Converting "generic setting" Second Edition monsters

[Cleon]

Here's one...

Screech (Su): Ba'atun can emit a loud, piercing and chilling screech as a free action. All creatures within 60 feet of the ba’atun must make a successful Will save (DC 17) or be struck by fear and be cowering for one full round. Each round that the screeching lasts, victims must make another successful saving throw at the beginning of initiative to be able to act. Only one saving throw per round is required (at the highest DC within range of each character), no matter how many ba'atun there are. This is a sonic, mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

So, do you just want to repurpose that Special Attack?

 

[Shade]

So, do you just want to repurpose that Special Attack?

That works for me.

 

[Cleon]

That works for me.

Feel free to go ahead and repurpose it then.

 

[freyar]

So in that case, the save is after the critters start screeching at the highest initiative score? That seems to solve things.

 

[Cleon]

So in that case, the save is after the critters start screeching at the highest initiative score? That seems to solve things.

It looks like it's the same mechanism as I originally wanted, except the wording is different.

Thus, I consider it acceptable.

 

[freyar]

So, something like this (adding some clarification)?

Stunning Shriek (Ex?): Water leapers can emit a horrible shriek as a standard action. At the start of the next initiative count, all creatures within 30 feet of a shrieking water leaper must make a successful Fort save or be stunned for 1 round. Each round that the shrieking lasts, victims must make another successful saving throw at the beginning of initiative or be stunned. Only one saving throw per round is required (at the highest DC within range of each character), no matter how many shrieking water leapers there are. This is a sonic effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[Cleon]

So, something like this (adding some clarification)?

Stunning Shriek (Ex?): Water leapers can emit a horrible shriek as a standard action. At the start of the next initiative count, all creatures within 30 feet of a shrieking water leaper must make a successful Fort save or be stunned for 1 round. Each round that the shrieking lasts, victims must make another successful saving throw at the beginning of initiative or be stunned. Only one saving throw per round is required (at the highest DC within range of each character), no matter how many shrieking water leapers there are. This is a sonic effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

It doesn't need "At the start of the next initiative count" and the "no matter how many shrieking water leapers there are" looks like it needs work.

Oh, and I still say it should be (Su)!

Shriek (Su!): Water leapers can emit a horrible shriek as a standard action. All creatures within 30 feet of a water leaper must make a successful Fortitude save (DC 11) or be stunned for 1 round. Each round that the screeching lasts, victims must make another successful saving throw at the beginning of initiative to be able to act. Only one saving throw per round is required (at the highest DC within range of each character), no matter how many water leapers are shrieking. This is a sonic effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[freyar]

It does need the "At the start of the next initiative count," or the DM doesn't know what DC to set the save at unless all the water leapers are garden-variety! That's been the problem, the whole time! If there's a super-tough water leaper acting late in the initiative count, the DM should be allowed to change his or her mind about whether that leaper is going to shriek.

As for Ex vs Su, I'm not too bothered. I think I just copy-pasted that bit.

 

[Cleon]

It does need the "At the start of the next initiative count," or the DM doesn't know what DC to set the save at unless all the water leapers are garden-variety! That's been the problem, the whole time! If there's a super-tough water leaper acting late in the initiative count, the DM should be allowed to change his or her mind about whether that leaper is going to shriek.

But the "start of the next initiative count" bit uses the standard Water Leaper DC and makes no mention of a "super-tough leaper".

I'd be OK with it like this...

Shriek (Su): Water leapers can emit a horrible shriek as a standard action. All creatures within 30 feet of a shrieking water leaper must make a successful Fortitude save at the start of their next initiative count or be stunned for 1 round. Only one saving throw per round is required, no matter how many water leapers are shrieking, at the highest DC within range of each victim. A typical water leaper's shriek is DC 11. Each round that the shrieking continues, victims must make another successful Fortitude save at the beginning of their initiative to be able to act. This is a sonic effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[freyar]

I believe that will work (finally)!

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?