Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[freyar]

Why the fixed DC and not Charisma-based? I agree with the number, approximately, but I wonder about the philosophy.

 

[Cleon]

Death Ray (Su): An apollyon can project a thin, gray ray up to 100 feet from its eyes. Any living creature struck by this ray takes 1d100 points of damage (Fort DC x half). After striking one target, the ray dissipates and cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds. This is a death effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Death's grip is so strong on those slain by one of his apollyon's death rays that a DC X caster level check is required to restore life via raise dead, ressurrection, and similar life-restoring magic.

Look OK?

DC 25 for the caster level check?

Works for me, and DC 25 is a good fit to the Apollyon's 15 hit dice.

Hmm, that suggests we could say DC 10 + Hit Dice, thus:

Death's grip is so strong on those slain by one of his apollyon's death rays that a DC 25 caster level check (10 plus the apollyon's Hit Dice) is required to restore life via resurrection, and similar life-restoring magic.

 

[Cleon]

Why the fixed DC and not Charisma-based? I agree with the number, approximately, but I wonder about the philosophy.

Well, caster level checks often don't get an ability modifier, so it makes sense the target DC doesn't either, like with Spell Resistance.

 

[RavinRay]

DC 25 to successfully bring back to life someone killed by one of these death angel types. That is sooo bad, I like it. So imagine how high the DC would be if an advanced apollyon did it.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good. Updated.

An Apollyon fang bite is poisonous. The initial bite does 1-8 points damage. If a save versus poison is not made, the victim will take 1-8 additional points every round until he is either dead or cured by a Cleric.

Should we expand bleeding wounds to cover the bite, or maybe some variation of the clay golem's cursed wound ability?

They number 15, each indistinguishable from the other.

The Apollyon serve as Death’s messengers and guardians of the outer realms of the Dead Lands. Outside of the Dead Lands, Apollyon always appear alone.

Organizaton: Solitary or x (2-15) [the latter being only on their home plane]

The Apollyon rarely speak and when they do, their voices are harsh from lack of practice.

Apollyon speak x in harsh voices, but rarely do so.

Death grants them limited initiative. Because of their service to Death, the Apollyon often have knowledge of things hidden to mortals. They may offer a party advice or directions, if they deem such advice or directions to be in Death’s favor.

Add Knowledge to their skills?

The Apollyon, in melee, need never check morale, as they have no fear of dying.

Immunity to fear effects?

 

[freyar]

Should we expand bleeding wounds to cover the bite, or maybe some variation of the clay golem's cursed wound ability?

Bleeding wounds fits the original text better, though I do find the cursed wound appealing. Hmm.

Organizaton: Solitary or x (2-15) [the latter being only on their home plane]

Sounds right. Murder like ravens? Or something more neutral, like "cemetery"?

Apollyon speak x in harsh voices, but rarely do so.

Common, I guess, maybe an alignment language or two?

Add Knowledge to their skills?
...
Immunity to fear effects?

Yes and yes.

DC 25 to successfully bring back to life someone killed by one of these death angel types. That is sooo bad, I like it. So imagine how high the DC would be if an advanced apollyon did it.

That's the thing: a static DC isn't going to increase with advancement, and what we have now is really kind of nonstandard. Or are we treating the apollyon as taking 10 on an opposed CL=HD caster level check?

 

[Shade]

freyar - As odd as it seems, caster level checks are generally arbitrary. Check out mummy rot and the cursed wound of the clay golem. Neither appear to be based on ability scores.

 

[freyar]

freyar - As odd as it seems, caster level checks are generally arbitrary. Check out mummy rot and the cursed wound of the clay golem. Neither appear to be based on ability scores.

True that. I guess this is some minor weirdness of 3.X that I might wish Pathfinder would fix but probably won't. Anyway, it all seems fine.

 

[demiurge1138]

Make the bite both wounding and cursed. Agreed to immune to fear (and death effects) and Knowledge skills added to their class list.

Perhaps Draconic, Celestial and Infernal as their languages?

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Skills: 9 at 18 ranks
Knowlede (any x)...

Feats: 6
Multiattack, Track?