Converting Al-Qadim creatures

[Cleon]

Save the idea for the bigger and badder nasnas! A 6 HD with the ability to paralyze opponents with fear, a higher Damage Reduction, as well as a nice chain of Strength-based feats like Improved Overrun or Improved Sunder ought to add quite a bit to a spellcaster's lair.

Great minds think alike, since I was musing along those lines.

Speaking of Advancement, I'm thinking these things stay the same size as they gain HD, getting tougher but no larger - maybe Advancement: 3-6 HD (Medium)?

I feel it fits their nature as pseudo-humanoid pseudo-warrior class creatures.

 

[Cleon]

Should nasnas get racial penalties of -2 to Grapple and a -4 to Climb, Escape Artist, and Swim checks because of their single arm and single leg?

I feel that would be overcomplicating things.

Besides, their single arm and leg is abnormally powerful and flexible, so is just as agile as a pair of ordinary humanoid limbs and often stronger.

 

[Number 6]

Speaking of Advancement, I'm thinking these things stay the same size as they gain HD, getting tougher but no larger - maybe Advancement: 3-6 HD (Medium)?

And they might not have any obvious differences from the basic version... which could keep the players on their toes.

I feel that would be overcomplicating things.

A reasonable point... upon reflection, the racial penalties wouldn't simply made the monster sheet longer and not better.

 

[Number 6]

Regarding Skills:
For skills should we just put four ranks in Balance and a single rank in Jump... or do we want to be a little more focused on Jump?


Regarding Organization:
It's not very important, but should a smaller group of nasnas (perhaps 3-10 of them) be called a Squad?


Regarding CR:
Is it safe to say these things are about a 3?


Regarding the text, specifically on speaking a language:
The original text (with the reference to half of the necessary amount of vocal chords) works fine, but we should add that the nasnas "understands Midani perfectly (or whatever language its creator typically speaks)".

 

[Shade]

Perhaps put some ranks in Listen and Spot, since they serve as "vigilant guardians"?

 

[Number 6]

Perhaps put some ranks in Listen and Spot, since they serve as "vigilant guardians"?

This is the other reason I'm not entirely in favor of saddling these guys with a negative modifier from Wisdom. Even a Wisdom of 10 or 11 would make sense for nasnas.

They should have two ranks each in Listen and Spot... possibly three ranks in Listen.

Do we want to consider Alertness as a fear instead of Power Attack? Or do we grant them an extra feat for Alertness and consider that part of the creation results from the spellcaster?

 

[Shade]

The higher Wisdom appeals, and we can just give them a racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks rather than Alertness. +4 bonus?

 

[Number 6]

That's reasonable, Shade...

With three ranks in Listen and two in Spot nasnas guards would be able to easily hear intruders fighting from about 170 feet away, or about 20 feet away with a stone wall between them.

 

[Number 6]

Regarding the description:
The original entry says they are gray, but the Homebrews entry says greenish.

Obviously, either one is perfectly fine... but is there are reason for it being green now?

Now that I think of it... a greenish-gray would be cool and eerie. I've heard that in some Middle Eastern cultures, green is the color of demons or possession or unnatural evil.

 

[Shade]

Regarding Organization:
It's not very important, but should a smaller group of nasnas (perhaps 3-10 of them) be called a Squad?

Sounds good!

Regarding CR:
Is it safe to say these things are about a 3?

I see them as a mid- to strong- CR 2.

Regarding the text, specifically on speaking a language:
The original text (with the reference to half of the necessary amount of vocal chords) works fine, but we should add that the nasnas "understands Midani perfectly (or whatever language its creator typically speaks)".

We can do the usual Common for the main entry, with an underbar for Midani in Al-Qadim settings.

Regarding the description:
The original entry says they are gray, but the Homebrews entry says greenish.

Obviously, either one is perfectly fine... but is there are reason for it being green now?

Now that I think of it... a greenish-gray would be cool and eerie. I've heard that in some Middle Eastern cultures, green is the color of demons or possession or unnatural evil.

Probably user error on my part.

Although I like your idea for greenish-gray, so let's keep it.

Updated.