Can anyone give me some tips?

[PenguinMaster]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on converting monsters, specifically dragons. I had one of those conversion manuals but can't seem to find it. If anyone could help me it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all in advance.

 

[Grazzt]

D-load the "How to Create a Monster" article here:

http://www.enworld.org/cc/downloads/main.html


And get to work!

 

[PenguinMaster]

Oh I guess that is easy. Thank you and hopefully I will have something soon.

 

[Grazzt]

Oh I guess that is easy. Thank you and hopefully I will have something soon.

You are most welcome. Be sure and post your work in the HomeBrews forum when you are done.

 

[PenguinMaster]

Couple of questions.

Hi me again,

I was just wondering how I go about figuring a few things out.

1) How do you figure a dragons Spell Resistance? Do I just guess?

2) What sub-type do you give to a dragon that is vulnerable to elemental magics and bright lights? Should I make up a new sub-type? It also doesn't always live on the material plane.

3) How do I convert its' elemental vulnerability? In 2ed it had a -1 to saving throws and took an additional 1 point per die of damage.

Ok I think that is it for the moment. Thank you all for any and all help. I will post it as soon as I'm done. For anyone who may be wondering I'm converting the Moonstone Dragon from Monstrous Compendium Annual 4.

Smiley faces are cool.

 

[Grazzt]

Re: Couple of questions.

1) How do you figure a dragons Spell Resistance? Do I just guess?

SR is (almost) always 10 + age category + Con bonus

2) What sub-type do you give to a dragon that is vulnerable to elemental magics and bright lights? Should I make up a new sub-type? It also doesn't always live on the material plane.

When you say "elemental" magics do you mean vulnerable to ALL types like fire, cold, acid, etc?? If not, then assign it the diametrically opposite subtype (fire-cold, air-water), etc. Otherwise, there is no subtype that makes a monster vulnerable to all types of elemental magic.

So- you could just make it a vulnerability. I wouldnt make a new subtype. I mean, you can if ya want, but I wouldnt. The rules discourage against such things (just like they discourage against inventing new types of climates/terrains).

3) How do I convert its' elemental vulnerability? In 2ed it had a -1 to saving throws and took an additional 1 point per die of damage.

You could leave it just like that. Not really "3eish", but I think there is a monster in Monster of Faerun that has a vulnerability that deals it an additional point of damage.

Or you could do it like this (though this is quite a vulnerability):

Vulnerable to Elemental Magic (Ex): Double damage from any spell or spell-like ability with the fire, cold, acid, sonic, or electricity subtype.

Moonstone Dragon? I'll take a look at it and see what I can find for ya.

 

[PenguinMaster]

Thank you Thank you

It say that it is vulnerable to elemental attacks air, earth, fire, water. I'm not sure how that comes across from 2ed to 3ed. Maybe it should be Acid(earth), Electricity(air), Cold(water), and Fire(fire) (bet you didn't see that one coming ).

Again thank you for all the help I really appreciate it. I need to learn how to do the quotes though so my posts look spiffy like yours.

 

[Grazzt]

Re: Thank you Thank you

It say that it is vulnerable to elemental attacks air, earth, fire, water. I'm not sure how that comes across from 2ed to 3ed. Maybe it should be Acid(earth), Electricity(air), Cold(water), and Fire(fire) (bet you didn't see that one coming ).

Again thank you for all the help I really appreciate it. I need to learn how to do the quotes though so my posts look spiffy like yours.

Most welcome!

And for the quotes...look at the end of my post. There is a "quote" button. Press it and it automatically quotes the post. Then you reply.

As for breaking them apart....just type [ quote ] at the beginning of what you are quoting and [ / quote ] at the end of what you are quoting. (Remove the spaces though).

 

[PenguinMaster]

Me again Margret.

Hi again,

I was just wondering if you or anybody else has some way for coming up with stats and how they advance. Also is there a 3ed equivalent to a turn(they were like 10 min I think)?

I'm beginning to see just how much work you people have put into doing all these conversion. This is harder then it looks. My hat goes off to everyone who has contributed on this site.

One more thing that 10+age cat+con mod for SR doesn't seem to work to well.

Again thank you for all the help so far. Doing this makes me feel very stupid though.

 

[Grazzt]

Re: Me again Margret.

Hi again,
I was just wondering if you or anybody else has some way for coming up with stats and how they advance. Also is there a 3ed equivalent to a turn(they were like 10 min I think)?

There is no 3e equivalent to a turn. Note that the designers use the word "turn" in the core books to mean round as well.

I'm beginning to see just how much work you people have put into doing all these conversion. This is harder then it looks. My hat goes off to everyone who has contributed on this site.

Well- at first it is difficult perhaps. But once ya do a few hundred and get the hang of it, you can pretty much do it without referring to the conversion/design article at all.

The contributors? That would be me, Boz, and Erica.

One more thing that 10+age cat+con mod for SR doesn't seem to work to well.

IIRC, it works for all the dragons in the MM except the white (I think) and perhaps the bronze (or one other, cant remember which).

For example, an adult blue dragon is age category 6 and has a Con bonus of +5. So, its SR should be 10 + 6 + 5 or 21. Check the MM, it is 21.

Great wyrm red dragon is age cat 12 and has a Con bonus of +10. Its SR should be 10 + 12 + 10 or 32. Check the MM, it is 32.

Again thank you for all the help so far. Doing this makes me feel very stupid though.

Nah- dont feel stupid. It's just a game after all. Not that important really.