Converting monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Shade]

you’re right about that – this guy’s mouth is like a can opener. How’s this for a starter:

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tyrannabyss must hit with both tentacle attacks. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rend the character’s armor.

Rend Armor (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a tyrannabyss pulls a character to its mouth and rips apart any armor worn by its foe. This attack deals (4d6+18) points of damage to the opponent’s armor. Creatures not wearing armor are unaffected by this special attack. Armor reduced to 0 hit points is destroyed. Damaged armor may be repaired with a successful Craft (armorsmithing) check. (If the character’s armor is destroyed, or the character is not wearing any armor, the damage is instead done to the character?)

Improved grab looks good. Finishing your thought...

Rend Armor (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a tyrannabyss pulls a character to its mouth and rips apart any armor worn by its foe. This attack deals (4d6+18) points of damage to the opponent’s armor. Armor reduced to 0 hit points is destroyed. Damaged armor may be repaired with a successful Craft (armorsmithing) check. Creatures not wearing armor (or whose armor has been destroyed by this ability) are unaffected by this special attack, but instead take automatic bite damage each round.

Drag, Stinger

Both look good. We'll just need to fill in the X's.

Paralysis (Ex): Living creatures hit by a tyrannabyss’ stinger must succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or be paralyzed (for X rounds).

Add "The save DC is Constitution-based."

that is absolutely perfect. if it’s not in the SRD, then I guess we do need the PHB reference.

I now direct you to the subliminal coughing stylings of Knight Otu.

 

[BOZ]

Good deal - posting in homebrews.

 

[Shade]

I suppose it is ability score time before we can proceed further.

The thing looks strong, but not exceptionally strong. I'd imagine a high Con, low to mid Dex, low Int, high Wis, and average Cha.

Maybe something like:

Str 17-20, Dex 11-13, Con 18-22, Int 1-2, Wis 15-16, Cha 6-7.

 

[BOZ]

I suppose it is ability score time before we can proceed further.

The thing looks strong, but not exceptionally strong. I'd imagine a high Con, low to mid Dex, low Int, high Wis, and average Cha.

Maybe something like:

Str 17-20, Dex 11-13, Con 18-22, Int 1-2, Wis 15-16, Cha 6-7.

hmm, for Int, D&D critters didn?t have an Int score at first, so we actually can make that score up from scratch for a change. are you sure we should go that low with it? And have the Wis so much higher?

For the most part though, I agree with the rest of your assessment:

Str 20, Dex 13, Con 18, Cha 6

 

[Shade]

I based the Int score off another hunter-type aberration, the carrion crawler (Int 1). Of course, even an otyugh has Int 5, so I can see it being higher.

The rest of the stats look good.

As an aside, I'd like to request that we work on the draknor from Dungeon #24 next. There are a couple of threads over in Homebrews of folks looking for illithid-related monsters, and this guy fits the bill.

 

[Knight Otu]

Well, the wyste... *ducks the rotten fruit that's thrown at him*

... the wyste has Str 22, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 8.

Boneless (Ex): The tyrannabyss has no bones or solid organs and is able to squeeze itself through openings much smaller than its apparent size. Treat the tyrannabyss as a creature two size categories smaller than itself for the purposes of determining what hampers movement and when squeezing through spaces.

As per my SRD quote above, I think this might have to be rewritten a little bit.

Boneless (Ex): The tyrannabyss has no bones or solid organs and is able to squeeze itself through openings much smaller than its apparent size. Treat the tyrannabyss as occupying a space 10 feet smaller than listed for the purposes of determining what hampers movement and when squeezing through spaces.

 

[BOZ]

I'll go with Int 5, and Wis 11 then.

As an aside, I'd like to request that we work on the draknor from Dungeon #24 next. There are a couple of threads over in Homebrews of folks looking for illithid-related monsters, and this guy fits the bill.

Ok, I'll give some thought to that. I'll probably need the stats, because I don't think I have that one.

As per my SRD quote above, I think this might have to be rewritten a little bit.

Boneless (Ex): The tyrannabyss has no bones or solid organs and is able to squeeze itself through openings much smaller than its apparent size. Treat the tyrannabyss as occupying a space 10 feet smaller than listed for the purposes of determining what hampers movement and when squeezing through spaces.

thanks!

 

[Shade]

I'll go with Int 5, and Wis 11 then.

Cool.

Ok, I'll give some thought to that. I'll probably need the stats, because I don't think I have that one.

No problem...I've got 'em. I don't believe it has appeared anywhere else, so this should keep it simple.

 

[BOZ]

OK, I will write up the flavor text today, when/if I get the chance.

Updating in homebrews…

 

[Shade]

Attack: Tentacle rake +6 melee (1d4+5) or stinger +6 ranged (1d4+2 plus paralysis)?

Damage reduction 5/slashing or piercing?

Power Attack as other feat?

Environment: Any aquatic?

Org: Solitary or school (1-4)?

Usually neutral?

Weight: 1,000 lbs?