Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine
- Thread starter Shade
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Nice catch! I'll remove one point.
Another good point. I'll add the 11-12 HD (Large) to the Advancement.
That was the intent. It sounds like the chiefs were supposed to be among the larger-sized plantfolk, so one that advanced solely by character class wouldn't fit that mold. Think of the chief as "being all it can be" physically, then branching out into skill sets.
Your alternates are nice as well. You must've really liked these guys to put that much effort into them!
Updated plantfolk and chief.
Ready to move on?
Cleon
Legend
I'd have given the Plantfolk Move Silently as a bonus class skill myself, to follow the originals implication that they're naturally sneaky, but it's your monster. I have no objection either way.
Ta Shade. It's more that I like to focus on one beastie at a time and often go overboard on the development than that I like the plantfolk more than the other creatures currently being converted on this board. I think I'm fonder of the Lumbercritters than these green guys. Which reminds me, I've still got one more Lumbercritter I haven't got around to finishing. May revisit it now the Plantman is done.
Yes I think so, what's up next?
Shade
Monster Junkie
Horse Sense
In the lands of the Houyhnhnms, humans and horses have traded places. The former are no more than wild beasts suitable for little more than physical labor, while the horses, or Houyhnhnms, are creatures of great wisdom and rational thought.
Houyhnhnms (1-100): AC 7; MV 24; HD 2+2; THACO 20; #AT 2; Dmg 1-2/1-2; SZ L; ML Champion (15-16); Int Highly (13-14); AL LN(G); XP 120.
Even under a close physical examination, Houyhnhnms appear to be domestic breeds of horses. Their coloration is the same as normal horses. Houyhnhnms keep themselves well groomed and wear their manes and tails long. They never put on bridles, saddles or other riding equipment. Some post-Swift illustrations show Houyhnhnms wearing aprons, capes or shawls.
Houyhnhnms possess very dexterous forelegs and can raise their front hooves up to their mouths or above their eye level without bending their backs. They use their pasterns, the area between their fetlock and hoof, to milk cows, construct buildings or even thread a needle. These intelligent quadrupeds have a language that sounds like soft and mild neighing.
The only time Houyhhhnms resorted to brute force to solve a problem was to reduce the population of Yahoos on their island. Thus, Houyhnhnms have never learned any of the combat arts. On the other hand, Houyhnhnms possess natural weapons of hooves, teeth and great natural strength. Furthermore, these equines have prudence, unanimity, are oblivious to fear and maintain a great love for their island nation. These factors make Houyhnhnms a dangerous military force. In addition, Houyhnhnms can learn to use most of the weapons, and wear all types of horse barding, listed in the Player's Handbook. However, outsiders, like the player characters, would have to give or sell the Houyhnhnms crafted weapons and armor, as well as teach proficiencies in these weapons.
Houyhnhnms think of themselves as the perfection of nature. Using their own bodies as a guide to judge others. Houyhnhnms will consider only other intelligent quadrupeds, such as pegasi and unicorns to be their equal. Houyhnhnms will be thunderstuck by bipedal characters who can shape change into equine like creatures. Centaurs will be thought of as Houyhnmnms society.
Houyhnhnms instinctively know the correct way of behaving. Thus, they never argue or quarrel with each other. Ignorant of cruelty, warfare and deception, Houyhnhnms are what Adam and Eve were like before they fell from the state of grace. To Swift, Houyhnhnms are rational beings who lack all of the negative passions that most other sentient beings possess. Despite this ice-cold reason, Houyhnhnms practice the art of universal friendship and benevolence to their entire species, to Gulliver, and to the player characters. These quadrupeds do not know other languages, but they are willing to teach their language and culture to visitors.
This Houyhnmnms utopian commonwealth has no "physicians, lawyers, censurers, back-biters, pickpockets, highwaymen, housebreakers, bawds, buffoons, gamesters, politicians, wits, tedious talkers, ravishers, murderers, robbers, virtuosos, as well as no dungeons, axes gibbets, whipping posts, or pillories." Visitors, such as Gulliver and the player characters will never suffer from physical illnesses as long as they live on this island. This effect is similar to the third level Priest Spell, Cure Disease. Houyhnhnms don't wear clothing, as they see no need for it. They will not let anyone or anything ride them. The only literature Houyhnhnms create are poems in the praise of virtue or songs of praise.
