Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

[demiurge1138]

Isn't a cockatrice CR 3?

I say that we reverse Shade's suggestion. It can only kill by biting the real creature, but it can still attack the shadow for ordinary damage (or un-ordinary damage - maybe it does a point of Con damage or something like that, so it'll try to soften up victims by chewing on their shadows before biting them).

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

The cockatrice is indeed CR 3, so not too terribly different. Hmmm. I like Demiurge's idea to make the touch attack weaker. We should also keep the Fort save DC low. Do we also want to pump up the HD a little to help with a slightly higher CR?

 

[demiurge1138]

The cockatrice is indeed CR 3, so not too terribly different. Hmmm. I like Demiurge's idea to make the touch attack weaker. We should also keep the Fort save DC low. Do we also want to pump up the HD a little to help with a slightly higher CR?

I like the idea.

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

Cockatrice is 5 HD and catoblepas is 6 HD. How high would you like to bump these?

 

[demiurge1138]

4-5 HD appeals to me. The catoblepas is a big brute with a high Con, and that's not what we're looking for here.

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

Let's go to 5HD and aim for CR3, like the cockatrice. For the bite, maybe

Death Bite (Su): Anyone bitten by a segben must make a DCX Fortitude saving throw or die. Alternately, a segben may bite the victim's shadow (resolve as a melee touch attack) to instead deal 1 point of Constitution damage on a failed save. The touch attack does not deal hit point damage. The save DC is constitution-based.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

 

[Shade]

Skills: 8 (Hide, Move Silently, Survival?)

Feats: 2 (Stealthy? Track?)

Organization: Solitary or x (2-3)

Alignment: Always? chaotic evil

Advancement: 6-10 HD (Small); 11-15 HD (Medium)?

A segben is 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs x pounds.

 

[demiurge1138]

Your suggestions all look good, Shade, although I'd go for "usually" instead of "always" on the alignment.

As for the group noun, a lurk? A creep? A family?

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

I like "lurk". I went with the weight ranges I found for a similarly-sized mountain goat.