Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Cleon]

I think I like all of this. Looking good! EDIT: Are we going to let the spines break off like a howler's quills?

I'd rather not.

 

[freyar]

But we are letting these thrash around and use the spines as a melee attack? Sure.

 

[Cleon]

But we are letting these thrash around and use the spines as a melee attack? Sure.

I already indicated I'm game for the melee attack:

I'd be OK increasing the damage but insist it does less than the claws and sting, so 1d3 at most.

Secondary attack is OK I guess:

We haven't discussed feats yet, but I am strongly in favor of Multiattack.

That would make it:

Full Attack: 2 claws +3 melee (1d4+1) and sting +1 melee (1d4 plus poison) and spines +1 (1d3 plus poison)
Feats: Multiattack

I'm also thinking that any opponent being crushed by its claws is at risk from its spines, something like:

Constrict (Ex): A fish-scorpion deals automatic claw damage on a successful grapple check. The opponent must also make a Reflex save against the fish-scorpion's spiny defense (see below).

Spiny Defense (Ex): Any creature that grapples a fish-scorpion or hits a fish-scorpion in melee with a natural or handheld weapon (but not a reach weapon) must succeed on a DC 12 Reflex save or take 1d3 points of piercing damage from its many spines and be exposed to its poison. The save DC is Dexterity-based.

 

[freyar]

Then I think we should possibly change "spiny defense" to "spines" and list both the melee and defensive abilities there.

 

[Shade]

Then I think we should possibly change "spiny defense" to "spines" and list both the melee and defensive abilities there.

Makes sense. Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Makes sense. Updated.

I have no objection.

Skills next? We've already got the racial bonuses worked out.

Scorpion-Fish
Skills: Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Swim

Medium Monstrous Scorpion
Skills: Climb, Hide, Spot

So, something like:

Fish-Scorpion
Skills Ranks: Climb 0, Hide 0, Listen 3, Move Silently 2, Spot 0, Swim 0

Fish-scorpions have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Spot checks. A fish-scorpion has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Climb or Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

*A fish-scorpion's racial bonus to Hide checks increases to +8 if it is among reefs or sea rocks.

That works out:

Skills: Climb +9, Hide +5* [+9 in reefs], Listen +3, Move Silently +3, Spot +4, Swim+9
​

 

[Shade]

Looks good. Updated.

Environment: Temperate or warm aquatic?

Organization: Solitary or colony (2–5)?

Challenge Rating: 2? It's tougher than a Medium monstrous scorpion.

A typical fish-scorpion is x feet long and weighs x pounds.

 

[freyar]

Environment, org, CR look fine. 1 ft, 10lb? Or 5lb???

 

[Cleon]

Looks good. Updated.

Environment: Temperate or warm aquatic?

Make it warm aquatic, since Monstrous Scorpions have "Warm desert" for environment.

Organization: Solitary or colony (2–5)?

Challenge Rating: 2? It's tougher than a Medium monstrous scorpion.

Both are fine.

A typical fish-scorpion is x feet long and weighs x pounds.

Environment, org, CR look fine. 1 ft, 10lb? Or 5lb???

Freyar, that seems a trifle underweight for Medium sized monster.

6 feet and 300 pounds like our Yohoia conversion?

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Anyone wanna develop some flavor text and tactics?