Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[Cleon]

Please do.

Updating the Working Draft.

 

[Cleon]

Is that level 4 spell "cacaodaemon" or "cocoademon"...?

Cocoa and Cacao are synonyms, so I suppose we could use either. I just found cacaodemon slightly funnier.

The spell Echohawk posted used cocoademon, so I guess I'd better put that in the Draft...

 

[Echohawk]

I had always assumed that "cacao" was the plant and "cocoa" was the stuff made from the... um... seeds? nuts?... parts of the cacao plant. I even have a vague recollection that the word "cocoa" was derived from an accidental misspelling of "cacao", but I may just have dreamed that part.

Does the inclusion of that spell mean that the demon will also need to be converted as part of the emezon entry?

 

[Cleon]

I had always assumed that "cacao" was the plant and "cocoa" was the stuff made from the... um... seeds? nuts?... parts of the cacao plant. I even have a vague recollection that the word "cocoa" was derived from an accidental misspelling of "cacao", but I may just have dreamed that part.

I think it's only a synonym when referring to the tree, its pods and beans, which can be cocoa or cacao, while the ground brown powdery stuff and the hot drink is usually just cocoa.

However, since we've already got a cacodemon spell in AD&D, it just seemed funnier adding an "a" and turning it into fiendish confectionary.

Maybe we should rename it a Chocodemon to resolve the conflict.

Does the inclusion of that spell mean that the demon will also need to be converted as part of the emezon entry?

I'm afraid so...

 

[Shade]

Let's stick with the original spell name and of course we'll convert the creature!

Cocoademon (Conjuration/Summoning)

Level: 4
Range: 1"
Duration: Permanent until dispelled
Area of spell: Special
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 3 hours
Saving Throw: None

Explanation/Description: With this spell, the chef creates a 10" tall demon-like creature made of chocolate, which can obey simple instructions from its creator (such as carrying light objects, stealing a small item, sounding an alarm in case of an unexpected visit, etc.). The cocoademon is of low intelligence and, though loyal to its creator, it likes practical jokes and causing mischief (but hates hot temperatures). It has 1 hp per level of the caster and an armor class of 10. The material component is 3 pounds of chocolate.

A 4th-level summon spell can get a mephit, so I imagine the power level similar to one of them. A mephit is 4' tall, though, and this fellow is only 10" tall, so we'll have to downsize it to Diminutive. I figure its consistency is probably closest to ooze, so I'll downsize an Ooze Mephit and add the usual demonic traits:

Demon, Cocoademon
Diminutive Outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar, Tanar'ri)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 40 ft. (average), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (+4 size, +2 Dex), touch 16, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/-10
Attack: Slam +6 melee (1)
Full Attack: 2 slams +6 melee (1)
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/cold iron or good, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 2, immunity to poison, resistance to fire 10, telepathy 100 ft.
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +3
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15
Skills: 6 at 6 ranks
Feats: 2
Environment: Infinite Layers of the Abyss
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 4–6 HD (Diminutive); 7–9 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: +3 (cohort)


Alternatively, we can make it a cocoadaemon, and give it yugoloth traits:

Cocoadaemon
Diminutive Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar, Yugoloth)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 40 ft. (average), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (+4 size, +2 Dex), touch 16, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/-10
Attack: Slam +6 melee (1)
Full Attack: 2 slams +6 melee (1)
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/good, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to acid and poison, resistance to cold 10, electricity 10, and fire 10, telepathy 100 ft.
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +3
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15
Skills: 6 at 6 ranks
Feats: 2
Environment: Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 4–6 HD (Diminutive); 7–9 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: +3 (cohort)

 

[Cleon]

Let's stick with the original spell name and of course we'll convert the creature!

A 4th-level summon spell can get a mephit, so I imagine the power level similar to one of them. A mephit is 4' tall, though, and this fellow is only 10" tall, so we'll have to downsize it to Diminutive. I figure its consistency is probably closest to ooze, so I'll downsize an Ooze Mephit and add the usual demonic traits:

I was thinking of making it Tiny like an Imp, Quasit, or Homunculus.

Not sure about it being an Outsider.

Since it's literally made out of chocolate, it could be a Construct.

Maybe an Extraplanar one from the "Cacao Dimension"?

That would put it closer to a Homunculus than a Mephit.

 

[Shade]

I'd be OK with increasing it to Tiny.

If we're keeping the name as "-demon" or "-daemon", then I'd like it to be one of those types. However, they could still be constructs, like a retriever.

I'm definitely not fond of the "Cacao Dimension", though!

 

[Echohawk]

Since it's literally made out of chocolate, it could be a Construct.

If we're keeping the name as "-demon" or "-daemon", then I'd like it to be one of those types. However, they could still be constructs, like a retriever.

The material component does strongly suggest a construct!

I'm definitely not fond of the "Cacao Dimension", though!

That's only three planes across from the Semi-Elemental Plane of Ranch Dressing.

 

[Cleon]

The material component does strongly suggest a construct!http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0802.html

So, are we OK with Tiny Construct (Evil, Extraplanar, Yugoloth)?

That's only three planes across from the Semi-Elemental Plane of Ranch Dressing.

They ought to be closer than that, surely they are both sub-planes of the Elemental Plane of Fattening Foods?

 

[Shade]

So, are we OK with Tiny Construct (Evil, Extraplanar, Yugoloth)?

Yes. Applying that along with the homonculus' stats...

Cocoadaemon
Tiny Construct (Evil, Extraplanar, Yugoloth)
Hit Dice: 3d10 (16 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 size), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/–8
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–1)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–1)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Construct traits, damage reduction 5/good, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to acid and poison, resistance to cold 10, electricity 10, and fire 10, telepathy 100 ft.
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +1
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 15, Con —, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: 12
Feats: 2
Environment: Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: x
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 4–6 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: +3 (cohort)