Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Cleon
Legend
Looks OK. Time for me to work on my Cleon Special!
EDIT: And the Cleon Special is finished!
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
Coral Beast Cleon Special
Coral Beast
Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (22 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), climb 10 ft., swim 10 ft.
Armor Class: 12 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+10
Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+6)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Coral-grinding bite, spiny defense
Special Qualities: Coral tube, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, tremorsense 60 ft., tubular speed, verminous beast
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 1, Wis 9, Cha 5
Skills: Climb +12, Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +12
Feats: Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder (B), Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary, cluster (2-12) or colony (10-100)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: 1/10 coins; 50% goods; 50% items
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Large); 7-9 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
A long, black, slug-like snake-beast darts out of a nearby coral tube. A gaping mouthful of rough, bony plates leads the creature’s lunge.
Coral beasts are predatory animals that live within tubes of coral they secrete themselves. While each animal lairs within its own coral tube, the tubes of a colony of coral beasts interconnect to form a giant reef. Such tube complexes are a maze of passages, which open into chambers where many coral beasts can attack intruders simultaneously from all sides. Abandoned coral tubes rarely remain uninhabited for long. Many marine creatures find such tubes a perfect home.
Coral beasts have a slug-like foot that extends around their entire body. When crawling across a normal surface, such as the sea floor, they can only propel themselves with the underside of their body. When within their coral tubes (or a similar smooth tunnel that snugly fits around their body), these animals can use their whole body to push themselves along, resulting in an impressive crawling speed for a mollusc-like animal.
Coral beasts eat anything they can catch, but allow some types of lampreys and eels to live among them and feed upon their scraps.
The body of a typical coral beast is 18 inches in diameter and 14 feet in length, weighing about 500 pounds.
COMBAT
Coral beasts lie in wait within their protective coral tubes. When prey approaches the coral reef, the animals dart out to their full length to attack. These beasts occasionally swim out of their tubes to attack nearby prey or passing boats, but this is rare.
Coral beasts retreat into the depths of their tube complex if threatened. Anyone foolish enough to pursue a coral beast into interior of their reef will be attacked from all sides by the entire colony.
Coral Tube (Ex): Coral beasts secrete tubes of coral to live inside. The tube is pearly smooth inside, but covered with razor-sharp ridges on the outside. When fighting from inside a tube, a coral beast gains cover (+4 to AC and +2 to Reflex saves) plus a +4 circumstance bonus to its natural armor bonus, for a total bonus to Armor Class of +8. However, the coral beast does not gain this cover bonus during an attack action (for example, if its attack is interrupted by an Attack of Opportunity). In addition, the razor-sharp exterior gives the beast a spiny defense (see below). A coral beast can withdraw entirely inside a coral tube to gain the benefits of full cover.
Coral tubes have hardness 7 and 50 hit points per 5 ft. section. A coral beast fighting from within a coral tube has the following statistics:
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 30 ft.
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 cover, +6 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 19
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0
Coral-Grinding Bite (Ex): A coral beast's bite attack ignores hardness of 8 or less, but subtracts the full hardness value when damaging objects with hardness greater than 8.
Spiny Defense (Ex): Any creature outside a coral tube that attacks a coral beast inside the tube (or the tube itself) must succeed at a DC 12 Reflex save or take 1d10 slashing damage from the razor-sharp shards covering the tube. Note that weapons with exceptional reach, such as longspears, do not endanger their users in this way. the save DC is Dexterity-based.
Tubular Speed (Ex): A coral beast can move at a speed of 30 ft. when any part of its body is within a coral tube.
Verminous Beast: (Ex): A coral beast is affected by spells, magical items and other effects as if it were a Vermin rather than an Animal. Unlike true Vermin it is not mindless, so has no immunity to mind-affecting effects.
Skills: A coral beast has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. It can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. A coral beast has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Coral Beast
Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (22 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), climb 10 ft., swim 10 ft.
Armor Class: 12 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+10
Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+6)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Coral-grinding bite, spiny defense
Special Qualities: Coral tube, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, tremorsense 60 ft., tubular speed, verminous beast
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 1, Wis 9, Cha 5
Skills: Climb +12, Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +12
Feats: Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder (B), Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary, cluster (2-12) or colony (10-100)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: 1/10 coins; 50% goods; 50% items
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Large); 7-9 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
A long, black, slug-like snake-beast darts out of a nearby coral tube. A gaping mouthful of rough, bony plates leads the creature’s lunge.
