Converting Forgotten Realms monsters
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Shade
Monster Junkie
Cleon
Legend
Nor I, but let's see if it passes the Cleon Test (TM).
I don't like this bit:
"An infested creature takes 2d4 points of Constitution damage per round, plus an additional 2d4 points of Constitution damage for each failed Reflex save against a crystal nipper swarm's attack. A successful DC 16 Fortitude save halves this damage."
That means if they fail the first Reflex save they take 4d4 Con damage per round, which is more than the 2d4 we were going for. If they fail three Reflex saves they'll take 8d4 Con damage per round, halved with a save - few living creatures would last very long with that amount of damage!
My initial thinking was something like "An infested creature takes 2d4 points of Constitution damage per round, a successful DC 16 Fortitude save halves this damage."
However, I like the idea of the damage increasing as they fail saves and get infested by more and more nippers.
How about the following (I corrected two mispelled "resurrection" and modified the "raise dead" bit a trifle):
Infestation (Ex): Any living creature that takes damage from a crystal nipper swarm might also be infested with crystal nippers each round. A creature must make a successful DC 18 Reflex save to dodge the swarming nippers or bat them aside. The crystal nipper infesting the creature burrow into its flesh. An infested creature takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage per round, plus an additional 1d4 points of Constitution damage for each failed Reflex save against a crystal nipper swarm's attack. A successful DC 16 Fortitude save halves this damage. After 2d4 rounds, the sated crystal nippers crawl or swim away. A crystal nipper infestation can be removed with a successful DC 20 Heal check, though this check (whether successful or not) deals 1d6 points of damage to the infested target. Alternatively, a crystal nipper infestation can be destroyed by remove disease or any other effect that halts or counters a disease. Such spells destroy all the crystal nippers inhabiting a target.
Medium or larger creatures that die from crystal nipper infestation spawn a new crystal nipper swarm within 2d4 days. Burning or otherwise destroying the body prevents this. Casting raise dead to restore a creature killed by a crystal nipper swarm but this does not destroy the crystal nippers infestation, casting remove disease or a similar spell in the round afterward removes the nippers normally. Resurrection and true resurrection destroy the crystal nipper when cast.
Oh, and should we add "The Reflex save is Dex-based, the Fort save is Con-based." or can we safely leave that unstated?
Cleon
Legend
Shade
Monster Junkie
Updated.
That finishes off the Fish of the Great Glacier.
Next...
Gray Flatfish: Int Non; AL N; MV Sw 3; HD 1 hp; #AT 1; Dmg nil; THAC0 20; SA victim has an 80 percent chance of being poisoned if he steps on or handles a flatfish (spines can puncture leather or equivalent); SZ T (1’ long); ML 2; XP 35.
The gray flatfish of the River Arkhen resemble granite stones about a half-inch thick and a foot in diameter. They lie perfectly still on the bottoms of shallow streams, eating any algae or refuse that happens to drift by. Travelers wading across streams may step on these fish by accident, as they’re virtually indistinguishable from stones. Pressure on the flatfish’s back causes dozens of inch-long spines to become erect; the tough spines can easily penetrate shoe leather. The spines inject poison that inflicts extreme, debilitating pain lasting as long as a week.
Poison Effects Table
Onset Time / Result of Failed Saving Throw*
Gray flatfish 2-8 rounds / Victim experiences intense pain throughout his body for next 2-8 days. During that time, he makes all attack rolls and ability checks at a -2 penalty.
*Victims of the Farrowdale mouse, copper opossum, and gray flatfish receive no modifiers to their saving throws. Cobra trout victims receive a -4 modifier.
Originally appeared in Elminster’s Ecologies (1994).
That finishes off the Fish of the Great Glacier.
Next...
Gray Flatfish: Int Non; AL N; MV Sw 3; HD 1 hp; #AT 1; Dmg nil; THAC0 20; SA victim has an 80 percent chance of being poisoned if he steps on or handles a flatfish (spines can puncture leather or equivalent); SZ T (1’ long); ML 2; XP 35.
The gray flatfish of the River Arkhen resemble granite stones about a half-inch thick and a foot in diameter. They lie perfectly still on the bottoms of shallow streams, eating any algae or refuse that happens to drift by. Travelers wading across streams may step on these fish by accident, as they’re virtually indistinguishable from stones. Pressure on the flatfish’s back causes dozens of inch-long spines to become erect; the tough spines can easily penetrate shoe leather. The spines inject poison that inflicts extreme, debilitating pain lasting as long as a week.
Poison Effects Table
Onset Time / Result of Failed Saving Throw*
Gray flatfish 2-8 rounds / Victim experiences intense pain throughout his body for next 2-8 days. During that time, he makes all attack rolls and ability checks at a -2 penalty.
*Victims of the Farrowdale mouse, copper opossum, and gray flatfish receive no modifiers to their saving throws. Cobra trout victims receive a -4 modifier.
Originally appeared in Elminster’s Ecologies (1994).
