Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[freyar]

I turn my back for one day, and you practically go and finish!

Seriously, though, this all looks pretty good. 1750 looks ok, too.

 

[Shade]

CR 8? It's slightly better than a flesh golem at CR 7.

 

[freyar]

Sure.

 

[Shade]

Next!

OAK GOLEM
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 9"
HIT DICE: 30 hit points
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-24
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (8' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VII/1,065

An oak golem may be created by a druid of 12th-level or higher. To do so, a figure of human likeness must first be carved from a recently fallen oak tree. The druid must cast shillelagh, barkskin, commune with nature, and finally liveoak. Then the druid must spend two weeks praying and polishing the figure with rare oils, after which the golem will animate. The rare oils, tools, and other materials cost a minimum of 25,000 gp.

The finished product resembles a large, finely carved wooden statue of human proportions. Its body is embellished with small, very sharp thorns. The oak golem attacks as a 9 hit die monster with its flailing, thorny fists. In addition to its normal attacks, it can cast entangle twice per day.

The oak golem will serve its druid creator faithfully, obeying simple commands or merely serving as a guard until some predetermined event takes place.

Magical fire slows the oak golem by 50% for 2-12 rounds. Warp wood will deliver 2-12 points of damage, while a plant growth will cure an oak golem of any damage it has sustained. Hold plant will cause it to be non-ambulatory for 1-4 rounds, and turn wood will cause it to move away from the druid at 1" for 2-8 rounds. Oak golems are harmed by magic weapons only.

They are equal in strength to flesh golems.

From Polyhedron #30.

 

[Shade]

They are equal in strength to flesh golems.

Once again, 9 HD?

Flesh Golem Abilities: Str 21, Dex 9, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1

Note...

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

So Int 1-2.

Since its entagle ability will probably be Cha-based, raise Cha to 10-11?

 

[Shade]

Magical fire slows the oak golem by 50% for 2-12 rounds. Warp wood will deliver 2-12 points of damage, while a plant growth will cure an oak golem of any damage it has sustained. Hold plant will cause it to be non-ambulatory for 1-4 rounds, and turn wood will cause it to move away from the druid at 1" for 2-8 rounds. Oak golems are harmed by magic weapons only.

Immunity to Magic (Ex): An oak golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.

A magical attack that deals fire damage slows an oak golem (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw.

Plant growth breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals it of all damage.

A warp wood spell deals 2d6 points of damage to the golem, while wood shape heals it of 2d6 points of damage.

A repel wood spell causes the oak golem to flee as if it were an undead creature turned by a cleric.

 

[freyar]

The stats and immunities sound good.

It looks like the original has one slam attack at 3d8 damage. Since it gets a +5 from STR, maybe 2 slam attacks at 1d8 damage each?

 

[Shade]

It looks like the original has one slam attack at 3d8 damage. Since it gets a +5 from STR, maybe 2 slam attacks at 1d8 damage each?

Good suggestion. If you downsize a treant to Large, it deals 1d8 damage.

In addition to its normal attacks, it can cast entangle twice per day.

Modifying the stone golem's slow ability...

Entangle (Su): An oak golem can use an entangle effect, as the spell, as a free action once every X rounds. The effect has a range of 40 feet and a duration of X rounds, requiring a DC 14 Reflex save to avoid entanglement. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Added to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Why don't we just give it entangle 2/day as an SLA at the appropriate CL?

 

[Shade]

Why don't we just give it entangle 2/day as an SLA at the appropriate CL?

It just seems dull. And the save DC will suck.