Converting monsters from the second edition Monstrous Compendiums
- Thread starter BOZ
- Start date
- Status
uno momento...
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
OK, I’m assuming that we’re working under the assumption of converting this fellow as an age category 4, or juvenile dragon? Therefore, we would be giving it the same categories as a 2E juvenile flame linnorm.
This means, it is immune to fire (automatic with the subtype, of course). Also, it has heat metal, pyrotechnics, and produce fire (all 3/day). If we wanted to give it more than that (judge accordingly by 3E linnorm standards) we also have: fireball (1/3 rounds) as adult, fire charm and fire trap (3/day) as old, flame strike and wall of fire (2/day) as venerable, and fire seeds and firestorm (1/day) as great wyrm.
Additionally, they would cast spells probably as a 9th-level sorcerer.
For the breath weapons, they would be 8d8+4 or nearest equivalent fire damage. The line of fire is 110-feet long in 2E, and the cloud/cone of ash is 90’ long, 70’ wide, and 40’ deep. Standard dimensions are 120 for line and 60 for cone, which of course are just as good.
From the MM, page 69, Crush damage would be 4d6+12 (or +18 for 1 ½?) and tail sweep 2d6+12 (or +18?). Suggested damage for the other attacks (we can always use the old values instead) would be: bite 4d6+12, claws 2d8+6, tail slap 2d8+6. if these values seem odd compared to the other linnorms, we can alter as need be.
Note that although standard dragons get blindsense 60, FF linnorms get blindsight 120. did the blindsense replace blindsight for standard dragons or is this a thing we can keep?
This means, it is immune to fire (automatic with the subtype, of course). Also, it has heat metal, pyrotechnics, and produce fire (all 3/day). If we wanted to give it more than that (judge accordingly by 3E linnorm standards) we also have: fireball (1/3 rounds) as adult, fire charm and fire trap (3/day) as old, flame strike and wall of fire (2/day) as venerable, and fire seeds and firestorm (1/day) as great wyrm.
Additionally, they would cast spells probably as a 9th-level sorcerer.
For the breath weapons, they would be 8d8+4 or nearest equivalent fire damage. The line of fire is 110-feet long in 2E, and the cloud/cone of ash is 90’ long, 70’ wide, and 40’ deep. Standard dimensions are 120 for line and 60 for cone, which of course are just as good.
From the MM, page 69, Crush damage would be 4d6+12 (or +18 for 1 ½?) and tail sweep 2d6+12 (or +18?). Suggested damage for the other attacks (we can always use the old values instead) would be: bite 4d6+12, claws 2d8+6, tail slap 2d8+6. if these values seem odd compared to the other linnorms, we can alter as need be.
Note that although standard dragons get blindsense 60, FF linnorms get blindsight 120. did the blindsense replace blindsight for standard dragons or is this a thing we can keep?
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
One thing I did note. Gray, dread, and corpse tearer linnorms all had Swim speeds in 2E, but not all of the other linnorms did. Therefore, I’m not assuming the flame would have a Swim speed.
Did some work on the flavor text:
This dragon is wingless, and has ashy, dull gray scales with just the barest hint of an orange shade. Several scaly spines (wrong word) protrude from the tip of its head, casting a slight scarlet glow that resembles a flame.
Flame linnorms are often considered the most beautiful and rare of linnorms. These malicious creatures take great joy in bending others to their will, and amassing treasure. Flame linnorms are loners, and lair in caverns deep within the earth, patrolling their territory zealously. They do not hate other linnorms, but isolate themselves to minimize the risk of theft. Flames keep a constant inventory of their wealth, and especially prize their beloved magic items. They have been known to charm or enslave other creatures just to help them acquire more treasure.
A flame linnorm can eat just about anything, from animals, to trees, or even the very earth they walk on. The most palatable food to a flame linnorm is anything on fire, and this creature has been known to set forest fires just to have a quick snack. A flame linnorm only attacks non-intelligent creatures for food.
COMBAT
A flame linnorm will prefer to attack from above, providing it with a good vantage point and an excellent chance to escape. A flame linnorm will usually attack with spells first, with a focus on defeating its foes without damaging their valuables. It only uses its breath weapons if this tactic fails. The vain flame linnorm prefers not to fight in close combat, as it has no wish to damage its beautiful scales. A flame linnorm’s favorite targets are ships, castles, and bands of adventures as these normally provide it with the best treasure.
And here is the picture from MCA1:
Did some work on the flavor text:
This dragon is wingless, and has ashy, dull gray scales with just the barest hint of an orange shade. Several scaly spines (wrong word) protrude from the tip of its head, casting a slight scarlet glow that resembles a flame.
