Converting Forgotten Realms monsters

[Cleon]

Just drop the bit about swallowing prey whole?

That's OK by me. It's not in the original, I just thought it appropriate for a snake-like fish.

None of the mundane snakes in the SRD Animal section have Swallow Whole, and they presumably eat prey in the same fashion as real-world snakes.

Updated.

 

[Shade]

The latest revision looks good. I'm ready to call it finished and move it to Homebrews if you all agree.

 

[Cleon]

The latest revision looks good. I'm ready to call it finished and move it to Homebrews if you all agree.

Hold on, why on earth did I give it Hide +15? Must be a carry over from a previous beastie. It doesn't have any ranks or bonuses in Hide, so I should have left that skill out.

What about giving it some benefit from its "silvery scales" - maybe they help it hide in water? They're also supposedly easy to see when on land. Maybe add something like this:

Silvery Scales (Ex): When in clear, brightly lit water the reflections off its silvery scales give a cobra fish a +4 circumstance bonus on Hide checks. Contrariwise, a cobra fish has a -4 circumstance penalty on Hide checks if it is adjacent to a dark or non-shiny background (i.e. when crawling across dry land).
​

Thinking it over, I'm tempted to give it some or all of a snakes' racial bonuses to skills. Maybe at reduced numbers?

Snakes have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. A snake can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. Snakes use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A snake has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

How's this?

Cobra fish have a +4 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. Cobra fish use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A cobra fish has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
​

That works out to:

Skills: Balance +6, Climb +6, Hide +10*, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +10

 

[freyar]

Why not just give it a Hide bonus when in water? I don't fancy the penalty so much for being on land; we can just reduce the ranks to reflect (hah!) its lack of hiding ability.

Also, despite being snake-like, it's still a fish. I'm not sold on the Balance or especially Climb bonuses.

 

[Shade]

Why not just give it a Hide bonus when in water? I don't fancy the penalty so much for being on land; we can just reduce the ranks to reflect (hah!) its lack of hiding ability.

Also, despite being snake-like, it's still a fish. I'm not sold on the Balance or especially Climb bonuses.

Agreed with all this.

I'm always fine with including Hide and Jump ranks in stat lines, even when lacking racial bonuses, if the creature gets size or speed adjustments.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed with all this.

I'm always fine with including Hide and Jump ranks in stat lines, even when lacking racial bonuses, if the creature gets size or speed adjustments.

I'm okay with a "Hide in water" bonus instead.

How about +4, so it gets Hide +10* (+14 in water)?

As for Climb and Balance, I don't mind dropping the Balance but think we should keep the Climb (since it may need it to clamber up steep stream banks or over slippery rocks).

Revising...

Cobra trout have a +4 racial bonus on Climb checks and use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A cobra trout has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

*Cobra trout have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when in clear water, due to the reflections off their silvery scales.
​

That works out to:

Skills: Climb +6, Hide +10*, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +10

 

[freyar]

Fair compromise.

 

[Cleon]

Fair compromise.

Updated.

Is it done then?

That 5 ft. land speed looks awful slow for something that's supposed to catch prey on land, but it follows the speed of the original.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Is it done then?

Aye! Moved to Homebrews.

That 5 ft. land speed looks awful slow for something that's supposed to catch prey on land, but it follows the speed of the original.

I suppose it catches them unawares.

 

[Cleon]

Aye! Moved to Homebrews.

Hold on, "temperate marshes" can't be right for the environment? It should be "Temperate aquatic" like the Gray Flatfish?

I'll Update it.

I suppose it catches them unawares.

Nah, it preys on the little known Vanity Frog. It attracts their attention with its flashing scales and when the frog comes closer to admire its reflection in the cobra trout's mirror-like body it gets bitten.