Converting Forgotten Realms monsters

[Cleon]

Suddently, I prever to remove Weapon Finesse. Fixed.

Hold on. "Like their more common, spiny rabbits" is missing something, such as "common relatives". I would prefer something referring to their magical nature, e.g. "Like their more common mundane relatives, spiny rabbits are generally docile and prefer flight to fight."

 

[Cleon]

Let's go with the wider range. Thanks! Updated.

Moving on...


Shadowrath
*SNIP*
Originally appeared in City of Splendors (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four version.

Actually, the stats you've posted are the City of Splendors version, not the MCA4 version.

I don't believe there are any significant differences, but I'll check.

 

[Cleon]

Could almost make the greater ones a template, but I can see an argument for monster, also. In either case, these aren't any more related to each other than they are to, say, normal wraiths.

I'd go standard Monster for the lesser, Template for the greater.

Maybe have a HD based threshold like we did for the Netherese Zombie (e.g. 5+ HD = Greater Shadowrath Template, less than 5 HD = Lesser Shadowrath Monster).

 

[Shade]

Hold on. "Like their more common, spiny rabbits" is missing something, such as "common relatives". I would prefer something referring to their magical nature, e.g. "Like their more common mundane relatives, spiny rabbits are generally docile and prefer flight to fight."

That'll work. Fixed.

I'd go standard Monster for the lesser, Template for the greater.

Maybe have a HD based threshold like we did for the Netherese Zombie (e.g. 5+ HD = Greater Shadowrath Template, less than 5 HD = Lesser Shadowrath Monster).

While normally I might tend to agree, the types are tied to specific powers of the Crown of Horns, which actually has 3e stats in Magic of Faerûn. Myrkul's hand remains, but the ray of undeath has been upgraded to a cone of undeath.

Monster for the lesser/template for the greater appeals, though.

 

[Cleon]

While normally I might tend to agree, the types are tied to specific powers of the Crown of Horns, which actually has 3e stats in Magic of Faerûn. Myrkul's hand remains, but the ray of undeath has been upgraded to a cone of undeath.

Actually, it's not so much an upgrade as a misnaming. The AD&D artifact had a conical undeath effect too, albeit a narrower one, they just called it a ray:

The Crown’s first major power is its ray of undeath, a dark energy ray that fires from the black diamond (maximum of one ray per turn) that covers a conical area 40 feet long and 10 feet wide at the base. Any creatures in the area of effect must save vs. death magic or die; even those successfully saving receive 4d12 points of damage from the necromantic energy. Any characters slain by the ray of undeath rise as a lesser shadowrath under the total control of the Crown-bearer.

 

[freyar]

Ok, not based on HD then, but the powers from the crown.

Anyway, do the monster first?

 

[Shade]

Ok, not based on HD then, but the powers from the crown.

Anyway, do the monster first?

Sure.

Let's figure out the basics. They don't need decent Str, since they utilize touch attacks. The 4+4 HD implies unholy toughness. No Int score is given, but since they are similar in HD to a ghast, have the same AC as a 2e ghast, and it suggests they are turned as ghasts, we might just use the ghast's ability scores as a baseline:

Ghast: Str 17, Dex 17, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16

Set the Str to 10 and retain the rest?

 

[freyar]

Yes, I think that's reasonable. +2 turn resistance, also, along with +4 natural armor.

 

[Cleon]

Sure.

Let's figure out the basics. They don't need decent Str, since they utilize touch attacks. The 4+4 HD implies unholy toughness. No Int score is given, but since they are similar in HD to a ghast, have the same AC as a 2e ghast, and it suggests they are turned as ghasts, we might just use the ghast's ability scores as a baseline:

Ghast: Str 17, Dex 17, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16

Set the Str to 10 and retain the rest?

It does give an Intelligence score, "As former self".

Thus it ought to be Int 10-11.

 

[Shade]

It does give an Intelligence score, "As former self".

Thus it ought to be Int 10-11.

Assuming the former self was average.

I'm fine with Int anywhere in the 10-13 range.

Everything else I proposed OK?