Converting monsters from Dragon magazine (Part Two)
- Status
Shade
Monster Junkie
Gargoyle, Spouter
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Ruins and occupied dwellings
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral (Evil)
NO. APPEARING:
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 14
HIT DICE: 5 + 7
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5/2-5
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (3')
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 1,400
The spouter gargoyle generally looks like an ugly goblinoid statue, often found perched above a door or serving as a raingutter outlet on a roof. Its mouth is always gaping hideously, and its forearms sport two rows of sharp spikes; on its back are two undersized wings, far too small to provide flight.
Combat: Anyone who enters the spouter's territory without sneaking the password or making the appropriate gesture will be attacked, usually from above, by the spouter's acid spittle. This spittle can be used only once every four rounds and has a range of just 5' unless the attack is from above (the spouter can attack anyone directly below it no matter how far down). The acid inflicts 2-40 (2d20) points of damage, with a successful save vs. breath weapons indicating half damage. If the spouter's opponents somehow escape or prove resistant to the acid, the gargoyle can float down using its undersized wings to break its fall. The spouter can attack on the ground using its arm-spikes, which cause 1d4+1 points of damage per attack.
The spouter has a nasty streak and revels in "accidentally" attacking its master or his or her associates if they forget to make the appropriate signal, even if the gargoyle recognizes them as "safe."
The spouter is immune to all forms of acid, is struck only by +1 or better weapons, and can climb wall with 90% probability.
Habitat/Society: Though occasionally matched sets of spouters are found, usually there is only one creature. Very rarely (5%), a group of 1d4+2 spouters has found each other and joined up in defense of their mutual territory. There isn't much competition between the group members, so there is no chieftain or ruler.
Occasionally, a "free" spouter will offer its services to a powerful evil entity, such is its love of mayhem and its guardian instinct.
Ecology: Spouters need not eat, drink or sleep, and like all gargoyles can remain perfectly motionless for any length of time. Thus, they generally have little impact on the environment
around them, though their acid works wreaks havoc on mature and often the presence of a spouter can be detected by the numerous acid-scars on plants and structures in the area.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #223 (1995)
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Gargoyle, Spouter
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Building or ruin
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
NO. APPEARING: 1 (rarely more)
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 12
HIT DICE: 5 + 7
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d4+1/1d4+1
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Acid
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better magical weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (3' tall)
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 1,400
The spouter gargoyle generally looks like an ugly imp. It is often found perched above a door or serving as a raingutter outlet on a roof. Its mouth is always gaping hideously. Its forearms sport two rows of sharp spikes; on its back are two undersized wings, far too small to provide flight. When motionless, it is indistinguishable from normal stonework. However, plant life and structures in the area will often be pitted and scarred, as if by acid.
Combat: Anyone who enters the spouter's territory without uttering a password or making the appropriate gesture will be attacked, usually from above, by the spouter's acid spittle. This spittle can be used once every four rounds and has a range of just 5 feet (unless the attack is from above--the spouter can hit anyone directly below it no matter how far down). The acid inflicts 2d20 points of damage, with a successful save vs. breath weapon indicating half damage. If the spouter's opponents escape or prove resistant to the acid, the gargoyle can float down using its tiny undersized wings to break its fall. On the ground, the spouter can attack using its arm-spikes, which cause 1d4+1 points of damage per attack.
The spouter has a nasty streak and revels in "accidentally" attacking its master or his or her associates if they forget to make the appropriate signal, even if it recognizes them as safe.
The spouter is immune to all forms of acid, is struck only by weapons of +1 enchantment or better, and can climb wall with 90% chance of success.
Habitat/Society: Though matched sets of spouters are occasionally found, usually there will be only one. Very rarely, a group of 1d4+2 spouters will find each other and join for mutual defense of their territory. There isn't much competition between group members, so they will choose no chieftain or ruler. Sometimes a "free" spouter, one whose master has been slain, will offer its services to a powerful evil entity, such is its love of mayhem and its guardian instinct.
Ecology: Spouters need not eat, drink or sleep, and can remain perfectly motionless for any length of time. Thus, they usually have little impact on their surroundings, other than the havoc their acid wreaks on local plants and structures.
(Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three version.)
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Ruins and occupied dwellings
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral (Evil)
NO. APPEARING:
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 14
HIT DICE: 5 + 7
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5/2-5
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (3')
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 1,400
The spouter gargoyle generally looks like an ugly goblinoid statue, often found perched above a door or serving as a raingutter outlet on a roof. Its mouth is always gaping hideously, and its forearms sport two rows of sharp spikes; on its back are two undersized wings, far too small to provide flight.
Combat: Anyone who enters the spouter's territory without sneaking the password or making the appropriate gesture will be attacked, usually from above, by the spouter's acid spittle. This spittle can be used only once every four rounds and has a range of just 5' unless the attack is from above (the spouter can attack anyone directly below it no matter how far down). The acid inflicts 2-40 (2d20) points of damage, with a successful save vs. breath weapons indicating half damage. If the spouter's opponents somehow escape or prove resistant to the acid, the gargoyle can float down using its undersized wings to break its fall. The spouter can attack on the ground using its arm-spikes, which cause 1d4+1 points of damage per attack.
The spouter has a nasty streak and revels in "accidentally" attacking its master or his or her associates if they forget to make the appropriate signal, even if the gargoyle recognizes them as "safe."
The spouter is immune to all forms of acid, is struck only by +1 or better weapons, and can climb wall with 90% probability.
