Converting monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Shade]

Let's figure out some ability scores.

Int is Exceptional (15-16).

A giant octopus (Large) has Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13.

Here are the scores of other Large demons around the same HD:
Vrock: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 25, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 16
Bulezau: Str 22, Dex 14, Con 24, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 10
Cerebrelith: Str 22, Dex 13, Con 25, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21
Laghathti (also octopoid): Str 20, Dex 13, Con 22, Int 5, Wis 15, Cha 12

So maybe Str 20, Dex 15, Con 25, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 16?

 

[demiurge1138]

I think we should bump Str back to 22-23.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good.

Added to Homebrews. (Post #666...how approrpiate for a demon )

 

[freyar]

This is excellent! I'm glad you already gave it a new name, or else I was going to have to suggest that (and seriously, the adventure had a cleric of Umberlee named Umberlina?!?!).

Abilities, etc, look good, though we might want to bump the natural armor, maybe.

I agree with the bite version of rend (which is that, maul?). It also looks like the tentacles get improved grab and constrict.

Treat the caustic ink as a breath weapon?

DR 10 or 15/magic? Or switch to good, like other demons of similar HD?

 

[Shade]

Suggested natural armor boost?

Yes to improved grab and constrict.

Here's maul as we've done it before...

Maul (Ex): A tribute gather that hits an opponent with bot its claw attacks immediately hits with its subsequent bite attack.

Should we add bite as a secondary attack on the full attack line, or limit to only after grabbing foes? The roper allows a bite without catching prey first.

I prefer DR good (and/or cold iron).

Caustic ink does sound similar to a breath weapon. Demiurge mentioned a similar ability on a Pathfinder creature, so we might look there for inspiration.

 

[demiurge1138]

The Dagon's Blood ability of the devilfish is a 20ft burst on land, 20ft cloud in water. On land, it's a grease spell, in the water, it's concealment + nausea.

 

[Shade]

Interesting.

I think we can retain the dimensions and concealment in water, but we should probably drop the grease and nausea and go for straight acid damage. Thoughts?

 

[freyar]

Maybe +10 or +11 on the natural armor. I guess +9 isn't bad compared to the giant octopus or even the kraken.

Secondary bite to go with Maul sounds right. There's also a typo: "bot" instead of "both."
We should probably give the tentacles extraordinary reach.

DR good, possibly or cold iron.

Kind of torn on the caustic ink. I like the idea of concealment with acid, but I'm not sure about grease on land. How does Dagon's Blood disperse in water?

 

[demiurge1138]

In a burst. I prefer straight acid damage on land. I don't think we should model this on Dagon's blood, just pointing it out as a similar ability.

 

[Leopold]

Few parts that stand out for me would be:

Level Adjustment: N/A Way too many abilities to be anything other than a +15-17 character.
Treasure: Standard, except in lair then Nonstandard or Double Good. These are collectors, some of their quirky behavior they collect odds and ends for their mistress.

Feats: Improved Grab, Constrict, Skill Focus (Spot). This thing seeks out items, why not make it's abilities in spot/search insanely good?