Converting Epic Level Creatures

[Nookie]

Im ok with the above different take on SR. Makes The baddy more interesting mechanically and unique.

 

[freyar]

The trouble I have with Spell Penetration is that the Spell Penetration feat only works to overcome SR, so if he doesn't have SR....

So I much prefer the spell turning based option, as Cleon roughed out above:
Reflect Magic (Su): Any spell or supernatural attack that specifically targets Ythog-Nthlei is reflected back onto its caster as per the spell turning spell.

 

[Cleon]

The trouble I have with Spell Penetration is that the Spell Penetration feat only works to overcome SR, so if he doesn't have SR....

So I much prefer the spell turning based option, as Cleon roughed out above:

Reflect Magic (Su): Any spell or supernatural attack that specifically targets Ythog-Nthlei is reflected back onto its caster as per the spell turning spell.

Well I'd be OK with Reflect Spells or Reflect Magic if you don't think they're too nasty. I'd lean towards the Reflect Spells version to leave the field open to supernatural attacks.

I'm not sure what's the difficulty if the "Magic Reflection" writeup says the Spell Penetration feat applies to the check?

I guess if it bother Freyar, we could rearrange it to something like:

Special Qualities: Spell reflection, spell resistance X (targeted spells only)

Spell Reflection (Su): Any spell attack that fails to penetrate Ythog-Nthlei spell resistance is reflected back onto its caster as per the spell turning spell.

Spell Resistance (Su): Ythog-Nthlei's spell resistance is only effective against spell that specifically target Ythog-Nthlei. It is useless against area-effect spells such bursts or spreads.

Although I'd be tempted to tweak the spell resistance further to:

Spell Resistance 2 (Su): Ythog-Nthlei's spell resistance is effective against any spell that targets Ythog-Nthlei, even if the spell normally does not allow spell resistance. It is useless against area-effect spells such bursts or spreads.

We could save the above for that lower-CR "Aspect of Ythog-Nthlei" we were talking about earlier, I suppose.

So which are we going for?

Reflect Spell is the closest to the original monster's ability.

 

[Nookie]

I say use spell resistance 2 makes for an even more unique creature while still giving people a loophole to attack him.

 

[Cleon]

I say use spell resistance 2 makes for an even more unique creature while still giving people a loophole to attack him.

I'd be happy with that if Freyar has no objections.

 

[freyar]

The difficulty with the Magic Reflection is adding ticky-tack little things to Spell Penetration. Just seems messy.

I guess I'd probably prefer Reflect Spell as opposed to any of the exceptions listed above, especially since it's closest to the original ability.

 

[Cleon]

The difficulty with the Magic Reflection is adding ticky-tack little things to Spell Penetration. Just seems messy.

I guess I'd probably prefer Reflect Spell as opposed to any of the exceptions listed above, especially since it's closest to the original ability.

Fine, let's just use Reflect Spell.

Updating the Ythog-Nthlei Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

Did we have more on the mace? If not, shall we work that out now?

 

[Cleon]

Did we have more on the mace? If not, shall we work that out now?

I hadn't formally written it up, but I had more-or-less decided on the following:

Blacklight Mace: This artifact functions as a +5 life-drinking heavy mace. It continuously radiates blacklight (supernatural darkness impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision) in a 30 foot radius. Ythog-Nthlei can always see through this blacklight normally, even if he is outside the area of darkness. Blacklight counters or dispels any light spell of equal or lower level. A daylight spell will temporarily counter this blacklight, but the darkness returns as soon as the daylight ends.

Furthermore, Ythog-Nthlei (but no other wielder) can command the blacklight mace to summon a group of extraplanar undead once per day. The mace can summon any of the following, of the Dark King's choice. This is equivalent to a summon monster IX.

1 devourer?
1d4+1 bodaks?
4d6 [something ~CR5 or 6]?

Overwhelming evocation/necromancy [evil]; CL 20th.?​

I was also toying with the idea of adding a fear power resembling a mace of terror to the above, although that is not in the original writeup.

Three times per day, the blacklight mace can create a 30 ft. radius area of terror that causes creatures to become panicked as if by a fear spell (Will DC X partial). Creatures affected by this terror take a -2 morale penalty on saving throws and flee from the mace wielder as long as they are panicked.​

My alternative idea was to have it be able to switch between blacklight and fear, but upon reflection the latter would require fear saves every round, which doesn't seem much fun.

 

[freyar]

I like the basic description but would probably add something to the effect that it only functions as a +5 heavy mace out of Ythog-Nthlei's hands.

I have to tell you that I'm not convinced on the terror aura since this thing is powerful enough as is. Did we ever discuss that?