Their stratified society is ruled by a class of equine philosophers. These philosophers elect a representative council that meets on the vernal equinox of every fourth year. Representatives from every part of their island assemble upon a large plain or grassland to discuss the state of the Houyhnmnms nation. These meetings are also used to regulate the number of children born during the upcoming years.
Unless they die by accident, a Houyhnhnm's average life span is 70-80 years. They eat grass, hay, and a mash made of oats and milk. Typical Houyhnmnms farms have asses, cats, cows, and other domesticated animals.
Houyhnhnms use arranged marriages based upon the strength of one partner and the comeliness of the other. Positive human desires of romantic pleasures, such as courtship, presents, and love, as well as negative emotions such as jealousy, quarreling and discontent are unknown in their thoughts and language. They have a gestation period of ten months and produce one child per birth. Youths of both sexes get the same education in temperance, industry, and cleanliness. Exercise races are held many times each year to increase agility, endurance, speed and strength in their children. Winners of such races are rewarded with a song of praise.
Houyhnhnms know how to make pottery and stone-age tools. Their buildings are made from wattle and daub construction. The player characters will notice that doorway frames and individual chambers are larger than in human homes. Houyhnhnms need bigger homes to accommodate their large equine bodies. They do not build defensive constructions such as moats or ramparts. Proficiencies available to PC and NPC Houyhnhnms are agriculture, animal handling, animal training, fire-guilding, healing, herbalism, pottery, rope use, swimming, weather sense and weaving.
From "In a Strange Land: Following in the Footsteps of Gulliver" by James P. Buchanan; Polyhedron #106 (1995).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houyhnhnm
In the lands of the Houyhnhnms, humans and horses have traded places. The former are no more than wild beasts suitable for little more than physical labor, while the horses, or Houyhnhnms, are creatures of great wisdom and rational thought.
Houyhnhnms (1-100): AC 7; MV 24; HD 2+2; THACO 20; #AT 2; Dmg 1-2/1-2; SZ L; ML Champion (15-16); Int Highly (13-14); AL LN(G); XP 120.
Even under a close physical examination, Houyhnhnms appear to be domestic breeds of horses. Their coloration is the same as normal horses. Houyhnhnms keep themselves well groomed and wear their manes and tails long. They never put on bridles, saddles or other riding equipment. Some post-Swift illustrations show Houyhnhnms wearing aprons, capes or shawls.
Houyhnhnms possess very dexterous forelegs and can raise their front hooves up to their mouths or above their eye level without bending their backs. They use their pasterns, the area between their fetlock and hoof, to milk cows, construct buildings or even thread a needle. These intelligent quadrupeds have a language that sounds like soft and mild neighing.
The only time Houyhhhnms resorted to brute force to solve a problem was to reduce the population of Yahoos on their island. Thus, Houyhnhnms have never learned any of the combat arts. On the other hand, Houyhnhnms possess natural weapons of hooves, teeth and great natural strength. Furthermore, these equines have prudence, unanimity, are oblivious to fear and maintain a great love for their island nation. These factors make Houyhnhnms a dangerous military force. In addition, Houyhnhnms can learn to use most of the weapons, and wear all types of horse barding, listed in the Player's Handbook. However, outsiders, like the player characters, would have to give or sell the Houyhnhnms crafted weapons and armor, as well as teach proficiencies in these weapons.
Houyhnhnms think of themselves as the perfection of nature. Using their own bodies as a guide to judge others. Houyhnhnms will consider only other intelligent quadrupeds, such as pegasi and unicorns to be their equal. Houyhnhnms will be thunderstuck by bipedal characters who can shape change into equine like creatures. Centaurs will be thought of as Houyhnmnms society.
Houyhnhnms instinctively know the correct way of behaving. Thus, they never argue or quarrel with each other. Ignorant of cruelty, warfare and deception, Houyhnhnms are what Adam and Eve were like before they fell from the state of grace. To Swift, Houyhnhnms are rational beings who lack all of the negative passions that most other sentient beings possess. Despite this ice-cold reason, Houyhnhnms practice the art of universal friendship and benevolence to their entire species, to Gulliver, and to the player characters. These quadrupeds do not know other languages, but they are willing to teach their language and culture to visitors.
