Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Cleon]

I think the 120ft darkvision, low-light vision, and possibly nondetection. I think the stonecutting, dodge bonus, and Hide bonus are more cultural things (though it seems like mozgriken should have a Hide bonus anyway). Shadow blend is a definite maybe, depending on whether we think that's too far from the source material.

Anyone want to convert those psionic powers? SLA/PLAs again?

Added to Homebrews.

The psionics and psi-like abilities are currently just placeholders copied from the previous ceremorph.

I don't mind shadow blend, although a straight up racial bonus to Hide, which improves in areas of shadowy illumination, would probably work too.

Upon reflection, Shadow Blend seems too much. I think I'd just give it a hefty bonus to Hide checks when in darkness or shadow, plus a racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently. Since these critters hide from other underdark beings I think we'd better make their shadowy sneakiness be effective against darkvision.

Looking at the current placeholder I can see one obvious error - these fellows have three tentacles, not four.

So, how about the following?

Skills: A mozgriken has a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks.

Shadow Cloak (Ex): Due to its connection to the Plane of Shadows, a mozgriken gains concealment against creatures with darkvision of 90 ft. or less whenever it is in an area of shadowy illumination or darkness, allowing the mozgriken to make Hide checks against such creatures. Furthermore, it gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Hide checks against creatures without darkvision whenever it is in an area of shadowy illumination.

As for the SLAs and PSAs, something like the following could cover it:

Spell-Like Abilities:
At-will - darkness, detect thoughts
3/day - magic fang, misdirection, owl's wisdom, read thoughts
1/day - clairaudience/clairvoyance, invisibility, locate creature, polymorph

Psionics:
At-will - chameleon, detect thoughts
3/day - conceal thoughts (self only), escape detection, forced sense link, metaphysical claw, read thoughts
1/day - clairvoyant vision, metamorphosis, shadow body

 

[Shade]

Hmm...the darkvision bit seems unnecessary. Isn't a Hide check equally effective against a creature with standard vision, darkvision, or low-light vision?

If you're looking to allow them to effectively "hide in plain sight", let's just give 'em hide in plain sight.

The SLAs and PSAs look good!

 

[freyar]

Agreed with Shade on both points!

 

[Cleon]

Hmm...the darkvision bit seems unnecessary. Isn't a Hide check equally effective against a creature with standard vision, darkvision, or low-light vision?

Darkvision overcomes the concealment normally granted by shadowy conditions, so the RAW says you can't "Hide in Shadows" from a creature with darkvision, assuming you're within its darkvision range. You need some non-shadowy concealment or cover to be allowed a Hide check against darkvision (mist, stacks of boxes, bushes, "Hide in Plain Sight" ability, et cetera).

We could give them some kind of Hide in Plain Sight ability, but I'd rather it be shadow/darkness dependent.

 

[Shade]

Let's just stick with Hide in Plain Sight, like the uber-shadow entity (no, not me ), the Shadowdancer.

 

[freyar]

Hide in Plain Sight works. Makes them tricksy spies.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Caster/manfiester level 6th?

Made meek by the harsh rule of their creators, mozgriken avoid combat whenever possible. They use their psionic powers of shadow form, invisibility, chameleon, and metamorphosis to hide among their foes and glean bits of vital information through the use of their other abilities, most notably sight link and probe. They are sent into enemy encampments for any number of tasks, such as estimating the size and strength of the foe, discovering their battle plans, and estimating the treasure that can be captured. If detected, mozgriken do everything in their power to escape, but if pressed into battle they can use their psionic attack forms and the body weaponry power. Even when they gain momentary advantage over their foes, mozgriken are more likely to seek escape over anything else.

Skills: 6 at 7 ranks
Concentration Escape Artist, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot?

Feats: 2
Stealthy? Eyes In The Back Of Your Head/Speed Of Thought (for the psionic variant)?

 

[freyar]

CL/ML 6 is good.

I like the skills, I think. And those feats make a lot of sense.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Challenge Rating: x

Treasure: x

Level Adjustment: +x

Mozgriken speak Gnome and Undercommon?

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Caster/manfiester level 6th?

Skills: 6 at 7 ranks
Concentration Escape Artist, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot?

Feats: 2
Stealthy? Eyes In The Back Of Your Head/Speed Of Thought (for the psionic variant)?

Those skills look very apt.

I'd prefer to give them Eyes in the Back of Your Head and Speed of Thought. They've already got good Hide/MS modifiers without Stealthy, if we decide they need to be even sneakier we can just boost their racial bonuses.

Of course, if we do have a "Psionic Variant" with Eyes in the Back of Your Head and Speed of Thought we'd need a "Non-Psionic Variant" with something different to Speed of Though - maybe Run?