5E: Fifth Edition Monsters Inspired by Third Edition Sources

[Cleon]

This thread's for conversions of monsters that debuted in Third Edition D&D products and either lack Fifth Edition incarnations or the official 5E versions are different enough for it to seem worthwhile.

Finished conversions will be added to the Completed Fifth Edition Creatures Index.

If the monster has 3E origins but the 5E conversion is in a thread different from this one, the thread it appears in will be indicated using the following tags:

A = AD&D Monsterᴬ (1E or 2E)
H = Homebrewᴴ (New Monster)

For example, Ti-khana have their own Homebrew thread but originated from the 3rd Edition Fiend Folio, so Ti-khana conversions are tagged H. The Blackscales are extra-tough generic lizardfolk conversions in the AD&D thread inspired by a monster from 3E's Monster Manual III, so are tagged A.

Index of 5th Edition Conversions of 3E Monsters

NAME​	CR​	D&D Beyond [CC Post]​	Enworld​
Lizardfolk—Blackscaleᴬ​	3​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Lizardfolk—Blackscale Championᴬ​	4​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Dodkong​	25​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Deinonychusᴴ​	2​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Giantᴴ​	2​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Venomwingᴴ​	1/4​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Venomwing Swarmᴴ​	5​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Warᴴ​	7​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Ti-khana Triceratopsᴴ​	9​	Completed [Post]​	Completed​
Name—Subtype​	#​	—​	Working​

 

[Casimir Liber]

Okay, so to start with in my Pazuzu cult buffing, I used Cult Fanatic statblock as a starting point for a CR 2 (4th lvl) Thrall of Pazuzu and came up with this so far:

 

[Casimir Liber]

Updated with a minor bonus attack

 

[Cleon]

Presumably this is based inspired on the Thrall of Pazuzu prestige class?

It's got a stray "fanatic" in Spellcasting and Multiattack.

Speaking of Spellcasting, it seems a little weird the thrall's picked a Wisdom-based spellcasting class when its Charisma has a higher modifier, but the 5E SRD Fanatic does the same, so at least it's consistent!

Don't much care for Noxious Cough. Would prefer some kind of Temptation power as that's one of Pazuzu's schticks. Possibly as a regular Action rather than a Bonus one though.

Not 100% sure about Dark Devotion but I guess it doesn't hurt.

The 3E thrall of pazuzu could speak with, charm and dominate avians depending on level. Maybe do something with that?

Some of the ability description could do with a bit of polishing.

Don't forget that being able to fly and attack at range with thrown daggers, poison spray or vicious mockery would affect its CR as would the addition of a Bonus Action attack.

How many of these chaps are likely to get thrown at the PCs at one time? If there's a lot of them, keeping their game mechanics relatively simple could be helpful.

 

[Casimir Liber]

I based them on a 4th level thrall from that dragon issue.

Have ditched dark Devotion for an Avian Affinity.

ok changed spellcasting to charisma-base as makes more sense. changed a cantrip. Am imagining them as a mini-boss for low levels (i.e. bossing a bunch of aarakocra or kenku) or group under a High Thrall (CR 4 or 5?) at higher levels. Could make Fly slower (as was in original) and bonus action recharge 5-6 or something.

 

[Cleon]

Will start an Enworld Working Draft.

Does it need Religion? It could just have Deception, Insight, Persuasion then its number of skills would match the cult fanatic you're using as a model.

A dagger does rather wimpy damage, so I'm tempted to have the thrall instead wield a hefty blade like its master Pazuzu.

Maybe a Longsword?

EDIT: Am also thinking they should speak Abyssal as well as their native language.

 

[Cleon]

Thrall of Pazuzu
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
11 (+0)​	14 (+2)​	12 (+1)​	10 (+0)​	13 (+1)​	14 (+2)​

Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Insight +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal plus one other language (usually Common)
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Speak with Aerial Creatures. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a fly speed. If the creature has an intelligence lower than 8 it will only understand simple concepts.

Spellcasting. The thrall is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following spells prepared.

• Cantrips (at will): friends, poison spray, prestidigitation, vicious mockery
• 1st level (4 slots): command, inflict wounds, shield of faith
• 1st level (3 slots): dust devil, hold person

Wings of Pazuzu. The thrall has grown a pair of black raven wings; this gift from Pazuzu grants it the power of flight.

Actions

Multiattack. The thrall makes two attacks. It can use its rapier or a dagger for either attack.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60, one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Tempt Aerial Creature (#/day). ???.
 ???.

Action (Recharge #-6 | Recharges After a Short/Long Rest). ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Lethal Legerdemain. The thrall makes one melee or ranged attack with a dagger.


Description

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 ???.
 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

(Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #329 (March 2005) as part of "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Pazuzu - Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms" by James Jacobs.)

 

[Cleon]

Rather than using "Avians" for things like avian affinity methinks "Aerial Creatures" works better.

Pazuzu's Prince of the Aerial Kingdoms, not Prince of Avians.

I'm thinking we could useone of the following:

Speak with Aerial Creatures #1. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that knows at least one language and has a fly speed.

Speak with Aerial Creatures #2. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a fly speed. If the creature has an intelligence lower than 8 it will only understand simple concepts.

Speak with Aerial Creatures #3. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate simple concepts to beasts or monstrosities with a fly speed and an Intelligence lower than 8.​

Of the above, #2. is my favourite.

 

[Casimir Liber]

ok, gone with #2. Also reworded languiages to "Abyssal plus any one language (usually Common)". Deleted religion as a skill.

Re weapons, I was thinking of something "light" like a rapier maybe.

 

[Cleon]

ok, gone with #2. Also reworded languiages to "Abyssal plus any one language (usually Common)". Deleted religion as a skill.

Updated Thrall of Pazuzu Working Draft.

Re weapons, I was thinking of something "light" like a rapier maybe.

As you like, it's you're baby.

Was wondering about adding a ranged weapon like a crossbow or longbow, mostly because they're really effective for a flying monster.

However Pazuzu himself doesn't have a ranged weapon, so maybe his thralls wouldn't.