Converting monsters from Dragon magazine (Part Two)
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Indeed!
Bohun Tree
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 5 (main trunk)
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 10 (main trunk)
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: C
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1-6 thorn missiles
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5 per thorn
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poisonous fruit;
missiles; root drain; multiple attacks
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Root system; immune to will-force spells
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: L (trunk 30'-60' tall, branches
and roots up to 120' long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
AttacklDefense Modes: Nil
LEVEL1X.P. VALUE: VII/2850 + 14/hp
The bohun tree, or "tree of death," is found only in deep woodlands. Such trees are always solitary, but are surrounded by other varieties of trees on which they feed. The bohun tree, usually brownish grey or greenish grey, can be distinguished by its massive trunk and unique blossoms.
The bohun tree's branches usually start 10 to 12 feet above the ground and spread out horizontally from the top of the trunk; on them hang thick clusters of dark red, luscious fruits. These smooth- and soft-skinned fruits resemble giant grapes, and if bruised or cut open, they exude a vapor within a 60' radius that either induces sleep (80% chance), paralyzes the lungs and slays by suffocation (10%), or has no effect (10%) This effect (or lack of one) is determined separately for each fruit that bursts. A would-be victim is entitled to a save vs. poison to avoid either of the damaging effects. The tree will deliberately cause 1 fruit to burst every other round if it is attacked. The vapor's odor resembles that of' crushed apples or fresh cider.
The flesh of the fruit may be fatally poisonous if ingested (eater must save vs. poison at -4), causing painful acidic reactions within the stomach. A victim will usually go into violent convulsions that will continue even after he has fainted from the pain, lasting 2-8 turns until death occurs. Ninety percent of all elves, centaurs, and satyrs are immune to the effects of the tree's poison. Pixies, treants, stirges, and undead creatures are entirely immune.
Against creatures that approach too closely, a bohun tree directs the thorns that grow on its branches between fruit clusters. These 18-inch-long thorns are flexible, sharp, and weighted so they will fly true. They are fired from the tree by means of sap pressure. A bohun tree has 30-60 thorns at any time, and can regrow 1-4 per day after some have been fired. It hurls these with deadly accuracy and force (as a 10 HD monster hurling missiles) up to 9 ", firing 1-6 per round at targets within range (medium and long range modifiers apply). The thorns do 2-5 points of damage each.
The bohun tree has keen eyesight; hundreds of compound eyes stud fissures in the trunk and grow amid the fruit clusters. It uses this eyesight to home in on the targets of its thorn attacks and also to locate assailants that it can entrap with its roots. The bohun tree can send roots tunneling through the ground, breaking the surface where a target is located and (on a successful "to hit" roll) binding the target's arms or legs (50% chance of either). A target immobilized in this way is more likely to be hit by attacks from the tree's thorns (+4 to hit vs. any target in range). Only one root will attach to any target, and a maximum of 5-8 roots will attack in this way during any single combat episode. A root is AC 9 and has an effective strength of 17 so that its grip can be broken only by a character or creature with a strength of 18 or greater. Each root that attaches to a target will take 2-7 points of damage (determine separately for each root) before being severed.
A bohun tree will cease combat when all of its thorns are gone or after the loss of all of its attacking roots. It can be slain if the main trunk takes damage equal to its hit points (root damage does not count in this total), or by the application of a power word kill spell.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #89 (1984).
Bohun Tree
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 5 (main trunk)
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 10 (main trunk)
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: C
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1-6 thorn missiles
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5 per thorn
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poisonous fruit;
missiles; root drain; multiple attacks
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Root system; immune to will-force spells
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: L (trunk 30'-60' tall, branches
and roots up to 120' long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
AttacklDefense Modes: Nil
LEVEL1X.P. VALUE: VII/2850 + 14/hp
The bohun tree, or "tree of death," is found only in deep woodlands. Such trees are always solitary, but are surrounded by other varieties of trees on which they feed. The bohun tree, usually brownish grey or greenish grey, can be distinguished by its massive trunk and unique blossoms.