Flame linnorms are often considered the most beautiful and rare of linnorms. These malicious creatures take great joy in bending others to their will, and amassing treasure. Flame linnorms are loners, and lair in caverns deep within the earth, patrolling their territory zealously. They do not hate other linnorms, but isolate themselves to minimize the risk of theft. Flames keep a constant inventory of their wealth, and especially prize their beloved magic items. They have been known to charm or enslave other creatures just to help them acquire more treasure.
A flame linnorm can eat just about anything, from animals, to trees, or even the very earth they walk on. The most palatable food to a flame linnorm is anything on fire, and this creature has been known to set forest fires just to have a quick snack. A flame linnorm only attacks non-intelligent creatures for food.
COMBAT
A flame linnorm will prefer to attack from above, providing it with a good vantage point and an excellent chance to escape. A flame linnorm will usually attack with spells first, with a focus on defeating its foes without damaging their valuables. It only uses its breath weapons if this tactic fails. The vain flame linnorm prefers not to fight in close combat, as it has no wish to damage its beautiful scales. A flame linnorm’s favorite targets are ships, castles, and bands of adventures as these normally provide it with the best treasure.
And here is the picture from MCA1:
Shade
Monster Junkie
To keep it in line with the others, yes.BOZ said:
If this is the way the other linnorms appear to have been converted, then yes.BOZ said:
With the exception of firestorm, none of those spell-likes seems more powerful than what the other 3E linnorms have.BOZ said:
This seems really low. The 13-HD gray linnorm casts as a 17th-level cleric. The others cast at a minimum of 17th level.BOZ said:
8d8 would be about right compared to the other linnorms.BOZ said:
These values seem fine (compare to Corpse Tearer, another Gargantuan linnorm).BOZ said:
All dragons have blindsense now, unfortunately. :\BOZ said:
The 3.5 Conversion Guide gave the linnorms blindsense instead as well. (BTW, they're in the MM2
).Here's the conversion info for ease of reference:
Linnorm, Corpse Tearer: Dragon; 20 ft./15 ft.; 20/magic; Bluff +35,
Concentration +39, Diplomacy +8, Hide +18, Intimidate +6, Knowledge
(arcana) +34, Listen +38, Search +34, Sense Motive +36, Spellcraft +36,
Spot +38, Swim +21; Alertness, Awesome Blow, Cleave, Enlarge Spell,
Flyby Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Multiattack, Power Attack, Quicken
Spell-Like Ability, Snatch; LA —; Change blindsight to blindsense.
Linnorm, Dread: Dragon; 30 ft./15 ft.; 15/magic; Bluff +28,
Concentration +33, Diplomacy +18, Intimidate +19, Knowledge (arcana)
+25, Listen +31, Search +25, Spellcraft +27, Spot +31, Swim +23;
Alertness, Cleave, Flyby Attack, Multiattack, Power Attack, Quicken
Spell-Like Ability, Snatch; LA —; Change blindsight to blindsense.
Linnorm, Gray: Dragon; 15 ft./10 ft.; 15/magic; Bluff +19,
Concentration +21, Diplomacy +7, Intimidate +5, Knowledge (arcana)
+18, Listen +22, Search +18, Sense Motive +20, Spellcraft +20, Spot
+22, Swim +15; Alertness, Flyby Attack, Multiattack, Power Attack,
Snatch; LA —; Change blindsight to blindsense.
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
Looking it over, and the other linnorms seem to have been given all the spell-likes regardless of age categories. We may not do this for some of the lower-HD types though. This would mean a flame has:
Spell-Like Abilities: (once every three rounds?) – fireball; 3/day –fire trap, heat metal, pyrotechnics, produce flame; 2/day – flame strike, wall of fire; 1/day – fire seeds, fire storm.
What level of sorc do you think they should be casting at?
Breath Weapon: 8d8 straight, or any bonus damage?
Spell-Like Abilities: (once every three rounds?) – fireball; 3/day –fire trap, heat metal, pyrotechnics, produce flame; 2/day – flame strike, wall of fire; 1/day – fire seeds, fire storm.
What level of sorc do you think they should be casting at?
Breath Weapon: 8d8 straight, or any bonus damage?
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
this is also how i want to work spells for crius:
Spells: A flame linnorm can cast arcane spells as an 18th-level sorcerer (6/8/7/7/7/7/6/6/5/3; save DC 15 + spell level). A flame linnorm typically has access to the following spells:
0 – 9;
1st – 5;
2nd – 5;
3rd – 4;
4th – 4;
5th – 4;
6th – 3;
7th – 3;
8th – 2;
9th – 1.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Spells: A flame linnorm can cast arcane spells as an 18th-level sorcerer (6/8/7/7/7/7/6/6/5/3; save DC 15 + spell level). A flame linnorm typically has access to the following spells:
0 – 9;
1st – 5;
2nd – 5;
3rd – 4;
4th – 4;
5th – 4;
6th – 3;
7th – 3;
8th – 2;
9th – 1.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
- Status
Similar Threads
