Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Cleon
Legend
I'd rather keep the (B) and give it Alertness as its feat, with 2 ranks apiece in Listen & Spot.
Cleon
Legend
That's a pretty wide range, the longest is 4 times longer than the shortest.
Anyhow, they're described as barracuda-like in shape. Barracudas are pretty slim. A record size barracuda is ~6 feet long and 100 pounds, which translates to 4 pounds for a 2 foot long fish.
According to this paper, a species of small barracuda from 15-45 cm long (6" to 18") weighs 50-450 grams (2 oz to 1 pound). That's Diminutive sized in 3E terms.
So, how about assuming the 6" ones are immature or undernourished individuals and narrow the "typical" length range to 1-2 feet, then we can use the 1 lb weight or a cubit-length barracuda and the 4 lb weight of the "scaled down" record barracuda as the limits?
So, I propose:
Adult iridescent plecos can be as little as 6 inches long, but most range from 1 to 2 feet long and weigh between 1 and 4 pounds.
Cleon
Legend
They look done.
There's a typo in the first paragraph of flavour text - "thsee" instead of "these" - and their touch AC should be 13 not 12, but once that's fixed I'm happy moving on to the Wattley.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Fixed the plecos, and here's the wattley...
Fish, Subterranean, Wattley
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underground pools, streams, and rivers
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: School
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Semi- (2-4)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 10-40
ARMOR CLASS: 8
MOVEMENT: Sw 18
HIT DICE: 1
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1+paralysis
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1d2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralysis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: T (6”-1’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11)
XP VALUE: 35
Perhaps the most beautiful of the subterranean fish, wattleys are oval-shaped, looking like near-circles with sharp, tiny teeth and lacy fins. The fish are from one to three inches thick. Brilliant stripes cover their bodies, and have caused sages to believe there are several varieties of wattleys. Green-, blue-, and brown-striped fish have been caught, and rare solid blue and green wattleys have been seen.
These are clearly the most intelligent of the subterranean fish. In schools led by a single fish, usually the largest and oldest (delivering 14 points of biting damage because of its size), they congregate in groups of 10 to 40 where they will be safer from predators. At night, schools come together in larger groups for even ereater protection, sometimes numbering as many as 300 fish altogether.
Wattleys are voracious, consuming at least their weight in food every three days. The bite of a wattle contains a paralytic venom. All creatures of 2 Hit Dice or fewer are automatically paralyzed if bitten by one of these fish. Creatures of greater Hit Dice must make a successful saving throw vs. poison or fall unconscious for 3d6 rounds, minus a number of rounds equal to their Hit Dice. A saving throw must be made for each bite. An entire school hunts, using their paralytic bites to bring down large prey so all members can feed.
Unsuspecting adventurers wading through underground rivers and streams have found themselves floating helpless in the water after a single bite from these fish. Creatures not able to breathe water often drown before the paralysis wears off. Wattleys mate for life, and each pair produces 10-100 eggs every three months, with 10d4 surviving to reach maturity .
Despite the danger, wattleys are hunted by humans and demihumans traveling underground. These hunters throw small animals and fresh meat into water inhabited by the fii. When the fish eat and become sated, the fishermen wade into the water and net as many fish as possible before they flee. The flesh of wattleys is delicious, and their organs, properly prepared, can be used in the creation of paralytic poisons and salves. In addition, their scales are dsed to decorate clothing and jewelry. Live wattleys can be sold for 2-12 gp apiece (depending on size and coloration) to wealthy surface dwellers who stock the fish in ponds and indoor tanks. In captivity, wattleys live 2-4 years, opposed to 15 years in their normal habitat. Wattley eggs are delicacies, commanding as much as 1,600 gp per pound (roughly 800 eggs).
Wattleys’ major predators include drow and duergar (who use the fish as a source of food and uoison), and lemon fish, which prey upon the smaller school;. The fish are also prized because of the treasure sometimes found inside. ‘The wattlevs are drawn to shiny objects, and larger specimens can swallow pearls, small gems, and other tiny valuables. The objects become lodged inside the fish, and the fish must be gutted to retrieve any valuables. Only one in 20 fish (1 on ld20 roll) has swallowed some small thing of value (DMs choice).
Originally appeared in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two version.
Swarm?
