Converting monsters from the second edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Krishnath]

Looking good

 

[Shade]

It is coming along nicely. Here's a few suggestions for what's left.

Organization: Solitary, pair, or squad (3-4)

I think that Improved Initiative and high Dex should cover the +5
initiative bonus in 1st round.

Save DCS: frightful presence (DC 17), minor image (DC 15), charm person (DC 14), contagion (DC 17).

I'd suggest 3/day for the additional spell-like abilities.

Since the gacholoth seems around the same power as a piscoloth, but not as challenging as a yagnoloth (which can do energy drain, among other things), I'd place it at CR 9. Since a piscoloth can be summoned using summon monster VII, I'd suggest the same for the gacholoth. If we go with this, the gacholoth's summon yugoloth ability is the equivalent of a 7th-level spell.

I'd also suggest we add the following line in the Combat section of the description: "A gacholoth can be summoned using a summon monster VII spell."

 

[BOZ]

Save DCS: frightful presence (DC 17), minor image (DC 15), charm person (DC 14), contagion (DC 17).

I'd suggest 3/day for the additional spell-like abilities.

i beleive the question came up as to whether or not to keep all of these spell-like abilities. the list given in the creature's original description is as such:

As with other yugoloths the gacholoth has the following spell-like abilities: alter self, animate dead, cause disease, charm person, improved phantasmal force, produce flame, and gate (50% chance for one gacholoth, 1/day). In addition, gacholoths have the following powers, at 5th-level spell use, usable once per round, at will: darkness 15' radius, feather fall, magic missile, and mirror image.

the first set given there is what all 2E yugoloths had. the second set is what the gacholoth had beyond that. are we keeping everything?

 

[Shade]

Of those that all yugoloths had in 2E (alter self, animate dead, cause disease, charm person, improved phantasmal force, produce flame, and gate), I'd say that the gacholoth should have at the least alter self and charm person (since it is the infiltrator), and cause disease (now contagion) seems a good fit. Gate is covered by the summon yugoloth ability now, it would seem. I'd ditch animate dead. I could go either way on produce flame and improved phantasmal force.

 

[BOZ]

here's what i'll use:

Spell-Like Abilities: At will – alter self, charm person (DC 14), contagion (DC 17), deeper darkness, feather fall, magic missile, minor image (DC 15), mirror image. Caster level 5th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Gacholoths are unaffected by acid, poison and charm spells.

ok, the immunity to acid and poison is an easy one. how about "unaffected by... charm spells"?

 

[Krishnath]

Not needed to change, Deep dragons have Charm immunity. There is nothing ambigious (sp?) about it.

 

[BOZ]

hmm yeah, but with no explanation. how about this:

Charm Immunity (Ex): A gacholoth is immune to charm monster and mass charm monster spells.

 

[Shade]

hmm yeah, but with no explanation. how about this:

Charm Immunity (Ex): A gacholoth is immune to charm monster and mass charm monster spells.

That would work, but if you want to go 3.5, you'll have to say Immunity to Charm. It's all backwards in 3.5.

You could also do it like the Asura in BOED...

Immunities: Asuras are immune to fire, petrification, charms, and compulsions.

but just shorten it to...

Immunities: Gacholoths are immune to charms.

 

[BOZ]

ok, updated and with flavor text! how ya like me now?

 

[Shade]

I'd say he's ready to ruin many an adventurer's day.

How about 600 pounds (more than a vrock, less than a hezrou, all 8 feet tall)?

 

[BOZ]

hmm... if he's 8 feet tall, why did i decide to make him only medium?

 

[the Jester]

High end medium... (looks other way, whistles innocently)

I just wanted to suggest the dharculus next. It's my favorite monster of all.

Also, Boz, do you ever write up advanced versions with the basics? I was thinking, given the neh-thalggu (brain collector) in the ELH, it seems like maybe all we see in the original source is the baby dharculus.

I have to admit, I like the idea meself...

By the way, check out the neh-thalggu in MCA4 and compare it to the one in the ELH. Quite a difference.

 

[Shade]

High end medium... (looks other way, whistles innocently)

Actually, that is a reasonable answer.

Do we want to keep it Medium or bump it up to large?

The dharculus is an excellent suggestion, btw.

 

[BOZ]

hmm, far realm... never quite got that. well, i can always pull it out and see what happens.

are we done with this fellow here then?

 

[Shade]

Ship him off to the Blood War, he's ready.

 

[Krishnath]

He is definetly ready.

Shade: I suggest we keep it medium.

btw, what's a Dharculus?

 

[BOZ]

They’re like ethereal eels that can feed on material plane victims.

 

[Krishnath]

In other words, they're food for Etheral Dragons...

But more ethereal monsters are always nice to have.

 

[Shade]

Anything with ties to the Far Realm is fine with me (from a DM standpoint, that is.)

 

[BOZ]

ok, ok, i'll start that one up in a day or two. let's get to finishing up what we have going on already...