Converting Forgotten Realms monsters

[Cleon]

Maybe the reason the standard Netherese zombie has 6HD is just that they're usually made from people with levels?

The problem with that is the description it pretty clear that any old peasant can be turned into a Netherese Zombie with 6 HD, with "entire villages" being converted.

Hmm, how about we make the rank and file Netherese Zombies comparable to Vampire Spawn, with fixed HD and lower mental stats, by doing something like this:

If the subject has 5 or fewer class levels, they come back as a 6HD "base creature" Undead without class levels.

If the subject has 6+ class levels, they keep their class levels and become a "templated" Undead, which may be independent of the Lich Lord.

If we're keeping Int 10 (and presumably some cap on other mental stats), that would maybe be enough of a penalty but would gimp casters too much I think. Let's just ditch the 2/3 thing or come up with some creative SQ, like a restriction on actions (not as severe as a normal zombie, though).

Upon reflection, I think we could forget about the cap and just give them a penalty of -4 or so on all their mental stats. An ordinary joe character with the non-elite array has Int 13-14 tops, so that puts the smarter civilian Netherese zombies at Int 9-10.

 

[Shade]

We could stray a bit from the original text, and make the Neth zombies the "elite leaders" of lesser zombies, and make their "create spawn" ability create normal zombies from those of less than 6 HD to begin with.

 

[demiurge1138]

Shade's text-straying appeals to me somewhat, but on the other hand, there are already ju-ju zombies which fill that role (except for the spawn-making). Cleon's vampire spawn analogy is somewhat appealing.

 

[Shade]

Good point. Let's go the vampire spawn route.

In that case, shall we stat up that version first, as a monster, before moving onto the template for the "true" version?

 

[Cleon]

Good point. Let's go the vampire spawn route.

In that case, shall we stat up that version first, as a monster, before moving onto the template for the "true" version?

That seems the more sensible way to do it.

If we do it as something in between a Vampire Spawn and a Zombie, we get something like:

Medium Undead

6d12 Hit Dice, +3 for Toughness (which Zombies get as a bonus feat)

Abilities - we could just average a Vampire Spawn and Zombie Commoner, that would give us something like:

Str 14, Dex 11, Con -, Int 6-7, Wis 11, Cha 7-8

That looks about right.

Speed should probably be 30 ft. (6 squares; cannot Run), like a standard zombie.

A Netherese Zombies' AD&D AC of 6 translates as AC14 in 3E, which suggests +4 natural.

Attacks are either two claws or by weapon. I'm thinking the claws do the same damage as the SRD skeleton (1d4+2 including their Strength), which works out pretty close to the original's 2-8 as far as average damage goes.

Toss in create spawn and the ability to rebuke non-intelligent undead.

Oh, speaking of creating spawn, I was thinking the "rank and file" Netherese Zombies may only be able to create regular zombies and skeletons, while the "elite" Netherese Zombies are the ones who make more Netherese Zombies. Otherwise, were do they get a supply of mindless Undead for them to practice their Rebuke power on?

They'll likely have Damage Resistance 5/slashing like an SRD zombie too.

They'll need a fairly substantial turn resistance, since they're "turned as spectres". The latter are turned as 9HD Undead (7HD +2 turn resistance), which would require a +3 turn resistance for our 6HD Netherese Zombies to get the same 9HD total turn resistance.

That doesn't leave much, apart from working out their 3 feats and 18 skill points it's a pretty complete outline.

 

[freyar]

Most of that sounds good.

Usually, we would take "turned as spectres" to mean that they get the same turn resistance.

I'm a bit torn about the reduced spawn creation. The original text wouldn't really suggest a distinction, but we're already mixing things up a little by splitting into two critters.

 

[Shade]

Usually, we would take "turned as spectres" to mean that they get the same turn resistance.

Exactly. That translation usually works fine with conversions. So +2 turn resistance here.

Bump Int to 8 (per the original writeup) and Cha to 10 or 12 (since they are commanding other undead), and I'm happy with the rest.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

 

[Cleon]

I'm a bit torn about the reduced spawn creation. The original text wouldn't really suggest a distinction, but we're already mixing things up a little by splitting into two critters.

I was thinking this over while travelling on the tube yesterday and came up with this:

Create Spawn (Sp): A netherese zombie can turn the dead body of any corporeal creature into an undead. If the corpse is a humanoid or monstrous humanoid which was killed by a netherese zombie within 24 hours, it rises with the Netherese Zombie template (q.v.). Any other corpse is reanimated with either the skeleton or the zombie template, depending on how much flesh remains on the cadavar. This ability is equivalent to a 5th level spell.
​

That gives us both worlds - it can turn people its slain into more Netherese Zombies, and turn livestock pens and graveyards into recruiting grounds for a mindless army of slaves.

 

[demiurge1138]

Just give it real create spawn (it kills something, they come back as Netherese zombies) and animate dead as an SLA.