Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[freyar]

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.

The piteous cries are what the victim of the double vision sees. That's clear enough to me. It's the "delivery method" of the double vision that isn't spelled out.

 

[Cleon]

The piteous cries are what the victim of the double vision sees. That's clear enough to me. It's the "delivery method" of the double vision that isn't spelled out.

Reading the description, I'm still preferring a single tendril-hit-delivered special attack. It phrases it as a single ability, and I see no clear support for it being two abilities.

Occam's Razor dictates we should take the less complex option, e.g:

Sympathic Entanglement (Su): Any creature hit by a suwzye's tendril attack must succeed at a DC X Will save or begin seeing the combat from the suwyze's point of view, in a magically exaggerated form of "double vision". The victim takes a -3 penalty to attack rolls and a -1 penalty to damage until the suwyze stops fighting or the victim is killed or knocked unconscious. The entanglement is a mind-affecting glamer. The save DC is Charisma-based.

 

[Shade]

If freyar agrees, I'll reluctantly go along.

 

[Cleon]

If freyar agrees, I'll reluctantly go along.

Guess we'll have to wait for Freyar, then.

 

[freyar]

I can't believe that Cleon used the words "Occam's Razor" in a positive sense! Is that "The World Turned Upside Down" I hear playing?

As for the "delivery method," I still prefer an aura of some type. I agree that the statblock makes it seem like it's part of the tendril, but that's not how the text reads to me. I suppose we could roll a die if necessary.

 

[Shade]

I can't believe that Cleon used the words "Occam's Razor" in a positive sense! Is that "The World Turned Upside Down" I hear playing?

As long as Godwin's Law isn't the next step, I'm not worried.

As for the "delivery method," I still prefer an aura of some type. I agree that the statblock makes it seem like it's part of the tendril, but that's not how the text reads to me. I suppose we could roll a die if necessary.

Well, since you and I both want auras, I'd say that's settled. I'm willing to include the tendril as a second delivery method, though.

 

[Cleon]

I can't believe that Cleon used the words "Occam's Razor" in a positive sense! Is that "The World Turned Upside Down" I hear playing?

Why not, all those additional complexities I add to creatures are entirely necessary, I assure you.

As for the "delivery method," I still prefer an aura of some type. I agree that the statblock makes it seem like it's part of the tendril, but that's not how the text reads to me. I suppose we could roll a die if necessary.

Would you care to point out what in the text supports the notion of it being an aura. There's no mention of a range, area of effect or anything similar.

 

[Cleon]

As long as Godwin's Law isn't the next step, I'm not worried.

So is it alright if I start comparing you to Stalin, then?

Well, since you and I both want auras, I'd say that's settled. I'm willing to include the tendril as a second delivery method, though.

Oh I guess if you want to be wrong, I can't stop you.

Just don't expect me to write up the special attack!

 

[Shade]

So is it alright if I start comparing you to Stalin, then?

I'm more of a shadowy organization behind the despots.

Oh I guess if you want to be wrong, I can't stop you.

If it is wrong, why does it feel sooooo right?

Just don't expect me to write up the special attack!

But you already did! BWAHAHAHA!

Sympathic Entanglement (Su): Any creature within x feet of a suwyze or struck by a suwyze's tendril attack must succeed on a DC X Will save or begin seeing the combat from the suwyze's point of view. This magically exaggerated form of "double vision" imposes a -3 penalty on attack rolls and a -1 penalty on damage rolls until the suwyze stops fighting or the victim is killed or knocked unconscious. This is a mind-affecting glamer effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Should we add "Whether or not the save is successful, an affected creature is immune to the same suwyze's sympathic entanglement for 24 hours."?

 

[Cleon]

I'm more of a shadowy organization behind the despots.

It figures a Shadowy Individual such as yourself would be an eminence gris.

If it is wrong, why does it feel sooooo right?

Sympathic Entanglement (Su): Any creature within x feet of a suwyze or struck by a suwyze's tendril attack must succeed on a DC X Will save or begin seeing the combat from the suwyze's point of view. This magically exaggerated form of "double vision" imposes a -3 penalty on attack rolls and a -1 penalty on damage rolls until the suwyze stops fighting or the victim is killed or knocked unconscious. This is a mind-affecting glamer effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Should we add "Whether or not the save is successful, an affected creature is immune to the same suwyze's sympathic entanglement for 24 hours."?

If you add the successful save bit it would render the tendril attack version unless the aura has a radius smaller than the tendril's Reach, since an attacker would always be exposed to the aura first, so any subsequent tendril hits would exceed the 24 hour limit.

I suppose you could make the aura "save and be immune for 24 hours" and the tendrils "must save with every hit".

Either way, I prefer my own non socialist secret government overlord approved version.