Coral beasts are predatory animals that live within tubes of coral they secrete themselves. While each animal lairs within its own coral tube, the tubes of a colony of coral beasts interconnect to form a giant reef. Such tube complexes are a maze of passages, which open into chambers where many coral beasts can attack intruders simultaneously from all sides. Abandoned coral tubes rarely remain uninhabited for long. Many marine creatures find such tubes a perfect home.
Coral beasts have a slug-like foot that extends around their entire body. When crawling across a normal surface, such as the sea floor, they can only propel themselves with the underside of their body. When within their coral tubes (or a similar smooth tunnel that snugly fits around their body), these animals can use their whole body to push themselves along, resulting in an impressive crawling speed for a mollusc-like animal.
Coral beasts eat anything they can catch, but allow some types of lampreys and eels to live among them and feed upon their scraps.
The body of a typical coral beast is 18 inches in diameter and 14 feet in length, weighing about 500 pounds.
COMBAT
Coral beasts lie in wait within their protective coral tubes. When prey approaches the coral reef, the animals dart out to their full length to attack. These beasts occasionally swim out of their tubes to attack nearby prey or passing boats, but this is rare.
Coral beasts retreat into the depths of their tube complex if threatened. Anyone foolish enough to pursue a coral beast into interior of their reef will be attacked from all sides by the entire colony.
Coral Tube (Ex): Coral beasts secrete tubes of coral to live inside. The tube is pearly smooth inside, but covered with razor-sharp ridges on the outside. When fighting from inside a tube, a coral beast gains cover (+4 to AC and +2 to Reflex saves) plus a +4 circumstance bonus to its natural armor bonus, for a total bonus to Armor Class of +8. However, the coral beast does not gain this cover bonus during an attack action (for example, if its attack is interrupted by an Attack of Opportunity). In addition, the razor-sharp exterior gives the beast a spiny defense (see below). A coral beast can withdraw entirely inside a coral tube to gain the benefits of full cover.
Coral tubes have hardness 7 and 50 hit points per 5 ft. section. A coral beast fighting from within a coral tube has the following statistics:
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 30 ft.
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 cover, +6 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 19
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +0
Coral-Grinding Bite (Ex): A coral beast's bite attack ignores hardness of 8 or less, but subtracts the full hardness value when damaging objects with hardness greater than 8.
Spiny Defense (Ex): Any creature outside a coral tube that attacks a coral beast inside the tube (or the tube itself) must succeed at a DC 12 Reflex save or take 1d10 slashing damage from the razor-sharp shards covering the tube. Note that weapons with exceptional reach, such as longspears, do not endanger their users in this way. the save DC is Dexterity-based.
Tubular Speed (Ex): A coral beast can move at a speed of 30 ft. when any part of its body is within a coral tube.
Verminous Beast: (Ex): A coral beast is affected by spells, magical items and other effects as if it were a Vermin rather than an Animal. Unlike true Vermin it is not mindless, so has no immunity to mind-affecting effects.
Skills: A coral beast has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. It can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. A coral beast has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Here's the next one...
Stone Snake
Climate/Terrain: Subterranean
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Minerals
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Q×5
Alignment: Nil
No. Appearing: 1-2
Armor Class: -2
Movement: 9
Hit Dice: 8
THAC0: 13
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 2-20 or 1-8
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Defenses: Immune to fire, poison; ¼ damage by edged and piercing weapons
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: H (20-25’ long)
Morale: Steady (11)
XP Value: 3,000
The stone snake is similar to its more mundane cousins, except that its body is made up of segments of a stony mineral that resembles granite. It is this hard outer body covering that provides the stone snake with its exceptional Armor Class. A stone snake’s diet consists of mineral substances, but its prefered meal is any creature that it has petrified with its special poison.
A stone snake’s color ranges generally from eggshell to rosy pink, with striations of mauve to black, similar to most colors of granite.
Combat: The stone snake attacks with a lightning-quick jab of its blunt, stony snout, causing 2d10 points of bludgeoning damage. Alternatively, the stone snake can make a bite attack, causing 1d8 points of damage and injecting a virulent poison into its victim, who must make a successful saving throw vs. petrification with a -6 penalty. If the saving throw is failed, the poison takes effect, slowly petrifying the victim over 5 rounds.
