Converting monsters from First Edition modules

[Cleon]

Even so, it starts with 18 reeds!

It only has 1 attack to begin with though. Do you think each "reed" is a separate monster then?

Anyhow, I still don't like Swarm for them. They original makes attack rolls, and I'd like to keep that.

I suppose we could make them littler but with increased Reach so the "reeds" can reach into an adjacent square. Diminutive seems too small though, I wouldn't want to go below Tiny.

 

[Shade]

How about we keep 'em Medium, but cluster the attacks like a medusa's "snakes" attack, and perhaps give it extended reach? Maybe increase Dex a tad and give it Combat Reflexes for more AoOs?

Whenever the snake grass suffers 5 points of damage, it could gain a second "snakes" attack?

 

[freyar]

It only has 1 attack to begin with though. Do you think each "reed" is a separate monster then?

Anyhow, I still don't like Swarm for them. They original makes attack rolls, and I'd like to keep that.

I suppose we could make them littler but with increased Reach so the "reeds" can reach into an adjacent square. Diminutive seems too small though, I wouldn't want to go below Tiny.

I certainly read the original monster as saying each reed has a bite attack and that there are 18 reeds.

How about we keep 'em Medium, but cluster the attacks like a medusa's "snakes" attack, and perhaps give it extended reach? Maybe increase Dex a tad and give it Combat Reflexes for more AoOs?

Whenever the snake grass suffers 5 points of damage, it could gain a second "snakes" attack?

That's a pretty good idea. I'm not sure if 5 hp is still going to be the right threshold, but this is simple. I wouldn't give it extended reach, since a Medium creature can reach adjacent squares, and I think the original could only bite critters actually in the grass. We might boost the poison a little to account for multiple bites, too.

 

[Cleon]

How about we keep 'em Medium, but cluster the attacks like a medusa's "snakes" attack, and perhaps give it extended reach? Maybe increase Dex a tad and give it Combat Reflexes for more AoOs?

Whenever the snake grass suffers 5 points of damage, it could gain a second "snakes" attack?

Sounds good.

Modifying my earlier rough draft:

Snake Grass
Medium Plant
Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (15 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 0 ft. (immobile)
Armor Class: 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+1
Attack: Snakes +1 melee (1 plus poison)
Full Attack: Snakes +1 melee (1 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison, pruned growth
Special Defenses: All-around vision, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, plant traits, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +0, Will -1
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int --, Wis 8, Cha 3?
Feats: Combat Reflexes (B), Weapon Finesse (B) ?
Environment: ?
Organization: Solitary or bed (?)
Challenge Rating: x
Treasure: Incidental or none?
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: x
Level Adjustment: —

Pruned Growth (Ex): Whenever a patch of snake grass has taken 5 hp of damage, its damaged reeds sprout new snake heads, which increases the damage of its snakes attack by an additional die (maximum additional damage dice equals the HD of the patch of snake grass, so a standard patch can grow up to 4d4 damage). Extra heads gained from pruned growth wither and die within a day, returning the damage of the snakes attack to its original amount.

 

[Shade]

Make damage 2d4? Each 5 hp (or whatever amount we decide upon) increase by 1d4?

 

[freyar]

2d4 damage seems right.

Pruned Growth (Ex): Whenever a patch of snake grass has taken X hp of damage, its damaged reeds sprout new snake heads, which increases the damage of its snakes attack by an additional die.

Hmm, a snake grass patch that survives multiple fights could have quite a few damage dice!

 

[Cleon]

2d4 damage seems right.

It seems a bit high to me, but not so much I'd oppose it.

Pruned Growth (Ex): Whenever a patch of snake grass has taken X hp of damage, its damaged reeds sprout new snake heads, which increases the damage of its snakes attack by an additional die.

Hmm, a snake grass patch that survives multiple fights could have quite a few damage dice!

Maybe make it Slashing damage?

I'd also apply a cap to the extra heads, maybe equal to its HD. I'm wondering whether a set value might be better though.

How much "snakes" damage should a Large or Huge patch of snake grass do? If a Large patch does, say, 2d6 damage and has 4-7 HD, that means it could theoretically do up to 9d6 damage, which seems too high to me.

I'm also thinking the extra heads should wither and drop off after a while, like a hydras.

Something like...

Pruned Growth (Ex): Whenever a patch of snake grass has taken 5 hp of damage, its damaged reeds sprout new snake heads, which increases the damage of its snakes attack by an additional die (maximum additional damage dice equals the HD of the patch of snake grass, so a standard patch can grow up to 4d4 damage). Extra heads gained from pruned growth wither and die within a day, returning the damage of the snakes attack to its original amount.

 

[Shade]

That seems reasonable.

 

[Cleon]

That seems reasonable.

Good, I'll fold it into post #944.

Are we keeping them mindless or giving them a point of Int like regular snakes?

What poison are we giving them? The original's cumulative -1 to rolls is a bit fiddly, so I'm thinking a small amount (say, 1d3) of Dex and/or Str damage.

 

[freyar]

Just make it "slashing" damage with the 5hp, and it's set.