Converting "generic setting" second edition monsters

[freyar]

How about Handle Animal checks used on the Diplomacy "Influencing NPC Attitudes" table, and Diplomacy can be used in conjunction with speak with animals or similar magic, and Wild Empathy works as usual? Starts as either indifferent or unfriendly and must be made friendly or helpful?

 

[Shade]

Good idea. In fact, the following seems to support Handle Animal nicely...

They dislike captivity, and cannot be trained, so when they fly off to purify themselves they rarely return to their owners. Luring them back requires imitating their mating calls, which can be accomplished by a successful Animal Lore check at a -10 penalty.

 

[demiurge1138]

And, since they're magical beasts, the increased difficulty's already built in! Unless we want to increase it more.

 

[freyar]

And, since they're magical beasts, the increased difficulty's already built in! Unless we want to increase it more.

Brilliant!

 

[Shade]

Indeed!

So start 'em at indifferent, and require that they be moved to helpful?

 

[freyar]

That's a DC 30 check. Is that too hard at this CR? We could just require them to become friendly; maybe helpful to get more potent benefits?

 

[demiurge1138]

Agreed to friendly, rather than helpful.

 

[Shade]

Updated. Does that sufficiently cover the Handle Animal check?

 

[freyar]

I think so. We could state that it will only remove nauseated/sickened or magical diseases if improved to helpful, but I'm not sure about whether we need to do that.

Also, I just realized that speak with animals won't actually work on this, because it's a magical beast. Should we put in an exception?

 

[demiurge1138]

Agreed to the exception. And nauseated/sickened aren't that strong, so we shouldn't need helpfulness to get those.