Converting Forgotten Realms monsters

[Cleon]

To what advantage? To allow a combo of lower-level spells to achieve the same result as a high-level spell?

Erm... yes?

If that's the case, I'd like to reserve judgement until we determine the relative CR of these fellas. If they're weaker than the barghest, I could support that idea. Otherwise, I think the barghest's rules should stand.

Well in some respects the AD&D Abysskin is weaker than the same edition's Barghest - fewer HD (5+5 versus 6+6 to 12+12), lower AC (5 versus 3 to -2), fewer attacks, no SLAs (unlike the Barghest), vulnerability to clerics and holy attacks.

The main advantage they have is an energy drain attack.

 

[freyar]

If they're weaker than the barghest, just get rid of the percentage chance....

 

[Cleon]

If they're weaker than the barghest, just get rid of the percentage chance....

That pretty much puts us back where we were a page and a half ago.

Oh heck, I'll go along with that if only to get us out of this loop.

 

[freyar]

Hey, I'm not the one who broke out the percentile dice! The feed mechanics are fine, but we need to take out the bit that it eats the life force. There's no indication of that in either fluff or mechanics.

 

[Cleon]

Hey, I'm not the one who broke out the percentile dice! The feed mechanics are fine, but we need to take out the bit that it eats the life force. There's no indication of that in either fluff or mechanics.

Are we still making this an addendum to the Energy Drain?

In which case:

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a greater shadowrath's touch attack (or any other natural weapon the greater shadowrath might possess) gain one negative levels. For each negative level bestowed, the vampire gains 5 temporary hit points. A greater shadowrath can use its energy drain ability once per round.

If a greater shadowrath's energy drain slays a creature it destroys its victim's life force, which means the creature can not be restored to life by a raise dead or resurrection spell. A wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore the victim to life.

 

[Shade]

That looks perfect.

 

[Cleon]

That looks perfect.

Fine!

Shall we start a Working Draft then?

By the way, we need to add the Mute SQ to the Lesser Shadowrath as well as the greater version.

Mute (Ex): A shadowrath is as voiceless as the dead. It cannot speak, or cast spells (including spells from spell-completion items) that have a verbal component, or use magic items that require a command word.

 

[Shade]

Fine!

Shall we start a Working Draft then?

I'll add 'em to Homebrews.

By the way, we need to add the Mute SQ to the Lesser Shadowrath as well as the greater version.

I'll update it.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Anyone else think it would be fun to give them Silent Spell as a bonus feat?

 

[freyar]

You have a "lich" under the "Spells" entry. Actually, do they really need a Spells entry? Vampires don't have them, for example.

Silent Spell would be fun, but it would partly defeat the purpose of the Mute SQ. I think, since they're not primarily spellcasters, I'd let individual shadowrath's choose.