Converting monsters from the second edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Shade]

minimum shminimum. how often do we follow that chart? I’d consider making it more than 10, but not higher than 20.

Go 20. A stone golem is only size Large and has 14 HD. This is a whole freakin' bridge after all.

I see where you’re coming from, but the problem is that the spanner never actually strikes an opponent. I made the suggestion above of a touch attack to initiate a grapple; a successful hold would allow a toss attack. This may not be the best way to do it, but I’m sure we can find one.

OK...hmmm...we'll come up with something.

Also, we probably need to add to the open hole ability that the hole cannot be created along an edge of the creature, otherwise the thorw ability is pointless.

 

[Shade]

I'd also suggest giving them a climb speed (5 or 10 feet), simply to explain how they get into position.

 

[BOZ]

nah, climb skill should do it (they're going to be pretty damn strong)

 

[Shade]

As long as it has a way to get into "bridge position", I'm happy.

What did you think of the HD suggestion?

 

[BOZ]

20? yeah, i'm going to go with that. but despite its size and need for hit points, i don't want to make it epic.

 

[Shade]

Gathering what we've got so far...

Spanner
Colossal Construct
Hit Dice: 20d10+80 (190 hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 10 ft (2 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (-8 size, +X Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+31+Str bonus
Attack: ?
Full Attack: (touch to initiate grapple?)
Space/Reach: 30 ft/20 ft ?
Special Attacks: Freeze (like gargoyles?), open hole, throw
Special Qualities: Camouflage, construct traits, damage reduction (10 or 15)/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, stoneskin, tremorsense 150 ft.
Saves: Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +6
Abilities: Str X, Dex (low but not incredibly low), Con ---, Int 10, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 46 Climb +X, Diplomacy +X, Gather Information +X, Hide -16 (for size), Listen +X
Feats: 7

Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: ?
Alignment: Always (usually?) neutral
Advancement: 21-60 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: ---

Ahead lies a large, single-span stone arch bridge, over 100 feet long and 20 feet wide. It is decorated with rails and posts. Many stains and a thick covering of vines seem to indicated that this bridge is quite old.

Most spanners are 100-200 feet long and 10-30 feet wide, and can weigh more than X tons.

Spanners speak Common and ?.

COMBAT

Open Hole (Su): As a standard action, a spanner may open a hole in itself, up to 20 ft by 20 ft. Any creature in this area must succeed at a DC X Reflex save or fall, suffering falling damage as normal for the height. A hole may not be opened in a space at the edge of the creature; it must have at least a 5 ft. square on every side. Creatures near the edge are subject to its throw ability, however.

Throw (?): ?.

Camouflage (Ex): A creature must make a successful Knowledge (architecture or engineering) check (DC X) to notice that a spanner is anything other than a true bridge. Dwarves may add their stonecunning bonus to this check. An untrained Knowledge check is simply an Intelligence check.

Stoneskin (Sp): Once per day, a spanner can use stoneskin (caster level 8th).

Originally found in Monstrous Compendium MC14 - Fiend Folio Appendix (1992, Tim Beach).

 

[BOZ]

i'm not going to call that "open hole".

and i don't think it should have any visual senses - just listen and tremorsense.

 

[Shade]

i'm not going to call that "open hole".

That's probably a good idea.

and i don't think it should have any visual senses - just listen and tremorsense.

That's fine. I was just listing the construct standards as part of the "working copy".

 

[BOZ]

To simulate the –6 Intelligence check penalty, perhaps we should give the spanner a Disguise and/or Hide skill and add maybe add the bonus to the DC for Camouflage?

I have no idea if this is well-written or not…

Throw (Ex): A spanner that grapples an opponent can attempt to throw it over the edge. If the spanner wins the opposed Strength check, it tosses the opponent into the air, dropping the opponent prone into any square it threatens. This toss deals falling damage as normal for the height, and if the opponent falls into water it may be at risk of drowning.

and:

Create Opening (Su): As a standard action, a spanner may open a hole in itself, up to a 10-foot square. Any creature in this area must succeed at a DC X Reflex save or fall through the hole, suffering falling damage as normal for the height. A hole may not be opened in a space at the edge of the creature; it must have at least a 5-foot square on every side. The hole seals itself up automatically at the end of a round, if there is nothing obstructing the opening.

 

[Shade]

To simulate the –6 Intelligence check penalty, perhaps we should give the spanner a Disguise and/or Hide skill and add maybe add the bonus to the DC for Camouflage?

It'll need a heck of alot of ranks of Hide to overcome its -16 size penalty and low Dex. The Disguise check could work. In fact, here's the way the mimic does something similar:

Mimic Shape (Ex): A mimic can assume the general shape of any object that fills roughly 150 cubic feet (5 feet by 5 feet by 6 feet), such as a massive chest, a stout bed, or a wide door frame. The creature cannot substantially alter its size, though. A mimic’s body is hard and has a rough texture, no matter what appearance it might present. Anyone who examines the mimic can detect the ruse with a successful Spot check opposed by the mimic’s Disguise check. Of course, by this time it is generally far too late.

Skills: A mimic has a +8 racial bonus on Disguise checks.

Throw (Ex): A spanner that grapples an opponent can attempt to throw it over the edge. If the spanner wins the opposed Strength check, it tosses the opponent into the air, dropping the opponent prone into any square it threatens. This toss deals falling damage as normal for the height, and if the opponent falls into water it may be at risk of drowning.

With what will it grapple? Are you going to give it a slam attack?

Create Opening (Su): As a standard action, a spanner may open a hole in itself, up to a 10-foot square. Any creature in this area must succeed at a DC X Reflex save or fall through the hole, suffering falling damage as normal for the height. A hole may not be opened in a space at the edge of the creature; it must have at least a 5-foot square on every side. The hole seals itself up automatically at the end of a round, if there is nothing obstructing the opening.

Nice wording. I like that you added it sealing itself up.