Cleon
Legend
Yup to both.
Why does the tail attack not have the -5 attack penalty for being secondary?
Feats next?
Blind-Fight seems applicable.
Weapon Focus (bite) or Ability Focus (spines or stun cloud) ?
Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Yup to both.
Why does the tail attack not have the -5 attack penalty for being secondary?
Feats next?
Blind-Fight seems applicable.
Weapon Focus (bite) or Ability Focus (spines or stun cloud) ?
Cleon
Legend
That'll do. The original says solitary lemon fish tend to be bigger than ones that hunt in packs, so we'd better mention that in the background info.
They've got decent Spell Resistance, so I'd lean toward CR3. Most PCs will need to jump into the water and fight them mano-a-pisco.
That's too big. They're about a foot long per Hit Dice, remember, so should start out as 4-footers. A 4 foot Great White Shark would weigh ~60 pounds, but Lemon Fish should be slimmer since they're Small size.
30-60 pounds weight to start with?
A typical lemon fish is 4 to 5 feet long and weighs between 30 and 60 pounds, but these fish can reach 16 feet in length and a ton in weight. Lemon fish are approximately a foot long for each hit dice they possess.
Cleon
Legend
The first paragraph of the tactics looks like it belongs in the flavour text, and I think we can trim the flavour text down a bit.
I'd rather cut the "nearly man-sized" from the description, since it might be a large solitary fish (and the "two-foot spike" might be better changed too).
How's this?
A black-tipped dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water, followed by a tail covered in yellow and black barbs, terminating in a long spike. The rest of the fish is covered in bright yellow scales that gleam like gold. Its eyes resemble black saucers.
A lemon fish is a carnivorous, subterranean fish found in bodies of fresh water where luminous lichen or other sources approximate natural lighting. It gets its name from its bright yellow scales. Observing a lemon fish through water is reminiscent of a living gold piece.
While not as bloodthirsty as piranha, these fish are vicious predators who enjoy the taste of flesh. A hungry lemon fish will attack prey ranging from as small as a rat to even larger than themselves. These fish are docile and nearly harmless if they have fed recently, but they must eat a large amount to provide a good meal. The strongest fish feed more often, and therefore grow to become stronger still and vastly more dangerous. Lemon fish are mostly solitary. Large lemon fish always hunt alone, but the smaller ones sometimes hunt in packs, although never more than three are found together.
Although lemon fish flesh is tough and generally inedible, its organs are a prized delicacy among duergar and drow. Lemon fish spawn up to four times a year, yielding 100-600 eggs each time. Only ten out of 100 young survive to reach adulthood. The eggs of the lemon fish are edible and command up to 400 gp per pound (roughly 600 eggs).
A typical lemon fish is 4 to 5 feet long and weighs between 30 and 60 pounds, but these fish can reach 16 feet in length and a ton in weight. Lemon fish are approximately a foot long for each hit dice they possess.
COMBAT
Lemon fish strike with their jaws and spine-covered tails. If injured, a lemon fish may release a cloud of stunning toxins into the surrounding water.
Cleon
Legend
Shade
Monster Junkie
Let's throw another on the fryer!
Fish, Subterranean, Iridescent Plecos
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underground pools, streams, and rivers
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: School
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 10-100
ARMOR CLASS: 9
MOVEMENT: Sw 12
HIT DICE: 1-1
THAC0: 20
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1+disease
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1 hp
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Disease
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: T (6”-2’ long)
MORALE: Elite (13)
XP VALUE: 35
These beautihl fish are shaped similarly to barracudas, their long, tapered bodies covered with shimmering scales; their graceful movement along the bottoms of shallow streams and ponds reminds onlookers of long streams of sparkling diamonds. They are often found in schools of 10 to 100, though some fishermen claim to have spotted larger schools. Their diamondlike scales lure many humans and demihumans into the water to catch the fish, though few of these return.
Iridescent plecos range from 6 inches to 2 feet long and can be quite deadly The fishes’ teeth are little more than a dull bony ridge; the bite of a pleco inflicts no damage, regardless of its size, as it uses its mouth to hold its prey. However, under each pleco’s chin are spiked barbels: whiskerlike tendrils. On a successful bite, the barbels pierce the victim’s skin around the bite, inflicting 1 hit point of damage and injecting a violent venom. Creatures injected with pleco venom save vs. poison with a -4 penalty. Those who are successful suffer no ill effects. Creatures failing the save suffer a debilitating disease that sets in within two hours. An affected character loses 1 point of Strength and Constitution each per day until death (when one of the scores reaches 0). The disease can be cured up to 72 hours after injection; after that time, the damage is irreversible and fatal. Victims with the venom in their system for more than three days literally wither away.
