Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Cleon
Legend
That's OK by me. They look done, unless someone can spot some error in their stats.
Shade
Monster Junkie
The terrible droning noise begins to abate, only to be replaced by something more dreadful.
A deep, unearthly moan filters through the buzzing of the mosquitoes and rips through the camp. The swarm is swept up in the great gust that begins to curl around a hazy nexus. A full-blown whirlwind coalesces out of the ghostly air. Pine needles, birch branches, mosquitoes—even small rocks—are swept up into the frenzy of wind.
The harsh wind drives the moisture from your eyes. As quickly as it started, the twister stops, leaving at its center a menacing, seven-foot-tall creature. The figure standing before you is a gaunt, grotesque mockery of the humanoid form. Except for the creature’s luminous blue eyes, its body is a twisted collection of mosquitoes, rocks, snow, and pine needles—essentially everything that was caught up in the tornado. It stares at you for only a second with its cold azure eyes before springing forward, slashing with its obsidian claws.
Windigo
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any remote
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 0 to 5
MOVEMENT: 12, Fly 24 (A)
HIT DICE: 7
THAC0: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d6+2/1d6+2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Searing wind gust
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
SIZE: L (7’ tall)
MORALE: Steady (11-12)
XP VALUE: 5,000
A windigo is a vampiric wind spirit that haunts isolated wilderness areas. Cruel hunters by nature, windigos revel in stalking and terrorizing their prey. The hunt is often more important to these elusive spirits than the kill itself.
Windigo spirits originate from the Elemental Plane of Air. Their true form is a noncorporeal cloud of haze of faintly humanoid shape with sky blue eyes that glow faintly from some internal light. Before entering combat, windigos surround their noncorporeal bodies with debris from the environment, giving them solid forms (see below). The seledom-heard voice of a windigo sounds like a demonic chorus of fleeting whispers that originates from all directions at once. Other than their voices, windigos make no sound at all, even while walking over a forest floor covered with dry leaves.
Combat: A windigo engages in direct combat only after thoroughly terrorizing its prey. Due to its transparent body, a windigo is 95% invisible whle standing still and 50% invisible while moving. At distances greater than fifty feet a windigo is completely invisible. It uses this power as well as its ghostly silence to stalk prey.
Before entering combat, the windigo must spend a few seconds creating a physical body for itself. (The windigo suffers a +2 initiative penalty on the first round of combat.) It does so by weaving a whirlwind around its noncorporeal form, lifting leaves, dirt, sand, rocks, or other small objects from the surrounding environment. After a few seconds, the twirling debris coalesces into the shape of a horribly twisted and willowy humanoid. While in this form, it attacks with claws of jagged rocks or splintered wood. However, their solid state does cause windigos to lose their silent movement.
Because a windigo creates its physical body out of pieces of its environment, it has a variable Armor Class, ranging from 0 to 5, depending upon its surroundings. A windigo comprised of abrasive desert sand, for example, will have AC 5. Were the same wind spirit to create its body out of jagged mountain granite, it would have AC 0. The DM should use common sense when determining a windigo’s AC, taking into consideration the materials available in the environment. Otherwise, a 1d6 can be rolled, subtracting one to determine the windigo’s AC.
Once every 3 rounds, a windigo can release a fiery gale with an area of effect equivalent ot a fireball spell (20’ diameter). This searing windblast deals 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage). This blast is so powerful that, unless a saving throw vs. paralyzation is also made, man-sized or smaller victims are lifted repeatedly into the air, forfeiting all actions for the rest of the round.
Windigos can cast the following spells at will as a 10th-level wizard: whispering wind, gust of wind, fly (MV 24, MC: A), summon swarm (1/day; mosquitoes only). The windigo has the grotesque ability to seamlessly wear the skins of victims over its noncorporeal body. While wearing a humanoid’s skin, the windigo is able to assume the voice of its “host”. For this reason, a windigo can only assume the form of a humanoid creature that it has personally killed. This magical ability is similar in effect to a polymorph other spell and is utterly convincing. Once the spell’s duration has expired, the skin begins to rip and fray, destroying the illusion.
Habitat/Society: Windigos dwell in lonely wilderness areas. Although they are territorial, it is not uncommon for these elusive wind spirits to disappear from their usual hunting ground, only to reappear hundreds of miles away several years later. Windigos, solitary by nature, are in a constant state of retreat from the ever-advancing tide of civilization. Whenever a windigo is driven deeper into the wilderness, it leaves behind its own unique brand of curse; a persistent plague of mosquitoes that torments the invading settlers. According to legend, windigos fathered the mosquito species as an act of revenge against humanoid races.
Roughly once every three centuries, a few dozen windigo congregate at the site of an epic winter storm. This event, seemingly religious in nature, entails the wind spirits dancing throughout the storm while chanting in their hallow, gusty voices. Aside from this dark ritual, windigos are never found in groups.
Windigos are claustrophobic. They grow agitated if they are stuck under a roof for only a few moments, and rarely do they venture into thick forests, as trees obstruct their vision to the heavens. If they move more than 20 yards from open sky, they are rendered powerless and, on the following round, are instantly destroyed. For this reason, they are never found below ground.
