Converting monsters from the second edition Monstrous Compendiums

[Aspect of BOZ]

Excellent.

I do think it’s important to retain the concept that the pod denizens are Medium-size with 20-foot reach. First of all, that puts them in the way to a point where you can’t move through their space (since you can move through the rest of the bloodsipper’s space, after all). Secondly, since they’re stationary while tethered, the DM would need to place them in the bloodsipper’s space for the best strategic advantage. A bloodsipper could only attack very big creatures with all twelve, and it couldn’t attack Medium creatures with all 12 even if they were clustered together (and clustering them together would reduce their general effectiveness anyway). Actually, very big creatures would probably not be able to move around in a bloodsipper’s space unless it’s able to squeeze between the pods.

There’s another advantage of the Attach ability – it is not restricted by size, unlike improved grab. It can bite and attach to creatures of any size, even big ones having a hard time navigating the bloodsipper’s space.

Let’s assume a “half-strength” bloodsipper. See the diagram below: each colored box represents a pod denizen, and the line of the same color is its reach. Some squares can be hit by two or even three bites, while some (mostly those adjacent to the denizens) can only be hit by one. Now that’s a hell of an obstacle course – imagine if there were 12 to deal with!

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

even better, imagine this, with 12 mature pods, how much of a terror this one would be - every square could get hit with at least two pods:

 

[Shade]

Ooh, visual aids!

Yeah, I think it would make for a fun encounter. It reminds me of a scenario in one of the old Gold Box computer games. One of the rooms was overrun by dangerous vegetation, and the layout was similar.

 

[Tzeentch]

I'm still a bit worried about mechanical complexity of these denizens, but the illustrations helped a lot in explaining your intent.

My initial suggestion is to have the two entities separate (the writeup didn't give me that impression but the visual aid and comments do):

* Main plant: This thing has the sensor vine network and attachments for the denizens, plus extra pods it can "hatch" in its area ("reinforcements confirmed" <splrchh>). This thing has no attacks of its own but can augment the denizens and acts as a coordinator.
* Denizens: These are individual creatures that can be located anywhere in the space of the main plant. These have the lash attack, AoO enemies that get close if they are not latched on someone, etc. Either keep the current rule where severing the lash kills the denizen and transfers some damage to the main plant, or they are truly separate and the sundered lash doesnt necessarily kill the denizen and damage is only transfered if the denizen body is killed. (Extrapolating this idea is that the main plant can transfer hp to a denizen and heal it, at max health it regens the lash perhaps - like a video game boss)

I know this really isn't much different from what's being proposed, but there seems to be a lot of extra rules trying to keep the entire critter as one main statblock even with all these "sub-monsters" attached. As a main plant + denizen critters it's still a centerpiece battle (boss with its minions included as a package) and it seems to be a little less reliant on special rules (I'm very leery of the ability regarding aoe not being able to directly target the denizens for example). But then again, I'm biased towards fairly simple monster abilities

Also, isn't the reason the anguillinian so hard to remove after its attached, is that its entire body is latched on you? I stole the roper mechanics because I thought they weren't quite that tenacious.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

i decided to take a break from the mechanics for a bit and so i wrote up the flavor text. i promise that simplifying the attack mechanics is a priority though - in fact, i figured maybe working some of that info into the flavor text would save me some trouble trying to fit it into the combat text.

here we go:

This area is covered with an expansive, tangled growth of thin yellow vines emanating a coppery scent in the humid air. The enormous plant’s vines resemble arteries, slowly pulsing with a blood-like fluid. Along these vines, fiery red pods of sickly fruit sprout profusely along the vine’s periphery; while most of these leathery pods are fist-sized, a few have grown to four or more feet in diameter.

The bloodsipper is an enormous vine corrupted by the alien energies of the Far Realm. It shares characteristics of both animals and plants, and exists only to feed and propagate. Both functions are enabled by the pods which grow all over the plant. Smaller pods are numerous, vestigial and immature. Cutting open one of these small pods releases a gagging stench in a 5-foot-radius? (Fort save X or nauseated for X rounds) and destroys the pod.

