Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[freyar]

The red text in the flavor looks fine.

Give it a +6 on the perception skills, if not even more. They're supposed to be super-perceptive.

OK, now we have

A more important ability is indulging magical double vision in their opponents as a play for sympathy: Unless the victim rolls a successful save vs. spell, the attacker begins seeing the combat from the suwyze’s point of view, in a somewhat doctored form. This disoriente lion imposes a -3 penalty upon all attack rolls. Hearing the piteous cries of the suwyze and seeing the magically exaggerated effects of each blow are so eerie that opponents suffer a -1 penalty to damage rolls as well.

First thing to decide: is this automatic for any opponent within a given range (on failed save), or does the suwyze need to do something?

 

[Cleon]

The red text in the flavor looks fine.

Give it a +6 on the perception skills, if not even more. They're supposed to be super-perceptive.

OK, now we have

First thing to decide: is this automatic for any opponent within a given range (on failed save), or does the suwyze need to do something?

It doesn't make it clear, alas. I'm thinking it disorientates any creature hit by the tendril attack - since it says it's "a more important ability" just after it gives the damage a tentacle hit causes.

If it was a ranged supernatural attack, like a harpy's Song or the cause blindness spell, I'd expect hope they would mention that in the description.

 

[Shade]

It strikes me as an aura, but the text is certainly open to interpretation.

 

[freyar]

The damage doesn't list the double vision, so I don't think it affects tendril victims.

I'm inclined to go with an aura also. Maybe it affects only hostile creatures?

 

[Cleon]

The damage doesn't list the double vision, so I don't think it affects tendril victims.

I'm inclined to go with an aura also. Maybe it affects only hostile creatures?

I'm still thinking the "inducing double vision" is supposed to be a property of the tendril attack. It's listed in a paragraph with the melee information about the tendrils, there's that "a more important ability" after the tendril damage.

Furthermore, the stat-block has "Special Attacks: Spells, tendrils".

If the tendrils only did damage, why would they be listed as a Special Attack? If the double-vision was a separate aura attack, shouldn't it be listed as a special attack or special defence?

Oh, and that paragraph also has "Hearing the piteous cries of the suwyze and seeing the magically exaggerated effects of each blow are so eerie that opponents suffer a -1 penalty to damage rolls as well." What is the magical effect caused by a tendril blow if it's not the "double vision"?

 

[Shade]

Oh, and that paragraph also has "Hearing the piteous cries of the suwyze and seeing the magically exaggerated effects of each blow are so eerie that opponents suffer a -1 penalty to damage rolls as well." What is the magical effect caused by a tendril blow if it's not the "double vision"?

I can definitely see support for the melee attack, but still favor an aura/burst.

How about we compromise, and make it both on a hit and as a howl-style "piteous cries" SA?

 

[Cleon]

I can definitely see support for the melee attack, but still favor an aura/burst.

How about we compromise, and make it both on a hit and as a howl-style "piteous cries" SA?

Not sure about giving it has two very different delivery vectors for the same special attack (melee attack and area-effect sonic).

If you want an area-effect version, I'd prefer a pseudo-whirlwind attack approach, i.e. something like "As a standard action, a suwyze can whirl its tendrils around to touch every creature within X feet. Touched creatures must succeed at a DC X Will save or be affected by [sympathetic double vision]."

 

[Shade]

But that doesn't account for the "piteous cries".

Let's get freyar's take.

 

[Cleon]

But that doesn't account for the "piteous cries".

Let's get freyar's take.

We are talking about the "inducing double vision" special attack here, aren't we?

The "piteous cries" (or thrashing victims) looks like a separate special attack to me.

 

[freyar]

I believe the bit about the piteous cries and exaggerated effects from the blow are that the victim, who is trying to attack the suwyze, perceives the damage done to the suwyze and is disoriented enough to pull back on the attack out of sympathy, leading to the damage penalty. That bit doesn't seem to have anything to do with the suwyze attacking the victim.

I do see the point about the special attack line listing "tendrils," but this seems like a purely defensive ability. So I'm not quite sure what the tendrils should have to do with it. The only justification is if they have to touch someone to establish telepathic contact (like a mindmeld), but that's not how telepathy usually works in D&D. I don't know, I find the original monster a bit vague about this. I mean, there are problems either way: if it's an aura, does it affect everyone? if it requires a hit with a tendril, why make a defensive ability weaker like that (and why should it also allow a save)?

And, either way, is the penalty on attacks and damage only on attacks against the suwyze or against everything?