Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[demiurge1138]

Agreed to ability scores.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

A tymphanix, native to the elemental plane of earth, is kept here by the ettins [...] as a watchdog and an early-warning device.

Racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks? Improved Init as bonus feat?

Maybe give 'em tremorsense to jazz them up a bit?

Special Defenses: Immune to normal weapons; takes half damage (save for quarter) from fire, cold, and lightning attacks.

DR 5/- or 5/magic?

Resistance to cold, electricity, and fire 10? Or something like specialized improved evasion?

Improved grab/constrict (like scorpion)?

Burrow and/or climb speed?

 

[freyar]

Racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks? Improved Init as bonus feat?

Maybe give 'em tremorsense to jazz them up a bit?

Yes to all.

DR 5/- or 5/magic?

Resistance to cold, electricity, and fire 10? Or something like specialized improved evasion?

DR 5/- like earth elementals, I think. I prefer normal resistance for the rest, though I could be convinced to change my mind.

Improved grab/constrict (like scorpion)?

Burrow and/or climb speed?

Probably no on grab/constrict, but the extra movement modes sound good.

 

[demiurge1138]

What freyar said. We could give them a stunning blow on their tail club x times per day.

 

[freyar]

I like that idea! Much more than improved grab/constrict.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[freyar]

Drum gives +4 Intimidate? 3/day stunning strike? +8 racial Spot/Listen (they are selected as guards, after all)?

 

[demiurge1138]

Agreed to all of the above. OK, maybe just a +6 to Listen and Spot, but I'm not too attached.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Can be summoned with summon monster VI or summon nature's ally VI?

Skills: Climb +11, Listen +6, Spot +6, 10 ranks

Feats: Improved Initiative (B), 3 more

 

[demiurge1138]

2 ranks each Listen and Spot, 6 ranks Intimidate.

Feats: Multiattack, Weapon Focus (tail club), Alertness.

The level of summons looks right to me.