Converting Forgotten Realms monsters
- Thread starter Shade
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Cleon
Legend
Great! I think that means we've finally chiselled them into their final shape.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
It looks pretty good, but I'm still slightly concerned about Gather Information. The skill description says
That just doesn't seem to include instructions for building ancient types of constructs, though it might tell you who to ask. Still this isn't a big deal since you both like it.
SRD said:
That just doesn't seem to include instructions for building ancient types of constructs, though it might tell you who to ask. Still this isn't a big deal since you both like it.
Cleon
Legend
It looks pretty good, but I'm still slightly concerned about Gather Information. The skill description says
That just doesn't seem to include instructions for building ancient types of constructs, though it might tell you who to ask. Still this isn't a big deal since you both like it.
Yes, but I think we can argue it is covered by the second paragraph, although it may be stretching the "something else along those lines" bit:
If you want to find out about a specific rumor, or a specific item, or obtain a map, or do something else along those lines, the DC for the check is 15 to 25, or even higher.
The check's to find rumours and stories about how statues that walk were made and try to derive the secret from them. I imagine they'd go talking to ancient lizardfolk shaman about The Old Stone Stories or something.
Shade
Monster Junkie
That's good enough for me (Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C).
Octopus, Blue Ring
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any Underdark waters
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY/CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Average to Exceptional (8-14)
TREASURE: None
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVEMENT: 2, Swim 12
HIT DICE: 3-5
THAC0:
3-4 HD: 17
5 HD: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS 7
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2 (x6)/1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison, constriction
SPEClAL DEFENSES: Ink, camouflage
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
SIZE: L (4’-6’ long, 4’-10’ tentacles)
MORALE: Elite (14)
XP VALUE:
3 HD: 650
4 HD: 975
5 HD: 1,400
Shaman 1-4: 4,000
Shaman 5-7: 5,000
These very intelligent, shy creatures live in the cracks and crevices of Underdark’s oceans, constantly struggling to escape the notice of the more powerful aquatic races. Their bodies are covered with hundreds of blue circles, giving them their name; they have large golden eyes, a greenish-brown beak, and can change their skin color from dark grayish-brown to a dirty white.
Combat: Though they almost always strive to avoid combat, when forced to stand and fight they are remarkably skilled fighters. Initially, most blue-rings depend on evasive tactics. Blue-ringed octopi, just like other octopi, have chromatophores embedded in their skin that allow them to change color at will, giving them perfect camouflage against the sea floor. These chromatophores even alter the way the octopus reflects light that allows creatures to see via infravision or ultravision.
When spotted, blue-rings wait for an opponent to approach to within 10’ or so, then release their poisonous, milky-white ink. This ink fills a 20’ radius sphere, and allows the blue-ring to jet away at high speed, seeking protective cover again. The poison affects only creatures breathing the water through gills or through a magical means, such as a water breathing spell. These creatures must make a saving throw vs. poison or suffer 4-24 hp damage and be blinded for 1-6 turns.
In melee, blue-rings hold nothing back, attacking with six tentacles and a bite. The tentacles are almost pure muscle, and are able to constrict their prey. Each hit has a chance to secure a single limb of humanoid prey (roll 1d8): 1=right leg, 2=left leg, 3=right arm, 4=left arm, 5=head (blinded), and 6-8=torso or other non-binding hold. A victim may choose to attempt to break a tentacle’s hold; this takes the place of all other actions for the round and requires a successful Open Doors roll.
Worse than constriction, however, the tentacles suffuse their victims with the same poison as their ink; each round that a victim is held it must make a saving throw with a -2 penalty or suffer 4-24 hp damage. A victim held by multiple tentacles must make multiple saving throws but suffers only one set of poison damage/round.
Habitat/Society: When captured by aboleth or kuo-toa, they are well-treated and bred for use as a servitor race; many blue-rings are kept in captivity their entire lives. However, keeping blueringed octopi always; other octopi always somehow learn of this captivity and seek to free their comrades. This has led to some wild speculation that the blue-rings are telepathic or mages of some kind, though no evidence has ever confirmed this.
Ecology: The blue-ring octopi are a nomadic race that strives to avoid conflict. They live everywhere from the shallows to the deepest trenches; they have found underwater connections to the oceans of the surface world and have sometimes been found living in the colder waters of the surface world, where they are allies of the tool-using tako and the locathah.
Red Shamans
A few octopi from every spawning have rings of ox-blood red; these young are protected and cared for far more than any other blue-ring young, growing much larger than other blue rings (8 HD). They are sheltered and jealously guarded because they grow up to be shamans, capable of reaching 8th level of ability as priests. In addition, the poison of shaman blue-rings is more potent than that of their fellows, inflicting half damage even with a successful saving throw. However, the chromatophores of shamans are always either weak or non-existent; they cannot camouflage themselves, so they often spend their entire lives deep within narrow cleft of rock, where other members of their tribe bring them food and seek their help and advice.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #227 (1996).
