Special Conversion Thread: Finishing off the oozes


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Cleon

Legend
Since I noticed we are missing conversions of a few Oozes, so we've decided to cast resurrection on this thread.

I'll begin by posting the AD&D stats for the Slithering Hoard from The Wyrmskull Throne. We also seem to be missing the Flareater and Subterranean Puddings (Stone Pudding, Dense Pudding & Gray Pudding) from Ruins of Undermountain II & Monstrous Compendium Annual 2.

So, by the slimy power of Juiblex I call upon this thread to rise from the dead!

Arise I command you!
 

Cleon

Legend
Slithering Hoard

Slithering Hoard
Climate/Terrain: Any
Frequency: Very rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Omnivorous scavenger
Intelligence: Low (5-7)
Treasure: B, S, Z
Alignment: Neutral evil
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 4
Movement: 9, Sw 6 (flaps like ixitxachitl, ray)
Hit Dice: 5
THAC0: 17
No. of Attacks: 2
Damage/Attack: 2d8/2d8
Special Attacks: Suffocation
Special Defenses: Immune to electrical, paralyzation, and fear, hold, polymorph, and sleep-based attacks
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: L (20’ diameter sphere)
Morale: Steady (11)
XP Value: 1,400

Slithering hoards are modified cousins of the gelatinous cube that appear as amorphous blobs about twenty feet in diameter with bits of metal (often treasure) coating them. They exude a gluey substance that they use to adhere coins, gems, small weapons, and pieces of armor as an outer layer. This outer coating of detritus functions both as a set of teeth and also as a protective coating of armor. The slithering hoard flows toward its victims and wraps itself around them, grinding them with their metallic “teeth”, while at the same time suffocating them.

Combat: The slithering hoard has the general consistency of a squishy gel, and it attacks by warping its generally spherical shape into one or two pseudopods that lash out and envelop its prey. Each of these attacks inflict 2d8 points of damage, and a victim so attacked must roll a successful saving throw vs. paralyzation or become enveloped within the slithering hoard’s mass. The creature can either make two attacks against a single victim (forcing two separate saving throws) or one each against two different opponents. Victims trapped inside the slithering hoard automatically suffer 1d6 points of digestive damage and are in danger of suffocating.

Electricity, fear, hold, paralyzation, polymorph, and sleep-based attacks have no effect on slithering hoards, but fire and blows from weapons have normal effects. If a slithering hoard fails its saving throw against a cold-based attack, it is slowed to 50% its normal movement and only inflicts 1d4 points of damage per attack.

Habitat/Society: What little intelligence the slithering hoard possesses guides it to find loose treasure that it can use as its teeth and armor. Beyond that, it has a voracious appetite for organic material. It displays a crude bit of cunning, almost instinctual, in its hunting habits. It has learned to adapt to its surroundings and take advantage of its natural camouflage to lure prey to it. In dungeons, it can compress itself into a pile shape, using its protective treasure coating to appear as a large pile of coins, gems, potions, etc. Underwater, it is even harder to spot, and it can bury itself among silt or other debris and appear as loose treasure undulating in the current. If a slithering hoard spends sufficient time underwater, it learns to move with a crude swimming motion, extruding fins of a sort from its mass to propel itself.

Ecology: The slithering hoard was created by the Red Wizards of Thay, who adapted gelatinous cubes for the unique and insidious task of paying retribution to their enemies. The hoard was hidden in weak ceramic jars and then secreted among tributes and ransoms sent to various states and rich persons, where, once it was deposited among a true treasure hoard, would dissolve its container and adapt the treasure around it, becoming a nasty surprise for the recipients.

Originally appeared in Wyrmskull Throne (1999).
 

freyar

Extradimensional Explorer
Just start with a cube and modify a bit?

Are you sure we didn't do those puddings? The stone one sounds vaguely familiar.
 

Cleon

Legend
Just start with a cube and modify a bit?

Yes, it'll definitely start out as a Gelatinous Cube.

I'm thinking we should just slap on a couple of special abilities borrowed from a Slime Worm.

Are you sure we didn't do those puddings? The stone one sounds vaguely familiar.

Yes, I thought that way too but I couldn't find an existing conversion.

Might have been getting it mixed up with the Marble Pudding.
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
Yes, it'll definitely start out as a Gelatinous Cube.

I'm thinking we should just slap on a couple of special abilities borrowed from a Slime Worm.

That sounds about right.


Yes, I thought that way too but I couldn't find an existing conversion.

