Converting monsters from Dragon magazine (Part Two)

[freyar]

That's a reasonable idea about the feats, and it would get another regular feat. Thoughts?

Interesting thoughts about Survival. I'd say, though, that Survival isn't really needed for wild animals after looking at the skill description. Animals can take 10 on it since they're not rushed, so as long as they don't have a Wis penalty, they can feed themselves and move at 1/2 speed. Furthermore, if they're in their native environment and not trying to go anywhere, that's probably +4 in circumstance bonus to their check. So unless they're trying to track something, I don't think most animals need Survival. Reasonable?

 

[Cleon]

That's a reasonable idea about the feats, and it would get another regular feat. Thoughts?

Interesting thoughts about Survival. I'd say, though, that Survival isn't really needed for wild animals after looking at the skill description. Animals can take 10 on it since they're not rushed, so as long as they don't have a Wis penalty, they can feed themselves and move at 1/2 speed. Furthermore, if they're in their native environment and not trying to go anywhere, that's probably +4 in circumstance bonus to their check. So unless they're trying to track something, I don't think most animals need Survival. Reasonable?

That's a good argument, it just doesn't feel right to me for many animals not to have Survival. I was more concerned about the DC15 checks against various forms of nature's unpleasantness. Giving them a circumstance bonus in their native terrain is effectively little different from giving them a racial bonus like I suggested earlier.

Hmm, I just realized that means humanoids can do the same take 10s, which means a D&D pen-pusher from some big city can be dropped in the middle of the jungle and they'll survive. That doesn't seem right. Even if they can't take 10, the "provide food and water for one other person for every 2 points by which your check result exceeds 10" bit should let them stockpile their good days' food to feed them on bad days.

Maybe civilized folks have a penalty to Survival checks?

Anyhows, getting back to the Bloodstinger I'd prefer to give it Survival and superior tracking ability, even if we have to give it Track as a bonus feat.

Although if nobody else fancies that I'd be OK with us just giving it the the default of being able to track a trail up to DC10 and just list its default Survival skill, that's what the SRD pseudodragon (the other half of the bloodstinger, so to speak) has with its "Survival +1 (+3 following tracks)".

The pseudodragon doesn't have and ranks in the skill, its +1 is just from Wisdom, and the +3 includes its synergy bonus from Search.

 

[freyar]

I think Shade always puts in skills that have a synergy bonus.

I'd agree that a civilized person probably would get some kind of circumstance penalty if they've never really been outdoors before. But someone who's traveled much wouldn't, I think.

 

[Cleon]

I think Shade always puts in skills that have a synergy bonus.

Well it doesn't matter in this case, since the bloodstinger doesn't get any synergy bonuses from the skill ranks it's got.

The bloodstinger is pretty close to done, apart from the haggling over its poison and feats. Oh, and its CR, but we can't really judge that until we've settled on what its poison does.

 

[Shade]

Good point on the bonus feats, Cleon, so Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack (B), Spring Attack (B), and either Alertness or Track?

I'm still not convinced that Survival is necessary. Wolves also track by scent, and rely only on the bonuses granted from Wisdom and the scent ability when tracking.

It looks like there's more votes for Dex damage than slow at this point. Let's make that the standard, but I'm willing to throw in a "sidebar" nothing some have variant "slow poisons" if you'd like.

 

[freyar]

Let's go with Track for the last feat. Whether we add Survival ranks or not, let's list it.

An alternate poison sidebar is a good idea! More options.

 

[Cleon]

Good point on the bonus feats, Cleon, so Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack (B), Spring Attack (B), and either Alertness or Track?

I'm still not convinced that Survival is necessary. Wolves also track by scent, and rely only on the bonuses granted from Wisdom and the scent ability when tracking.

Well I suggested a racial bonus of some sort as an alternative. If I remember correctly, that what the SRD does with wolves.

*goes to check*

Yup, wolves have a +4 racial bonus on survival checks when tracking by scent. I wouldn't give anything like that to the Bloodstinger though, there's no indication it has a keen sense of smell. I imagine it as more of a sight-hunter, with tracking as a back-up strategy.

I like the Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack (B), Spring Attack (B), Track feat selection. You can cut out its Survival ranks if you like, but I wouldn't mind if it still had a point or two in the skill.

It looks like there's more votes for Dex damage than slow at this point. Let's make that the standard, but I'm willing to throw in a "sidebar" nothing some have variant "slow poisons" if you'd like.

Works for me.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

CR 4?

 

[Leopold]

Less Hit dice, lower stats, and worse abilities than a CR6 wyvern. 4 is fine.

 

[freyar]

Yeah, CR 4.

Edit: Hey, and this is post 1000, time to kill the thread!