The larger pods are mature and ready for germination. A bloodsipper usually retains a number of these mature pods for defense and feeding, but never has more than twelve at once. Each of these pods contains a “pod denizen,” which resembles a huge, blind tadpole with a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth. A denizen’s head gradually thins into a long, muscular tether, a coiled organic cord that anchors it to the interior base of the pod. Each head has four clawed arms, equally spaced around its gnashing mouth. When its tether is severed, a pod denizen becomes permanently separated from its bloodsipper and begins its existence a separate creature. Once freed, and with no living targets nearby, a pod denizen crawls off as far as it can before it digs into the earth, becoming the seed for a new bloodsipper.

This alien growth was dubbed a “bloodsipper” by the wizard Madreus, who encountered the first known specimen and survived. From studying available specimens, it seems likely that these plants did not evolve naturally, and originated from normal plants mutated by close proximity to portals to the Far Realm.

A bloodsipper is over 600 square feet in size, and weighs X pounds.

COMBAT
A bloodsipper instinctively attacks anything moving within its vines, hoping to feed on the blood of living creatures. When it attacks, the bloodsipper disgorges a pod denizen from its pod with a loud wet “pop” in a swift attack at the nearest opponent. When a head anchors itself into a fleshy portion of a target, it sucks blood which is visibly transferred down the tether into the pod. A bloodsipper can only make a bite attack with a pod denizen at any foe within its reach. A typical bloodsipper can start an encounter with as many as 12 pod denizens. Each pod denizen is Medium sized with a reach of 20 feet, and the pod denizens are found roughly evenly placed throughout a bloodsipper’s space. While tethered to a bloodsipper, pod denizens are stationary and cannot move or act independently of the main plant.

To sever a bloodsipper’s pod denizen tether, an opponent must make a successful sunder attempt with a slashing weapon... (i'll try to get back into that part tomorrow)

 

[Shade]

I know this really isn't much different from what's being proposed, but there seems to be a lot of extra rules trying to keep the entire critter as one main statblock even with all these "sub-monsters" attached. As a main plant + denizen critters it's still a centerpiece battle (boss with its minions included as a package) and it seems to be a little less reliant on special rules (I'm very leery of the ability regarding aoe not being able to directly target the denizens for example). But then again, I'm biased towards fairly simple monster abilities

I'd prefer to keep it a single creature, but I'll go along with the majority.

Also, isn't the reason the anguillinian so hard to remove after its attached, is that its entire body is latched on you? I stole the roper mechanics because I thought they weren't quite that tenacious.

Nope, just because of its lamprey-like mouth.

 

[Shade]

The bloodsipper is an enormous vine corrupted by the alien energies of the Far Realm. It shares characteristics of both animals and plants, and exists only to feed and propagate. Both functions are enabled by the pods which grow all over the plant. Smaller pods are numerous, vestigial and immature. Cutting open one of these small pods releases a gagging stench in a 5-foot-radius? (Fort save X or nauseated for X rounds) and destroys the pod.

5-foot-radius sounds fine, or even simply affecting adjacent creatures. I think a simple DC 15 Fort save should do the trick. Nauseated for 1d4 rounds?

A bloodsipper is over 600 square feet in size, and weighs X pounds.

For something like this, I don't think the weight is necessary.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

I'd prefer to keep it a single creature, but I'll go along with the majority.

i really don't feel that they are separate creatures until separated from the main plant. while tethered, i think they are little more than appendages that do what the plant needs them to do. at the moment of separation they are totally independent, but not until then. ever seen John Carpenter's "The Thing"?

Nope, just because of its lamprey-like mouth.

ah, right, too true - forgot about that. for the same reason, i think with more and more certainty that attach is the way to go.

5-foot-radius sounds fine, or even simply affecting adjacent creatures. I think a simple DC 15 Fort save should do the trick. Nauseated for 1d4 rounds?

works for me!

For something like this, I don't think the weight is necessary.

good point - since it is firmly rooted, it's not like anyone is going to lift it. how about this instead:

"A bloodsipper is at least 600 square feet in size, and often much bigger than that."

 

[Shade]

good point - since it is firmly rooted, it's not like anyone is going to lift it. how about this instead:

"A bloodsipper is at least 600 square feet in size, and often much bigger than that."

Rewording slightly:

"A bloodsipper is at least 600 square feet in size, but often grow much larger."[/QUOTE]

 

[Kafkonia]

Rewording slightly:

"A bloodsipper is at least 600 square feet in size, but often grow much larger."

[/QUOTE]

Subject-verb agreement requires either "Bloodsippers are... grow" or "A bloodsipper... often grows." My preference is for the former, as:

"Bloodsippers are at least 600 square feet in size, but often grow much larger."