Converting "generic setting" Second Edition monsters

[GrayLinnorm]

I say move on. This isn't Monster Manual IV.

 

[Cleon]

I say move on. This isn't Monster Manual IV.

Frankly, I can't be bothered unless we whip up a few special abilities for them or significantly changing their stats.

So I'm happy dropping it, assuming you don't fancy changing them to an "über kobold".

 

[Shade]

Let's just skip 'em. We've got plenty of other critters waiting.

Here's one...

Fire Phantom
[Note: This is a creature summoned using the "Fire Phantom" spell.]

"The physical appearance of a fire phantom is a fiery outline of a vaguely humanoid form, 7 feet tall. The phantom must remain within 30 feet of the caster; if it moves beyond this range the spell expired. Normal fires set by the fire phantom continue to burn after the phantom is gone.

The fire phantom (being of low Intelligence) follows all commands given by its summoner as long as the caster concentrates on controlling it. If the caster's concentration is broken, the phantom immediately attacks its summoner. [...] Any more powerful creature from the Elemental Plane of Fire can dismiss the fire phantom at will, or even turn it upon its summoner, regardless of other circumstances.

From Wizard's Spell Compendium, Volume Two.

Here's the original Dragon Magazine version...

Fire Phantom (Conjuration/Summoning)
Level: 3
Range: 3"
Duration: 3 rnds/lvl
AE: Special
Components: V,S,M
CT: 1 round
ST: None

Explanation/Description: This is a spell used to summon one of the weaker types of fire elementals: the fire phantom. The summoned creature has 2 +2 HD, AC 5, MV 12”, and can be hit by ordinary, nonmagical weaponry. The fire phantom attacks once per round for 1-8 hp damage, and can ignite any combustible materials upon contact. The physical appearance of a fire phantom is a fiery outline of a vaguely humanoid form, 7’ in height. The phantom must always remain within 30’ of the spell-caster; if it moves beyond this range the spell expires. Materials set aflame by the fire phantom continue to burn normally after the phantom is gone. The fire phantom (being of low intelligence) follows all commands given by its summoner as long as the magic-user concentrates on controlling it. If the spellcaster’s concentration is broken, the phantom immediately attacks the summoner. Otherwise, the fire phantom remains until it is destroyed or until the spell’s duration expires, whereupon it vanishes. Note that any more powerful creature from the Elemental Plane of Fire can dismiss the fire phantom at will, or even turn it upon its summoner, regardless of other circumstances.

The material component of this spell is a pint of oil which must be poured out and ignited during the casting of the spell.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #123 (1987).

 

[Cleon]

Let's just skip 'em. We've got plenty of other critters waiting.

Here's one...

Fire Phantom
[Note: This is a creature summoned using the "Fire Phantom" spell.]

I'm not seeing that much difference from an SRD Small Elemental.

It's smarter (Int 5-7), slower (30 ft.) and has a single 1d8 attack rather than two 1d4 attacks.

This shouldn't take long.

How about increasing the Strength to a 12 or 14,

 

[freyar]

Except it's 7 ft tall and clearly Medium. I agree, though, upsize a Small elemental and adjust the ability scores a bit. (Also, the Small and Medium elementals only have 1 slam.)

 

[Shade]

Except it's 7 ft tall and clearly Medium. I agree, though, upsize a Small elemental and adjust the ability scores a bit. (Also, the Small and Medium elementals only have 1 slam.)

That'll work, and adding the second slam will help differentiate them. We'll also need an ability that denotes their strong ties to the Elemental Plane of Fire, so strong that other beings from that flame can dismiss them back to that realm.

 

[Cleon]

Except it's 7 ft tall and clearly Medium. I agree, though, upsize a Small elemental and adjust the ability scores a bit. (Also, the Small and Medium elementals only have 1 slam.)

Dang it, I wasn't paying attention to the Slams.

Let's see, the Fire Elementals vital statistics are:

Small Fire Elemental: 2HD, +3 NA, Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11, One slam (1d4 plus 1d4 fire)
Medium Fire Elemental: 4HD, +3 NA, Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11, One slam (1d6+1 plus 1d6 fire)

Something like this for the new guy?

Fire Phantom: Medium Elemental, 2HD, +3 NA, Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11, One slam (1d8 plus 1d6 fire)

 

[freyar]

Those abilities would work. What do you think about adding another slam to differentiate them a little.

 

[Cleon]

Those abilities would work. What do you think about adding another slam to differentiate them a little.

The original writeup is quite specific about it only getting one attack, so I'd rather leave it at that. It does more damage than the equivalent Fire Elemental, so I guess that'll do.

 

[freyar]

Yes, I was pretty ambivalent about that extra slam. Agreed with leaving it off.

What about this?

Subservient to Fire (Ex?): A fire phantom is so tied to the plane of fire, that it can be controlled or banished by other elementals of the fire subtype. The other elemental attempts to turn the fire phantom as a cleric of its HD; the fire phantom resists as an undead with +2 turn resistance (?). A successful turn attempt indicates that the elemental may banish the fire phantom to the plane of fire. Alternately, the other elemental may attempt to command the fire phantom. The elemental makes an opposed level check against the caster who summoned the fire phantom; if the check succeeds, the elemental controls the phantom, and otherwise the phantom is banished as normal.