Ecology: Windigos are adept hunters that stalk any intelligent being who dares to venture into their wilderness. These wind spirits are vampiric, needing fresh blood to keep their vaporous bodies from disintegrating.
Windigos are patient, often stalking their prey for days before attacking. Windigos, renowned for striking fear into their victims’ hearts, especially enjoy tailing lone travelers or small groups. A common tactic of these evil wind spirits is to flit in and out of the trees behind a group of travelers, only to disappear when someone looks back. After heightening its victims’ paranoia, the windigo begins to call softly to the travelers, so softly that its voice can barely be distinguished from a slight breeze. Only after the group is driven into a panic-induced frenzy fo cursing or running does a windigo attack. A survivor of such an attack is typically left with intense agoraphobia, breaking out into a cold sweat when the wind is heard rustling through the treetops.
Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #77 (1999).
A deep, unearthly moan filters through the buzzing of the mosquitoes and rips through the camp. The swarm is swept up in the great gust that begins to curl around a hazy nexus. A full-blown whirlwind coalesces out of the ghostly air. Pine needles, birch branches, mosquitoes—even small rocks—are swept up into the frenzy of wind.
The harsh wind drives the moisture from your eyes. As quickly as it started, the twister stops, leaving at its center a menacing, seven-foot-tall creature. The figure standing before you is a gaunt, grotesque mockery of the humanoid form. Except for the creature’s luminous blue eyes, its body is a twisted collection of mosquitoes, rocks, snow, and pine needles—essentially everything that was caught up in the tornado. It stares at you for only a second with its cold azure eyes before springing forward, slashing with its obsidian claws.
Windigo
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any remote
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 0 to 5
MOVEMENT: 12, Fly 24 (A)
HIT DICE: 7
THAC0: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d6+2/1d6+2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Searing wind gust
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
SIZE: L (7’ tall)
MORALE: Steady (11-12)
XP VALUE: 5,000
A windigo is a vampiric wind spirit that haunts isolated wilderness areas. Cruel hunters by nature, windigos revel in stalking and terrorizing their prey. The hunt is often more important to these elusive spirits than the kill itself.
Windigo spirits originate from the Elemental Plane of Air. Their true form is a noncorporeal cloud of haze of faintly humanoid shape with sky blue eyes that glow faintly from some internal light. Before entering combat, windigos surround their noncorporeal bodies with debris from the environment, giving them solid forms (see below). The seledom-heard voice of a windigo sounds like a demonic chorus of fleeting whispers that originates from all directions at once. Other than their voices, windigos make no sound at all, even while walking over a forest floor covered with dry leaves.
Combat: A windigo engages in direct combat only after thoroughly terrorizing its prey. Due to its transparent body, a windigo is 95% invisible whle standing still and 50% invisible while moving. At distances greater than fifty feet a windigo is completely invisible. It uses this power as well as its ghostly silence to stalk prey.
Before entering combat, the windigo must spend a few seconds creating a physical body for itself. (The windigo suffers a +2 initiative penalty on the first round of combat.) It does so by weaving a whirlwind around its noncorporeal form, lifting leaves, dirt, sand, rocks, or other small objects from the surrounding environment. After a few seconds, the twirling debris coalesces into the shape of a horribly twisted and willowy humanoid. While in this form, it attacks with claws of jagged rocks or splintered wood. However, their solid state does cause windigos to lose their silent movement.
Because a windigo creates its physical body out of pieces of its environment, it has a variable Armor Class, ranging from 0 to 5, depending upon its surroundings. A windigo comprised of abrasive desert sand, for example, will have AC 5. Were the same wind spirit to create its body out of jagged mountain granite, it would have AC 0. The DM should use common sense when determining a windigo’s AC, taking into consideration the materials available in the environment. Otherwise, a 1d6 can be rolled, subtracting one to determine the windigo’s AC.
Once every 3 rounds, a windigo can release a fiery gale with an area of effect equivalent ot a fireball spell (20’ diameter). This searing windblast deals 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage). This blast is so powerful that, unless a saving throw vs. paralyzation is also made, man-sized or smaller victims are lifted repeatedly into the air, forfeiting all actions for the rest of the round.
Windigos can cast the following spells at will as a 10th-level wizard: whispering wind, gust of wind, fly (MV 24, MC: A), summon swarm (1/day; mosquitoes only). The windigo has the grotesque ability to seamlessly wear the skins of victims over its noncorporeal body. While wearing a humanoid’s skin, the windigo is able to assume the voice of its “host”. For this reason, a windigo can only assume the form of a humanoid creature that it has personally killed. This magical ability is similar in effect to a polymorph other spell and is utterly convincing. Once the spell’s duration has expired, the skin begins to rip and fray, destroying the illusion.
