Converting monsters from First Edition modules

[BOZ]

ok, updating in homebrews. let me know how they look!

but not to waste any time, i'll be posting the next monster momentarily...

 

[BOZ]

Hey, it’s the living web’s cousin!


From module UK4 – When a Star Falls:

MEMORY WEB

FREQUENCY: Very rare
No. APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 3" or leap 18"
HIT DICE: 6
%IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENCES: Non-magical weapons only do half damage
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: See below
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/defence modes: Nil
LEVEL/xpVALUE: lV/110 + 4 per hit point

This creature is an animated mass of fibres resembling those created by a web spell (see PHB p72) and has similar but not identical attributes. It can hide by compressing itself into a tight ball and attacks by leaping up to 18", spreading out as it does so. It will enmesh anyone within a circular area 20 feet across and does not need anchor points. Anyone caught has the same chance of breaking free as from a normal web, and will take 1-6 hit points of damage (by constriction) per round until the web is destroyed or they are released. A memory web will take only half damage from non-magical weapons or fire.

Memories of dead victims are absorbed by the memory web, and if destroyed, it will emit all memories gained during the previous day, in a kind of telepathic shock wave. These will lodge in the minds of creatures up to 200 feet from the web, and will take the form of dream-like recollections with some details clear, and others just beyond recall.



From MC3, very similar (merely the difference between 1E and 2E):

Web, Living
Memory




CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Caverns, ruins
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivorous
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral

NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVEMENT: 3 (leap 18)
HIT DICE: 6
THAC0: 13
NO. Of ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: See below
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 3000

This creature is a mass of fibers resembling those created by a web spell; it has similar but not identical attributes. It can hide by compressing itself into a tight ball. It attacks by leaping up to 180 feet, spreading out into a circular web 20 feet in diameter. The web does not need anchor points. Anyone caught by the memory web has the same chance of breaking free as if escaping a normal web. As the web constricts, enwrapped victims suffer 1d6 points of damage per round until they escape, die, or the web is destroyed. A memory web suffers only half damage from non-magical weapons or fire.

Memories of slain victims are absorbed by the memory web. If the web is destroyed, it will emit all the memories gained during the previous day in the form of a telepathic shock wave. The memories lodge into the minds of all creatures up to 200 feet from the web and take the form of dream-like recollections. Some details will be clear, others beyond recall.

 

[Shade]

Memory Web
Gargantuan Ooze?
Hit Dice: 6d10+X (X hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 10 ft (2 squares)
AC: 18 (-4 size, +X Dex, +X natural) touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +X/+X
Attack: -
Full Attack: -
Space/Reach: 20 ft./0 ft.?
Special Attacks: Constrict 1d6+X, entangle, telepathic shock wave
Special Qualities: Blindsight 60 ft., ooze traits
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +2
Abilities: Str X, Dex X, Con X, Int 12, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 27
Feats: 3

Environment: Underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: X
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: X
Level Adjustment: +X

 

[BOZ]

Gargantuan? The biggest it seems to get is a 20’ diameter (not radius). That would make it Huge at most, I would think. But actually, I’m inclined to go with the “tight little ball” for its normal size, but with the ability to expand out to a 20/20 square area.

Ooze? Maybe. If it worked for the other web, it might just work here too. If not, then aberration.

Skills, of course Jump is important. They can jump 50 feet (18 x 2.5 rounded up) per round. And Hide, definitely.

“A memory web suffers only half damage from non-magical weapons or fire.” Damage reduction and fire resistance, naturally.

Attacks – a touch attack to start the entangle maybe?

 

[Shade]

Gargantuan? The biggest it seems to get is a 20’ diameter (not radius). That would make it Huge at most, I would think. But actually, I’m inclined to go with the “tight little ball” for its normal size, but with the ability to expand out to a 20/20 square area.

Oops! I did indeed assume diameter rather than radius.

What size are you thinking for the “tight little ball”?

Ooze? Maybe. If it worked for the other web, it might just work here too. If not, then aberration.

Skills, of course Jump is important. They can jump 50 feet (18 x 2.5 rounded up) per round. And Hide, definitely.

Good points. They'll need a huge racial bonus to be able to jump that far with the Jump skill.

“A memory web suffers only half damage from non-magical weapons or fire.” Damage reduction and fire resistance, naturally.

Naturally.

Attacks – a touch attack to start the entangle maybe?

Sure.

"Memories of dead victims are absorbed by the memory web, and if destroyed, it will emit all memories gained during the previous day, in a kind of telepathic shock wave. These will lodge in the minds of creatures up to 200 feet from the web, and will take the form of dream-like recollections with some details clear, and others just beyond recall."

What do we do with this? As it stands, it is sort of a nonability. Maybe a 50% chance to lose any attempted actions, like with bestow curse?

 

[BOZ]

i don't think the shock wave should be an attack, per se. maybe some people would have painful memories, but in all it wouldn't really affect a character (except maybe drive em a little nuts).

for size... tiny? diminutive even?

 

[Shade]

How about diminutive. There just aren't enough diminutive creatures.

So is the "telepathic shock wave" just going to be flavor text? It seems like it should have at least some gameplay effect, since it is the only aspect of memories associated with the creature. It is, after all, called the "memory web".

 

[BOZ]

maybe dazed for a few rounds? some sort of lesser confusion effect?

naturally, of course, if a PC gets useable memories from an important character, that will be a useful game effect.

diminutive would be ok - maybe they're the size of a basketball?

 

[Shade]

True, getting the right memories would be a good thing.

I was thinking that the wrong memories should have some sort of effect. I like the dazed idea.

It's the basketball...OF DOOM!

 

[Krishnath]

Good points. They'll need a huge racial bonus to be able to jump that far with the Jump skill.

Why not just give them a jump speed of 50'? It's not like it would be the first creature with a weird form of movement (The Neh-Telggu (sp?) for example has a movement rating of Dimension Door in addition to it's normal movement.)

As for the Telepathic Shockwave, how about this:

Death Throes (Ex): When a memory Web dies, it sends out a mental shockwave that affects all creatures within an X' radius. Those within the radius must succeed at a will save (DC X) or be affected as by the confusion spell for a number of rounds equal to the Memory Webs HD. Creatures entagled by the memory web get no saves.

Sound good?