Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

[freyar]

Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6 sounds about right. Bat-things shouldn't be as agile as insect-things, but they should be stronger, I think.

So, do we just copy the stirge abilities, or do we mix things up a little? Certainly just going with the stirge is easiest, but I almost get the feeling that these get a tongue attack before being attached (or maybe it's just 2 claw attacks).

 

[demiurge1138]

I saw claw, claw, tongue. If both claws hit, it's attached and it gets a +4 bonus on the tongue attack.

What say we add a little something extra into the mix to keep them from being a pure stirge rip-off? Disease seems a likely choice. Filth fever? Cackle fever? Blinding sickness?

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

The damage/attack line only has two attacks, though. I'd personally like to give it a tongue attack even when it's not attached, though, just doing a little hp damage. Con damage only when attached.

 

[demiurge1138]

The damage/attack line only has two attacks, though. I'd personally like to give it a tongue attack even when it's not attached, though, just doing a little hp damage. Con damage only when attached.

Presumably, the claws do damage as one attack, like a hawk or other small bird. That makes sense.

What doesn't make sense is giving it a tongue attack when it's drinking blood. Its tongue should be in the wound, lapping away. Does it drink blood through its claws? Having a tail whip attack that goes while it's drinking makes sense, but not a tongue.

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

Presumably, the claws do damage as one attack, like a hawk or other small bird. That makes sense.

What doesn't make sense is giving it a tongue attack when it's drinking blood. Its tongue should be in the wound, lapping away. Does it drink blood through its claws? Having a tail whip attack that goes while it's drinking makes sense, but not a tongue.

Demiurge out.

Effectively having one claw attack makes sense. Good.

I thought the deal with the tongue is that it pierces the body with the tongue and then sucks blood through that wound. But then I'm not sure why it seems to need to attack multiple times.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

I've attached the image for possible inspiration.

Note that the tail is like fine woman's hair, so might not deal any damage (though could daze a foe or similar distraction).

It could almost make weak slam attacks with those hands.

Should disease be spread via the blood drain ability (like a transfusion "backwash"), or simply via the natural attacks.

 

[demiurge1138]

I say:

1) Weak slam attacks with its arms.
2) Disease transmitted through blood drain.

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

I don't think I'd go with anything for the tail. Weak slams and blinding sickness sound good (only through blood drain).

 

[Shade]

Let's finalize these abilities:

Blood Drain (Ex): A mansalauan drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of Constitution damage in any round when it begins its turn attached to a victim. Additionally, the victim is susceptible to the mansalauan's disease (see below). Once it has dealt 4 points of Constitution damage, it detaches and flies off to digest the meal. If its victim dies before the mansalauan's appetite has been sated, the mansalauan detaches and seeks a new target.

Disease (Ex): A mansalauan spreads disease when it successfully drains blood. Filth fever? Cackle fever? Blinding sickness?

Since filth fever is a bit overused, I'd rather go with one of the other two. Any preference?

Is the blood drain/disease combo clear enough as written?

 

[freyar]

I think that looks pretty good. Let's go with blinding sickness, just because I said.