Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Cleon]

Can't believe I'm so far behind on these posts. Taking a vacation this week, too, and I'm not sure if that will speed me up or slow me down.

Anyway, I think I was forgetting about prereqs and thinking it could start blackguard after ranger 2/paladin 3, but clearly that's not right.

Anyway, as you suggest, the first 2 levels will be ranger, then I'll choose skills that are in both the paladin and blackguard skill lists just to avoid confusion. Anyway, I will work on that stat block but might try to catch up on other posts first, not sure.

It'd produce better results using the Ranger SPs mostly on Ranger-Only skills.

There's not that much overlap - the two classes only share the skills of Craft, Handle Animal, Heal, Profession and Ride, most of which are of little use for dragon-killing.

 

[freyar]

OK, I am putting this on my to-do list!

 

[Cleon]

OK, I am putting this on my to-do list!

I'll be waiting with suitably bated breath.

 

[freyar]

Sample added.

I wanted to get back to posting other threads, plus I thought it would be good to get your input on the ranger's favored enemy (doesn't stack with the dragon slayer's, so we might as well choose something non-dragon) and the selection of special abilities. Let me know if you spot any mistakes, also.

 

[Cleon]

Sample added.

The link didn't work for me.

Which is weird, since your previous post number links to the Undead Dragon Slayer still work fine.

e.g.:

Excellent! Updated.

works fine.

But when I try the link in post #1544 I get "No Thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator]".

 

[Cleon]

I wanted to get back to posting other threads, plus I thought it would be good to get your input on the ranger's favored enemy (doesn't stack with the dragon slayer's, so we might as well choose something non-dragon) and the selection of special abilities. Let me know if you spot any mistakes, also.

Let's see...

The ability scores check out, assuming you put all its level-based gains in Charisma.

The BAB, Grapple, SPs and feats check out.

We don't normally capitalize the abilities in the Special Attack and Special Defenses lines.

The special attacks line is missing Anti-Dragon Casting and Weapon Throwing.

The special qualities line has a "Deark Blessing" typo and its Spell Resistance should be 27 (as it has a Challenge Rating of 14).

The Fort and Will saves are wonky, but the Ref save checks out.

Fort Save = +3 (ranger), +3 (ex-paladin), +6 (blackguard), +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 3+3+6+6 = +18!

Ref Save = +3 (ranger), +1 (ex-paladin), +2 (blackguard), +1 Dex bonus, +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 3+1+2+1+6 = +13! (+14 vs dragons)

Will Save = +0 (ranger), +1 (ex-paladin), +2 (blackguard), +2 Wis bonus, +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 0+1+2+2+6 = +11!

 

[Cleon]

Just noticed we are missing Environment from the template.

The original had "Any (Io's Island)", so how about "Environment: Any, usually same as base creature" like the SRD Skeleton?

For the sample creature, our template give it:

Environment: Any, usually same as base creature
Organization: Solitary, hunt (2-4), company (1-4 plus 1-8 skeleton warriors), flight (1-4 plus 1 dracolich), or squadron (2-4 plus 1 dracolich and 2-12 skeleton warriors and 1-6 young adult red dragon skeletons or zombie wyverns)
Challenge Rating: 14
Treasure: Gear
Alignment: Any evil

Hmm, I don't like the "gear" in treasure. How about we change the template's wording to "None (except for equipment)."

Treasure: None (except for equipment)

 

[Cleon]

Regarding the optional special abilities, I think Magical Beast is a good pick for the Favored Enemy since there are a number of part-dragon creatures that have that type, such as the Chimera.

We need to choose a Fiendish Servant. A heavy warhorse would seem to make the most sense.

We've also got six additional undead dragon slayer special abilities to pick, one of which can be Improved. I feel it might be better to decide on its weapon preference and feats before choosing those.

 

[freyar]

But when I try the link in post #1544 I get "No Thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator]".

I had a typo in the post number, which I've fixed up.

We don't normally capitalize the abilities in the Special Attack and Special Defenses lines.

The special attacks line is missing Anti-Dragon Casting and Weapon Throwing.

The special qualities line has a "Deark Blessing" typo and its Spell Resistance should be 27 (as it has a Challenge Rating of 14).

The Fort and Will saves are wonky, but the Ref save checks out.

Fort Save = +3 (ranger), +3 (ex-paladin), +6 (blackguard), +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 3+3+6+6 = +18!

Ref Save = +3 (ranger), +1 (ex-paladin), +2 (blackguard), +1 Dex bonus, +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 3+1+2+1+6 = +13! (+14 vs dragons)

Will Save = +0 (ranger), +1 (ex-paladin), +2 (blackguard), +2 Wis bonus, +6 Cha bonus (dark blessing) = 0+1+2+2+6 = +11!

That's all fixed. Do we put the +14 vs dragons on the saves line? I can't recall the precedent. I don't know what happened with the save numbers.

Just noticed we are missing Environment from the template.

The original had "Any (Io's Island)", so how about "Environment: Any, usually same as base creature" like the SRD Skeleton?

For the sample creature, our template give it:

Environment: Any, usually same as base creature
Organization: Solitary, hunt (2-4), company (1-4 plus 1-8 skeleton warriors), flight (1-4 plus 1 dracolich), or squadron (2-4 plus 1 dracolich and 2-12 skeleton warriors and 1-6 young adult red dragon skeletons or zombie wyverns)
Challenge Rating: 14
Treasure: Gear
Alignment: Any evil

Hmm, I don't like the "gear" in treasure. How about we change the template's wording to "None (except for equipment)."

Treasure: None (except for equipment)

Regarding the optional special abilities, I think Magical Beast is a good pick for the Favored Enemy since there are a number of part-dragon creatures that have that type, such as the Chimera.

We need to choose a Fiendish Servant. A heavy warhorse would seem to make the most sense.

We've also got six additional undead dragon slayer special abilities to pick, one of which can be Improved. I feel it might be better to decide on its weapon preference and feats before choosing those.

Agreed to all that. Any ideas on the weapons, etc?

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

That's all fixed. Do we put the +14 vs dragons on the saves line? I can't recall the precedent. I don't know what happened with the save numbers.

Well if we came up with a hard-and-fast rule no one told me, I've just been going for "adding special save adjustments were it seems to make sense".

Hmm, considering how many specifically anti-dragon abilities it has (surprise surprise!) it'd seem easier to have a separate "Anti-Dragon Stat Block" to use when its facing a Draconic opponent with all the adjustments factored in.

Agreed to all that. Any ideas on the weapons, etc?

You went for the two-weapon fighting option, so how about a pair of kukri, longswords, or scimitars (with Improved Critical, obviously) and give it Bind Wings, Dazzling Display, Enhanced Breath Evasion, True Strike, and Smite Dragon, plus one more for its "Improved Additional" power. Maybe Improved Dazzling Display or Improved Weapon Throwing?