Converting Epic Level Creatures

[Cleon]

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 been mulling over various possibilities for how it acts when wielded by another creature. At the moment, anyone other than Ythog-Nthlei who wield it will be affected by the blacklight and be unable to see what's going on.

I also wondered about having it apply a negative level every round when wielded.

There are ways around both, though.

It's also Gargantuan sized, remember, so a lot of PCs will have difficulty using it.

How about...

Blacklight Mace: This artifact is a gargantuan +3 life-drinker heavy mace when wielded by others creatures, but functions as a +5 life-drinking heavy mace for the Dark King Ythog-Nthlei. With a swift action, Ythog-Nthlei can command his mace to radiate blacklight (supernatural darkness impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision) in a 30 foot radius. Once activated, the blacklight mace continues to radiate blacklight until The Dark King loses contact with it or commands it to stop (another swift action). 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.?​

Any ideas for the CR 5 or 6 nasties? The original had 4d6 double strength zombies, so I'd like something relentless and brainless.

How about Walking Dead?

I'd like them to have the Extraplanar subtype, (i.e. Fiendish Walking Dead), but unfortunately the Fiendish template doesn't apply to Undead under the RAW. I'd be inclined to ignore that restriction and hope nobody cares.

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?

No, we haven't debated the mace of terror function and I double we'll actually use it in the final version.

As I said, I was just toying with the notion.

 

[freyar]

If we leave out the terror bit, I'll go for that. Walking dead could work, and maybe there's some template in the CC we can use (not that I see any immediately, though).

 

[Cleon]

If we leave out the terror bit, I'll go for that. Walking dead could work, and maybe there's some template in the CC we can use (not that I see any immediately, though).

I had a look through the CC while I was making my previous post and couldn't find any templates that fitted.

Let's use Walking Dead for the time being. We could just add a note that they have the Extraplanar subtype.

 

[freyar]

Yeah, that would probably be the easiest. Too bad nightshades are a bit too high of a power level for him to summon.

I'm thinking this mace should be an artifact. But I'd peg it as strong evocation and necromancy, CL 20th, yes.

 

[Cleon]

Yeah, that would probably be the easiest. Too bad nightshades are a bit too high of a power level for him to summon.

I'm thinking this mace should be an artifact. But I'd peg it as strong evocation and necromancy, CL 20th, yes.

Erm...

Blacklight Mace: This artifact is a gargantuan +3 life-drinker heavy mace when wielded by others creatures, but functions as a +5 life-drinking heavy mace for the Dark King Ythog-Nthlei. With a swift action, Ythog-Nthlei can command his mace to radiate blacklight (supernatural darkness impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision) in a 30 foot radius. Once activated, the blacklight mace continues to radiate blacklight until The Dark King loses contact with it or commands it to stop (another swift action). 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.

We could make it explicit, by adding something like "Ythog-Nthlei's blacklight mace is an artifact, not a normal magic item. It is as fundamentally indestructible as The Dark King himself."

Revising...

Blacklight Mace: This gargantuan weapon is a +3 life-drinker heavy mace when wielded by others creatures, but functions as a +5 life-drinking heavy mace for the Dark King Ythog-Nthlei. With a swift action, Ythog-Nthlei can command his mace to radiate blacklight (supernatural darkness impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision) in a 30 foot radius. Once activated, the blacklight mace continues to radiate blacklight until The Dark King loses contact with it or commands it to stop (another swift action). 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 undead once per day. The mace can summon any of the following, of the Dark King's choice: 1 devourer, 1d4+1 bodaks, or 4d6 walking dead. Walking dead summoned by the mace have the Extraplanar subtype. This is equivalent to a summon monster IX.

Ythog-Nthlei's blacklight mace is an artifact, not a normal magic item. It is as fundamentally indestructible as The Dark King himself.

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

 

[freyar]

Hmmm, yeah, I know I read that and must just have glossed over it in my mind.

Looks good anyway!

 

[Cleon]

Hmmm, yeah, I know I read that and must just have glossed over it in my mind.

Looks good anyway!

Updating the Ythog-Nthlei Working Draft.

Okay. The Eyebeams, Venom and SLAs look to be the major holes we need filling. Which do you fancy doing first?

 

[Nookie]

List of Cr 6 Undead.
Advanced Megaraptor Skeleton
Grey render Zombie
Bloodhulk Giant
Cinderspaen
Bone Drinker
Forsaken SHell
Rancid Beetle Zombie
Defacer
Spectral Rider
Voide Wraith
Iceguant
Fire Spectre
Jiki-Ketsu-Gaki
Feral Spirit

 

[Nookie]

I like bloodhulks and Grey render Zombies personaly.

 

[Cleon]

I like bloodhulks and Grey render Zombies personaly.

I'd considered the Grey Render Zombie but they didn't seem that good a fit, since the original stats have no mention of the "double strength zombies" being Large-sized gray monsters with extra eyes.

The Bloodhulk Giant seems a better fit, but I'm happy with the Walking Dead. It also has the advantage that it's easy for DMs to use the Walking Dead's CC stats, but they might not have Monster Manual IV.