Converting Dark*Matter Creatures

[freyar]

Actually, it does mention that the spider form can climb sheer walls (down near the end), so I like the climb speed!

Oh, that's another question: are we going to use D&D or modern rules?

I could see potentially doing a new version of the rakshasa anyway, btw.

 

[Rappy]

Climbing is good. Dropping the massive damage threshold is also good (since this is a D&D conversion). We might want to increase its ability scores higher if we want him to be competitive with other unique fiends.

By d20 Modern standards, the only unique fiend that there is to go by is Baal (not this Baal ). He does, however, seem to fit that assertion. He's got some nasty ability scores compared to most d20 Modern characters (Str 28, Dex 19, Con 31, Int 30, Wis 24, Cha 25), although a lot of his true umph comes from having a mixture of unique powers and a grand total of 18 class levels rather than being an HD brute.

Actually, it does mention that the spider form can climb sheer walls (down near the end), so I like the climb speed!

Oh, that's another question: are we going to use D&D or modern rules?

I could see potentially doing a new version of the rakshasa anyway, btw.

I was planning on d20 Modern rules with some notes on the differences in D&D stats, sort of a reverse of Octivirate's "D&D with d20 Modern rules notes"; if it's wanted, however, I can do the Octivirate method and have D&D rules with a d20 Modern "underbar" note.

And good call on the rakshasa, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

The climb seemed more like the spell spider climb to me, but now that I think about it we could have both a climb speed and some spider climb-like climbing prowess like the actual monstrous spider does ((if I recall correctly)).

 

[freyar]

Hmm, if I'm reading this right, the monstrous spider just seems to have the regular climb speed (and these are really just D&D monstrous spiders with "notes" I think -- probably even closer if I dug up a 3.0 SRD for comparison).

Well, as he stands, Baal-Phegor is going to be pretty lowly for a former demi-god, but he's not so poorly off compared to some of the unique demons in, say, the Book of Fiends. We'll have to work on his special abilities.

 

[Rappy]

Well, the one of the special qualities to work on would be hellfire. This is...a bit of a toughie. Hellfire could be interpreted as either a breath weapon to immolation around the body like the d20 Modern luciferan...any preference on which one we should add?

Poison is a must, although the effects of the poison might mean that we could change it to a certain amount of Wisdom drain.

Spider climb is a must, if for nothing more than the creep factor of having a massive jet black spider whispering promises of power in your ear from right above you.

Phantasms, black warding, and the like would be best replicated by spells as per a Mage or Mystic of a certain level.

Summoning...definately a spell-like ability that summons lesser fiends. Most likely the Kwevenchas (spider demons) from the Menace Manual and Dark*Matter's xic due to their innate connection with Baal-phegor's overall shtick.

 

[freyar]

Hmm, are the kwevenchas LE also? (You can tell I don't really know d20 modern, huh?) Should they all be devils or just generic outsiders (assuming we're doing D&D base stats)?

 

[Rappy]

Kwevenchas are CE, actually (then again, that's mostly because they're rather dim-witted and form convoluted and doomed plots, yet eat anyone that questions said plans), so hmm...fiendish monstrous spider, maybe?

And the devil/demon distinction was thrown away in Modern in favor of just "fiends" in general that sometimes don't even have an allegiance to law or chaos (similar to the yugoloths, but more demonic in appearance and activities).

 

[freyar]

Hmm, so in modern, it might make sense for Kwevenchas to serve him. Maybe we should make him a generic outsider, not subtyped, and give him the Kwevenchas despite the alignment issues.

 

[Rappy]

Sounds good. How many Kwevenchas should he be able to summon? They're CR 7 and are mostly melee powerhouses, but they have 2d6 Tiny monstrous spiders clinging to them, which could escalate into a sheer madhouse if we allow Baal-phegor to summon too many Kwevenchas.

Also, I ordered a new copy of Dark*Matter: Xenoforms, which I should get before next week is over. Huzzah!

 

[Shade]

I was planning on d20 Modern rules with some notes on the differences in D&D stats, sort of a reverse of Octivirate's "D&D with d20 Modern rules notes"; if it's wanted, however, I can do the Octivirate method and have D&D rules with a d20 Modern "underbar" note.

I have to credit the brilliance of "underbar". I'm immediately adding that to my lexicon.

Underbar is wunderbar.

 

[freyar]

I have to credit the brilliance of "underbar". I'm immediately adding that to my lexicon.

Underbar is wunderbar.

I always did think "sidebar" was a bit funny for the way we lay them out.

Let's think about the summoning a bit. Any additional options we can maybe pull from D&D to go along with the Kwevenchas? Or from Modern either?