Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Shade]

Sounds good.

Skills: 14 at 13 ranks
Concentration, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Search, Spellcraft, Spot? 3 more Knowledge skills?

Feats: 4
Quicken Spell-Like Ability (shield) was suggested. What else?

 

[demiurge1138]

Quicken and Empower SLA (magic missile), Combat Expertise? I see them throwing magic missles around like mad. I could drop one of the magic missle feats or the other if there's strong sentiment against them, but I'd like to keep at least one.

 

[Shade]

It works for me. Since they tend to shun weapons, and lack other attacks, magic missiles seem an excellent method of removing "inconveniences" in their pursuit of knowledge.

 

[Cleon]

Quicken and Empower SLA (magic missile), Combat Expertise? I see them throwing magic missles around like mad. I could drop one of the magic missle feats or the other if there's strong sentiment against them, but I'd like to keep at least one.

Hmm, so the proposal is Quicken (shield) and Quicken (magic missile). I guess if magic missile is they're preferred form of violence it makes sense they would have a defence against it, but it looks like it may be investing too many feats into 1st level spells.

It can Empower a spell up to 4th level with its 12 caster levels, so we could put that feat into a different SLA. How about Empower (searing light)? It only has 2 uses of it, but it's a little better damage-wise than magic missile, assuming it hits.

 

[Cleon]

Skills: 14 at 13 ranks
Concentration, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Search, Spellcraft, Spot? 3 more Knowledge skills?

Are we going to set the other Knowledge skills? The relevant section is:

"They may answer questions as sages, with special categories in the inner and outer planes and major fields in humankind, demi-humankind, humanoids, and giantkind. The prices asked to provide such knowledge to other races are often unusual. Minor questions have been answered for no more than a demonstration of a simple knot or the telling of an old folktale"

Humanoids fall under Knowledge (local), giants under Knowledge (nature) and its great age and possession of antiques suggests Knowledge (history). That would make it:

Concentration, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Search, Spellcraft, Spot
​

That's twelve skills, so we're still missing two. Any suggestions? A knowledge skill or two to represent "personal interests"?

 

[Shade]

Empower (searing light) works for me.

Decipher Script would seem to make sense in their pursuit of Knowledge. And maybe Sense Motive to support their approach to "equal value" of shared knowledge?

 

[demiurge1138]

I like the way the skill list is shaping up.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Suggested sample weapon for attack lines? Quarterstaff?

Organization: Solitary or x (2-8)

Challenge Rating: 7? They are fare less deadly than the equal HD, CR 9 vrock and osyluth.

Treasure: No coins; standard goods; no items?

Alignment: Always neutral good?

Advancement: 11-20 HD (Medium); 21-30 HD (Large)?

 

[Cleon]

Empower (searing light) works for me.

Decipher Script would seem to make sense in their pursuit of Knowledge. And maybe Sense Motive to support their approach to "equal value" of shared knowledge?

Good ideas, that's the skills done then.

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Suggested sample weapon for attack lines? Quarterstaff?

Organization: Solitary or x (2-8)

Challenge Rating: 7? They are fare less deadly than the equal HD, CR 9 vrock and osyluth.

Treasure: No coins; standard goods; no items?

Alignment: Always neutral good?

Advancement: 11-20 HD (Medium); 21-30 HD (Large)?

Challenge Rating's OK.

The description mentions magical staves, so while they often carry mundane antiquities it needs something in the items category, how about:

Treasure: No coins, 50% goods, 25% items
​

Advancement by hit dice seems wrong, I don't see them as growing to 7'+ Large sized creatures. Advancement by class makes more sense to me.

If so, what favoured class should they have?

EDIT: Oh, and quarterstaff's fine for a weapon.