Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[Cleon]

Let's go for Perform (dance) or Tumble. Does my proposed notes = check result - DC work for you? I think the 3.X equivalent would be DC 10.

Upon reflection, the original rule used a Dexterity check that did not require any special skill on the part of the caprine, so I'm reluctant to have the only Dex-based option be the Trained Only skill Tumble.

How about making it a DC 10 ability check OR a DC 15 skill check?

i.e.

Dancing: The caprine dances dizzily for at least 10 minutes with one or more willing dance partners. At the end of this period, the caprine attempts either a DC 10 Dexterity check, a DC 15 Perform (dance) check or a DC 15 Tumble check. If they succeed, they accumulate resonance notes equal to one plus the amount by which their check result exceeded the DC up to a maximum equal to the number of partners the caprine is dancing with. For example, a caprine that rolled 14 on a DC 10 Dexterity check would earn 5 resonance notes from Dancing provided it has five or more dancing partners.

I've thought of another couple of points I wanted to raise.

The original resonance accumulation abilities were level-dependent, as follows:

Cavorting: No level requirement
Music (changed to Performing): caprines level 2 or higher
Drinking: caprines level 3 or higher
Dancing: caprines level 4 or higher
Reveling: caprines level 5 or higher
Consorting: caprines level 6 or higher

Should we stick to that? It would be a simple matter of adding to "Caprines of 4 or higher Hit Dice can perform this resonance method." I'm inclined to forget about it for the Music and Drinking abilities since those are within the limits of the 3 HD "Normal Monster" version of the original Caprine.

Also, I was thinking we should add the following general rule:

With the exception of the most basic method of Cavorting, all resonance methods require skill or ability checks and the participation of one or more partners. The Aid Another action cannot be used to enhance the checks made to strike resonance but any other bonus to skill or ability checks apply, including the use the caprine's empowerment ability. Two or more caprines may simultaneously strike resonance off each other – for example, a group of caprines in a "dance party" can each use the dancing method and include the other caprines as their dancing partners. Each caprine in such a group makes their resonance checks separately.

 

[freyar]

I will agree to all that! Are we ready to move from dancing to the next one? Perhaps Music/Performing?

 

[Cleon]

I will agree to all that!

Updating the Resonance Working Draft.

I reordered the methods to be in order of level.

Are we ready to move from dancing to the next one? Perhaps Music/Performing?

Let's do them in order of level like the original, which would make Music next.

I'll edit the Resonance Working Draft accordingly.

 

[freyar]

OK, playing music it is. Mechanically, the original boils down to +1 note for each point that the check exceeds some DC, though I'm not seeing anything that indicates what the DC should be. I think I'd go with DC 10 Cha check vs DC 15 Perform check. That makes it similar to the Dancing but without the cap from the number of partners. Sound good to you?

 

[Cleon]

OK, playing music it is. Mechanically, the original boils down to +1 note for each point that the check exceeds some DC, though I'm not seeing anything that indicates what the DC should be. I think I'd go with DC 10 Cha check vs DC 15 Perform check. That makes it similar to the Dancing but without the cap from the number of partners. Sound good to you?

If I remember correctly the original used a straight roll-under ability check so, for example if a Charisma 15 caprine rolls a 13 it's 3 levels of success - two more than the "first level of success" of just matching the ability score.

Didn't I say that before on this thread though?

Also, there's still a cap equal to the number of people able to listen to the music as it's "1 note per listener".

 

[freyar]

You did probably say that, and I forgot since I don't get to post nearly as often as I'd like. But I think we converted that previously to a DC 10 ability check or DC 15 skill check, so how does that sound to you?

I don't interpret the notes=listeners bit as a cap as much as "one person stops to listen per 'success level,' and each listener contributes one resonance note." But I guess we should put in a caveat that the DM can limit the number of listeners in a remote setting, though honestly there should be enough fey or monsters around to contribute an effectively unlimited number of listeners almost anywhere in a D&D world.

 

[Cleon]

You did probably say that, and I forgot since I don't get to post nearly as often as I'd like. But I think we converted that previously to a DC 10 ability check or DC 15 skill check, so how does that sound to you?

I don't interpret the notes=listeners bit as a cap as much as "one person stops to listen per 'success level,' and each listener contributes one resonance note." But I guess we should put in a caveat that the DM can limit the number of listeners in a remote setting, though honestly there should be enough fey or monsters around to contribute an effectively unlimited number of listeners almost anywhere in a D&D world.

Okay, that'd make it something like this:

Music: The caprine plays music in front of a willing audience for at least 10 minutes. At the end of their performance, the caprine attempts either a DC 10 Charisma check or a DC 15 Perform (music) check. If they succeed, they accumulate resonance notes equal to one plus the amount by which their check result exceeded the DC up to a maximum equal to the number of intelligent creatures in the audience. For example, a caprine that rolled 14 on a DC 10 Dexterity check would earn 5 resonance notes from Music provided it has an audience numbering five or more.

We could add an 'alternative skill' to Perform (music) like we did with Dancing. Diplomacy seems appropriate.

Inspiring Performance: The caprine plays music or gives a speech to a willing audience for at least 10 minutes. At the end of their performance, the caprine attempts either a DC 10 Charisma check, a DC 15 Perform (music) check, or a DC 15 Diplomacy check. If they succeed, they accumulate resonance notes equal to one plus the amount by which their check result exceeded the DC up to a maximum equal to the number of intelligent creatures in the audience. For example, a caprine that rolled 14 on a DC 10 Dexterity check would earn 5 resonance notes from Music provided it has an audience numbering five or more.

I lean towards the Perform-only version though.

 

[freyar]

I'm fine with Perform only, but I still don't want the implied cap. I would instead write it like

Music: The caprine plays music in front of a willing audience for at least 10 minutes. At the end of their performance, the caprine attempts either a DC 10 Charisma check or a DC 15 Perform (music) check. If they succeed, a number of intelligent creatures equal to 1 plus the amount by which the caprine's check exceeds the DC gather to listen, and the caprine gains one resonance note per audience member. For example, a caprine that rolled 14 on a DC 10 Dexterity check would earn 5 resonance notes and gather an audience of 5 creatures. However, if the DM deems that there are not sufficient intelligent creatures nearby, the caprine can only gain notes up to the maximum practical size of the audience.

 

[Cleon]

I'm fine with Perform only, but I still don't want the implied cap. I would instead write it like

Music: The caprine plays music in front of a willing audience for at least 10 minutes. At the end of their performance, the caprine attempts either a DC 10 Charisma check or a DC 15 Perform (music) check. If they succeed, a number of intelligent creatures equal to 1 plus the amount by which the caprine's check exceeds the DC gather to listen, and the caprine gains one resonance note per audience member. For example, a caprine that rolled 14 on a DC 10 Dexterity check would earn 5 resonance notes and gather an audience of 5 creatures. However, if the DM deems that there are not sufficient intelligent creatures nearby, the caprine can only gain notes up to the maximum practical size of the audience.

I'm fine with that, except that I just realized it still has a stray "Dexterity check" from being copied from the Dancing notes.

Updating the Resonance Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

Imbibing looks pretty similar to to Music but with a Con check. Can you think of any skill to go along with it? Profession (cooking) or something? That doesn't seem quite right.