The bohun tree's branches usually start 10 to 12 feet above the ground and spread out horizontally from the top of the trunk; on them hang thick clusters of dark red, luscious fruits. These smooth- and soft-skinned fruits resemble giant grapes, and if bruised or cut open, they exude a vapor within a 60' radius that either induces sleep (80% chance), paralyzes the lungs and slays by suffocation (10%), or has no effect (10%) This effect (or lack of one) is determined separately for each fruit that bursts. A would-be victim is entitled to a save vs. poison to avoid either of the damaging effects. The tree will deliberately cause 1 fruit to burst every other round if it is attacked. The vapor's odor resembles that of' crushed apples or fresh cider.
The flesh of the fruit may be fatally poisonous if ingested (eater must save vs. poison at -4), causing painful acidic reactions within the stomach. A victim will usually go into violent convulsions that will continue even after he has fainted from the pain, lasting 2-8 turns until death occurs. Ninety percent of all elves, centaurs, and satyrs are immune to the effects of the tree's poison. Pixies, treants, stirges, and undead creatures are entirely immune.
Against creatures that approach too closely, a bohun tree directs the thorns that grow on its branches between fruit clusters. These 18-inch-long thorns are flexible, sharp, and weighted so they will fly true. They are fired from the tree by means of sap pressure. A bohun tree has 30-60 thorns at any time, and can regrow 1-4 per day after some have been fired. It hurls these with deadly accuracy and force (as a 10 HD monster hurling missiles) up to 9 ", firing 1-6 per round at targets within range (medium and long range modifiers apply). The thorns do 2-5 points of damage each.
The bohun tree has keen eyesight; hundreds of compound eyes stud fissures in the trunk and grow amid the fruit clusters. It uses this eyesight to home in on the targets of its thorn attacks and also to locate assailants that it can entrap with its roots. The bohun tree can send roots tunneling through the ground, breaking the surface where a target is located and (on a successful "to hit" roll) binding the target's arms or legs (50% chance of either). A target immobilized in this way is more likely to be hit by attacks from the tree's thorns (+4 to hit vs. any target in range). Only one root will attach to any target, and a maximum of 5-8 roots will attack in this way during any single combat episode. A root is AC 9 and has an effective strength of 17 so that its grip can be broken only by a character or creature with a strength of 18 or greater. Each root that attaches to a target will take 2-7 points of damage (determine separately for each root) before being severed.
A bohun tree will cease combat when all of its thorns are gone or after the loss of all of its attacking roots. It can be slain if the main trunk takes damage equal to its hit points (root damage does not count in this total), or by the application of a power word kill spell.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #89 (1984).
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
The "random effects of the fruit" need to be standardized, methinks.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Agreed.
Here's another one with manticore-like spikes! Also seems like it has an entangle-like ability.
Shade
Monster Junkie
The simplest way to standardize and retail all three effects is to make it poisonous gas, with initial damage sleep, secondary damage suffocation.
Shade
Monster Junkie
That is a good question. Let's revisit that after working out the basics.
Start at Huge or Gargantuan? It might be nice to go Gargantuan, as that is an underserved niche.
Ability scores of similar "tree monsters"...
Ironmaw (H): Str 30, Dex 9, Con 23, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 14
Octopus Tree (H): Str 30, Dex 3, Con 20, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 15
Orcwort (C): Str 39, Dex 7, Con 29, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Dark Tree (H): Str 28, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 7
Ancient Night Twist (H): Str 45, Dex 6, Con 34, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 23
Flesh-Mulcher Tree (H): Str 20, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 4
Bonetree (H): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 2
Death's Head Tree (H): Str 20, Dex 6, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 5, Cha 1
Start at Huge or Gargantuan? It might be nice to go Gargantuan, as that is an underserved niche.
Ability scores of similar "tree monsters"...
Ironmaw (H): Str 30, Dex 9, Con 23, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 14
Octopus Tree (H): Str 30, Dex 3, Con 20, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 15
Orcwort (C): Str 39, Dex 7, Con 29, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Dark Tree (H): Str 28, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 7
Ancient Night Twist (H): Str 45, Dex 6, Con 34, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 23
Flesh-Mulcher Tree (H): Str 20, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 4
Bonetree (H): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 2
Death's Head Tree (H): Str 20, Dex 6, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 5, Cha 1
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