Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Cleon]

Death throes that function as a rage spell?

The 3rd edition rage spell doesn't compel its victims to attack each other, so I don't see how it fits. I'd think a better comparison would be the confusion spell, although I'd should tweak the random behaviour table to something like:

01-10 Attack Crimson Crawler's corpse, or close towards corpse if attack not possible.
11-30 Curse and babble furiously, will engage in combat if attacked.
31-80 Attack nearest creature (for this purpose a familiar counts as part of the subject's self)
81-00 Attack randomly selected creature within 30 feet, charging if possible, or close towards target if attack not possible.

An enraged victim only makes attacks of opportunity against their selected target.
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What d you think?

 

[Shade]

I say we just turn your "81-100" line into the death throes ability.

 

[freyar]

I say we just turn your "81-100" line into the death throes ability.

I'm agreed to that.

On your other questions, rock throwing is good, tail sweep is good (damage downsized from dragon?), yes to UMD, and racial grapple bonus.

 

[demiurge1138]

Yeah, song of discord is probably the comparison we want to draw here.

 

[Shade]

Ahh...song of discord...perfect!

I borrowed the "downsized" tail sweep from the megalania.

Updated.

Give 'em summon baatezu? If so, summons another cursed crimson crawler?

Suggested natural armor bonus? Tail slap damage?

 

[demiurge1138]

1 crimson crawler or 2d4 lemures?

 

[Cleon]

Ahh...song of discord...perfect!

Gah! How could I have missed that, song of discord is an ideal model!

The description does needs a bit of cleaning up and the removal of the "sonic" qualifier. How about:

Death Throes (Ex): When killed, a cursed crimson crawler’s tail knob explodes, releasing waves of pent up bitterness and anger in a 30-foot radius. All creatures within the area must succeed on a DC 21 Will save or turn on each other rather than attack their foes. Each affected creature has a 50% chance to attack the nearest target each round. (Roll to determine each creature’s behavior every round at the beginning of its turn.) Affected creatures attack with all methods at their disposal, employing their deadliest spells and most advantageous combat tactics. They do not, however, harm targets that have fallen unconscious. A creature that does not attack its nearest neighbor is free to act normally for that round.

This is a mind-affecting, compulsion effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
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Suggested natural armor bonus? Tail slap damage?

The original has a lousy AC, so I'm thinking something at the lower range like a bearded devil's +7 natural armour.

1d12 tail slap, like a crocodile?

 

[Cleon]

1 crimson crawler or 2d4 lemures?

That suits me.

What percentage chance of success do you fancy, 35% like most of the low-CR devils?

 

[demiurge1138]

35-45%. So maybe 40%?

 

[freyar]

40% and all the other suggestions sound fine.