Converting monsters from the second edition Monstrous Compendiums
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BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
Abilities: Str 32, Dex 9, Con 17, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 18 ?
i expect the physical stats will change when in humanoid form.
"It can appear as a human, tortle, lupin, etc., acting the role of a recluse happy to have visitors."
"While in humanoid form, the sea hermit possesses the natural AC of that form. If attacked, the creature will shapechange back to its natural state during the first round of combat."
"The sea hermit's big advantage is its shapechanging ability. This ability functions like the 9th-level wizard spell shapechange, except that it is a natural ability. The sea hermit can imitate only intelligent creatures which it has studied.(The few sages who know of the sea hermit and araneas have tried to find a link between their abilities. This has been unsuccessful because the sea hermit's ability is far more advanced, as it can quickly assume the form of any intelligent creature, not just a single humanoid.) It requires one round to change shape, after which the creature possesses full natural, nonmagical abilities."
MCA4:
"The sea hermit's big advantage is its shapechanging ability. This ability functions like the 9th-level wizard spell shapechange, except that it is a natural ability. The sea hermit can imitate only intelligent creatures that it has studied. It requires one round to change shape, after which the sea hermit possesses full the natural, nonmagical abilities of the form assumed."
i expect the physical stats will change when in humanoid form.
"It can appear as a human, tortle, lupin, etc., acting the role of a recluse happy to have visitors."
"While in humanoid form, the sea hermit possesses the natural AC of that form. If attacked, the creature will shapechange back to its natural state during the first round of combat."
"The sea hermit's big advantage is its shapechanging ability. This ability functions like the 9th-level wizard spell shapechange, except that it is a natural ability. The sea hermit can imitate only intelligent creatures which it has studied.(The few sages who know of the sea hermit and araneas have tried to find a link between their abilities. This has been unsuccessful because the sea hermit's ability is far more advanced, as it can quickly assume the form of any intelligent creature, not just a single humanoid.) It requires one round to change shape, after which the creature possesses full natural, nonmagical abilities."
MCA4:
"The sea hermit's big advantage is its shapechanging ability. This ability functions like the 9th-level wizard spell shapechange, except that it is a natural ability. The sea hermit can imitate only intelligent creatures that it has studied. It requires one round to change shape, after which the sea hermit possesses full the natural, nonmagical abilities of the form assumed."
Shade
Monster Junkie
The scores look good to me.
The ability sounds like change shape. Here's how the doppelganger's looks...
Change Shape (Su): A doppelganger can assume the shape of any Small or Medium humanoid. In humanoid form, the doppelganger loses its natural attacks. A doppelganger can remain in its humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a doppelganger reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability reveals its natural form.
Do we want to limit it to humanoids, or expand it out to include other creatures?
The ability sounds like change shape. Here's how the doppelganger's looks...
Change Shape (Su): A doppelganger can assume the shape of any Small or Medium humanoid. In humanoid form, the doppelganger loses its natural attacks. A doppelganger can remain in its humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a doppelganger reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability reveals its natural form.
Do we want to limit it to humanoids, or expand it out to include other creatures?
Shade
Monster Junkie
Like so?
Change Shape (Su): A sea hermit can assume the shape of any humanoid or monstrous humanoid. In humanoid or monstrous humanoid form, the sea hermit loses its natural attacks. A sea hermit can remain in its humanoid or monstrous humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a sea hermit reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability reveals its natural form.
Change Shape (Su): A sea hermit can assume the shape of any humanoid or monstrous humanoid. In humanoid or monstrous humanoid form, the sea hermit loses its natural attacks. A sea hermit can remain in its humanoid or monstrous humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a sea hermit reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability reveals its natural form.
GrayLinnorm
Explorer
The description says "any intelligent creature", not any humanoid. It says that the sea hermit's shapechanging ability is far more advanced than that of an aranea, which can only take humanoid form.
Shade
Monster Junkie
I don't think alternate form would work (emphasis mine):
Alternate Form (Su): A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume one or more specific alternate forms. This ability works much like the polymorph spell, except that the creature is limited to the forms specified, and does not regain any hit points for changing its form. Assuming an alternate form results in the following changes to the creature.
However, we could use the third option from the aranea, modified as necessary to account for the information GrayLinnorm posted:
Change Form (Su): An aranea's natural form is that of a Medium monstrous spider. It can assume two other forms. The first is a unique Small or Medium humanoid; an aranea in its humanoid form always assumes the same appearance and traits much as a lycanthrope would. In humanoid form, an aranea cannot use its bite attack, webs, or poison.
The second form is a Medium spider-humanoid hybrid. In hybrid form, an aranea looks like a Medium humanoid at first glance, but a DC 18 Spot check reveals the creature's fangs and spinnerets. The aranea retains its bite attack, webs, and poison in this form, and can also wield weapons or wear armor. When in hybrid form, an aranea's speed is 30 feet (6 squares).
An aranea remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does an aranea revert to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell, however, reveals its natural form if it is in humanoid or hybrid form.
Alternate Form (Su): A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume one or more specific alternate forms. This ability works much like the polymorph spell, except that the creature is limited to the forms specified, and does not regain any hit points for changing its form. Assuming an alternate form results in the following changes to the creature.
However, we could use the third option from the aranea, modified as necessary to account for the information GrayLinnorm posted:
Change Form (Su): An aranea's natural form is that of a Medium monstrous spider. It can assume two other forms. The first is a unique Small or Medium humanoid; an aranea in its humanoid form always assumes the same appearance and traits much as a lycanthrope would. In humanoid form, an aranea cannot use its bite attack, webs, or poison.
The second form is a Medium spider-humanoid hybrid. In hybrid form, an aranea looks like a Medium humanoid at first glance, but a DC 18 Spot check reveals the creature's fangs and spinnerets. The aranea retains its bite attack, webs, and poison in this form, and can also wield weapons or wear armor. When in hybrid form, an aranea's speed is 30 feet (6 squares).
An aranea remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does an aranea revert to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell, however, reveals its natural form if it is in humanoid or hybrid form.
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