Converting Maztica and Horde monsters

BOZ

Creature Cataloguer
Shatjan

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Tundra and arctic forest
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Vegetarian
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: W (D)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Neutral

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 0
MOVEMENT: 9
HIT DICE: 8
THACO: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ ATTACK: 1-8 or weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Breath weapon, spells
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 weapon or better to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M (5'-7')
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 3,000

The shatjan is a powerful protector of the icy far north. There it lives in solitude, watching over the flocks of reindeer that roam the tundra.

The shatjan has the body of a man or woman, strong and stocky, and the head of a reindeer. Males sport large antler racks while females have antlers that are somewhat smaller. The head, neck, shoulders, and forearms are covered with a thick gray to dark brown coat. Shatjan clothing is made from skins and bark, often decorated with patterns and symbols.

Combat: The shatjan is not by nature a warrior, and seldom seeks out battle. However, in its role as protector of the herds, the shatjan is often forced to fight against predators of all types. The shatjan is accustomed to fighting in snow, ice, and cold. It is never hampered by these conditions and will often try to lure its opponents to a position that places them at a disadvantage-a deep drift or a slippery patch of ice. In combat it uses bone-tipped harpoons, wooden clubs, or short bows.

The shatjan has a breath weapon, usable every round. It can breathe a blast of freezing cold to a range of 5 feet. The cold can only affect a single target per round and causes 3 dice of damage. Because the breath is narrow and concentrated, a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon negates all damage.

The shatjan can also lower temperatures in a 10 foot radius. This is an innate ability and does not require any concentration. The temperature drops by 10 degrees each round. When the temperature drops to 0, those in the radius suffer 1-2 points of damage per round., At -20 degrees or lower, the damage suffered increases to 1-4 points per round. Those dressed appropriately for that temperature suffer correspondingly less damage. Thus, if the temperature is already 0 and the characters are wearing parkas, no damage is suffered until the temperature reaches -20, and then the damage is half normal.

The shatjan is immune to cold and all cold-based attacks. It can be hit only by +1 weapons or better.

Habitat/Society: Shatjans are solitary creatures, moving with the annual migrations of the reindeer herds.

During the summer, it lives in a small family group at the edge of the forest and tundra. There they build temporary camps, little wickiups of fir branches and birch bark. During winter they follow the reindeer back into the forests and live in ice caves or leather tents. Since shatjans do not need to protect themselves against the cold, they build these shelters for convenience and comfort.

A typical camp has only one male and one female, who mate for life, and a number of young. Females are equal to males in combat ability, while the young have 1-5 hit dice and no special abilities.

Shatjan are closely linked to reindeer and serve as their guardians. They can speak with animals and predict weather. The guardianship of a herd does not mean they defend against all predators. The shatjan become involved only if the predators become too damaging in their attacks. In addition, they act to minimize the damage from natural disasters, such as fires or famine, by guiding their herds to safe grounds.

The shatjan have no friendship or dislike of humans, viewing them as yet another force to contend with. They haltingly speak the language of humans, usually that of whatever tribe is closest to their territory. In addition, they speak their own tongue.

Ecology: The shatjan eat much the same foods as reindeer. In addition, they sometimes trade with humans for vegetable delicacies they cannot get in the north.

The northern human tribes consider the shatjan to be powerful totem spirits. The creatures figure strongly in local folklore, since the reindeer herds are vital to the survival of the tribes. No wise hunter begins a hunt without first making an offering to the shatjan. When the creatures are encountered, tribesmen treat them with great respect and consider the meeting to be a good omen.



some preliminary stats for the shatjan:

Shatjan
Medium Fey (Cold)
Hit Dice: 8d6+X (X hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 25 ft (5 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+X Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+X
Attack: X
Full Attack: (Gore? Bite?) +X melee (1d8+X) or weapon +X melee ()
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: damage reduction X/X
Saves: Fort +X Ref +X Will +X
Abilities: Str X, Dex X, Con X, Int 12, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 77
Feats: 3

Environment: Cold plains and forest
Organization: Solitary or (1-4)
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: X
Alignment: Always lawful neutral
Advancement: X
Level Adjustment: +X


A shatjan is 5-7 feet tall and weighs

A shatjan speaks Sylvan

COMBAT



Originally found in Horde Campaign set


Given the new setup for file attachments, I’ll try to post pictures with each monster now. :)
 

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Shade

Monster Junkie
The shatjan have no friendship or dislike of humans, viewing them as yet another force to contend with. They haltingly speak the language of humans, usually that of whatever tribe is closest to their territory. In addition, they speak their own tongue.
Perhaps in addition to (or instead of) Sylvan, they should speak Shatjan and a halting form of Common?
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
The shatjan is accustomed to fighting in snow, ice, and cold. It is never hampered by these conditions and will often try to lure its opponents to a position that places them at a disadvantage-a deep drift or a slippery patch of ice.
Here's my take on this ability:

Cold Fighting (Ex): A shatjan can move into a snow-covered or heavy snow-covered square with no movement penalties.