Because the stone snake’s body is so hard, it can withstand the blows of most weapons fairly well, hence its low Armor Class. Edged and piercing weapons cause only one-quarter damage to a stone snake.
Habitat/Society: Stone snakes are always found individually or in mated pairs. The female stone snake lays 1-6 eggs in the early fall, and then watches over them while the male scavenges for food for the both of them. The eggs themselves are very similar in color to the parents, and roughly 16 to 18 inches long. When the young hatch, they are white in color, slowly developing camouflaging hues over the first six months, at which point they are driven from the nest to survive on their own. A stone snake yearling is typically 10 to 12 feet long and its poisonous bite is somewhat weaker; the saving throw penalty for these younger specimens is only -2. Stone snakes of this age typically hunt smaller creatures such as giant rats and beetles.
Even though the main diet of a stone snake consists of mineral matter, certain types of gems seem to be undigestable by it, and these are typically found in the lair among the refuse. Gems that are not digested iclude diamonds, garnets, tanzanite, and zircons. Beyond this treasure, any items that would not have remained tucked away on a victim’s body (a dropped weapon or shield) can sometimes be found near a stone snake’s lair.
Ecology: The stone snake consumes mineral matter that it scavenges, usually in subterranean areas with lots of crystalline formations. When a stone snake has petrified a victim, it drags the prey off to its lair for safety and then slowly swallows it whole, digesting the meal over the course of several days, depended on the size of the victim. During this digestion period, the stone snake seems to go into a hibernation stage, so it does not move and is much easier to kill. Stone snake egg yolk is a prized ingredient for the ink used to inscribe the wizard spell stoneskin onto a scroll.
Originally appeared in Dragon Mountain (1993). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One version.
Stone Snake
Climate/Terrain: Subterranean
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Minerals
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Q×5
Alignment: Nil
No. Appearing: 1-2
Armor Class: -2
Movement: 9
Hit Dice: 8
THAC0: 13
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 2-20 or 1-8
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Defenses: Immune to fire, poison; ¼ damage by edged and piercing weapons
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: H (20-25’ long)
Morale: Steady (11)
XP Value: 3,000
The stone snake is similar to its more mundane cousins, except that its body is made up of segments of a stony mineral that resembles granite. It is this hard outer body covering that provides the stone snake with its exceptional Armor Class. A stone snake’s diet consists of mineral substances, but its prefered meal is any creature that it has petrified with its special poison.
A stone snake’s color ranges generally from eggshell to rosy pink, with striations of mauve to black, similar to most colors of granite.
Combat: The stone snake attacks with a lightning-quick jab of its blunt, stony snout, causing 2d10 points of bludgeoning damage. Alternatively, the stone snake can make a bite attack, causing 1d8 points of damage and injecting a virulent poison into its victim, who must make a successful saving throw vs. petrification with a -6 penalty. If the saving throw is failed, the poison takes effect, slowly petrifying the victim over 5 rounds.
Because the stone snake’s body is so hard, it can withstand the blows of most weapons fairly well, hence its low Armor Class. Edged and piercing weapons cause only one-quarter damage to a stone snake.
Habitat/Society: Stone snakes are always found individually or in mated pairs. The female stone snake lays 1-6 eggs in the early fall, and then watches over them while the male scavenges for food for the both of them. The eggs themselves are very similar in color to the parents, and roughly 16 to 18 inches long. When the young hatch, they are white in color, slowly developing camouflaging hues over the first six months, at which point they are driven from the nest to survive on their own. A stone snake yearling is typically 10 to 12 feet long and its poisonous bite is somewhat weaker; the saving throw penalty for these younger specimens is only -2. Stone snakes of this age typically hunt smaller creatures such as giant rats and beetles.
Even though the main diet of a stone snake consists of mineral matter, certain types of gems seem to be undigestable by it, and these are typically found in the lair among the refuse. Gems that are not digested iclude diamonds, garnets, tanzanite, and zircons. Beyond this treasure, any items that would not have remained tucked away on a victim’s body (a dropped weapon or shield) can sometimes be found near a stone snake’s lair.
