Converting monsters from First Edition modules
- Thread starter BOZ
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BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
flavor text...
This appears to be a balled-up mass of spider webs, about one foot in diameter.
The memory web is an animated mass of web-like fibers that feeds off the mental energies of the creatures it kills. It spends most of its time compressed into a tight ball, but can expand to a 20-foot circle to ensnare prey. It seeks to absorb the memories of sentient creatures, which will pacify it as it relives them in its own mind.
COMBAT
A memory web usually hides from prey in its compressed form, then leaps out at great distances to enmesh its unwary victims. It constricts those it has caught until they are dead, but if met with dangerous foes that it cannot deal with, the creature will flee.
This appears to be a balled-up mass of spider webs, about one foot in diameter.
The memory web is an animated mass of web-like fibers that feeds off the mental energies of the creatures it kills. It spends most of its time compressed into a tight ball, but can expand to a 20-foot circle to ensnare prey. It seeks to absorb the memories of sentient creatures, which will pacify it as it relives them in its own mind.
COMBAT
A memory web usually hides from prey in its compressed form, then leaps out at great distances to enmesh its unwary victims. It constricts those it has caught until they are dead, but if met with dangerous foes that it cannot deal with, the creature will flee.
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
Here’s an attempt at an SQ:
Compress (Ex): A memory web can compress its form so that it temporarily becomes a Diminutive sphere. In this form the memory web gains a +X racial bonus on Jump checks, and a +12 bonus on Hide checks (instead of its normal –8 penalty to Hide checks). It moves at its normal rate by rolling on the ground, and it cannot move or jump while not compressed. A memory web cannot use its touch attack while compressed.
Adding this to the combat text:
The memory web stretches out to its full size while in the air, and makes an entangle attack as it lands.
Entangle (Ex): A memory web at its full size is able to entrap creatures as if it were a web spell. The memory web requires no anchor points to stick to. Creatures in the area can make a Reflex save (DC X) to avoid the web. Entangled creatures are subject to the web’s constrict attack, and will remain entangled until the memory web is destroyed, or until they are able to escape. The save DC is (Dexterity?)-based.
Compress (Ex): A memory web can compress its form so that it temporarily becomes a Diminutive sphere. In this form the memory web gains a +X racial bonus on Jump checks, and a +12 bonus on Hide checks (instead of its normal –8 penalty to Hide checks). It moves at its normal rate by rolling on the ground, and it cannot move or jump while not compressed. A memory web cannot use its touch attack while compressed.
Adding this to the combat text:
The memory web stretches out to its full size while in the air, and makes an entangle attack as it lands.
Entangle (Ex): A memory web at its full size is able to entrap creatures as if it were a web spell. The memory web requires no anchor points to stick to. Creatures in the area can make a Reflex save (DC X) to avoid the web. Entangled creatures are subject to the web’s constrict attack, and will remain entangled until the memory web is destroyed, or until they are able to escape. The save DC is (Dexterity?)-based.
Shade
Monster Junkie
...and the memory remains...
Wow, BOZ. You're on a roll on these guys. Everything is looking good so far.
My only concern is the entangle effect. The web spell says...
"Anyone in the effect’s area when the spell is cast must make a Reflex save. If this save succeeds, the creature is entangled, but not prevented from moving, though moving is more difficult than normal for being entangled (see below). If the save fails, the creature is entangled and can’t move from its space, but can break loose by spending 1 round and making a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Once loose (either by making the initial Reflex save or a later Strength check or Escape Artist check), a creature remains entangled, but may move through the web very slowly. Each round devoted to moving allows the creature to make a new Strength check or Escape Artist check. The creature moves 5 feet for each full 5 points by which the check result exceeds 10."
"If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover."
So how would this work with constrict? Constrict usually requires a grapple check. Can entangled creatures move through the creature with a successful skill check?
Wow, BOZ. You're on a roll on these guys. Everything is looking good so far.
My only concern is the entangle effect. The web spell says...
"Anyone in the effect’s area when the spell is cast must make a Reflex save. If this save succeeds, the creature is entangled, but not prevented from moving, though moving is more difficult than normal for being entangled (see below). If the save fails, the creature is entangled and can’t move from its space, but can break loose by spending 1 round and making a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Once loose (either by making the initial Reflex save or a later Strength check or Escape Artist check), a creature remains entangled, but may move through the web very slowly. Each round devoted to moving allows the creature to make a new Strength check or Escape Artist check. The creature moves 5 feet for each full 5 points by which the check result exceeds 10."