Iridescent plecos are non-aggressive. They attack primarily in self-defense, such as if stepped on or if a creature is trying to catch them. Bottom feeders, the fish scavenge rotting flesh and plants and objects thrown into the water; they do not go after live prey Ofttimes their food is tainted or rotten, making their flesh inedible. Some believe this is also what causes their venom to be so potent and virulent.
Iridescent plecos have few predators. Humans and demihumans have tried to preserve their glistening, gemlike skins to no avail; the lustre leaves the skins upon death, and the fish itself is malodorous. The only profit gained from encountering this fish is its eggs, from which some assassins can prepare a debilitating poison.
Originally appeared in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two version.
Fish, Subterranean, Iridescent Plecos
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underground pools, streams, and rivers
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: School
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 10-100
ARMOR CLASS: 9
MOVEMENT: Sw 12
HIT DICE: 1-1
THAC0: 20
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1+disease
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1 hp
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Disease
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: T (6”-2’ long)
MORALE: Elite (13)
XP VALUE: 35
These beautihl fish are shaped similarly to barracudas, their long, tapered bodies covered with shimmering scales; their graceful movement along the bottoms of shallow streams and ponds reminds onlookers of long streams of sparkling diamonds. They are often found in schools of 10 to 100, though some fishermen claim to have spotted larger schools. Their diamondlike scales lure many humans and demihumans into the water to catch the fish, though few of these return.
Iridescent plecos range from 6 inches to 2 feet long and can be quite deadly The fishes’ teeth are little more than a dull bony ridge; the bite of a pleco inflicts no damage, regardless of its size, as it uses its mouth to hold its prey. However, under each pleco’s chin are spiked barbels: whiskerlike tendrils. On a successful bite, the barbels pierce the victim’s skin around the bite, inflicting 1 hit point of damage and injecting a violent venom. Creatures injected with pleco venom save vs. poison with a -4 penalty. Those who are successful suffer no ill effects. Creatures failing the save suffer a debilitating disease that sets in within two hours. An affected character loses 1 point of Strength and Constitution each per day until death (when one of the scores reaches 0). The disease can be cured up to 72 hours after injection; after that time, the damage is irreversible and fatal. Victims with the venom in their system for more than three days literally wither away.
Iridescent plecos are non-aggressive. They attack primarily in self-defense, such as if stepped on or if a creature is trying to catch them. Bottom feeders, the fish scavenge rotting flesh and plants and objects thrown into the water; they do not go after live prey Ofttimes their food is tainted or rotten, making their flesh inedible. Some believe this is also what causes their venom to be so potent and virulent.
Iridescent plecos have few predators. Humans and demihumans have tried to preserve their glistening, gemlike skins to no avail; the lustre leaves the skins upon death, and the fish itself is malodorous. The only profit gained from encountering this fish is its eggs, from which some assassins can prepare a debilitating poison.
Originally appeared in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two version.
Cleon
Legend
Looks pretty straightforward.
Tiny Animal (Aquatic) that carries a disease.
We should do a Swarm version as well, but I'd stat an individual first.
I'd base the stats on a rat, but give them a higher Charisma 'cause they's so pretty.
Str and Con damage for the disease. I'd give it a racial bonus to its DCs. +4 seems too high, so I'll go for +2 - the swarm version will have a better DC with its disease, due to having more HD.
How's this for a start:
Fish, Subterranean, Iridescent Plecos
Tiny Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: Swim 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-11
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3-3 plus disease)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3-3 plus disease)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Disease
Special Qualities: Superior low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1
Abilities: Str 4, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: All ranks in Spot?, Swim +9
Feats: 1 plus Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Any underground aquatic
Organization: Solitary, outbreak (2-20), school (10-100), swarm, or plague (2-8 swarms)
Challenge Rating: 1/3? [Less tough than a Dire Rat but nastier disease]
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: —
Disease (Ex):
Iridescent fever—bite attack, Fortitude DC 12, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d3 Str and 1d3 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.
Skills: An irrdescent plesco can use its Strength modifier or its Dexterity modifier for Swim checks. A plesco has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