Fish, Subterranean, Wattley
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underground pools, streams, and rivers
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: School
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Semi- (2-4)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 10-40
ARMOR CLASS: 8
MOVEMENT: Sw 18
HIT DICE: 1
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1+paralysis
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1d2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralysis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: T (6”-1’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11)
XP VALUE: 35
Perhaps the most beautiful of the subterranean fish, wattleys are oval-shaped, looking like near-circles with sharp, tiny teeth and lacy fins. The fish are from one to three inches thick. Brilliant stripes cover their bodies, and have caused sages to believe there are several varieties of wattleys. Green-, blue-, and brown-striped fish have been caught, and rare solid blue and green wattleys have been seen.
These are clearly the most intelligent of the subterranean fish. In schools led by a single fish, usually the largest and oldest (delivering 14 points of biting damage because of its size), they congregate in groups of 10 to 40 where they will be safer from predators. At night, schools come together in larger groups for even ereater protection, sometimes numbering as many as 300 fish altogether.
Wattleys are voracious, consuming at least their weight in food every three days. The bite of a wattle contains a paralytic venom. All creatures of 2 Hit Dice or fewer are automatically paralyzed if bitten by one of these fish. Creatures of greater Hit Dice must make a successful saving throw vs. poison or fall unconscious for 3d6 rounds, minus a number of rounds equal to their Hit Dice. A saving throw must be made for each bite. An entire school hunts, using their paralytic bites to bring down large prey so all members can feed.
Unsuspecting adventurers wading through underground rivers and streams have found themselves floating helpless in the water after a single bite from these fish. Creatures not able to breathe water often drown before the paralysis wears off. Wattleys mate for life, and each pair produces 10-100 eggs every three months, with 10d4 surviving to reach maturity .
Despite the danger, wattleys are hunted by humans and demihumans traveling underground. These hunters throw small animals and fresh meat into water inhabited by the fii. When the fish eat and become sated, the fishermen wade into the water and net as many fish as possible before they flee. The flesh of wattleys is delicious, and their organs, properly prepared, can be used in the creation of paralytic poisons and salves. In addition, their scales are dsed to decorate clothing and jewelry. Live wattleys can be sold for 2-12 gp apiece (depending on size and coloration) to wealthy surface dwellers who stock the fish in ponds and indoor tanks. In captivity, wattleys live 2-4 years, opposed to 15 years in their normal habitat. Wattley eggs are delicacies, commanding as much as 1,600 gp per pound (roughly 800 eggs).
Wattleys’ major predators include drow and duergar (who use the fish as a source of food and uoison), and lemon fish, which prey upon the smaller school;. The fish are also prized because of the treasure sometimes found inside. ‘The wattlevs are drawn to shiny objects, and larger specimens can swallow pearls, small gems, and other tiny valuables. The objects become lodged inside the fish, and the fish must be gutted to retrieve any valuables. Only one in 20 fish (1 on ld20 roll) has swallowed some small thing of value (DMs choice).
Originally appeared in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two version.
Swarm?
Cleon
Legend
Yes, Swarm makes sense. I'd like to stat up an individual first, though.
I wondered about making them Diminutive, since they're half the length of an Irridescent Plesco. However, Wattley's are practically circular instead of being long barracuda-shaped fish like the Plesco so it makes more sense keeping them Tiny.
Take a Plesco, change it to a Magical Beast (since Wattley's are Semi-Intelligent), raise swim speed to 40 ft., add 2 To Dexterity and Intelligence, increase bite to 1d4 and change its disease to a Ghast's paralysis? Maybe increase the Advancement to 2-3 HD (Small)?
That ought to do it:
Fish, Subterranean, Wattley
Tiny Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 1d10 (5 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: Swim 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-10
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4-3 plus paralysis)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4-3 plus paralysis)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Paralysis
Special Qualities: Scent, superior low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities: Str 4, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +9
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Any underground aquatic
Organization: Solitary, ??? (2-20), or school (10-100) or swarm or ??? (2-? swarms)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: —
Cleon
Legend
Hmm...
Organization: Solitary, class (2-20), school (10-100), night college (1-3 swarms) or university (2-8 swarms)
1d3 rounds paralysis for an individual, 1d4+1 rounds for a swarm?