"If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover."
So how would this work with constrict? Constrict usually requires a grapple check. Can entangled creatures move through the creature with a successful skill check?
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
On a roll? Get it? They roll…? 
I knew there was something that didn’t add up perfectly. Naturally, one cannot really move while constricted.
How about this.
Anything caught in the area of effect is entangled, right? But maybe the web must roll a touch attack (and against a prone opponent being entangled, it’s almost guaranteed to hit) to start a grapple/constrict.
There’s a way to do this, it just leaves us to figure out how. I’d say a certain set of circumstances must be right for each attack form to work – this makes the creature more versatile and interesting, IMO.
I knew there was something that didn’t add up perfectly. Naturally, one cannot really move while constricted.
How about this.
Anything caught in the area of effect is entangled, right? But maybe the web must roll a touch attack (and against a prone opponent being entangled, it’s almost guaranteed to hit) to start a grapple/constrict.
There’s a way to do this, it just leaves us to figure out how. I’d say a certain set of circumstances must be right for each attack form to work – this makes the creature more versatile and interesting, IMO.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Got it. Now that's what I call a sticky situation. 
We could always give it improved grab and say that it may make grapple attempts against all creatures within its area. Perhaps it could make one grapple check opposed by all creatures in the area, and that those that fail are considered grappled and subject to constriction. Those that succeed are simply considered entangled (–2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity, must make a DC 15 + the spell’s level Concentration check or lose a spell.) I'd also say that the memory web does not suffer the usual -20 penalty if it does not want to be considered grappled.
We could always give it improved grab and say that it may make grapple attempts against all creatures within its area. Perhaps it could make one grapple check opposed by all creatures in the area, and that those that fail are considered grappled and subject to constriction. Those that succeed are simply considered entangled (–2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity, must make a DC 15 + the spell’s level Concentration check or lose a spell.) I'd also say that the memory web does not suffer the usual -20 penalty if it does not want to be considered grappled.
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
i think you're getting where i'm coming from. i'm low on time at the moment, but i hope to write this up tomorrow.
Let me explain how I envision an attack from a memory web. Let’s say a memory web falls on four characters; a fighter, a rogue, a wizard, and a cleric. Each rolls its Reflex save, and only the rogue succeeds – the other three are now entangled. The web decides the fighter has the best chance of escaping, so in the next round, it does a constrict attack on him. The wizard and cleric can try their Strength checks or Escape Artist checks to escape, or the rogue can assist them by attacking the web. If the web kills the fighter (or he escapes) before the wizard and cleric get free, it will try to constrict one of them. When no characters are entangled, the web will make another entangle attack.
At least, that’s one possible way of doing it. what we need to do is set up the powers so that it can work that way.
Let me explain how I envision an attack from a memory web. Let’s say a memory web falls on four characters; a fighter, a rogue, a wizard, and a cleric. Each rolls its Reflex save, and only the rogue succeeds – the other three are now entangled. The web decides the fighter has the best chance of escaping, so in the next round, it does a constrict attack on him. The wizard and cleric can try their Strength checks or Escape Artist checks to escape, or the rogue can assist them by attacking the web. If the web kills the fighter (or he escapes) before the wizard and cleric get free, it will try to constrict one of them. When no characters are entangled, the web will make another entangle attack.
At least, that’s one possible way of doing it.
what we need to do is set up the powers so that it can work that way.
Shade
Monster Junkie
I was waiting for "i hope to write this up tomorrow."
This is uncharted territory, so it may take a while before we get it right.
Here's an attempt to polish up what we've got so far...
Entanging Strike (Ex?): When a memory web attacks, all creatures within its space must succeed on DC X Reflex save or become entangled. If the save fails, the creature is entangled and can’t move from its space, but can break loose by spending 1 round and making a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Any creature that is entangled may be targeted by the memory web's constrict ability on its next action. When no characters are entangled, the web will make another entangling strike.
This is uncharted territory, so it may take a while before we get it right.
Here's an attempt to polish up what we've got so far...
Entanging Strike (Ex?): When a memory web attacks, all creatures within its space must succeed on DC X Reflex save or become entangled. If the save fails, the creature is entangled and can’t move from its space, but can break loose by spending 1 round and making a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Any creature that is entangled may be targeted by the memory web's constrict ability on its next action. When no characters are entangled, the web will make another entangling strike.
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