Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

[Shade]

I think we're down to 1 creature for this thread!

"Inside the temple contains benches and a small altar behind which is an alabaster statue of a partridge (a bird considered holy by the islanders). Should anyone damage or desecrate the temple this statue will begin to grow (up to a maximum of 7 feet tall). If the desecration continues the statue will change into a giant partridge and attack the offenders, reverting back to its statue-state once the offenders are dealt with. The statue is similar to a figurine of wondrous power, but it cannot be removed from the temple in its statue form (moving the statue counts as an act of desecration), and if it is forced to leave the temple in partridge form it will crumble into alabaster dust.

1 giant partridge: AC 7; MV 3"/24"; HD 4; hp 20; #AT 3; D 1-3/1-3/2-8; 140xp; AL Nn; S M.

From "Tir Nan Og", by Chris Barlow, Imagine #17, August 1984

 

[Echohawk]

I think we're down to 1 creature for this thread!

Yes, just one unconverted Imagine creature left. (Excluding a handful of unique unconverted critters, that is )

 

[Shade]

Yes, just one unconverted Imagine creature left. (Excluding a handful of unique unconverted critters, that is )

Yeah, I forgot about Frosty the Snowman and the sandwich monster.

 

[freyar]

Hmmm, a Medium partridge. Sounds a little strange. Compared to the giant eagle and giant owl, which both have 4HD also, maybe we want to bump this to Large?

 

[Shade]

Sure, Large is fine.

Let's figure out ability scores:

Giant Eagle: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Giant Owl: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Giant Raven: Str 16, Dex 19, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10

 

[freyar]

I'm going to guess that this is a bit on the weak side, and partridges always seem awkward to me. Maybe Str 15, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 11 and make it a magical beast?

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Let's change "Giant owls speak x" to "Giant partridges speak Common or Sylvan."

Definitely max Spot and Listen. I'm going to go with Alertness (like a partridge probably would have) and Multiattack, since it's a guard-partridge.

Flock (3d4)?

Advancement: 5-6 HD (Large), 7-9 HD (Huge)?

Tactics: Giant partridges found in the wild typically flee rather than fight. However, if cornered or magically compelled to fight, the partridge will attack in wild flurry of beak and feathers.

Something comes to mind: want to change the claws to wing buffets?

 

[Shade]

Updated.

CR 3 like the giant eagle and owl?

A typical giant partridge stands about 7 feet tall, has a wingspan of up to x feet, and resembles its smaller cousins in nearly every way, except size.

 

[freyar]

Um, 15 ft wingspan (a bit less than the other giant birds)?

Damage output seems maybe a little low and same with AC. Could it be a tough CR 2? Your call.