Converting Monsters from D&D Official Video Games

I'd say go with AF.

Environment: Any is good, and Common for the language works for me.

CR seems like about 5.

Advancement: 8-14 HD (Medium)?
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Do we want them to be able to speak, or simply understand, Common?

Hmmm..wraith is CR 5. These things have 2 more HD, and fill a similar niche. Is Con damage worth significantly less than Con drain? They also lack the wraith's Daylight Powerlessness, which also leans me toward CR 6. Thoughts?
 



Shadow Hound
Climate/Terrain : Any/Ruins or subterranean
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Packs
Activity Cycle: Night
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Semi- (2-4)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral (Evil)
No. Appearing: 4-16
Armor Class: 6
Movement: 18 (9 in bright light)
Hit Dice: 6 (-1 hp/die in bright light)
THACO: 15
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 2-8
Special Attacks: Nil
Special Defenses: +1 or better weapon to hit
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (4' at shoulder)
Morale: Steady (11-12)
Exp . Point Value: 975

These hound-like creatures are normally encountered on the Plane of Shadow. In their natural habitat, they roam in packs or are used as trained guard beasts.

As their name would suggest, shadow hounds appear as dark, black shadows of a canine form. Their eyes glow with a fiery radiance that sends a chill to the very soul of anyone looking at them. When they attack with their vicious teeth, their mouths produce the same fiery radiance as their eyes.

Combat: Like dogs and wolves of the Prime Material Plane, shadow hounds attack in packs using their powerful jaws to drag a prey off of its feet. Once down, the hounds swarm over the prey and devour it mercilessly. In shadowy conditions (Plane of Shadow, moonlight, etc.) a shadow hound is a terrible foe. It can strike and then blend with the shadows so that it is 40% unlikely to be seen. However, in bright light it loses 50% of its movement and cannot use shadows for concealment. Regardless of lighting, +1 or better weapons are needed to harm these beasts.

Habitat/Society: Shadow hounds, like wolves, are sociable creatures and travel around in packs. The structure of the pack is very strict; there is only one leader and every other shadow hound knows its place and duties.

The lair of a pack of shadow hounds is 50% likely to contain 2-7 whelps. These young will not fight but can be taken and trained. A shadow hound whelp can sell for 200-700 gold pieces.

Originally appeared in Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor Rule Book (1993).
 

Magical Beast (Extraplanar)?

Combat: Like dogs and wolves of the Prime Material Plane, shadow hounds attack in packs using their powerful jaws to drag a prey off of its feet. Once down, the hounds swarm over the prey and devour it mercilessly.

Trip like wolves, or even a lesser form of savage like brachyurus?

In shadowy conditions (Plane of Shadow, moonlight, etc.) a shadow hound is a terrible foe. It can strike and then blend with the shadows so that it is 40% unlikely to be seen.

Shadow blend and hide in plain sight?

However, in bright light it loses 50% of its movement and cannot use shadows for concealment.

A variant of light vulnerability?

Regardless of lighting, +1 or better weapons are needed to harm these beasts.

DR 5/magic?

Ability scores of similar creatures...
Riding Dog (M): Str 15, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Hell Hound (M): Str 13, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Shadow Mastiff (M): Str 17, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 13
Spectral Hound (M): Str 15, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 8
 

Those suggestions sound good. I think I like the idea of using savage, also.

How about Str 18, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 11? Just winging it here, but it seems like they should have slightly better physical stats than the shadow mastiff since they have more HD but no need for the higher Cha.
 



Added to Homebrews.

I'll be happy to differentiate them further from shadow mastiffs. Perhaps give them shadow jump, making them the perfect shadowdancer companion?

Should we drop shadow blend since hide in plain sight offers some similar functionality?
 

Remove ads

Top