Spelljammer Converting Spelljammer creatures

[Cleon]

I'm with Shade. The "recharge time" reminds me of a breath weapon, which is also Con-based.

In fact, here's a take on the ability based on a breath weapon. I'm trying to make the recharge time a bit more standard 3.X, but as compensation I'm changing the bolts to lines of electricity. All open to negotiation.

Lightning (Su): A stargazer can unleash two 30 ft lines of electricity from its eyes, which do 6d6 electricity damage each (DC X Reflex save halves). The stargazer can use this attack every 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

That looks OK to me.

 

[freyar]

Do we need to put in something about being in sunlight to recharge?

 

[Shade]

Do we need to put in something about being in sunlight to recharge?

I'd be fine with or without that requirement.

 

[Cleon]

I'd be fine with or without that requirement.

I'd prefer to include the recharging, yes.

Come to think of it, I'd prefer the recharging without the "breath weapon" type delay between strikes:

Lightning (Su): A stargazer can unleash two 30 ft lines of electricity from its eyes, which do 6d6 electricity damage each (DC X Reflex save halves). The stargazer can attack with lightning three times (six lines of lightning) before it exhausts its internal electrical charge. It recharges its lightning power by basking in light (5 minutes in sunlight or 1 hour in starlight to recharge one twin-line lightning attack). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Can it overlap its lightning to do 12d6 damage to a target or must the lines be separate?

 

[freyar]

Where do you get 5 minutes and 1 hour? I'd like it to be considerably shorter. That is, something on the order of a few rounds, so it might come up in battle again.

Then again, I'm probably ok with the usual breath-weapon-like recharge. Maybe just say that it can only recharge in high enough levels of light.

 

[Cleon]

Where do you get 5 minutes and 1 hour? I'd like it to be considerably shorter. That is, something on the order of a few rounds, so it might come up in battle again.

I pulled the numbers down from the stars using my Astronomical Rule Making Up special ability. Either that or I made something up because I thought it would be fun.

If we follow the original they can use their twin-lightning-eyes three times before needing to recharge, which should be enough for most fights.

Then again, I'm probably ok with the usual breath-weapon-like recharge. Maybe just say that it can only recharge in high enough levels of light.

Well I'd be willing to consider that too, but you know I prefer to cleave as close as I can to the original monster.

How high is "high enough". I think we need to include recharge times for "normal daylight" and "normal night / starlight".

 

[Shade]

Then again, I'm probably ok with the usual breath-weapon-like recharge. Maybe just say that it can only recharge in high enough levels of light.

Well I'd be willing to consider that too, but you know I prefer to cleave as close as I can to the original monster.

How high is "high enough". I think we need to include recharge times for "normal daylight" and "normal night / starlight".

Yeah, I think I'm happier that way as well. How about the standard 1d4+1 rounds in normal light conditions, and twice as long (2d4+2) in dim light?

 

[Cleon]

Yeah, I think I'm happier that way as well. How about the standard 1d4+1 rounds in normal light conditions, and twice as long (2d4+2) in dim light?

I still prefer the ability to lightning-bolt three times without needing pauses or recharging. Considering it lives in space, there's a good chance the PCs it'll be facing will be able to keep out of melee reach (by being on a Spelljammer, for example), and if it can only attack them once every 2-5 rounds it'll be at a severe disadvantage.

I would prefer a 1d4+1 round recharge time (varying with light-level) with a 3-charge maximum capacity.

 

[freyar]

I think that's what Shade means: 3 twin-bolts followed by 1d4+1 or 2d4+2 rounds recharge.

Oh, I know it doesn't say anything one way or the other in the original text, but I'll say no overlapping the lines.

PS: It seems we're settled on the unusual mechanic, but one argument in favor of the dragon-like recharge is that we've boosted the lightning from single-target rays to lines.

 

[Shade]

I think that's what Shade means: 3 twin-bolts followed by 1d4+1 or 2d4+2 rounds recharge.

Works for me.