Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Cleon]

Agreed to all that.

That looks pretty decent. I'm not sure we need the additional DC boost for the second paragraph; the empowered/maximized seems good enough.

No objection to cutting it out.

I like all this except the "virtual XPs". Too much bookkeeping for my tastes. Perhaps an additional one-use spell slot instead?

What level spell slot? It wouldn't feel right to give her a 6th level spell for giving nightmares to a 1st level Commoner.

Alternatively, Mullonga could get a +1 enhancement bonus to casting level for, say, 1 hour per HD of the victim she dream-drains.

Wouldn't that be easier to keep track off?

 

[Shade]

Wouldn't that be easier to keep track off?

Yep. Good suggestion.

 

[freyar]

Regarding frightful casting, I don't mind Cleon's suggestion (with or without the extra +2 DC bonus, though I agree that it might be a bit much), but it gets right back to the problem I had before. That is, what does it mean to cast an area effect spell "upon" a creature with a fear condition? We have her preparing fireball on a regular basis, after all. I just don't like that wording.

Also, the reason I didn't go with the normal night hag's dream haunting with etherealness is that Mullonga currently doesn't have a way to turn ethereal (other than by spells, which would seem limiting here). So how do we want to deal with that?

 

[Shade]

What if we reworded it like so?

Frightful Casting (Su): Mullonga uses fear to strengthen her spells. Whenever a creature with any fear condition (shaken, frightened, or panicked) is within 60 ft. of Mullonga, the DCs of all her spells increase by +1. This bonus stacks with the bonus from Spell Focus and similar feats.

Furthermore, if a creature with a fear condition is targeted by Mullonga, or caught within the area of one of Mullonga's spells, the DC of that spell increases by an additional +1. If the creature is frightened, the spell is also automatically empowered (as per the Empower Spell feat). If the creature is panicked, the spell is automatically maximized (as per the Maximize Spell feat). If more than one creature within the spell's area of effect possesses a fear condition, use the most debilitating condition to determine the effect on Mullonga's spell.

 

[freyar]

That would work for me.

What are we doing re: dream haunting now?

 

[Cleon]

Also, the reason I didn't go with the normal night hag's dream haunting with etherealness is that Mullonga currently doesn't have a way to turn ethereal (other than by spells, which would seem limiting here). So how do we want to deal with that?

Well I'd just give her Plane Shift.

What if we reworded it like so?

Frightful Casting (Su): Mullonga uses fear to strengthen her spells. Whenever a creature with any fear condition (shaken, frightened, or panicked) is within 60 ft. of Mullonga, the DCs of all her spells increase by +1. This bonus stacks with the bonus from Spell Focus and similar feats.

Furthermore, if a creature with a fear condition is targeted by Mullonga, or caught within the area of one of Mullonga's spells, the DC of that spell increases by an additional +1. If the creature is frightened, the spell is also automatically empowered (as per the Empower Spell feat). If the creature is panicked, the spell is automatically maximized (as per the Maximize Spell feat). If more than one creature within the spell's area of effect possesses a fear condition, use the most debilitating condition to determine the effect on Mullonga's spell.

I'm fine with that as-is.

 

[freyar]

I'm not getting the plane shift from her in the original text; doesn't she need the arcane heads to get around (other than through preparing a spell, that is?).

 

[Cleon]

I'm not getting the plane shift from her in the original text; doesn't she need the arcane heads to get around (other than through preparing a spell, that is?).

How about Mullonga's arcane heads plane shift her to the Ethereal?

 

[Shade]

How about Mullonga's arcane heads plane shift her to the Ethereal?

That seems a bit...wrong...to require the use of her minions in order to use one of her signature abilities.

Rather than plane shift, maybe ethereal jaunt?

 

[freyar]

Well, if we're going to say she's some kind of unique night hag, ethereal jaunt is reasonable. It's not in the original monster, but I can be flexible.