Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine
- Thread starter Shade
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Cleon
Legend
Shade
Monster Junkie
And here's its nemesis...
The Bulette-Mutation
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Temperate/Any
FREQUENCY: Unique
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: -2/4/6
MOVEMENT: 14, burrow 3
HIT DICE: 10 (73 hit points)
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4d12/3d6/3d6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: 8’ jump, breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (9-1/2’ tall, 12’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11)
XP VALUE: 5,000
The monster described in this module is identical to the bulette of the Monstrous Compendium and is derived from the original creature by magical and biological experimentation by the wizard Shivnar.
Combat: Like a normal bulette, the mutated variety attacks anything it considers edible. However, in addition to to its bite and front claw attacks, there is a 65% chace per round of combat with a foe that has actually caused it to lose hit points that the mutated monster will breath a cone of fire 20’ long, with a base diameter of 5’, that does 3-18 hp damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage). The creature has been given venom glands by Shivnar to enable it to breathe fire, and it can use this attack up to four times per day.
Like the normal bulette, the mutated variety has AC -2 around its heavily fortified head, AC 6 in the vulnerable area beneath its crest, and AC 4 in the tiny area of the orbits of its eyes. When injured or cornered, it may also jump up to 8’, employing its rear feet in attacking. It doesn’t employ its breath weapon in the same round that it jumps.
Habitat/Society: If this specimen escapes from Shivnar’s lair, it may, at the DM’s option, meet with others of its kind and produce offspring. In this unlikely event, half of any young will be normal bulettes, the other 50% will be identical to Shivnar’s creation.
It conforms to normal bulettes with regard to territory and disposition.
Ecology: If the beast is released into Kilfay, it isn’t long before large tracts of woodland are either undermined or destroyed by fire. In 1-3 weeks, if not slain, it moves into the area of Talvli to hunt the humans and their livestock, burning houses and toppling forts as it tunnels about the land. If slain, its armor may be fashioned into suitable shields as outlined in the Monstrous Compendium.
Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #37 (1992).
Not terribly exciting, eh?
The Bulette-Mutation
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Temperate/Any
FREQUENCY: Unique
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: -2/4/6
MOVEMENT: 14, burrow 3
HIT DICE: 10 (73 hit points)
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4d12/3d6/3d6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: 8’ jump, breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (9-1/2’ tall, 12’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11)
XP VALUE: 5,000
The monster described in this module is identical to the bulette of the Monstrous Compendium and is derived from the original creature by magical and biological experimentation by the wizard Shivnar.
Combat: Like a normal bulette, the mutated variety attacks anything it considers edible. However, in addition to to its bite and front claw attacks, there is a 65% chace per round of combat with a foe that has actually caused it to lose hit points that the mutated monster will breath a cone of fire 20’ long, with a base diameter of 5’, that does 3-18 hp damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage). The creature has been given venom glands by Shivnar to enable it to breathe fire, and it can use this attack up to four times per day.
Like the normal bulette, the mutated variety has AC -2 around its heavily fortified head, AC 6 in the vulnerable area beneath its crest, and AC 4 in the tiny area of the orbits of its eyes. When injured or cornered, it may also jump up to 8’, employing its rear feet in attacking. It doesn’t employ its breath weapon in the same round that it jumps.
Habitat/Society: If this specimen escapes from Shivnar’s lair, it may, at the DM’s option, meet with others of its kind and produce offspring. In this unlikely event, half of any young will be normal bulettes, the other 50% will be identical to Shivnar’s creation.
It conforms to normal bulettes with regard to territory and disposition.
Ecology: If the beast is released into Kilfay, it isn’t long before large tracts of woodland are either undermined or destroyed by fire. In 1-3 weeks, if not slain, it moves into the area of Talvli to hunt the humans and their livestock, burning houses and toppling forts as it tunnels about the land. If slain, its armor may be fashioned into suitable shields as outlined in the Monstrous Compendium.
Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #37 (1992).
Not terribly exciting, eh?
Cleon
Legend
That's... rather underwhelming for something that's supposedly a Terrible Threat To Nature.
Hmm, it says it can breathe fire due to modified "venom glands". Perhaps it has a poisonous bite, or produces a poisonous vapour.
This poison could be especially potent against plants, killing any vegetation in its vicinity, Maybe this venom works through the ground, so it can kill a tree by merely burrowing near it?
Also, we've given the White Boar an ability to ignore and DR its nemesis might have, so how about we give the Bulette some impressive DR so old Whitey-Tuskey actually has a use for that power?
Cleon
Legend
Okay, reading the Ecology entry it seems the Bulette-Mutation's main threat to nature is that it burns down or undermines trees and passes on these habits to half its offspring.
It can also burn down houses and topple forts.
That suggests it has some kind of undermining attack where it can burrow beneath something and cause it damage.
It can also burn down houses and topple forts.
That suggests it has some kind of undermining attack where it can burrow beneath something and cause it damage.
Shade
Monster Junkie
It sure is.
Since the "venom glands" produce fire, how about, rather than poison, the bite deals lingering fire (and/or acid) damage, and deals double damage (or a die higher) damage to plants?
Good call. DR /magic or /-?
I like it! Here's a stab at a rough draft...
Undermine (Ex): A burrowing bulette-mutation that passes beneath a structure deals damage as if it were actively making a sunder attack against the structure. If the bulette-mutation makes a full attack against an object or structure while burrowing, it deals double damage.
A burrowing bulette-mutation also damages plants it passes beneath. An affected plant creature takes xd6 points of damage and may attempt a DC X Fortitude saving throw for half damage. A plant that isn’t a creature doesn’t receive a save and immediately withers and dies. The save DC is Constitution-based.
I borrowed the second paragraph from the blight spell. Is that too powerful?
Mortis
First Post
Shade
Monster Junkie
Yeah, that's a good basis.
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