Converting monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Shade]

Updated.

A giant constrictor increased to Gargantuan would have +8 natural armor. Does that sound good here?

Do we want to give it a climb and/or swim speed like most snakes?

How much of this do we want to retain?

Skills: Snakes have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. A snake can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. Snakes use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A snake has a +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 Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

I support a climb speed; I don't know how useful a swim speed would be, given their prefered enviroment.

 

[Shade]

The glacier snake in Serpent Kingdoms has a climb speed, but no swim speed, so I think your recommendation is appropriate.

Is this close to what you guys were suggesting upthread?

"Tail Toss" (Ex): As a standard action, an ice serpent may make a single powerful blow with its tail. If it hits a corporeal opponent smaller than itself with its tail lash, its opponent must succeed on a Reflex save (DC = damage dealt) or be knocked flying in a direction of the serpent's choice and fall prone. The opponent is moved 10 feet plus an additional 5 feet for each 5 points by which it fails the save. The serpent can only push the opponent in a straight line, and the opponent can’t move closer to the serpent than the square it started in. If an obstacle prevents the completion of the opponent’s move, the opponent and the obstacle each take 1d6 points of damage, and the opponent stops in the space adjacent to the obstacle.

 

[demiurge1138]

I think it should have a Swim speed. Polar bears do, after all.

Perhaps we should boost natural armor to +10.

 

[Shade]

Climb and swim both 20 ft.?

 

[demiurge1138]

Sure!

 

[Shade]

Updated.

I put all ranks in Hide as freyar suggested, yielding...
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +19, Hide +15*, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +19

Feats: 6
Giant constrictors have Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide), Toughness. I'm fine with all of those except the pointless Toughness.
Multiattack seems wise, due to their reliance on the tail lash.

Environment: Any cold land?

Organization: Solitary?

Alignment: Always neutral, often evil?

Advancement: 18-33 HD (Gargantuan); 34-41 HD (Colossal)?

An ice serpent is 45 feet long and 1 foot in diameter. It weighs x pounds. (A purple worm is 5 feet in diameter and 80 feet long, weighing about 40,000 pounds, so maybe half that?)

 

[demiurge1138]

I agree with you on the weight issue. Skills look good, environment looks good...

They only have two natural attacks, so would have to have Multiattack as a bonus feat.

Ditch Toughness, give it Stealthy, Power Attack, Cleave?

 

[Shade]

They only have two natural attacks, so would have to have Multiattack as a bonus feat.

D'oh! That gets me every time.

Updated.

CR 10?

Any suggestions for a better name for "tail toss"?

 

[demiurge1138]

A strong CR 9 or a weak CR 10.

How about "fling" instead of "tail toss"?