This Houyhnmnms utopian commonwealth has no "physicians, lawyers, censurers, back-biters, pickpockets, highwaymen, housebreakers, bawds, buffoons, gamesters, politicians, wits, tedious talkers, ravishers, murderers, robbers, virtuosos, as well as no dungeons, axes gibbets, whipping posts, or pillories." Visitors, such as Gulliver and the player characters will never suffer from physical illnesses as long as they live on this island. This effect is similar to the third level Priest Spell, Cure Disease. Houyhnhnms don't wear clothing, as they see no need for it. They will not let anyone or anything ride them. The only literature Houyhnhnms create are poems in the praise of virtue or songs of praise.
Their stratified society is ruled by a class of equine philosophers. These philosophers elect a representative council that meets on the vernal equinox of every fourth year. Representatives from every part of their island assemble upon a large plain or grassland to discuss the state of the Houyhnmnms nation. These meetings are also used to regulate the number of children born during the upcoming years.
Unless they die by accident, a Houyhnhnm's average life span is 70-80 years. They eat grass, hay, and a mash made of oats and milk. Typical Houyhnmnms farms have asses, cats, cows, and other domesticated animals.
Houyhnhnms use arranged marriages based upon the strength of one partner and the comeliness of the other. Positive human desires of romantic pleasures, such as courtship, presents, and love, as well as negative emotions such as jealousy, quarreling and discontent are unknown in their thoughts and language. They have a gestation period of ten months and produce one child per birth. Youths of both sexes get the same education in temperance, industry, and cleanliness. Exercise races are held many times each year to increase agility, endurance, speed and strength in their children. Winners of such races are rewarded with a song of praise.
Houyhnhnms know how to make pottery and stone-age tools. Their buildings are made from wattle and daub construction. The player characters will notice that doorway frames and individual chambers are larger than in human homes. Houyhnhnms need bigger homes to accommodate their large equine bodies. They do not build defensive constructions such as moats or ramparts. Proficiencies available to PC and NPC Houyhnhnms are agriculture, animal handling, animal training, fire-guilding, healing, herbalism, pottery, rope use, swimming, weather sense and weaving.
From "In a Strange Land: Following in the Footsteps of Gulliver" by James P. Buchanan; Polyhedron #106 (1995).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houyhnhnm
Cleon
Legend
That works for me.
I'd prefer not to give them 3 base hit dice. Being sapient creatures, I'd think they would have lower Hit Dice with physical stats around a Light Warhorse level and boosted mental stats (something like Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 12?).
Although they'd probably advance by character class, so I imagine a typical Houyhnhnms would have 2 levels in 'Horse' and one in an NPC class such as Expert, so it would end up having 3 HD just by a different path.
EDIT: If they do advance by character class, what favoured class do you fancy. I am horribly tempted by Monk. They've got the Lawful alignment and obsession with physical exercise, mental discipline and philosophy, plus it means they don't have to worry about weapons.[END EDIT]
There aren't any notable SA/SQ in the description. The "oblivious to fear" looks like flavour-text to me, but we could make it an actual immunity.
I am having trouble imagining how they can learn to use most of the weapons listed in the Players Handbook, even with prehensile pasterns.*
They'd have to stagger around on their hind legs whenever they want to hold their weapons. So, I'm thinking a typical Houyhnhnm uses spiked gauntlets or armour spikes in melee, since these would not impair its movement, and have crossbows to use at ranged.
*Now I'm visualising a horse flourishing a spiked chain, it just doesn't work for me.
Are we going to have a "Houyhnhnm Characters" section? I don't see why not.
Do we want to stat the Equine Philosophers? They could just have high levels in Adept and/or Expert, but maybe they develop special abilities like Stone Giant Elders do. They could be responsible for the cure disease effect referred to in the text, and I'm sure we can think of other communal ritual or spell-like abilities that would suit them.
Basically, I'm thinking we need to give Houyhnhnm society some magical support if they're going to live in the World of D&D. Without it they'd be horsemeat if they are attacked by monsters or hostile tribes.
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freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
I don't see why they can't have 3HD; you're worried about the racial HD making them suboptimal as a PC race? Let them be suboptimal! 
They're supposed to be kind of superhorses, so I think they should have the same HD as horses. However, if you tell me that 2e horses have 3HD and Houyhnhnms had 2HD, then I'm ok with the lower HD.
I am fine with going for the light horse stats, if you guys prefer.
They're supposed to be kind of superhorses, so I think they should have the same HD as horses. However, if you tell me that 2e horses have 3HD and Houyhnhnms had 2HD, then I'm ok with the lower HD.I am fine with going for the light horse stats, if you guys prefer.
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