Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[BOZ]

yes it does have more of a physical resemblance to cloakers and darkmantles than stirges. so, aberration then?

 

[Shade]

If we must doom this poor hunter to cleric BAB and good Will saves, then so be it.

 

[BOZ]

Aberration it is then… will work on that today if I get the chance.

 

[BOZ]

Breakin it down!

HIT DICE: 1 + 6

I’m thinking, possibly, we might want to raise the Con a bit to reflect this. In 1E/2E it would have had 10 hp at only 1 HD. Raising the Con to 22 to give it 10 hp now might be a bit much though.

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 horn and 1 fang slash
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4-7/1-3

Another thought here. Since we gave it a Str penalty, we might want to do something to reflect the higher damage rating of the horn. I have it with 1d4 so far, but with a –2 damage penalty that will only do a measly 2 damage at most.

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Spell and psionic immunities
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: See below

This suggests a resistance to certain types of psionics, explained better below. We can make that a separate ability if need be, but it can always just tie in with a resistance to spells. This is not used in the 2E version – likely because of 2E’s aversion to psionics.

They have ultravision out to a 20” range and infravision to 15“, both of which are useful in their nighttime hunting.

low-light vision and darkvision, or just darkvision?

Their greatest threat to prey is the ability of each orpsu to use, once per day, a weak form of hold monster (as the 5th-level magic-user spell, against any single living target within 6“; target saves at +2, success indicating the target is affected as if by a slow spell). This hold effect (or slow, if save is made) lasts for 2-5 rounds, and is the means by which orpsu catch and overcome most of their prey.

Once per day, an orpsu can use a weak form of hold monster (as the fifth-level wizard spell, except that only a single living being within 60’ can be attacked). If the target successfully saves (at +2) against this power, it is affected as if by a slow spell.

sounds like a magical based paralysis attack.

Orpsu can fly by some form of natural levitation combined with propulsion provided by the flailing of their tails. However, they are relatively slow and clumsy in the air, and generally only try to swoop down on prey after it has been held or slowed.

Orpsu fly by natural levitation, propelling themselves forward by flailing and wriggling their tails, and steering by angling the membrane “wings” of their horns as they tilt their bodies.

thus, their supernatural flight capability.

Any wound inflicted by an orpsu horn will continue to bleed (the victim losing 1 hp per round thereafter) until the wound is bound or some form of curative magic is applied.

Any wound caused by one continues to bleed (the victim losing 1 hp/round thereafter) until the wound is bound up (and the victim refrains from combat or other strenuous activity for at least 1 turn), or curative magic is applied.

I think this comes from any physical attack. Probably an Ex ability. How does “wounding” work now?

Orpsu will not attempt to drain blood unless a victim is held or until it collapses from wounds and blood loss. Its tentacles can penetrate a victim’s skin and provide some holding power, and the orpsu can also affix itself to a victim by coiling its tail around the body or an extremity of the prey. (The creatures have no legs or feet, and cannot move across solid surfaces.)
The blood drain of an orpsu will sap 1-2 hp per round from a victim until the victim dies or the orpsu is knocked or rubbed off—not difficult to do but requiring conscious effort (and the ability to move) on the part of the victim.

Orpsu only attempt to drain blood from victims who are held, asleep, or who have collapsed. Up to a dozen soft, flexible white tentacles emerge from slits in an orpsu’s belly (into which they retract when not needed). Orpsu have no barbs or claws to grip victims, and instead glide down to a flapping halt above chosen prey, onto which they settle heavily. The tentacles penetrate the victim’s skin, providing some holding power, and the orpsu usually wraps its tail around the victim’s body, limb or extremity. On the round after settling, the orpsu’s blood drain begins. It takes 1-2 hit points of blood per round, until the victim dies or the orpsu is knocked off (this is not difficult if the victim is conscious and able to move). A physical attack by another being usually causes a draining orpsu to bound into the air with a powerful coiling and whipping of its tail, and fly away. Orpsu have no known blood-satiation point. They remain alert when draining, and will abandon a victim rather than face certain death by remaining.

Works sort of like the stirge except without Attach.

Orpsu can communicate only with others of their kind, employing a sort of limited telepathy (2" range) which is incomprehensible and confusing to others who may try to “overhear.”

Orpsu emit no calls or noises, and can communicate only with others of their kind, employing a limited, 20’-range telepathy that is incomprehensible to other beings employing magic or natural powers to mentally eavesdrop.

really weak telepathy.

The creatures are immune to charm, suggestion, domination, and hold magic, and psionic powers of similar nature, but otherwise have standard magic resistance.

Their peculiar mental activity renders them immune to charm, suggestion, domination, and hold magic and similar mental powers and spells.

is “immune to mind-affecting effects” enough or should I add something about resisting mind-affecting psionics?

 

[Shade]

Breakin it down!

Breakin 2...Electric Boogaloo!

I’m thinking, possibly, we might want to raise the Con a bit to reflect this. In 1E/2E it would have had 10 hp at only 1 HD. Raising the Con to 22 to give it 10 hp now might be a bit much though.

Why not give it Toughness, either as a feat or bonus feat, and then keep the Con score a bit lower?

Another thought here. Since we gave it a Str penalty, we might want to do something to reflect the higher damage rating of the horn. I have it with 1d4 so far, but with a –2 damage penalty that will only do a measly 2 damage at most.

Hmmm....why not boost it up to 1d6, and raise Str to 10?

This suggests a resistance to certain types of psionics, explained better below. We can make that a separate ability if need be, but it can always just tie in with a resistance to spells. This is not used in the 2E version – likely because of 2E’s aversion to psionics.

A couple of options...give it psionic resistance equal to spell resistance, or just give it spell resistance under the assumption that the psionics=spells if not using the psionic rules (which I believe is the standard in most non-psionic products).

low-light vision and darkvision, or just darkvision?

Both.

sounds like a magical based paralysis attack.

That it does.

thus, their supernatural flight capability.

Thus.

I think this comes from any physical attack. Probably an Ex ability. How does “wounding” work now?

Wounding, the magic item ability, now does 1 point of Con damage. However, I've seen 3.5 monsters with abilities that mimic the "old school" wounding, so I'd go with that.

Works sort of like the stirge except without Attach.

Agreed.

really weak telepathy.

Once more, agreed.

is “immune to mind-affecting effects” enough or should I add something about resisting mind-affecting psionics?

I think that should cover it.

 

[Knight Otu]

I agree with everything that Shade wrote in post # 1724939.

I'll also add this bit from the bearded devil to back up the "old-school" wounding.

Infernal Wound (Su): The damage a bearded devil deals with its glaive causes a persistent wound. An injured creature loses 2 additional hit points each round. The wound does not heal naturally and resists healing spells. The continuing hit point loss can be stopped by a DC 16 Heal check, a cure spell, or a heal spell. However, a character attempting to cast a cure spell or a heal spell on a creature damaged by a bearded devil’s glaive must succeed on a DC 16 caster level check, or the spell has no effect on the injured character.
A successful Heal check automatically stops the continuing hit point loss as well as restoring hit points. The infernal wound is a supernatural ability of the bearded devil, not of the weapon. The check DC is Constitution-based.

 

[BOZ]

thanks knight! for the orpsu, i'd have to give it a (probably weaker) Ex version of that, since there is no indication that it is a magical effect - unless i'm missing something.

 

[thom99]

Hey BOZ!! Any idea when you'll be able to finish this critter?

thomas

 

[BOZ]

nope, but if you give me a couple more weeks to finish what i am working on right now, i will get back to the orpsu.

 

[thom99]

Great! Thanks a bunch for letting us know-and good luck on your current project!

thomas