Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

[freyar]

How about 45? Stronger than the ironwyrm but not entirely god-like.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good.

Int is given as "genius" (17-18).

So use ironwyrm golem stats, but improve mental scores?

Maybe Str 41, Dex 8, Con —, Int 18, Wis 17, Cha 19?

 

[freyar]

Looks about right.

 

[Shade]

Added the basics (using ironwyrm golem as baseline) to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Good start. Start on special abilities or transformation process first?

 

[Shade]

Probably the special abilities, as the transformation should be more complex and will probably modify the special abilities to varying degrees.

The Taumet is a magically-created dragon construct, made from five relics whose origins are lost in the mists of time according to the instructions in a book of unknown authorship called the Taumet Codex.

If the Taumet is reduced to zero hit points, it will not be killed, but forced to disassociate into its component relics and the withered remains of the original wearer. The relics cannot be destroyed except by the application of earth-shattering magic (depending upon individual DM's campaigns), but they can be kept separate to prevent the Taumet reforming around another wearer.

We'll need to check with Echohawk to find out if there are specific relics associated with the Taumet. If not, we'll need to either create some or offer guidelines to DMs for picking them (as they'll be part of the treasure).

Round, AC, HD, Damage, SA/SD
1&2, 5, 1, 1-4/1-4/1-6, Immune to attacks causing less than 4 points of damage
3&4, 3, 3, 1-6/1-6/1-8, Immune to 1st level spells, +1 or better weapons to hit
5&6, 1, 5, 1-6/1-6/2-12, Non-edged weapons cause half damage
7, 0, 7, 1-6/1-6/2-16, Breath weapon usable, +2 or better weapons to hit
8, -1, 9, 1-6/1-6/3-18, Immune to 2nd level spells and attacks causing less than 8 point of damage
9, -2, 11, 1-8/1-8/3-24, +3 or better weapons to hit
10, -3, 13, 1-8/1-8/3-30, Immuned to 3rd level spells
11, -4, 15, 1-10/1-10/3-36, Spell use, immune to attacks causing less than 12 points of damage
12, -5, 17, 1-10/1-10/4-40, Immune to 4th level spells and damage from non-edged weapons
13, -6, 18, 1-12/1-12/5-50, +4 or better weapons to hit

It appears to have at least DR 12/magic and slashing or piercing, some form of immunity to magic, spell use, and a breath weapon.

The Taumet can breath 3 times per day, but can choose what form this takes; either as a black, blue, green, red or white dragon.

I'd recommend just modifying the ironwyrm's breath to five varieties.

Ironwyrm has...

Breath Weapon (Su): 60 ft. cone, every 1d4 rounds, 20d10 fire, Reflex DC 30 half. The breath weapon type remains the same regardless of the dragon spirit contained within.

Keep it a cone for all energy types, or match specific shape of the chromatic dragon whose breath it mimics?

Once it has the use of spells, it can cast, once per day, those spells that the relics knew at the time of the transformation or 5 x 1st, 5 x 2nd, 5 x 3rd, 4 x 4th, 4 x 5th and 2 x 6th level spells as though it were a 13th level magic user.

Actual spellcasting like many true dragons, or just SLAs?

 

[freyar]

Probably the special abilities, as the transformation should be more complex and will probably modify the special abilities to varying degrees.

We'll need to check with Echohawk to find out if there are specific relics associated with the Taumet. If not, we'll need to either create some or offer guidelines to DMs for picking them (as they'll be part of the treasure).

Sounds good.

It appears to have at least DR 12/magic and slashing or piercing, some form of immunity to magic, spell use, and a breath weapon.

Probably want to bump the DR even more to fit epic 3e specs. Possibly DR 20 and possibly /epic rather than magic.

Immunity to 4th and lower level spells that allow SR (as golems)?

I'd recommend just modifying the ironwyrm's breath to five varieties.

Ironwyrm has...

Breath Weapon (Su): 60 ft. cone, every 1d4 rounds, 20d10 fire, Reflex DC 30 half. The breath weapon type remains the same regardless of the dragon spirit contained within.

Keep it a cone for all energy types, or match specific shape of the chromatic dragon whose breath it mimics?

I like line vs cone depending on type, but it's not a biggy.

Actual spellcasting like many true dragons, or just SLAs?

I think I prefer spellcasting, but I don't know how to interpret the comment about spells that the relics "knew." Do you get that? Perhaps Echohawk can dig up more about this, as well.

 

[Echohawk]

We'll need to check with Echohawk to find out if there are specific relics associated with the Taumet.

The Relics
The Taumet relics are, for the most part, sentient rather than truly intelligent, but will still attempt to influence their current owners into finding the other relics and the Taumet Codex. Two or more relics can add their Ego scores together to give a new personality value, so that any creature will end up dominated sooner or later, given that the five relics have a total personality score of 76.

The powers given below for the individual relics apply only when less then the full set of five is worn by a single character. If all five are worn by a single character they have a somewhat different and unfortunate effect. The wearer's personality is totally subsumed by the relics and, if the Taumet Codex is present, the wearer will have no choice but to declaim the passage that creates the Taumet.

Once this is done, the wearer collapses in agony, and his or her final and fatal transformation into the Taumet begins.

The Fire Claws
These two clawed gauntlets of red metal scales are gem encrusted and act as bracers of defence AC 0. They act as shortswords +5 in combat, and as the functional equivalent of a ring of fire resistance. Because they are unwieldy, it is impossible for a character to wear the Fire Claws and use any other item, except for its partner relics. The Fire Claws are unintelligent, but have an Ego of 15 (Swords, DMG p167).

The White Shield
This is a single dragon scale, which has been carefully worked into a small shield +4. It provides immunity from any attack that causes less than 10 points of damage, and a bonus of +4 to saving throws vs cold based attacks. Also, no dragon will attack the wielder of this shield, except in self-defence. The White Shield has an Ego of 13.

The Venom Lance
The evil (but otherwise non-aligned) polearm can be wielded as a spear +3 by a foot soldier or as a heavy horse lance +4 by a horseman. Creatures struck by this weapon (Int 13, Ego 13) must save vs poison at -4 or take an additional 3-18 points of damage for 1-4 rounds. The Venom Lance can also detect good and cause fear (once per day), and communicate empathically with its wielder.

The Cloak of Clouds
This grey, whispy and tattered looking cloak allows its wearer to cast the following spells as though a 12th level MU, once per day: feather fall, gust of wind, fly, lightning bolt, control weather. Any creature who touches the wearer of the Cloak of Clouds must make a saving throw vs death magic or suffer 6-36 points of electrical damage. The Cloak has an Ego of 13.

The Wyrmhelm
This helm is cast in the form of a snarling dragon head, so elaborate and stylised as to be utterly useless as armour. However, its wearer can understand the tongues of all dragonkind and cast charm monster (no saving throw) on any dragon once per week. The wearer can also cast command 3 times per day. It has an Ego of 9.

 

[Shade]

Great! Thanks.

 

[freyar]

These would be cool as a magic item set, as in the MIC. But I still don't understand how they "know spells."