Habitat/Society: Though occasionally matched sets of spouters are found, usually there is only one creature. Very rarely (5%), a group of 1d4+2 spouters has found each other and joined up in defense of their mutual territory. There isn't much competition between the group members, so there is no chieftain or ruler.
Occasionally, a "free" spouter will offer its services to a powerful evil entity, such is its love of mayhem and its guardian instinct.
Ecology: Spouters need not eat, drink or sleep, and like all gargoyles can remain perfectly motionless for any length of time. Thus, they generally have little impact on the environment
around them, though their acid works wreaks havoc on mature and often the presence of a spouter can be detected by the numerous acid-scars on plants and structures in the area.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #223 (1995)
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Gargoyle, Spouter
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Building or ruin
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
NO. APPEARING: 1 (rarely more)
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 12
HIT DICE: 5 + 7
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d4+1/1d4+1
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Acid
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better magical weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (3' tall)
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 1,400
The spouter gargoyle generally looks like an ugly imp. It is often found perched above a door or serving as a raingutter outlet on a roof. Its mouth is always gaping hideously. Its forearms sport two rows of sharp spikes; on its back are two undersized wings, far too small to provide flight. When motionless, it is indistinguishable from normal stonework. However, plant life and structures in the area will often be pitted and scarred, as if by acid.
Combat: Anyone who enters the spouter's territory without uttering a password or making the appropriate gesture will be attacked, usually from above, by the spouter's acid spittle. This spittle can be used once every four rounds and has a range of just 5 feet (unless the attack is from above--the spouter can hit anyone directly below it no matter how far down). The acid inflicts 2d20 points of damage, with a successful save vs. breath weapon indicating half damage. If the spouter's opponents escape or prove resistant to the acid, the gargoyle can float down using its tiny undersized wings to break its fall. On the ground, the spouter can attack using its arm-spikes, which cause 1d4+1 points of damage per attack.
The spouter has a nasty streak and revels in "accidentally" attacking its master or his or her associates if they forget to make the appropriate signal, even if it recognizes them as safe.
The spouter is immune to all forms of acid, is struck only by weapons of +1 enchantment or better, and can climb wall with 90% chance of success.
Habitat/Society: Though matched sets of spouters are occasionally found, usually there will be only one. Very rarely, a group of 1d4+2 spouters will find each other and join for mutual defense of their territory. There isn't much competition between group members, so they will choose no chieftain or ruler. Sometimes a "free" spouter, one whose master has been slain, will offer its services to a powerful evil entity, such is its love of mayhem and its guardian instinct.
Ecology: Spouters need not eat, drink or sleep, and can remain perfectly motionless for any length of time. Thus, they usually have little impact on their surroundings, other than the havoc their acid wreaks on local plants and structures.
(Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three version.)
Last edited:
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
OK, so the breath weapon seems fairly easy to convert, but should we make it a ranged touch attack instead? That way, the spouter doesn't become ludicrously overpowered merely by virtue of sitting directly above a party climbing up to melee with it and useless by them all stepping five feet away from the wall and engaging it at range. If we made it a ranged touch, we could make it a Fort save for half damage, keep the Reflex save or just ignore the save altogether.
Other than that, it doesn't have much. Camouflage as an ordinary gargoyle, feather fall, a racial climb speed, DR and acid immunity. Our target CR should probably be only a little higher than an ordinary gargoyle, so it should have more hit dice (and the HD 5+7 seems to support this, although I'm unsure how many Hit Dice gargoyles had in 2e).
Demiurge out.
Other than that, it doesn't have much. Camouflage as an ordinary gargoyle, feather fall, a racial climb speed, DR and acid immunity. Our target CR should probably be only a little higher than an ordinary gargoyle, so it should have more hit dice (and the HD 5+7 seems to support this, although I'm unsure how many Hit Dice gargoyles had in 2e).
Demiurge out.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Compared to a standard 2e gargoyle, it appears to have a higher Con (due to greater bonus hps), 1 worse AC (so maybe worse Dex?), and deals more damage with its claws (2-5 vs 1-3), so maybe greater Str.
3e gargoyle ability scores: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7
So maybe...
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7?
3e gargoyle ability scores: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7
So maybe...
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7?
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Those ability scores look pretty much right.
Demiurge out.
Demiurge out.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Added to Homebrews.
For the "wings break the fall", we could model it after feather fall or after the glide ability of the hadozee:
Gliding: A hadozee can use its wings to glide, negating any damage from a fall of any height and allowing travel 20 feet horizontally for every 5 feet of descent. A hadozee glides at a speed of 40 feet (poor maneuverability).
For the spout acid ability, I agree that just allowing it to dump endlessly from above is unfair. How about if we give it the option of either breathing a 5-foot cone or making a ranged touch attack? That way, it doesn't draw attacks of opportunity when right next to opponents (if it were just a ranged touch attack)?
For the "wings break the fall", we could model it after feather fall or after the glide ability of the hadozee:
Gliding: A hadozee can use its wings to glide, negating any damage from a fall of any height and allowing travel 20 feet horizontally for every 5 feet of descent. A hadozee glides at a speed of 40 feet (poor maneuverability).
For the spout acid ability, I agree that just allowing it to dump endlessly from above is unfair. How about if we give it the option of either breathing a 5-foot cone or making a ranged touch attack? That way, it doesn't draw attacks of opportunity when right next to opponents (if it were just a ranged touch attack)?
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