Habitat/Society: Windigos dwell in lonely wilderness areas. Although they are territorial, it is not uncommon for these elusive wind spirits to disappear from their usual hunting ground, only to reappear hundreds of miles away several years later. Windigos, solitary by nature, are in a constant state of retreat from the ever-advancing tide of civilization. Whenever a windigo is driven deeper into the wilderness, it leaves behind its own unique brand of curse; a persistent plague of mosquitoes that torments the invading settlers. According to legend, windigos fathered the mosquito species as an act of revenge against humanoid races.
Roughly once every three centuries, a few dozen windigo congregate at the site of an epic winter storm. This event, seemingly religious in nature, entails the wind spirits dancing throughout the storm while chanting in their hallow, gusty voices. Aside from this dark ritual, windigos are never found in groups.
Windigos are claustrophobic. They grow agitated if they are stuck under a roof for only a few moments, and rarely do they venture into thick forests, as trees obstruct their vision to the heavens. If they move more than 20 yards from open sky, they are rendered powerless and, on the following round, are instantly destroyed. For this reason, they are never found below ground.
Ecology: Windigos are adept hunters that stalk any intelligent being who dares to venture into their wilderness. These wind spirits are vampiric, needing fresh blood to keep their vaporous bodies from disintegrating.
Windigos are patient, often stalking their prey for days before attacking. Windigos, renowned for striking fear into their victims’ hearts, especially enjoy tailing lone travelers or small groups. A common tactic of these evil wind spirits is to flit in and out of the trees behind a group of travelers, only to disappear when someone looks back. After heightening its victims’ paranoia, the windigo begins to call softly to the travelers, so softly that its voice can barely be distinguished from a slight breeze. Only after the group is driven into a panic-induced frenzy fo cursing or running does a windigo attack. A survivor of such an attack is typically left with intense agoraphobia, breaking out into a cold sweat when the wind is heard rustling through the treetops.
Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #77 (1999).
Shade
Monster Junkie
For starters, this seems quite a bit different from the Fiend Folio wendigo, so I think this is worthy of its own conversion.
I'd like to keep it an air elemental, if possible. That helps differentiate from the Fiend Folio fey version further.
It sounds like its incorporeal, and many of its special abilities are covered by the incorporeal subtype. We'll need abilities for "environmental body" and "skinwearing" for its other forms.
The searing windblast sounds like a fun combo of an air elemental's vortex and an incendiary cloud.
Did we already do a mosquito swarm? If not, Dungeon #77 provides sample stats I can post when we get to it.
I'd like to keep it an air elemental, if possible. That helps differentiate from the Fiend Folio fey version further.
It sounds like its incorporeal, and many of its special abilities are covered by the incorporeal subtype. We'll need abilities for "environmental body" and "skinwearing" for its other forms.
The searing windblast sounds like a fun combo of an air elemental's vortex and an incendiary cloud.
Did we already do a mosquito swarm? If not, Dungeon #77 provides sample stats I can post when we get to it.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
At this time of day, I just can't read such a long stat block! 
But I agree from a look-over that it's different from other wendigos we've seen. Generally agreed with your assessment, but I just can't remember about the mosquito swarm. Giant mosquitos we did, but I can't remember swarms.
But I agree from a look-over that it's different from other wendigos we've seen. Generally agreed with your assessment, but I just can't remember about the mosquito swarm. Giant mosquitos we did, but I can't remember swarms.
Cleon
Legend
It's certainly different enough to deserve a separate conversion, but looks more like an Outsider (Air, Incorporeal, Native) to me than an Elemental (Air).
How soon we forget!
When we converted the Demonic Sawfly last March I proposed a blood-sucking Gnat Swarm whos stats should serve as a good foundation. A simple nameswap and the Addazahr's Blood Drain instead of Wounding should be enough:
Gnat Swarm
Fine Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8-3 (10 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square), fly 40 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 22 (+8 size, +4 Dex), touch 22, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/—
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction,
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., immune to weapon damage, swarm traits, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 19, Con 8, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: —
Challenge Rating: 2
Alignment: Always neutral
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Blood Drain (Ex): Addaazahr drain blood, the swarm deals 1 points of Con damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move. Once a swarm has dealt 4 points of Constitution damage, it is sated and flies off to digest the meal. If its victim dies before the addazahr swarm's appetites have been sated, the swarm seeks a new target.
Skills: A gnat swarm has a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
I'm inclined to agree with Cleon about the type (Outsider rather than Elemental).
To me, the searing windblast (or fiery gale) seems like a fireball plus knockdown (overrun). Incendiary cloud is probably too powerful for 7HD critters.
And that modified gnat swarm looks like a good fit for the mosquitos.
To me, the searing windblast (or fiery gale) seems like a fireball plus knockdown (overrun). Incendiary cloud is probably too powerful for 7HD critters.
And that modified gnat swarm looks like a good fit for the mosquitos.
Shade
Monster Junkie
On second thought, I do as well.
Sure. We'll just work it up as a unique ability anyway.
Agreed!
Cleon
Legend
Yes, I was thinking along the same lines. It doesn't look much like incendiary cloud, some fire + bludgeoning special attack with a knockback effect seems the way to go.
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