For attacks, how about: Gore +X melee (1d8+X) or club +X melee (1d6+X) or shortbow +X ranged (1d6/x3)?
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
For abilitiy scores, how about Str 15, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 15?

The picture makes them seem as strong as a muscular human.
 

BOZ

Creature Cataloguer
sounds good. did you see the ToH2 preview with the ice gnome? we could copy its ability to walk in snow unhindered i'm sure.
 


BOZ

Creature Cataloguer
“The shatjan has a breath weapon, usable every round. It can breathe a blast of freezing cold to a range of 5 feet. The cold can only affect a single target per round and causes 3 dice of damage. Because the breath is narrow and concentrated, a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon negates all damage.”

“The shatjan can also lower temperatures in a 10 foot radius. This is an innate ability and does not require any concentration. The temperature drops by 10 degrees each round. When the temperature drops to 0, those in the radius suffer 1-2 points of damage per round., At -20 degrees or lower, the damage suffered increases to 1-4 points per round. Those dressed appropriately for that temperature suffer correspondingly less damage. Thus, if the temperature is already 0 and the characters are wearing parkas, no damage is suffered until the temperature reaches -20, and then the damage is half normal.”

“It can be hit only by +1 weapons or better.”

5/cold iron? Or would we want a better DR since it had this ability back in the old days, whereas a lot of fey got 5/cold iron when they never had the “+1 or better” thing before?

“They can speak with animals and predict weather.”

New stats:

Shatjan
Medium Fey (Cold)
Hit Dice: 8d6+24 (52 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 25 ft (5 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+1 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+10
Attack: X
Full Attack: Gore +10 melee (1d8+2) or club +10 melee (1d6+2/x2) or shortbow +9 ranged (1d6/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: damage reduction X/X
Saves: Fort +5 Ref +7 Will +8
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 15
Skills: 77
Feats: 3
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
BOZ said:
“The shatjan has a breath weapon, usable every round. It can breathe a blast of freezing cold to a range of 5 feet. The cold can only affect a single target per round and causes 3 dice of damage. Because the breath is narrow and concentrated, a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon negates all damage.”
Breath Weapon (Su): 5-foot cone (necessary?), once every 1d4 rounds (or once per round?), damage 3d6 cold, Reflex DC X negates (or half?). The save DC is Constitution-based.

BOZ said:
“The shatjan can also lower temperatures in a 10 foot radius. This is an innate ability and does not require any concentration. The temperature drops by 10 degrees each round. When the temperature drops to 0, those in the radius suffer 1-2 points of damage per round., At -20 degrees or lower, the damage suffered increases to 1-4 points per round. Those dressed appropriately for that temperature suffer correspondingly less damage. Thus, if the temperature is already 0 and the characters are wearing parkas, no damage is suffered until the temperature reaches -20, and then the damage is half normal.”
Should we just go with the normal effects of cold weather? If so...

Drop Temperature (Su): As a standard action, the shatjan can lower the temperature by 10 degrees in a 10-foot radius centered on the shatjan. All normal effects for cold weather apply. This effect lasts for X rounds. If the shatjan uses this ability again, the effects stack.

BOZ said:
“It can be hit only by +1 weapons or better.”

5/cold iron? Or would we want a better DR since it had this ability back in the old days, whereas a lot of fey got 5/cold iron when they never had the “+1 or better” thing before?
I'd go with 10/cold iron. They have 8 HD, and the 6 HD nymph has 10/cold iron.

BOZ said:
“They can speak with animals and predict weather.”
Is there a 3.5 equivalent of predict weather?
 

BOZ

Creature Cataloguer
Shade said:
Breath Weapon (Su): 5-foot cone (necessary?), once every 1d4 rounds (or once per round?), damage 3d6 cold, Reflex DC X negates (or half?). The save DC is Constitution-based.

all breath weapons are cones or lines, right? the "blast of cold" could be a cone, but this line throws it up for grabs for a line instead: "Because the breath is narrow and concentrated, a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon negates all damage."

Should we just go with the normal effects of cold weather? If so...

Drop Temperature (Su): As a standard action, the shatjan can lower the temperature by 10 degrees in a 10-foot radius centered on the shatjan. All normal effects for cold weather apply. This effect lasts for X rounds. If the shatjan uses this ability again, the effects stack.

works for me. :) for duration, maybe it takes as many rounds to return to normal as the shatjan spent causing the effect?

I'd go with 10/cold iron. They have 8 HD, and the 6 HD nymph has 10/cold iron.

cool. literally. ;)

Is there a 3.5 equivalent of predict weather?

doubt it. we can always pull up the old description and rework it for 3.5 - done it many times before. :)
 

Shade

Monster Junkie
BOZ said:
all breath weapons are cones or lines, right? the "blast of cold" could be a cone, but this line throws it up for grabs for a line instead: "Because the breath is narrow and concentrated, a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon negates all damage."
Oh yeah, duh. :eek:

BOZ said:
works for me. :) for duration, maybe it takes as many rounds to return to normal as the shatjan spent causing the effect?
Good call!

BOZ said:
doubt it. we can always pull up the old description and rework it for 3.5 - done it many times before. :)
That is probably the best course of action.
 

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