Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Cleon]

Do we need to mention (for the literal-minded DM) that anti-poison treatments don't work once the victim is actually petrified (but that stone to flesh would)?

I don't think that's necessary, but if you want to write out a proposal I'll humour it.

Power Critical sounds fun, actually, but Imp Crit is ok. Either one on the slam.

Sounds like we're going for Improved Critical then.

Updating the Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

How about this?

Petrifying Venom (Su): A stone snake's bite injects a virulent supernatural poison (DC20 Fort save). The initial damage slows the victim for 1d4+1 damage (as the spell), the secondary damage permanently turns the victim to stone. Effects that resist poison, such as the delay poison spell, antitoxin or a dwarf's resistance to poison, will affect a stone snake's petrifying venom as if it were mundane poison. Petrifying venom can be treated with the Heal skill as if it were poison, but with a -5 [?] penalty on the skill check. However, a victim that has already been completely petrified can only be returned to normal by means of a stone to flesh spell or similar magic. The save DC includes a +4 racial bonus.

 

[Cleon]

How about this?

Petrifying Venom (Su): A stone snake's bite injects a virulent supernatural poison (DC20 Fort save). The initial damage slows the victim for 1d4+1 damage (as the spell), the secondary damage permanently turns the victim to stone. Effects that resist poison, such as the delay poison spell, antitoxin or a dwarf's resistance to poison, will affect a stone snake's petrifying venom as if it were mundane poison. Petrifying venom can be treated with the Heal skill as if it were poison, but with a -5 [?] penalty on the skill check. However, a victim that has already been completely petrified can only be returned to normal by means of a stone to flesh spell or similar magic. The save DC includes a +4 racial bonus.

Looks a good start. It's missing the "Constitution-based" bit and the penultimate sentence could have some excess verbiage trimmed.

How's this...

Petrifying Venom (Su): A stone snake's bite injects a virulent supernatural poison (DC20 Fort save). The initial damage slows the victim (as the spell) for 1d4+1 minutes, the secondary damage permanently turns the victim to stone. Effects that resist poison, such as the delay poison spell, antitoxin or a dwarf's resistance to poison, will affect a stone snake's petrifying venom as if it were mundane poison. Petrifying venom can be treated with the Heal skill as if it were poison, but with a -5 [?] penalty on the skill check. A petrified victim can only be returned to normal by a stone to flesh spell or similar magic. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial bonus.

I'm thinking the Heal check DC could be nastier, maybe -7, -8 or even -10?

Hmm, I suppose it'd be nice to let people who'd actually invested in the Heal skill have a moderate chance of success at the snake's likely CR, and it has already got the racial bonus build into the DC.

I'd leave it at -5 for the time being.

 

[Shade]

I think -5 is sufficiently hefty.

 

[Cleon]

I think -5 is sufficiently hefty.

Updating the Working Draft.

That just leaves us with CR and Treasure.

Challenge Rating 6? They're pretty nasty for an 8 Hit Dice monster.

Triple goods (gems only)? The original's quintuple Q is a lot of gemstones.

 

[Shade]

Challenge Rating 6? They're pretty nasty for an 8 Hit Dice monster.

Triple goods (gems only)? The original's quintuple Q is a lot of gemstones.

Agreed to all that.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed to all that.

Updating the Working Draft.

Anything else for the mechanical side of them?

They need a weight. A boa-type snake that length should weigh about 300 pounds, a very thick-bodied pit viper like a Gaboon Viper might weigh 600-800 pounds if enlarged to that size.

Add to that the fact that it's made out of stone and I think we can set the weight to 1200-1500 pounds.

 

[Shade]

They need a weight. A boa-type snake that length should weigh about 300 pounds, a very thick-bodied pit viper like a Gaboon Viper might weigh 600-800 pounds if enlarged to that size.

Add to that the fact that it's made out of stone and I think we can set the weight to 1200-1500 pounds.

That seems perfectly sensible to me.

 

[Cleon]

That seems perfectly sensible to me.

Updating the Working Draft.

That looks like it for the stats. Onwards to the flavour text!

 

[Shade]

This large serpent appears to be covered in granite.

Stone snakes get their name from the hard outer body covering that resembles granite.

A stone snake scavenges mineral matter from subterranean areas with dense crystalline formations. However, it prefers to eat live prey it has petrified with its venom. Like many snakes, it drags prey off to its lair and then slowly swallows it whole, digesting the meal over the course of several days.

A stone snake is unable to digest certain types of gems, ranging in value from zircon and garnet to tanzanite and even diamonds. Such gemstones can often be found among the refuse in a stone snake's lair.

A female stone snake lays 1-6 eggs in the early fall, and then watches over them while the male scavenges for food. The eggs share the coloration of their paretns, and are about 1-1/2 feet long. When the young hatch, they are white in color, slowly developing camouflaging hues over the first six months, at which point they are driven from the nest to survive on their own.

A typical stone snake is 20 to 25 feet long and weighs 1200 to 1500 pounds. Its coloration ranges from eggshell to rosy pink, with striations of mauve to black.