Converting Al-Qadim creatures

[Number 6]

In addition to ironing out the creation of nasnas, what else do we need to finish? My spellchecker spotted two more needed edits, but I was thinking stuff other than that.

Also, when we do lock down the nasnas, should we tackle one of the Tasked Genies since GrayLinnorn wanted to go in that direction?

 

[freyar]

That's probably it for the nasnas, and I'm fine going in whatever direction we want.

 

[Shade]

Definitely tasked genies next.

So...

Creating nasnas is a complicated and vile process. A spellcaster must first create a magical fruit, called a nasnas fruit. The fruit must then be cut in equal halves. The spellcaster must then convince a humanoid woman to eat one of the halves (methods range from conventional trickery to magical coercion). The nasnas will gestate for nine months, acting in all manner like a typical pregnancy. The woman will conceive and in nine months give birth to an infant nasnas. The nasnas quickly reach maturity six months thereafter.

One nasna can thus be created from each half of a nasnas fruit. However, a woman can only bear one nasna at a time. Greater nasnas can be created using more powerful spells in the creation (and at greater costs).

Nasnas Fruit (2 HD nasnas): Faint conjuration; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster II; Price 4,000 gp.

Nasnas Fruit (4 HD nasnas): Moderate conjuration; CL 7th; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster IV; Price 8,000 gp.

Nasnas Fruit (6 HD nasnas): Strong conjuration; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster VI; Price 12,000 gp.

 

[freyar]

Looks good!

 

[Cleon]

Using this explanation to create the fruit, then requiring a living woman to "bear the fruit", that works for me!

Cleon?

I suggested baleful polymorph as a prereq because its spell level required a caster level of 9th, the same as the original description. There is a problem with it being a powerful spell for "constructing" two creatures with only 2HD, but they are creatures with an at-will Su power that they can use on their master's behalf as often as they like, so that doesn't bother me that much.

Still don't see it being summon monster, since the procedure doesn't strike me as a Conjuration. It seems much more like a Necromancy (bestow curse) or Transmutation (baleful polymorph) effect. Well, unless the "nasnas" are some kind of parasite summoned to grow inside the unfortunate ladies, but there's no impression of that from the original description.

What examples do we have to base the construction costs on? The closest SRD example I could think of was the goat of terror Figuring of Wondrous Power which has stats as a light warhorse and emanates 30' radius (DC16) when ridden to attack, but that's a "once every two weeks" item that's part of a set.

Maybe we could approach this in a different direction: what CL and cost would you consider a nasnas to be if it were a mgical items with its properties - 10-foot radius effectively continuous fear and the ability to damage your enemies without your direction.

 

[Cleon]

Nasnas Fruit (2 HD nasnas): Faint conjuration; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster II; Price 4,000 gp.

Nasnas Fruit (4 HD nasnas): Moderate conjuration; CL 7th; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster IV; Price 8,000 gp.

Nasnas Fruit (6 HD nasnas): Strong conjuration; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, summon monster VI; Price 12,000 gp.

CL 3 seems way too low. We're still talking about an unlimited 10-foot radius fear effect hopping around on a single leg.

Also, I don't think there should be that much difference in CL, aura strength and prereqs for the three different strengths. A 42HD Greater Stone Golem has three times the HD of a Standard Stone Golem but it has the same CL and prereqs - it just costs more for being tougher.

We could go someway towards justifying it if we gave the higher HD varieties greater powers. We were talking earlier about making a tougher variant that paralyzed its victims like in the original description.

So, I'd rather make the caster levels 7/9/12 (CL 7 seems a good start since fear is a Sor/Wiz4 spell.) and give the 6HD version "paralysing hoots" instead of the regular "terrifying" variety.

The costs look OK to me.

 

[Shade]

So, I'd rather make the caster levels 7/9/12 (CL 7 seems a good start since fear is a Sor/Wiz4 spell.) and give the 6HD version "paralysing hoots" instead of the regular "terrifying" variety.

That works for me, as long as we add fear to the creation requirements.

 

[Number 6]

Shouldn't the Caster Level stay at 9th for the basic version of this fruit?

 

[Cleon]

That works for me, as long as we add fear to the creation requirements.

Say Create Wondrous Item, fear & bestow curse for the prerequisites, then have the nasnas fruit radiate an aura of moderate necromancy?

That'd suit me.

Shouldn't the Caster Level stay at 9th for the basic version of this fruit?

I think the point was caster level 9th may be too high for a creature with its stats. A Flesh Golem, for example, has CL8 Construction and is far tougher in a fight. The Nasnas may have a supernatural SA, but is that enough to make the difference?

 

[freyar]

Probably not, answering the rhetorical question.