Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[freyar]

I'd say make them variant ghosts except for that "turns into a true ghost" bit if killed on ethereal. Either drop that bit or make them separate monsters, I guess.

I agree with the water symbiosis bit but need to think over the rest a little.

 

[Shade]

Added some basics to Homebrews.

The AC 8 on the Ethereal Plane suggests a Dex bonus of +2. AC 20 seems too high for its HD, so I set Cha to deliver a +4 bonus instead of +8.

I'm wondering if we shouldn't just call these "Drowned Maidens" and note "Potoplenytsia" as the alternate name...

 

[Cleon]

A variation on the dryad's tree dependence?

Frostburn's rusalka has this:

Water Symbiosis (Su): Each rusalka is mystically bound to a body of water or a waterway as small as a pond or as large as a lake or river. Although aquatic, a rusalka can move as far as 300 yards from the body of water to which it is bound and breathe normally. If the rusalka strays farther than that, she must hold her breath or immediately start to drown. Once a rusalka has moved beyond the boundary of her connection, she cannot breathe normally until she has immersed herself in her body of water.

A drowning approach would prove problematic, since undead don't breathe.

It would be easier to say they simply "melt into water" if they lose contact with their body of water and reform back in the water X rounds later.

Rejuvenation like a ghost?

Alignment: Always chaotic, never good?

That seems OK

Let's skip this to avoid confusion.

I'd rather mention it in the flavour text.

"Rusalka gradually lose their mortal memories as they age, a rusalka of long standing is usually a merciless creature who only thinks of vengeance upon the living."

A gaze attack vs. its killer only?

Well according to folklore rusalka are bewitching creatures, so I'd rather expand that to a general-purpose single-target gaze attack.

Make 'em variant ghosts, rather than incorporeal creatures?

Ethereal instead of incorporeal? I don't mind either way.

It looks like a unique SA.

There are quite a few monsters with drowning/suffocating attacks, it'd be easy enough to find one and tweak its mechanics.

Control water SLA?

...or maybe it needs to be Su?

I prefer Su. The description suggests it can create a 10- or 15-foot radius "wash away" effect.

Terms for rejuvenation?

Yes. I agree with Freyar about dropping the "free-ranging ghost" bit.

 

[freyar]

I could go with "drowned maidens' too. Sounds like a rock band.

Ability scores seem fine. What did you want to do about the rejuvenation/turning into a ghost thing?

EDIT: to respond to Cleon a little. Are we now going to make these new monsters with no ties to ghosts or make them variant ghosts? I kind of like the variant ghost idea, but a separate monster works too.

 

[Shade]

I could go with "drowned maidens' too. Sounds like a rock band.

Didn't they open for the Guillotine Girls?

DIT: to respond to Cleon a little. Are we now going to make these new monsters with no ties to ghosts or make them variant ghosts? I kind of like the variant ghost idea, but a separate monster works too.

I'd make 'em ghostlike (ethereal rather than incorporeal all the time), but not a template.

 

[freyar]

Sounds fine to me.

As for the gaze attack, I'd like it to be something extra special vs the murderer, at the very least a +2 or +4 DC. Maybe we can look to some of the many revenant variants for inspiration?

 

[Cleon]

I'd make 'em ghostlike (ethereal rather than incorporeal all the time), but not a template.

That's my preference too, standard monster (albeit ghostly), not a template.

 

[Shade]

That's my preference too, standard monster (albeit ghostly), not a template.

In that case, how's the Homebrews entry looking?

 

[freyar]

It's a good start. Where are we on the "water bound" business?

 

[Cleon]

In that case, how's the Homebrews entry looking?

I'd cut the fly speed for a start. If they're bound to water, shouldn't they have Swim?

Also, didn't they have some kind of "Make Waves" ability?