Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[freyar]

I'd say it needs to be aberration, but that's just me...

Make them psi-like, I think, since that's how illithids work, right?

 

[Cleon]

Ta Shade. I'll have a look - if I can find the time!

Well the powers in that list would match as follows to the Tzakandi's listed psionic abilities:

--detonate - None listed
--telekinesis - telekinetic force(3rd level)
--control light - control light(1st level)
--inertial barrier - inertial barrier(4th level)
--levitation - psionic levitate(2nd level)
--molecular agitation - matter agitation (1st level)
--molecular manipulation - matter manipulation (8th level)
----
--complete healing - None listed
--adrenaline control - psychofeedback (5th level)
--body control - adapt body(5th level)
--heightened senses - None listed
--chameleon power - chameleon(2nd level Egoist)
--cell adjustment - body adjustment (3rd level)

Hmm, I don't much like the 4th, 5th and 8th level powers listed. I'd rather keep them within the level a 6th level Psion would be able to use.

I'll assume a Tzakandi uses psionics as a 6th level Psion (Egoist) with 13 powers (minimum 5 1st, 4 2nd, 4 3rd). I made it an Egoist so it can get chameleon. We'd better up its Intelligence, since that's the controlling ability for a Psion it needs at least Int 13 to use 3rd level powers.

Make it Intelligence 14-15 instead of 11?

A 14-15 Int would give a 6th level Psion an extra 6 psionic power points, for a total of 41 power points per day.

For the "default power selection", I'd give it something like:

1st - control light, defensive precognition, matter agitation, offensive precognition, thicken skin*
2nd - biofeedback, chameleon*, psionic levitate, mental disruption
3rd - telekinetic force, body adjustment, energy burst, telekinetic force

The above selection was picked to imitate the powers of the original, with the exceptions of thicken skin and mental disruption. Those with an asterist * are Egoist only powers.

What reckons thee?

 

[Cleon]

I'd say it needs to be aberration, but that's just me...

Make them psi-like, I think, since that's how illithids work, right?

Yes, I suspect I'll probably change my mind and make them psi-like eventually, if only so the DM doesn't have to keep track of their power points.

Still, I think it'd be useful basing the selection on a 6th level Psion, so we can keep the number & level of powers reasonable. I quite like my proposed selection:

1st - control light, defensive precognition, matter agitation, offensive precognition, thicken skin
2nd - biofeedback, chameleon, psionic levitate, mental disruption
3rd - body adjustment, energy burst, telekinetic force, telekinetic thrust

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

I boosted Cha rather than Int, since Cha controls psi-like abilities.

Also, let's give 'em spell-like psionics, like non-psionic illithids, and use an underbar for the true psionic version.

For the PLAs, Cleon has proposed:

1st - control light, defensive precognition, matter agitation, offensive precognition, thicken skin
2nd - biofeedback, chameleon, psionic levitate, mental disruption
3rd - telekinetic force, body adjustment, energy burst, telekinetic force

Psionic illithids are 9th-level psions, so I don't think we'll eclipse their masters with these proposed abilities. 3/day for the 1st-level powers, 1/day for the 3rd, and split the 2nd between the two usage levels?

Once we figure that out, we can find non-psionic equivalents.

 

[Cleon]

Oh blast, I put in telekinetic forces in twice in the proposed powers. I wanted one of them to be telekinetic thrust. I'd better edit it.

Added to Homebrews.

I boosted Cha rather than Int, since Cha controls psi-like abilities.

If we go for Psi-Like we need to switch the boosted stat to Charisma. Indeed, I prefer them that way since it means we can keep their Intelligence to the original score.

Also, let's give 'em spell-like psionics, like non-psionic illithids, and use an underbar for the true psionic version.

For the PLAs, Cleon has proposed:

Psionic illithids are 9th-level psions, so I don't think we'll eclipse their masters with these proposed abilities. 3/day for the 1st-level powers, 1/day for the 3rd, and split the 2nd between the two usage levels?

Once we figure that out, we can find non-psionic equivalents.

I fancy giving it a few 1st level powers as at-wills.

Maybe:

at-will: control light, defensive precognition, thicken skin
3/day: biofeedback, chameleon, psionic levitate, matter agitation, offensive precognition
1/day: mental disruption, body adjustment, energy burst, telekinetic force, telekinetic thrust

As for the spell equivalents, maybe something like.

at-will: light, resistance, mage hand
3/day: barkskin, blur, heat metal, true strike, levitate
1/day: fear, vampiric touch, fireball, telekinesis

 

[Shade]

That looks pretty reasonable to me.

 

[freyar]

Same here. Looking good!

 

[Cleon]

Great!

Sounds like we're agreed on the psionics, so shall we move on to skills?

A Tzakandi has 18SP due to its higher HD and Int.

I'd start by giving it the same skills as a standard 3E Lizardfolk - 1 rank in Swim and 2 in Balance & Jump, plus a +4 racial bonus on all three skills.

Second, it'll need Concentration and Psicraft to use its psionics, say 5 points in each.

That leaves 3 skill points, which I would put in Autohypnosis since their psionic powers seem to have a "Egoist" theme going (it'll also get a +2 bonus from synergy with Concentration).

Autohypnosis 3, Balance 2, Concentration 5, Jump 2, Psicraft 5, Swim 1

Add in the stats and the proposed racial bonus to Balance, Jump & Swim and it becomes:

Skills: Autohypnosis +6, Balance +7, Concentration +6, Jump +8, Psicraft +5, Swim +7

As for feats, I reckon they should have Multiattack like a Lizardfolk plus a couple of Psionic Feats - maybe Psionic Fist and either Psionic Body or Speed of Thought?

 

[freyar]

Wis isn't high enough for Speed of Thought, but the rest looks pretty good!

 

[Shade]

That all sounds good. Updated.

Suggested skills and feats for the nonpsionic version? Maybe just take the Autohypnosis ranks and pop 'em into Balance or Jump, and change Psicraft to Spellcraft?