Might have been getting it mixed up with the Marble Pudding.

I think we deliberately skipped 'em at the time due to the Bestiary of the Realms 2 containing them.
 


Cleon

Legend
Slithering Hoard
Huge Ooze
Hit Dice:
5d10+45 (73 hp)
Initiative: -5
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), swim 15 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (-2 size, -5 Dex, +13 armor), touch 3, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+13
Attack: Slam +4 melee (1d6+3 plus 1d6 acid and paralysis)
Full Attack: 2 slams +4 melee (1d6+3 plus 1d6 acid
and paralysis)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Acid, engulf, paralysis
Special Qualities: Blindsight 60 ft., camouflage, immunity to electricity, ooze traits
Saves: Fort +10, Ref -4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 1, Con 28, Int 5, Wis 8, Cha 1
Skills: Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +10
Feats: Ability Focus (engulf), Weapon Focus (slam)
Environment: Underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Triple coins, double goods, 50% items
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 6-12 HD (Huge); 13-25 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment:

A huge mound of coins, weapons and bits of broken metal slithers across the ground. Gaps open between pieces of metal here and there, revealing the mound's interior is a translucent mass of living gel.

Slithering hoards are omnivorous oozes related to gelatinous cubes. A slithering hoard's gelatinous body exudes a sticky slime which it uses to cover itself in coins, small weapons, armor pieces, and other bits of metal. The hoard's outer coating serves as protective armor and as "teeth" to grind food. It will use other detritus if no metal is available (stones, bones et cetera), but this may affect its armor bonus.

The first slithering hoards were shaped from gelatinous cubes by devious wizards. Most of their descendants live as wandering scavengers, devouring anything edible that comes within their reach. Slithering hoards are as at home underwater as they are on land. They can swim by assuming a manta ray like shape and flapping through the water.

Unlike most oozes, slithering hoards possess a dim cunning and can learn (or be taught) very simple behaviors based on their instinct to avoid harm and acquire food. For example, hoards learn to hide in the places with the most prey, and will adapt their camouflage to the surroundings. Slithering hoards are occasionally used as guardians by wealthy creatures, from those same wizards to businessmen to dragons.

An average slithering hoard weighs around 20,000 pounds, although much larger specimens are not uncommon. These amorphous creatures have no fixed shape. An immobile slithering hoard looks like a mound of treasure or scrap metal about 20 feet across and a yard thick. Such a hoard can expand itself into a 20 foot diameter sphere, which lets it move by rolling about, or spread into a manta-ray like shape with a wingspan of 30 feet or more.

COMBAT

A slithering hoard
attacks by lashing out with one or two pseudopods or engulfing foes in its body. It usually disguises itself as a mound of treasure and strikes at any opponent that comes within its reach. They are cunning enough to learn other ways to attack - such as swimming up beneath small boats and engulfing them.

Acid (Ex): A slithering hoard’s acid does not harm metal or stone.

Camouflage (Ex):
Since a slithering hoard looks like a pile of treasure when at rest, it takes a DC 25 Spot check to notice it before it attacks. Anyone with ranks in Appraise or Knowledge (dungeoneering) can use one of those skills instead of Spot to notice the ooze.

Engulf (Ex): Although it moves slowly, a slithering hoard can simply mow down Large or smaller creatures as a standard action. It cannot make a slam attack during a round in which it engulfs. The slithering hoard merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Opponents can make opportunity attacks against the hoard, but if they do so they are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a DC 17 Reflex save or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the hoard moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the hoard’s paralysis and acid, and are considered to be grappled and trapped within its body. The save DC is Strength-based and includes a +1 racial bonus.

Paralysis (Ex): A slithering hoard secretes an anesthetizing slime. A target hit by a hoard’s melee or engulf attack must succeed on a DC 21 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 3d6 rounds. The hoard can automatically engulf a paralyzed opponent. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Skills: A slithering hoard has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
 
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Cleon

Legend
I'm undecided on the Dex 7. I thought that since it had 2 slam attacks and a good AC it might be more agile than most Oozes, but I am not decided on it.

I'd be just as happy giving it the standard Ooze Dex of 1 and +12 armour.

Which do you prefer?
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
I'm undecided on the Dex 7. I thought that since it had 2 slam attacks and a good AC it might be more agile than most Oozes, but I am not decided on it.

I'd be just as happy giving it the standard Ooze Dex of 1 and +12 armour.

Which do you prefer?

I'll bet you can guess my preference. ;)
 

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