Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

[Shade]

Sounds good. Let's figure out ability scores.

We know Int is Low (5-7).

The phiuhl has Str 10, while the nishruu has "-" like incorporeal creatures. Since this thing only touches opponents, I think "-" seems appropriate.

Its AC converts to 19 when free floating and 13 when it retreats to its tree. I'm thinking it should lose its Dex modifier, but possibly retain a deflection bonus. Since Cha isthe norm for determining deflection bonuses, I'd suggest the following:

Str -, Dex 22, Con 10, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 17

Thoughts?

 

[freyar]

Looks reasonable, though I'd be fine with a weak Str and WF as a bonus feat.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Huh, weird that gaseous form gives perfect flight but is still subject to wind.

It should have immunity to all spells that allow SR except for warp wood when in tree form.

 

[Shade]

Agreed.

Updated.

How does the wood bond ability look? Does it capture everything we discussed?

 

[freyar]

Actually, there are a few changes.

First off, the orginal gave 6 feet range for wood bond, so maybe we should go to 10 feet rather than 1000.

Next, when inside the bonded object, it should keep the deflection bonus to AC but lose the Dex bonus.

Finally, it's immune to magic all the time, but it takes 1d4/CL from warp wood when in its bonded object. We should write this as a separate SA:

Immunity to Magic (Ex): A birch tree spirit is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance, except as follows. When the birch tree spirit has retreated into its bonded object, it takes 1d4 points of damage per caster level from a warp wood spell.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

We need to work on its insanity touch.

It attacks with a pseudopod with which it attempts to touch the forehead of a victim. A successful 'to hit' roll indicates that it has done so, and the victim must save vs Spells or become insane (see DMG p83). The victim also develops a white, leafshaped mark upon his or her forehead. The insanity and the mark persist until the victim receives a remove curse spell.

How is this?

Touch of Insanity (Su): A victim touched by a birch tree spirit must succeed on a DC X Will save or become permanently insane (as the insanity spell). The victim develops a white, leafshaped mark upon his or her forehead. Unlike the insanity spell, greater restoration and heal will not end the effect, but remove curse or similar magic removes both the insanity and the mark. The save DC is Charisma-based.

 

[freyar]

I'd let greater restoration and heal work. What if we say, "In addition to the usual means of curing the insanity spell, remove curse or similar magic removes both the insanity and the mark"? These things are only 5HD, after all; there should be plenty of options to get rid of a permanent effect.

 

[Shade]

Fair enough. Updated.

Skills: 24

Feats: Weapon Finesse (B), 2 more
Ability Focus (insanity touch)?

Environment: Any forests?

Alignment: Always neutral, often evil?

Advancement: 6-15 HD (Medium)? (They gain little by growing larger, and actually suffer due to the lower AC and Dex)

Birch tree spirits cannot speak, but understand x (Sylvan and Druidic?).

 

[freyar]

All that you suggest looks good. We need to be careful with changing "Touch of Insanity" to "Insanity Touch" in the statblock part.

Feats: AF (Touch of Insanity) and maybe Great Fort?

Skills: max out Hide, Move silently, Spot?

Birch tree spirits are bound into the service of druids or magic users specialising in plantcraft by either a hold plant or charm plant spell. It will never have any treasure of its own, only what it has been given to watch over. Because they are always guardians, they are never encountered as wandering monsters.

Based on this, I'd add a line to the Immunity to Magic SQ. "Birch Tree Spirits may be bound into service by a Druid or Cleric with the Plant Domain using Command Plants or Control Plants."