Converting monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[freyar]

Well, moving on while anyone else chimes in:

Disease (Ex): Slimy doom -- slam, Fortitude DC X, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d4 Con (when damaged, a character must succeed on a second Fortitude saving throw or one point is Con drain instead). The save DC is Cha-based.

How's that look?

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews. As suggested upthread, I used a Medium humanoid zombie as the baseline.

The only problem I see is that with a Cha score of 1, the disease save is terrible. We could either bump the Cha to 10-11, or we could make it Con-based with the same end result.

 

[freyar]

I say we bump Cha to 11.

Anything else interesting to do with these?

 

[demiurge1138]

Yeah, Cha 11. Maybe higher; they're scary.

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

Updated, with Cha 11. I'm fine with going higher if you all wish to do so.

The colors of the priesthood are dull browns and dark reds. He disallows the use of edged weapons in combat, save those with edges that rip or tear flesh. Most of the clerics at his temple in the Reaching Fens cary large maces with hooked spikes that resemble claws. These weapons cause more damage (1d6+2) than do standard footman's maces.

Since a human zombie has attack lines of slam or club, wanna go with the slam or hooked mace?

Shall we mention in the flavor text that their creators often dress them in dull brown or dark red clothing?

The spheres of influence available to followers of Maalpherus are: All, Guardian (minor), Healing, Necromantic, Protection, and Sun (minor). Priests may use only the reverse form of the Sun sphere and are strongly encouraged to use the reverse of Healing and Necromantic spheres. In fact, Maalpherus feels that only the strongest of his followers should survive, and priests are permitted to use true Healing only on themeselves. They may not use this power even to heal comrades. All priests of 5th level or greater receive a bonus spell from their god: cause disease.

Just brainstorming here, but what if we took that a step further and said that Children of Maalpherus receive less healing than usual from inflict spells? Maybe allow contagion to heal them?

Because of their strong tie to the powers of their god, the Children of Maalpherus are more powerful than normal zombies and so are turned as spectres.

That would be +2 turn resistance.

To create such a zombie, a priest of Maalpherus must first cast cause disease on a corpse. Then, within 24 hours, the priest must cast an animate dead spell (which affects only the one corpse).

Any suggestions on creating them?

A juju zombie can be created with a create undead spell cast by a 16th-level spellcaster or by certain powerful magical curses or diseases.

 

[demiurge1138]

Creation guidelines same as a juju zombie works.

A hooked mace seems to be a heavy mace.

I like the idea of contagion healing them. How about inflict heals half, like cure spells on a warforged?

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

Agreed on creation guidelines and healing. +2 turn resistance is also good.

I might go with a morningstar rather than heavy mace to get the piercing damage.

 

[Shade]

Trials of Maalpherus (Su): Maalpherus dictates that only the strongest of his followers should survive, permitting his priests to only use healing on themselves. This mantra has carried over into the Children of Maalpherus. As a result, a Child of Maalpherus only gains half the healing benefit of inflict spells. A contagion spell heals a Child of Maalpherus of x hit points.

A morningstar would probably suffice, or we can create a new weapon...

Hooked Mace: The favored weapon of Maalpherus and his followers, this heavy mace has a hooked spike that resembles a claw. It deals bludgeoning and slashing damage.

 

[freyar]

How about 3d8 hp for contagion? That would be almost equivalent to a 3rd level inflict.

Want to make the hooked mace exotic and boost the damage to 1d10?

 

[Shade]

How about 3d8 hp for contagion? That would be almost equivalent to a 3rd level inflict.

Sounds good.

Want to make the hooked mace exotic and boost the damage to 1d10?

Sure. That differentiates it further from a morningstar.

Updated.

Organization: Solitary or mob? (2-8)

Challenge Rating: 2?

Advancement: x (Regular zombies have no advancement)

A Child of Maalpherus can be created with a create undead spell cast by a xth-level spellcaster or by certain powerful magical curses or diseases. (It's not really any better than a ghoul, so 11th or lower like the ghoul seems right, eh?)