people are "sinister." My wife, who's a lefty, really hates that. There's also a theory (that's discredited but sadly still hanging around the medical establishment) that left-handedness is caused by brain damage. If you ever see a neurologist, one of the first things they'll ask is if you're left-handed.

Those leftist bastards!

If we want to make it cumulative, we can reduce the penalty to -1 Str, -1 Con, and -1 Dex, to a maximum of -5, which would follow the aging chart more closely (rather than jumping straight to venerable). Sound appealing?

Thoughts on the "greater demon fever" described upthread?

 

[freyar]

Let's make it cumulative and have it be -1 each hit. Good idea.

I liked the 2d6 and chance of 2 being permanent drain for the greater demon fever.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

What about this?

Non-magical armor, upon receiving a second hit with the right hoof, will disintegrate in a shower of rust Magical armor must save versus disintegration each time it is hit: If the save is made, nothing happens to the armor; if not made, the armor loses + 1 permanently. When all bonuses are gone, the magical armor is treated as non-magical armor.

Rust (Su): If Dispater succeeds on a touch, his touch causes the target metal to corrode, falling to pieces and becoming useless immediately. His touch can destroy a 10-foot-cube of metal instantly. Magic armor, weapons, and other magic items made of metal must succeed on a DC 36 Reflex save or be dissolved. The save DC is Constitution-based.

A metal weapon that deals damage to Dispater corrodes immediately unless its bearer succeeds on a DC 36 Reflex save. Wooden, stone, and other nonmetallic weapons are unaffected. Dispater can suppress or resume his rusting touch ability as a free action. The save DC is Constitution-based.