Octopus, Blue Ring
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any Underdark waters
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY/CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Average to Exceptional (8-14)
TREASURE: None
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVEMENT: 2, Swim 12
HIT DICE: 3-5
THAC0:
3-4 HD: 17
5 HD: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS 7
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2 (x6)/1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison, constriction
SPEClAL DEFENSES: Ink, camouflage
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
SIZE: L (4’-6’ long, 4’-10’ tentacles)
MORALE: Elite (14)
XP VALUE:
3 HD: 650
4 HD: 975
5 HD: 1,400
Shaman 1-4: 4,000
Shaman 5-7: 5,000
These very intelligent, shy creatures live in the cracks and crevices of Underdark’s oceans, constantly struggling to escape the notice of the more powerful aquatic races. Their bodies are covered with hundreds of blue circles, giving them their name; they have large golden eyes, a greenish-brown beak, and can change their skin color from dark grayish-brown to a dirty white.
Combat: Though they almost always strive to avoid combat, when forced to stand and fight they are remarkably skilled fighters. Initially, most blue-rings depend on evasive tactics. Blue-ringed octopi, just like other octopi, have chromatophores embedded in their skin that allow them to change color at will, giving them perfect camouflage against the sea floor. These chromatophores even alter the way the octopus reflects light that allows creatures to see via infravision or ultravision.
When spotted, blue-rings wait for an opponent to approach to within 10’ or so, then release their poisonous, milky-white ink. This ink fills a 20’ radius sphere, and allows the blue-ring to jet away at high speed, seeking protective cover again. The poison affects only creatures breathing the water through gills or through a magical means, such as a water breathing spell. These creatures must make a saving throw vs. poison or suffer 4-24 hp damage and be blinded for 1-6 turns.
In melee, blue-rings hold nothing back, attacking with six tentacles and a bite. The tentacles are almost pure muscle, and are able to constrict their prey. Each hit has a chance to secure a single limb of humanoid prey (roll 1d8): 1=right leg, 2=left leg, 3=right arm, 4=left arm, 5=head (blinded), and 6-8=torso or other non-binding hold. A victim may choose to attempt to break a tentacle’s hold; this takes the place of all other actions for the round and requires a successful Open Doors roll.
Worse than constriction, however, the tentacles suffuse their victims with the same poison as their ink; each round that a victim is held it must make a saving throw with a -2 penalty or suffer 4-24 hp damage. A victim held by multiple tentacles must make multiple saving throws but suffers only one set of poison damage/round.
Habitat/Society: When captured by aboleth or kuo-toa, they are well-treated and bred for use as a servitor race; many blue-rings are kept in captivity their entire lives. However, keeping blueringed octopi always; other octopi always somehow learn of this captivity and seek to free their comrades. This has led to some wild speculation that the blue-rings are telepathic or mages of some kind, though no evidence has ever confirmed this.
Ecology: The blue-ring octopi are a nomadic race that strives to avoid conflict. They live everywhere from the shallows to the deepest trenches; they have found underwater connections to the oceans of the surface world and have sometimes been found living in the colder waters of the surface world, where they are allies of the tool-using tako and the locathah.
Red Shamans
A few octopi from every spawning have rings of ox-blood red; these young are protected and cared for far more than any other blue-ring young, growing much larger than other blue rings (8 HD). They are sheltered and jealously guarded because they grow up to be shamans, capable of reaching 8th level of ability as priests. In addition, the poison of shaman blue-rings is more potent than that of their fellows, inflicting half damage even with a successful saving throw. However, the chromatophores of shamans are always either weak or non-existent; they cannot camouflage themselves, so they often spend their entire lives deep within narrow cleft of rock, where other members of their tribe bring them food and seek their help and advice.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #227 (1996).
Shade
Monster Junkie
So, Medium or Large? Their HD puts 'em between a standard and giant octopus.
Octopus: Small, 2 HD, Str 12, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Giant Octopus: Large, 8 HD, Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Assuming we go Large, we can probably just borrow the giant octopus' physical stats. If Medium, something in between.
Proposed scores:
Medium: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 13
Large: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 13
Octopus: Small, 2 HD, Str 12, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Giant Octopus: Large, 8 HD, Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Assuming we go Large, we can probably just borrow the giant octopus' physical stats. If Medium, something in between.
Proposed scores:
Medium: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 13
Large: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 13
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
I'm beginning to suspect that there are as many octopus critters as spider critters.
Make them Large, so they can use imp grab against most PCs.
The proposed scores suffice, I think. Maybe boost the Con if we want the poison to be a little nastier.
And I'll go with the high end 5HD, though I'm not averse to 3HD and advancement.
Definitely an underbar (if not separate stats) for the red shaman.
Make them Large, so they can use imp grab against most PCs.
The proposed scores suffice, I think. Maybe boost the Con if we want the poison to be a little nastier. And I'll go with the high end 5HD, though I'm not averse to 3HD and advancement.
Definitely an underbar (if not separate stats) for the red shaman.
Cleon
Legend
I prefer Medium, since their dimensions are about half a regular Giant Octopus. Maybe have them become Large at 5HD?
I would give them a lower Strength at Medium - preferably 12, so they get a standard Giant Octopodes Str 20 when they advance to Large. Indeed, I wouldn't mind just giving them a standard Octopus's abilities. it'd be easier.
e.g. something like:
Medium Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 3d8 (13)
Advancement: 4 HD (Medium), 5-9 HD (Large)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Also, could we call this a "Giant Blue-Ringed Octopus", since a real Blue-Ringed Octopus is only 9-12 inches across?
Cleon
Legend
I'm definitely liking Medium for them. They can still constrict creatures up to Large without tweaking the standard Constrict rules. They'd probably need a racial bonus to grapple checks, like the +4 the SRD squid has.
I'm thinking we can use most of the conversion of the Deep-Dwelling Octopus we did.
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