Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[Cleon]

Hmm...I'm really not fond of a blanket immunity to breath weapons. It just feels...wrong.

I don't mind dropping the breath weapon immunity if you don't like it. T'was just an idea.

Plus, it could be tactically interesting for the dragon to decide if it wants to employ its breath weapon and risk injuring its "little buddies".

I suspect they stick to their tiny tunnels when a fight's going down, so the question is academic.

That reminds me. Considering that they're mole-like and live in elaborate tunnel systems, could we give them a 5 ft. Burrow speed?

 

[Cleon]

Oh, and what do you think about the Care For Dragon and Dyed Fur SQs I proposed?

 

[Shade]

Oh, and what do you think about the Care For Dragon and Dyed Fur SQs I proposed?

I like 'em, but I'd roll dyed fur into the standard skills entry.

Burrow speed is a good fit.

Looking at the grig's scores...

Str 5, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 14

I'd suggest we lower Int to 7 (original was 5-9), Wis to 11, and Cha to 10. They aren't magical, so don't really need decent Cha. They had only 1-2 hp, so I'd say no Con bonus is needed either.

Thus...

Str 5, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10

Look OK?

 

[Cleon]

I like 'em, but I'd roll dyed fur into the standard skills entry.

I knew you were going to do that.

Burrow speed is a good fit.

Looking at the grig's scores...

Str 5, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 14

I'd suggest we lower Int to 7 (original was 5-9), Wis to 11, and Cha to 10. They aren't magical, so don't really need decent Cha. They had only 1-2 hp, so I'd say no Con bonus is needed either.

Thus...

Str 5, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10

Look OK?

I wondered about lowering the Dex, since they've got AC that's a lot worse than an AD&D Grig - six points less to be exact. Indeed, their armor class is worse than any Sprite in the Monstrous Manual.

Dex 14 and no natural armour?

That'd give them AC14 like the SRD Nixie, which has 1 point better AC than a Dragite in AD&D.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Dragites have large, protruding ears and long snouts, giving them keen senses of hearing and smell. Although must dragites are nearsighted, they can see well in darkness and have infravision to 30 feet.

Give them the myopic trait we used recently? Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, and scent?

Most dragites speak only their own language, However, about 10% of them (those with average intelligence) also speak their host dragon's tongue.

Sylvan and Draconic?

Combat: Dragites are shy, peaceful, and usually inoffensive. They bear no malice toward any particular race or species. When possible, they flee from any potentially dangerous encounter, seeking safety in small tunnels (which they dig themselves) or in any other cramped space they can fit into. The only time a dragite will fight willingly is to defend its mate or offspring.

It seems Escape Artist and Hide might be good skill choices.

Habitat/Society: Dragites are fair miners, and live in small tunnels they dig in the walls and floor of the dragon lair where they live. They avoid any locale where they cannot make their homes by tunneling through rock.

Profession (miner)? Racial bonus?

The entire life of a tribe of dragites revolves around their dragon host-the dragon is both provider and protector. Dragites eat by scavenging the leavings of a dragon's meals (which helps keep the dragon's lair clean). They supplement their diet with whatever food they can gather on their own. The dragites care for the host dragon, keeping it clean and tending its wounds.

Heal? Survival? Racial bonuses?

Dragites can be hard to locate when they don't want to be seen, as they can hide behind almost any small object. This makes them excellent scouts.

Racial bonus on Hide? Ranks in Spot?

Most tribes also will have a dozen or so leaders of average intelligence, these leaders can speak the host's tongue and are the only dragites that communicate directly with the dragon. Nevertheless, all orders and tasks the dragon assigns are shared, and there is no single, dominant chieftain. The tribe's only lord is the host dragon. Each dragite reveres the dragon and will do almost anything the dragon commands, short of charging directly into combat. However, dragites are aggressive enough to set traps for unwary invaders, steal from them, or harry them.

Craft (trapmaking) ranks?

Perhaps remove Draconic from the standard dragite, and stat out a chieftain with that language?

 

[Cleon]

Give them the myopic trait we used recently? Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, and scent?

Sylvan and Draconic?

That all looks good.

It seems Escape Artist and Hide might be good skill choices.

Agreed, and we should give them a fair to good racial bonus in those skills, plus one in Move Silently.

Profession (miner)? Racial bonus?

I'm game for a +2 racial bonus in Profession (miner) and Craft (traps) like the SRD Kobold has.

Heal? Survival? Racial bonuses?

We don't need ranks in Heal, since their Care For Dragon SQ covers their ability to heal dragons. We should mention they clean & scavenge their dragon's lair in the flavour text.

Racial bonus on Hide? Ranks in Spot?

I'd prefer the ranks in Listen and Survival, since they're short-sighted.

Craft (trapmaking) ranks?

So how about a point each in in Trapmaking, Mining, Listen and Survival?

Perhaps remove Draconic from the standard dragite, and stat out a chieftain with that language?

"All dragites speak Sylvan, and those with a high enough intelligence to gain additional languages always learn Draconic as their first bonus language."

 

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Looks good, except the average hp of half a d6 should be 1, not 3. (1.75 rounded down).

I'm tempted to keep the 3 hp and give them a full d6 Hit Dice.

Same feats as a Grig - Stealthy plus Dodge and Weapon Finesse as bonus feats?

Challenge Rating 1/6? They're somewhere between a Kobold and a Rat as far as being a threat goes.

 

[Shade]

Yeah, let's go with 1 HD.

Updated.

Treasure: Standard coins; standard goods (gems and jewelery only); no items?

Alignment: Usually neutral?

Advancement: By character class?

Level Adjustment: +1?

A typical dragite is 1 foot tall and weighs x pounds. Dragites reproduce once every three years, and have a lifespan of around 40 years.

 

[Cleon]

Yeah, let's go with 1 HD.

Updated.

Treasure: Standard coins; standard goods (gems and jewelery only); no items?

Ahem "They frequently filch these items from the dragon's hoard, along with the occasional gold or platinum coin or small magic item."

I'd go for Standard.

Alignment: Usually neutral?

Advancement: By character class?

Level Adjustment: +1?

A typical dragite is 1 foot tall and weighs x pounds. Dragites reproduce once every three years, and have a lifespan of around 40 years.

That all sounds good.

I reckon 2 pounds for the weight - that fits a stocky, dwarf-like build which seems appropriate for a "mole man".