Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[BOZ]

nice.

The creator may at any time give a self-destruct command which will do damage as the fireball, but will be centered on the Necroton. It is also 33% likely that this will happen when the creature is destroyed in combat.

The central eye can detect magic, 6” range, and all magic items will be taken first.

The central eye of the Necroton can be attacked separately. It is AC -1 and takes 15 hit points that are not part of the Necroton’s basic total. If the creature loses its central eye it is blinded and will retreat as best it can unless ordered to do otherwise by its creator. Necrotons have no difficulty traveling underwater on the sea floor. Fire-based attacks will slow a Necroton, but the creature is otherwise unaffected by spells. These creatures are vulnerable to the attacks of Rust Monsters.

 

[Shade]

The creator may at any time give a self-destruct command which will do damage as the fireball, but will be centered on the Necroton. It is also 33% likely that this will happen when the creature is destroyed in combat.

Death Throes (Ex): When killed, a necroton explodes in a ball of fire that deals 8d6 points of fire damage to anything within a 20-foot-radius spread centered on the creature (Reflex DC X half ). Additionally, its creator may command the necroton to self-destruct, instantly activating this ability. The save DC is X-based.

The central eye can detect magic, 6” range, and all magic items will be taken first.

Detect Magic (Su): A necroton is always aware of any magical auras within 60 feet, and it can instantly determine the number, strength, and location of each aura. This ability is otherwise similar to the detect magic spell.

The central eye of the Necroton can be attacked separately. It is AC -1 and takes 15 hit points that are not part of the Necroton’s basic total. If the creature loses its central eye it is blinded and will retreat as best it can unless ordered to do otherwise by its creator. Necrotons have no difficulty traveling underwater on the sea floor. Fire-based attacks will slow a Necroton, but the creature is otherwise unaffected by spells. These creatures are vulnerable to the attacks of Rust Monsters.

An opponent can attack a necroton's central eye with a sunder attempt as if it were a weapon. A necroton's central eye has 15 hit points each. Putting out the necroton's central eye deals no damage to the creature, but blinds it and negates its detect magic and eye ray abilities. A blinded necroton immediately retreats unless ordered to do otherwise by its creator.

Immunity to Magic (Ex): A necroton is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.

A magical attack that deals fire damage slows a necroton (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw.

A necroton is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell.

 

[BOZ]

"The Necroton is a golem-like creature created by a Neutral or Evil Magic-User using the following spells: Wish, Polymorph Any Object, Wizard Eye, Geas, Hold Monster, Fireball, and Detect Magic. The cost and construction time is the same as that required for iron golems."

constructs don't require that many spells to create nowadays, but we should incorporate some of them at least.

"A Necroton’s purpose is to gather treasure for its creator, and to this end it can be employed in two ways. First, if the creator has a specific target in mind, the actions of the creature can be directed by the creator. This can be done by normal verbal commands or by means of a Message spell. In either case the creator must accompany the Necroton personally, for it will not heed instructions from anyone else. If the creator owns a Crystal Ball a special form of direct control is possible. The crystal ball enables the creator to see what the Necroton sees and allows the transmission of commands from afar by means of a message spell. When used in this fashion there is no range limitation to the message spell, and intervening objects other than lead will not block the transmission.
A creating wizard who has better things to do may elect to send the creature out on its own without direct guidance. In this case the creator gives the creature a simple set of instructions at the outset of its mission. Thereafter the Necroton will unquestioningly obey these orders until they are countermanded by the creator."

how much of this needs to become part of an SQ?

 

[Shade]

"The Necroton is a golem-like creature created by a Neutral or Evil Magic-User using the following spells: Wish, Polymorph Any Object, Wizard Eye, Geas, Hold Monster, Fireball, and Detect Magic. The cost and construction time is the same as that required for iron golems."

constructs don't require that many spells to create nowadays, but we should incorporate some of them at least.

Since it is similar to the iron golem, let's modify what it has:

A necroton's body is sculpted from X,000 pounds of pure iron, smelted with rare tinctures and admixtures costing at least X,000 gp. Assembling the body requires a DC 20 Craft (armorsmithing) check or a DC 20 Craft (weaponsmithing) check.

CL Xth; Craft Construct, fireball, geas/quest, limited wish, polymorph any object, caster must be at least Xth level; Price X,000 gp; Cost X,000 gp + X,000 XP.

"A Necroton’s purpose is to gather treasure for its creator, and to this end it can be employed in two ways. First, if the creator has a specific target in mind, the actions of the creature can be directed by the creator. This can be done by normal verbal commands or by means of a Message spell. In either case the creator must accompany the Necroton personally, for it will not heed instructions from anyone else. If the creator owns a Crystal Ball a special form of direct control is possible. The crystal ball enables the creator to see what the Necroton sees and allows the transmission of commands from afar by means of a message spell. When used in this fashion there is no range limitation to the message spell, and intervening objects other than lead will not block the transmission.
A creating wizard who has better things to do may elect to send the creature out on its own without direct guidance. In this case the creator gives the creature a simple set of instructions at the outset of its mission. Thereafter the Necroton will unquestioningly obey these orders until they are countermanded by the creator."

How's this?

Remote Control (Su): A necroton can be given commands like a normal golem. Additionally, it can respond to remote commands from its creator by means of a sending, whispering wind, or similar spell. Additionally, the creator may issue commands via a crystal ball with telepathy or a similar magic item.

 

[BOZ]

CL Xth; Craft Construct, fireball, geas/quest, limited wish, polymorph any object, caster must be at least Xth level; Price X,000 gp; Cost X,000 gp + X,000 XP.

Would it be overkill to toss arcane eye or detect magic in there? Ditching hold monster is fine to me, since I don't see where it applies. the other spells were common with a 3.5 iron golem, so no issue there.

How's this?

Remote Control (Su): A necroton can be given commands like a normal golem. Additionally, it can respond to remote commands from its creator by means of a sending, whispering wind, or similar spell. Additionally, the creator may issue commands via a crystal ball with telepathy or a similar magic item.

Heheh... the name is a bit funny, but it works fine.

 

[Shade]

I'd go with detect magic.

 

[BOZ]

posting this one in homebrews.

 

[Shade]

If we "downsize" the retriever's ability scores from Huge to Medium...

Str 31, Dex 17
-16 Str, +4 Dex

...we get Str 15, Dex 21.

Does that work?

 

[BOZ]

not so sure. i think it should be stronger and slower. what would it look like downsized from Huge to Large?

 

[Shade]

Str 23, Dex 19