Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[freyar]

That sounds reasonable, though I could see Huge instead of Large if we want to push it. We could drop Cha a little if we want, since the psion mostly needs Int instead. But I don't have a problem with the high Cha, either.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

I statted them up as Large, but upon review we could raise them to Huge. Or, we could just set the advancement to immediately go to Huge like some other creatures.

I followed the 2 claws and bite routine of the giant eagle.

Damage reduction x/magic?

When approaching a party of adventurers, these creatures will Detect alignment automatically on the members, checking a maximum of one character per round unless there are fairly large parties involved.

How's this?

Discern Alignment (Su): A koodjanuk can continually detect the alignment of any creatures as if under the effects of detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, and detect law spells.

 

[freyar]

Looks good so far. DR 10/magic? I could see going down to 5 since the CR is probably not going to be more than 6-7. Discern alignment sounds good.

 

[Shade]

Good-aligned characters with any injuries will be touched by the koodjanuk, who can Cure wounds by touch as if an 8th-level Paladin had laid hands on that character (i.e., 16 points of damage may be cured per touch). The koodjanuk can do this three times a day, and may also decide to use some of its regular curative spells if it has any that day.

Lay on hands = paladin level x Charisma bonus. In this case that would be 8 x 4 = 32. Since this is already double what the 1e paladin could have cured (16) in one attempt, is that sufficient? Alternatively, we could raise the effective paladin level to 12, to equal the 48 points the 1e paladin could have cured with three touches per day.

Koodjanuks are on excellent terms with the other beings of the Upper Planes (such as titans, ki-rin, lammasu, and the like), and there is a 15% chance that they will be found with these beings if encountered randomly in a cold climate.

Organization: Solitary or "blessed union" (1 koodjanuk plus 1 titan, ki-rin, or lammasu)?

 

[freyar]

It's only 9HD, so let's leave it at 32hp. Organization looks good.

Skills and feats: Listen, Spot, Knowledge (the planes), Knowledge (religion)?, Diplomacy, ?
Hover?, Maximize Spell, Empower Spell?, Spell Focus (?)?

 

[Shade]

I'd add Concentration and Sense Motive to that list. Maybe even Heal.

Let's decide on maneuverability before we determine if Hover is needed.

Giant owl, giant eagle, pegasus, griffon, roc, and hippogriff are all average. So, average?

 

[freyar]

I thought about Heal, then dropped it due to the magical healing. Those skills sound good.

Average sounds right. So then hover makes some sense.

 

[Shade]

Since they cast as 12th-level clerics, I'd peg them around CR 12.

Treasure G,T,X breaks down as follows:

G:
10-40 1,000s of gold pieces: 50%
1-20 100s of platinum pieces: 50%
5-20 gems: 30%
1-10 jewelry: 25%
Maps or Magic Items: Any 4 plus 1 scroll: 35%

T:
Maps or Magic Items: 1-4 scrolls: 50%

X:
Maps or Magic Items: 1 misc. magic plus 1 potion: 60%

That kinda looks like Double coins; double goods; standard items, eh?

Alignment: Always (?) neutral good

Advancement: 10-18 HD (Huge); 19-27 HD (Gargantuan)

Note that a 19 HD roc is Gargantuan.

 

[freyar]

Sounds good. I'd also go with always for the alignment.

 

[Shade]

Koodjanuks use Clerical spells at the 12th level of ability. They may use seven 1st-level spells, six 2nd-level spells, five 3rd, four 4th, three 5th, two 6th, and one 7th-level spell per day; these should be rolled up randomly by the DM.

Good-aligned characters with any injuries will be touched by the koodjanuk, who can Cure wounds by touch as if an 8th-level Paladin had laid hands on that character (i.e., 16 points of damage may be cured per touch). The koodjanuk can do this three times a day, and may also decide to use some of its regular curative spells if it has any that day. A koodjanuk cannot use the reversed (and usually evil) forms of its spells, such as Darkness or Cause wounds.

Koodjanuks ignore neutrals, neither harming or helping them (though they might give directions and advice). Evil beings, however, will usually be attacked physically (beak attack if on the ground or claw attack if in the air). magically (with Flame strike, Insect plague, or the like, if available), or psionically (if the Evil beings it fights are psionic).

Typical cleric spells prepared:
6th--2+1
5th--3+1
4th--4+1
3rd--5+1
2nd--5+1
1st--6+1
0--6

Good and Healing domains?