Converting Greyhawk monsters

[Cleon]

Updated with natural invisibility.

For the "nightmare illusion", is it going to be some combination of mirror image, simulacrum, and maybe frightful presence or another fear spell/ability?

I was thinking the "Nightmare" would be similar a combination of the project image, phantasmal killer, shadow conjuration and shadow evocation spells.

It will probably be necessary to split it into several supernatural powers - say, a "Manifest Nightmare" special attack for the shadow conjuration/evocation effect and a "Phantasmal Projection" special quality for the project image/simulacrum effect, plus some kind of "Aura of Terror" for the fear.

 

[Shade]

I was thinking the "Nightmare" would be similar a combination of the project image, phantasmal killer, shadow conjuration and shadow evocation spells.

It will probably be necessary to split it into several supernatural powers - say, a "Manifest Nightmare" special attack for the shadow conjuration/evocation effect and a "Phantasmal Projection" special quality for the project image/simulacrum effect, plus some kind of "Aura of Terror" for the fear.

That seems a reasonable approach.

 

[freyar]

That works for me, too, but I have a couple confusions. What's the shadow conjuration/evocation effect? It only ever does nonlethal damage. And which of these gets the PC to attack other PCs?

 

[Cleon]

That works for me, too, but I have a couple confusions. What's the shadow conjuration/evocation effect? It only ever does nonlethal damage. And which of these gets the PC to attack other PCs?

Well I wasn't going to go for an exact copy of shadow conjuration or evocation, but I think they'd be good sources for a general outline of the ability.

We were talking about it doing a bit of permanent harm (mental ability damage or drain?) every time a target "dies" from nonlethal damage, so it can eventually terrify its victims to death with enough illusory killings.

 

[Shade]

And which of these gets the PC to attack other PCs?

We discussed it above, but never finalized a writeup. Essentially, a confusion aura with only the most severe options ( "attack nearest creature", "attack nearest object" and "flail wildly at thin air").

We were talking about it doing a bit of permanent harm (mental ability damage or drain?) every time a target "dies" from nonlethal damage, so it can eventually terrify its victims to death with enough illusory killings.

I'm thinking Wis drain makes the most sense, with Cha drain a close second.

 

[freyar]

I'd go with Wis drain.

Ok, adding confusion to the above works, too.

Whew, this will be complicated. Since I'm jetlagged from my last interview, maybe someone else can tackle this....

 

[Cleon]

We discussed it above, but never finalized a writeup. Essentially, a confusion aura with only the most severe options ( "attack nearest creature", "attack nearest object" and "flail wildly at thin air").

I'm thinking Wis drain makes the most sense, with Cha drain a close second.

Wisdom drain's good, and it adds a nice "death spiral" effect by reducing the victim's Will save.

 

[freyar]

Wisdom drain's good, and it adds a nice "death spiral" effect by reducing the victim's Will save.

Absolutely!

Does one of you want to work this out? Make the aura into a usual fear aura?

 

[Cleon]

Absolutely!

Does one of you want to work this out? Make the aura into a usual fear aura?

I'm afraid inspiration is not striking me at the moment, but I may come up with something later if no one else wants a shot at it.

 

[Shade]

Attempting...

Aura of Palpable Terror (Su): A darksider exudes can radiate a 20-foot-radius fear aura as a free action. A creature in the area must succeed on a DC x Will save or be affected as though by a fear spell (caster level xth). A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same darksider's aura for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Creatures within the aura also take xdx points of nonlethal damage each round they remain within the aura. A creature reduced to unconsciousness from nonlethal damage in this manner suffers xdx points of Wisdom drain.