Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[freyar]

Agreed. Swarm damage includes 1d4 Con? Based on the damage of the individual leaves, maybe 1d6 for a typical 6HD swarm. That's assuming 1/4 of the leaves attack each victim, so I could see an argument for 1d4 instead.

 

[Shade]

How's this?

Leaf Swarm (Ex): A singing tree may release all its leaves at once. In this case, the leaves are treated as a swarm, using the statistics below. Damage dealt to the swarm has no effect on the singing tree, nor do effects that target the swarm, and vice versa. While attached to the singing tree, the swarm is not considered a separate creature and cannot be targeted separately from the singing tree.

Leaf Swarm
Diminutive Plant (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 6d8 (27 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Fly 30 ft. (poor)
Armor Class: 18 (+4 size, +4 Dex), touch 18, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/—
Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus blood drain)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus blood drain)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Blood drain, distraction (DC 13)
Special Qualities: Immune to weapon damage, low-light vision, part of a greater whole, plant traits, swarm traits
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +4
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 19, Con 10, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: Hover (B)

Blood Drain (Ex): Any living creature damaged by a leaf swarm also takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage as the swarm drains its blood. This damage repeats every round thereafter unless the creature successfully exits the swarm and spends a full-round action removing leaves from its body.

Part of a Greater Whole (Ex): Since the leaf swarm is an extension of the singing tree itself, the swarm uses the base attack bonus and base saving throw bonuses of the singing tree.

 

[freyar]

Looks pretty good to me.

 

[Shade]

If the tree is killed, individual leaves die in 1d10 rounds.

Should we note that the leaves and swarms continue to attack anything nearby for 1d10 rounds after the singing tree's death?

 

[freyar]

Sure, but only ones that are unattached.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Let's work on the singing...

The singing tree appears to be a normal deciduous tree with uniquely shaped leaves. Each leaf sings with a lovely voice, the hundreds of them blending into a beautiful chorus. If hungry, the tree joins the chorus, adding its own bass line.

When the tree uses its bass line, all mammalian creatures within 100 yards must roll saving throws vs. spell; those who do not succeed feel compelled to stop for a bit and rest in the shade of the tree. When a potential victim rests beneath the tree, several leaves fly off the tree to attack.

In the wild, singing trees grow in secluded places and use their music to lure unintelligent animals. The tree’s leaves vibrate in the wind; combined with their natural magic, this makes a lovely sound. Each leaf has its own “voice,” and the music is indescribably beautiful. When the tree adds its lower tones, the song becomes very attractive and calming.

 

[freyar]

Maybe a weak compulsion from the leaf-singing that attracts any creature in a largish radius (like a harpy, but weaker) and a fascination effect in a smaller radius from the tree singing?

 

[Shade]

That sounds like a good approach.

 

[demiurge1138]

I dunno about fascination. It appears to be a genuine sleep effect--one that isn't broken by taking damage.

 

[freyar]

I dunno about fascination. It appears to be a genuine sleep effect--one that isn't broken by taking damage.

That's true. It's actually a pretty powerful sleep effect since wounding doesn't end it (more like a symbol of sleep than a sleep or deep slumber spell). Want to go that nothing nonmagical can awaken the victim for a set duration or else make it a normal sleep effect but that isn't disturbed by the leaves?