Converting monsters from Dragon magazine (Part Two)
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Shade
Monster Junkie
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Africa is a continent of rivers, with the Nile, the Zaire (formerly Congo), and Niger systems ranking among the longest in the world. There are also several great lakes surpassed in size only by those of North America. These bodies of water teem with a countless variety of fish, as well as hippopotami, crocodiles, and water birds.
Formidable as the hippo and crocodile are, even they are sometimes forced to retreat when confronted by the unknown beasts that share their environment. One dangerous rival is the dingonek, a 15'-long creature with a head like that of a lioness or otter, long saberlike fangs, thick scales like those of an armadillo, and a long, broad tail. The dingoneks body is covered with leopard-like spots, and its bulk rivals that of a hippo. Its feet bear reptilian claws.
DINGONEK
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 9"//9"(6")
HIT DICE: 8 +4
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite and 2 claws
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16/2-12/2-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Charge
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VII/1300 + 12/hp
A fearless, aggressive carnivore that rivals the bulette in temper. Accustomed to attacking other large monsters, the dingonek has developed a charging attack using its head and body as a massive ram. Given 60' in which to reach charging speed, the dingonek will deliberately hurl itself at large or dangerous prey, inflicting double damage with claw attacks, an additional 2-20 hp damage from its head butt (though without a bite), and stunning all man-size or smaller beings as per a symbol of stunning. The dingonek can also dig into the earth with its claws and burst out of the ground to attack encampments and villages. Anyone standing behind a dingonek can be smacked with its tail for 3-12 hp damage, though this attack is at -4 to hit. Unfortunately, dingoneks can swim, too.
To be called "brave as a dingonek" means to be stupidly fearless and aggressive. The best policy that humans have when encountering a dingonek is to leave the area and hope it finds something bigger to pick on.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #122 (1987).
Africa is a continent of rivers, with the Nile, the Zaire (formerly Congo), and Niger systems ranking among the longest in the world. There are also several great lakes surpassed in size only by those of North America. These bodies of water teem with a countless variety of fish, as well as hippopotami, crocodiles, and water birds.
Formidable as the hippo and crocodile are, even they are sometimes forced to retreat when confronted by the unknown beasts that share their environment. One dangerous rival is the dingonek, a 15'-long creature with a head like that of a lioness or otter, long saberlike fangs, thick scales like those of an armadillo, and a long, broad tail. The dingoneks body is covered with leopard-like spots, and its bulk rivals that of a hippo. Its feet bear reptilian claws.
DINGONEK
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 9"//9"(6")
HIT DICE: 8 +4
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite and 2 claws
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16/2-12/2-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Charge
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VII/1300 + 12/hp
A fearless, aggressive carnivore that rivals the bulette in temper. Accustomed to attacking other large monsters, the dingonek has developed a charging attack using its head and body as a massive ram. Given 60' in which to reach charging speed, the dingonek will deliberately hurl itself at large or dangerous prey, inflicting double damage with claw attacks, an additional 2-20 hp damage from its head butt (though without a bite), and stunning all man-size or smaller beings as per a symbol of stunning. The dingonek can also dig into the earth with its claws and burst out of the ground to attack encampments and villages. Anyone standing behind a dingonek can be smacked with its tail for 3-12 hp damage, though this attack is at -4 to hit. Unfortunately, dingoneks can swim, too.
To be called "brave as a dingonek" means to be stupidly fearless and aggressive. The best policy that humans have when encountering a dingonek is to leave the area and hope it finds something bigger to pick on.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #122 (1987).
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demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Some variety of powerful charge for the body slamming attack? It can claw when body slamming, which suggests pounce. Do we want to give it a tail slap attack, or tail sweep?
Shade
Monster Junkie
Definitely yes to the stunning powerful charge and pounce, probably both tail slap and sweep.
Animal? The stunning bit could almost push it into magical beast territory.
Shall we work on ability scores?
Hippo: Str 24, Dex 9, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Lion: Str 21, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Tiger: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Maybe Str 24, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6?
Animal? The stunning bit could almost push it into magical beast territory.
Shall we work on ability scores?
Hippo: Str 24, Dex 9, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Lion: Str 21, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Tiger: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Maybe Str 24, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6?
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Those ability scores definitely appeal.
And I wasn't under the impression that there was a question of animal vs. magical beast. Magical beast, all the way. It's a hideous fusion animal, much like a hippogriff, griffon or owlbear.
And I wasn't under the impression that there was a question of animal vs. magical beast. Magical beast, all the way. It's a hideous fusion animal, much like a hippogriff, griffon or owlbear.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Added to Homebrews.
Let's work on the "stunning powerful charge". Does this work?
Powerful Charge (Ex): When a dingonek charges, its claw attacks deal 4d6+6 points of damage. Additionally, it can make a head butt attack.
Head Butt (Ex): When a dingonek charges, it may make a head butt attack at its full attack bonus which deals 2d10+7 points of bludgeoning damage. The victim must also succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or be stunned for x rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.
Let's work on the "stunning powerful charge". Does this work?
Powerful Charge (Ex): When a dingonek charges, its claw attacks deal 4d6+6 points of damage. Additionally, it can make a head butt attack.
Head Butt (Ex): When a dingonek charges, it may make a head butt attack at its full attack bonus which deals 2d10+7 points of bludgeoning damage. The victim must also succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or be stunned for x rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
It looks like we may want to give it pounce, if it gets both claws and a head butt attack. Alternatively, we give it the head butt only on a charge. I think 1d2 would be a reasonable duration for stunning.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I don't see why not...
Shade
Monster Junkie
How's this for the tail sweep?
Tail Sweep (Ex): A dingonek can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 20 feet extending from an intersection on the edge of the dingonek's space in any direction. Medium or smaller creatures within the swept area take automatic tail slap damage (DC X Reflex half). The save DC is Strength-based.
Skills: 11
Feats: 3
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large); 17-32 HD (Huge)?
Tail Sweep (Ex): A dingonek can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 20 feet extending from an intersection on the edge of the dingonek's space in any direction. Medium or smaller creatures within the swept area take automatic tail slap damage (DC X Reflex half). The save DC is Strength-based.
Skills: 11
Feats: 3
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large); 17-32 HD (Huge)?
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