Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Cleon]

Yes, something like that seems familiar. Tsochars from Lords of Madness can infiltrate a host's body, but that's more like dominate. Yakfolk, too. Maybe hellwasps?

Well, the original description says it works like polymorph other, including the duration, so why not use the 3E equivalent spell as a basis?

Something like:

Skinstealing (Su): If a windigo personally kills a humanoid opponent, it can wear the corpse's skin and assume the form of its victim. Skinstealing is a [full round?] action, and the windigo must steal the skin within [1 hour] of a victim's death. The windigo gains the physical abilities of its new form as per the spell polymorph [or as per the Change Self ability?]. A windigo can retain a stolen form for [X minutes], after which it tears through its victim's skin and reverts to its true form. [It also reverts to its true form if its stolen skin is ripped by the windigo taking more than Y points of damage from slashing or piercing weapons?]

 

[Shade]

Let's not use polymorph, since WotC went on a polymorph-purge in the errata since the spell is so broken.

Basing it on change shape might work.

 

[Cleon]

Let's not use polymorph, since WotC went on a polymorph-purge in the errata since the spell is so broken.

Basing it on change shape might work.

I'm not sure Change Shape is any better, to be honest, but I'm OK either way.

Alternatively, if we're aiming for a "softer option" we could use alter self as a model instead.

 

[Shade]

Change self might work.

 

[Cleon]

Change self might work.

What about alter self though?

Or make it a "skin deep" disguise which does not alter the Windigo's stats, using disguise self as a model? The original does describe the appearance as an "illusion".

 

[freyar]

I still like basing it on the hell wasps. If not, change shape or disguise self seem like the best fits. I suppose alternate form could work too.

 

[Cleon]

I still like basing it on the hell wasps. If not, change shape or disguise self seem like the best fits. I suppose alternate form could work too.

Would you care to present a draft special ability based on that?

 

[Shade]

Would you care to present a draft special ability based on that?

<Uses change self to appear as freyar> Sure!

 

[Cleon]

<Uses change self to appear as freyar> Sure!

You didn't expect to fool me with such a low level spell, did you?

Feel free to present a draft SQ, Oh Shady One.

 

[freyar]

Yes, go ahead, Shade.

Or, here's a start:

Skinstealing (Ex): A windigo swarm can wear the skin of a Small, Medium, or Large dead creature. Any attack against the host deals half damage to the windigo as well. When a windigo steals the skin of a dead creature, it can restore animation to the creature and control its movements, effectively transforming it into a zombie (?) of the appropriate size for as long as the windigo wears its skin.

Need something about kicking it out, etc.