Converting "generic setting" Second Edition monsters

[Cleon]

I don't recall doing that. Con damage plus something based on symbol of pain again? Or Con plus a condition that denies you Dex to AC?

We could modify the scorpionfish or fish-scorpion's poison. They seem pretty similar:

Scorpionfish
Poison (Ex): Injury (spines), Fortitude DC 11; initial damage agonizing pain equal to a symbol of pain (-4 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks) for 2d6 minutes; secondary damage agonizing pain for 1d4 hours plus 1d4 Con damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Fish-Scorpion
Poison (Ex): Injury (spines or sting), Fortitude DC 13; initial damage agonizing pain (-4 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks) for 2d6 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage; secondary damage agonizing pain for 1d4 hours plus 1 Con damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

So, something like:

Scathe Poison (Ex) #1: Injury (bite), Fortitude DC 16; initial damage distracting pain (-1 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks) for 1d6 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage; secondary damage severe pain (-2 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks) for 5d4 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

The original description says the poison denies Dexterity bonuses, but making them flat-footed for the duration seems unduly harsh. How about a penalty to AC?

Scathe Poison (Ex) #2: Injury (bite), Fortitude DC 16; initial damage distracting pain (-1 penalty on attack rolls, armor class, skill checks, and ability checks) for 1d6 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage; secondary damage severe pain (-2 penalty on attack rolls, armor class, skill checks, and ability checks) for 5d4 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Do we want to include something to reflect the way two -1 pain penalties add to a -2 penalty in the original? Adding "The pain penalties from multiple scathe poison attacks stack, to a maximum of X." would seem to cover it, with X = -2 if we use the original penalty, or X = -4 if we use the scorpionfish's?

Scathe Poison (Ex) #3: Injury (bite), Fortitude DC 16; initial damage distracting pain (-1 penalty on attack rolls, armor class, skill checks, and ability checks) for 1d6 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage; secondary damage severe pain (-2 penalty on attack rolls, armor class, skill checks, and ability checks) for 5d4 minutes plus 1d3 Con damage. The pain penalties from multiple scathe poison attacks stack, to a maximum of -4. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[Shade]

#3 seems reasonable, if a bit wordy.

 

[Cleon]

#3 seems reasonable, if a bit wordy.

Better wordy than obscure.

There is room to cut a few words out...

Scathe Poison (Ex): Injury (bite), Fortitude DC 16; initial damage 1d3 Con damage plus 1d6 minutes of distracting pain (-1 penalty on attacks, armor class, skill and ability checks); secondary damage 1d3 Con damage plus severe pain (as distracting pain but -2 penalty) for 5d4 minutes. Penalties from multiple scathe poison attacks stack, to a maximum of -4. The save DC is Constitution-based.

That's only 10 fewer words, though.

 

[Shade]

Good enough!

Updated.

Organization: Solitary, pack (3-9), or nest (1-2 plus 2-5 larvae)?

Challenge Rating: 3?

Alignment: Usually neutral?

Advancement: x

Level Adjustment: +3?

A scathe is 5 feet tall and weighs x pounds.

 

[Cleon]

Good enough!

Updated.

Organization: Solitary, pack (3-9), or nest (1-2 plus 2-5 larvae)?

MC14 says their No. Appearing should be 4-16.

It's 2-5 larvae per nest. Assuming half a pack are female there could be up to 8 or so nest, so I think organization should be something like:

Organization: Solitary, pack (4-16), or colony (4-16 plus 4-40 larvae)

Challenge Rating: 3?

Alignment: Usually neutral?

Advancement: x

Level Adjustment: +3?

A scathe is 5 feet tall and weighs x pounds.

That looks OK.

Advancement: 5-8 HD (Medium?)

They're 5 foot tall humanoids who are related to gliding creatures, so I would guess they're fairly light - 120 pounds?

 

[Cleon]

Oh, one more thing. The original scathe had 120' infravision, so how about increasing darkvision to 120 ft.?

Secondly, the scathe was almost invisible to infravision, so how about making it difficult to see with darkvision?

 

[Shade]

MC14 says their No. Appearing should be 4-16.

It's 2-5 larvae per nest. Assuming half a pack are female there could be up to 8 or so nest, so I think organization should be something like:

Organization: Solitary, pack (4-16), or colony (4-16 plus 4-40 larvae)

I like.

Advancement: 5-8 HD (Medium?)

Sure.

They're 5 foot tall humanoids who are related to gliding creatures, so I would guess they're fairly light - 120 pounds?

That makes sense.

Oh, one more thing. The original scathe had 120' infravision, so how about increasing darkvision to 120 ft.?

Agreed. Updated.

Secondly, the scathe was almost invisible to infravision, so how about making it difficult to see with darkvision?

I'd rather not, since darkvision does not simply equal "updated infravision".

 

[Cleon]

I'd rather not, since darkvision does not simply equal "updated infravision".

Spoilsport, it seemed an interesting SQ.

I'm giving it to my version and there's nothing you can do to stop me!

 

[Shade]

I wouldn't dream of stopping a Cleon Special (TM) in progress!

So, are we finished with the scathes?

EDIT: Ooops...forgot the larva!

Scathe Larva
Climate/Terrain: Icy plains
Frequency: Very rare
Organization: Nest
Activity Cycle: Night
Diet: Carnivore (carrion)
Intelligence: Non- (0)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 2-5
Armor Class: 9
Movement: 1
Hit Dice: 1
THAC0: 19
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 1-6
Special Attacks: Nil
Special Defenses: Nil
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: T (1-2’)
Morale: Fearless (20)
XP Value: 35

Scathe larvae are identical to those of the harrier: small, wormlike creatures with mottled brown skin. They have a well-developed, though toothless, beak when they hatch, and this beak grows and develops as they do. A nearly-mature larva has limbs and other organs visible just under its skin. If enough food is available, the larva matures rapidly, shedding its skin after two months.

 

[freyar]

Sort of reminds me of neogi.

Uhh, 1HD, Tiny. I guess they still have average-ish Str based on the damage, and I'd expect Con to be ok. Dex is probably low-ish, and mental scores should be -, 10, 11 or so. Anything else?