Ecology: The stone snake consumes mineral matter that it scavenges, usually in subterranean areas with lots of crystalline formations. When a stone snake has petrified a victim, it drags the prey off to its lair for safety and then slowly swallows it whole, digesting the meal over the course of several days, depended on the size of the victim. During this digestion period, the stone snake seems to go into a hibernation stage, so it does not move and is much easier to kill. Stone snake egg yolk is a prized ingredient for the ink used to inscribe the wizard spell stoneskin onto a scroll.
Originally appeared in Dragon Mountain (1993). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One version.
Cleon
Legend
This one looks like it'll be pretty straightforward.
Take a Huge Viper, add a couple of HD, increase its NA, give it DR X/bludgeoning and toss on two immunities.
Magical Beast (Earth), obviously.
I think I'll do a Working Draft.
EDIT: Hold on, it also has a "snout smash" attack. That's a bit different from a standard Viper. I think I'd better give it a Str and Con boost too...
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
Stone Snake Working Draft
Stone Snake
Huge Magical Beast (Earth)
Hit Dice: 8d10+16 (60 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 22 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +12 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+23
Attack: Slam +15 melee (2d10+10) or bite +14 melee (1d8+7 plus petrifying venom)
Full Attack: Slam +15 melee (2d10+10) or bite +14 melee (1d8+7 plus petrifying venom)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Petrifying venom
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., DR X/bludgeoning, immunity to fire, immunity to poison, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +3
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +15, Hide +5, Listen +7, Spot +7
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (slam)?, plus one [Ability Damage (poison)? - that venom is nasty]
Environment: Subterranean
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: ?
Treasure: Double or triple goods (gems only)?
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Huge); 17-24 (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
Description
Background
A typical stone snake is 20 to 25 feet long [make it 40-50' to match the others?] and weighs X [should be heavy?].
COMBAT
Tactics.
A stone snake attacks with a lightning-quick jab of its blunt, stony snout, it adds 1½ times its Strength bonus to the damage of this slam attack.
Petrifying Venom (Su?): Initial damage slows, secondary damage petrification, +4 racial bonus. Does anti-poison magic work against it?
Skills: Stone snakes have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. A stone snake can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. Snakes use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher.
Stone Snake
Huge Magical Beast (Earth)
Hit Dice: 8d10+16 (60 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 22 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +12 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+23
Attack: Slam +15 melee (2d10+10) or bite +14 melee (1d8+7 plus petrifying venom)
Full Attack: Slam +15 melee (2d10+10) or bite +14 melee (1d8+7 plus petrifying venom)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Petrifying venom
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., DR X/bludgeoning, immunity to fire, immunity to poison, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +3
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +15, Hide +5, Listen +7, Spot +7
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (slam)?, plus one [Ability Damage (poison)? - that venom is nasty]
Environment: Subterranean
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: ?
Treasure: Double or triple goods (gems only)?
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Huge); 17-24 (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
Description
Background
A typical stone snake is 20 to 25 feet long [make it 40-50' to match the others?] and weighs X [should be heavy?].
COMBAT
Tactics.
A stone snake attacks with a lightning-quick jab of its blunt, stony snout, it adds 1½ times its Strength bonus to the damage of this slam attack.
Petrifying Venom (Su?): Initial damage slows, secondary damage petrification, +4 racial bonus. Does anti-poison magic work against it?
Skills: Stone snakes have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. A stone snake can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. Snakes use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher.
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
I checked the sources and the version shade posted is from Dragon Mountain, not the MCA1. There aren't any significant differences between the two, so it matters little.
A few words on the working draft. I gave it a Constrictor Snake's Strength, since it does really impressive damage with its snout. I'm thinking the DR should be 10/ or even 15/, since 1/4 damage is quite impressive for AD&D.
You might notice I dropped the standard snake's Swim speed, since presumable this snake sinks like a stone.
I'm not sure about whether to keep the 20-25 ft. length. A Huge Purple Worm would be 40 feet or so, so it seems rather short.
We could either
(1) Reduce its size to Large and keep the length.
(2) Increase the length to something more typical for a Huge serpent.
(3) Keep the length and say stone snakes are atypically massive for snakes, being exceptionally thick bodied like a pit viper and made of granite.
Of those options, I currently prefer (3).
