Converting "generic setting" Second Edition monsters

[Shade]

So...create free-willed wights?

 

[Cleon]

So...create free-willed wights?

That'd be OK by me.

We could just not have them create spawn at all, since there's no mention of them doing so in the original text.

 

[Shade]

I was going to reply "works for me", thinking they only did Con damage, and then I reread the entry...

Victims of their savage bite must save versus death or lose one level (permanently).

So they'll be creating wights, whether we include a create spawn entry or not. In that case, might as well spell it out, eh?

 

[freyar]

Ooops, that's "wright" on the wights.

I'm ok with adding create spawn, but I think we should only bother to add it if we always want them to create wights. If it's only energy drain through the bite, we can leave it off.

 

[Cleon]

I was going to reply "works for me", thinking they only did Con damage, and then I reread the entry...

So they'll be creating wights, whether we include a create spawn entry or not. In that case, might as well spell it out, eh?

Might as well.

I'd be tempted to give them some control over the wights, maybe just a set number of them, so they have a bunch of minions.

Ooops, that's "wright" on the wights.

Better wight than wrong, but you were wrong with your wright.

I'm ok with adding create spawn, but I think we should only bother to add it if we always want them to create wights. If it's only energy drain through the bite, we can leave it off.

Do you mean they can create wights whenever they kill, whether or not it used their bite?

We could have it so a creature that's killed by one comes back as a wight if they've got any negative levels from its bite attack.

 

[Shade]

Let's not veer away from the way undead generally work. Either create spawn if killed in any way by the spirit (like most MM undead), or via energy drain only (like a vampire). I'd prefer the former.

Regardless of the case, I'd prefer "all or nothing" on the enslavement...either the spawn are free-willed, or they're enslaved.

In other words, "Two wrongs don't make a wright."

Neglected spirits can assume wraithform at will

It looks like I stuck the wraithform ability in the wrong thread!

Wraithform (Su): A wraithworm may become incorporeal for up to 10 minutes per hour. It may not use its natural attacks or paralyzing gaze while incorporeal.

Skills: 5 at 11 ranks
Wights have Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot. Add Knowledge (history) since they are ancestors?

Feats: 3
Multiattack? Power Attack? Reckless Offensive?

Environment: Any?
Organization: Solitary? (Add wights if we decide upon enslavement)
Challenge Rating: 5? (A wight improved to 8 HD is CR 4, and these add Con damage and unholy toughness)
Treasure: None (like wights?)
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Medium)? (This follows the wight's "double HD, same size category" advancement)

 

[freyar]

I guess we can drop the paralyzing gaze, but wraithform seems good.

Edit: Make the wights free-willed, and the rest looks pretty good.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

A neglected ancestral spirit stands 6 feet tall and weighs x pounds.

A neglected ancestral spirit speaks Common?

 

[Cleon]

Let's not veer away from the way undead generally work. Either create spawn if killed in any way by the spirit (like most MM undead), or via energy drain only (like a vampire). I'd prefer the former.

Regardless of the case, I'd prefer "all or nothing" on the enslavement...either the spawn are free-willed, or they're enslaved.

I prefer "energy drain only" and "enslaved", but it won't bother me if you go for something else.

In other words, "Two wrongs don't make a wright."

Only if the victim has three or more Hit Dice.

It looks like I stuck the wraithform ability in the wrong thread!

Wraithform (Su): A wraithworm may become incorporeal for up to 10 minutes per hour. It may not use its natural attacks or paralyzing gaze while incorporeal.

Wraithform (Su): A neglected spirit can become incorporeal at will as an X action. It can remain incorporeal for as long as it desires, but during this time it can not harm opponents as it has no incorporeal attacks.

Skills: 5 at 11 ranks
Wights have Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot. Add Knowledge (history) since they are ancestors?

Sure!

Feats: 3
Multiattack? Power Attack? Reckless Offensive?

I'll have to think about this one for a bit.

Power Attack doesn't seem that good an idea, since they have pretty poor attack modifiers.

Environment: Any?
Organization: Solitary? (Add wights if we decide upon enslavement)
Challenge Rating: 5? (A wight improved to 8 HD is CR 4, and these add Con damage and unholy toughness)
Treasure: None (like wights?)
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Medium)? (This follows the wight's "double HD, same size category" advancement)

I'd give them treasure. Neglected Ancestors could have tomb full of treasure.

For Advancement I'd prefer triple HD, i.e. 9-24 HD (Medium), I think they ought to have the potential to get pretty fearsome.

Also, on a philosophical basis I'd prefer "Usually chaotic evil". These are ancestor spirits that have become malevolent due to neglect, so presumably they were once not-chaotic-evil and might even become more pleasant with truly extraordinary propitiation.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

A neglected ancestral spirit stands 6 feet tall and weighs x pounds.

A neglected ancestral spirit speaks any languages it knew in life (usually Common)?