Converting Oriental Adventures creatures

[freyar]

That would be ok, and I could even see dropping bluff to put 4 more in Balance, Climb, and Jump and 2 in Tumble. I'm just thinking that maybe the Shadow Walker should have used those skills in life perhaps before gaining the Acrobatics SQ.

 

[Cleon]

That would be ok, and I could even see dropping bluff to put 4 more in Balance, Climb, and Jump and 2 in Tumble. I'm just thinking that maybe the Shadow Walker should have used those skills in life perhaps before gaining the Acrobatics SQ.

So maxed-out Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, Spot plus Balance 8 ranks, Climb 8 ranks, Jump 6 ranks, and Tumble 6 ranks?

Its 40 ft. speed give it a +4 bonus to Jump, so I'd prefer Balance 8 ranks, Climb 8 ranks, Jump 4 ranks, and Tumble 8 ranks for the unmaxed skill ranks, since those will end up even with the speed bonus.

Alternatively, we could just smooth it out to 7 ranks in all four skills.

Anyhow I think that'll do for the moment.

 

[Cleon]

We finished the Shadow Walker Working Draft before the Enworld database was damaged in Sept 2016 so I've restored said draft from my personal archive.

We'd just started work on the Paper Warrior, but had only got as far as agreeing:

a) probably has 8 Hit Dice
b) Casts spells as a cleric
c) Original stats are likely:
Strength 8-15 — no damage bonus
Dexterity 17 — AC 5 from ironskin martial maneuver (+2) and Dex (+3)
Constitution 15 — assuming average HD rolls he has +1 hp per die
Intelligence 3-18 — could be any, but I'd guess above-average
Wisdom 17 — calculated from spells + bonus spells 4+2/3+2/2+1/1 for 1st/2nd/3rd/4th level spells.
Charisma 3-18 — could be anything.

We more-or-less decided to set Charisma to the estimated Con of 15 and give the Paper Warrior the special quality Unholy Toughness.

 

[Cleon]

Paper Warrior Working Draft

Seven Swords, The Paper Warrior
Medium Undead (Spirit)
Hit Dice: 8d12+16 (68 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+3 Dex, +4 monk bonus, +2 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+8
Attack: +1 kiseru +10 melee (1d4+5); or quill pen +10 touch (special); or unarmed strike +9 melee (1d8+2)
Full Attack: +1 kiseru +10/+5 melee (1d4+5) [+9/+9/+4 with flurry of blows]; or quill pen +10/+5 touch (special); or +1 kiseru +8/+3 melee (1d4+5) and quill pen +8 touch (special); or unarmed strike +9/+4 melee (1d8+2) [+8/+8/+3 with flurry of blows]
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Fold origami, ki push, ki speed, martial artistry, quill pen, spells
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., ki resilience, ki strike (magic), ghostform, immune to turning, martial resilience, prone fighting, rejuvenation, speak with animals, special weakness - desk, unholy resilience, unholy toughness
Saves: Fort +9*, Ref +12*, Will +12*
*if it uses ki resilience this becomes Fort +12, Ref +15, Will +15
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con —, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15
Skills: Concentration +11, Craft (origami) +13, Craft (papermaking) +13, Listen +14, Spot +14, Tumble +14
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrowsᴮ, Stunning Fistᴮ, Improved Disarmᴮ, Improved Unarmed Strikeᴮ, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Specialization (kiseru)ᴮ, Weapon Finesse
Environment: Ruins
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always lawful evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: —

A figure dressed in scholarly robes. Its body is covered in tattoes of intricate calligraphy and its eyes are featureless black orbs like pools of ink. The being's skin is as pure white as its clothes, which both resemble the finest grade of paper.

The Paper Warrior is one of the Seven Swords, a group of seven weapon masters who were transformed into unique undead by an ancient curse that binds them to a castle they once guarded in life. If one of the Seven Swords is destroyed, the curse causes them to reform the following night and continue to haunt the castle.

In life, the Paper Warrior was a steward responsible for administering the affairs of the clan and its castle. In death, it dreams of calligraphy and inventing tyrannical rules of government. Disturbing these contemplations prompts an outraged lecture followed by attempts to confuse and destroy the intruder.

The Paper Warrior stands 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. It can speak Celestial, Common, Draconic and Infernal.

Combat
The Paper Warrior makes ample use of its origami creations to harass enemies and defend itself while casting spells. If forced to melee it tries sowing chaos among its attackers with its quill pen's confusion effect.

Fold Origami (Su): The Paper Warrior carries fourteen pieces of magical paper. It can fold these papers into the shapes of creatures and breathe upon them, whereupon the papers grow to the size of a man and animate into origami creations. The Paper Warrior can fold 2 origami creations as a swift action or 4 as a standard action, but it cannot perform both actions in the same round to create 6 paper servants. The Paper Warrior can blow an origami creation up to 30 feet away from itself when it breathes life into it. Once animated it acts immediately, on the Paper Warrior's turn. The Paper Warrior can direct the actions of any existing origami creations as a free action.

Each origami creation has the following attributes unless otherwise stated in their individual entries:

Origami Creation: Medium Construct; HD: as paper warrior (8), hp 30; Initiative +2; Speed: varies by form; AC 12 (+2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 10; BAB/Grapple: as paper warrior (+6/+8); Attack: varies by form - either +8 melee, +8 ranged or none; Special Attacks: varies by form; Special Defences: As construct, vulnerable to fire, plus varies by form; Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2; Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1; Skills: —; Feats —; CR N/A)

The Paper Warrior can produce the following forms of origami creations:

Bee Warrior: Bee warrior origami appear to be armored warriors with striped armor, segmented limbs, and masked helmets with antennae. They attack with the equivalent of a +1 shortsword +9 melee (1d6+3/19-20) and a +1 composite shortbow [+2 Str] +9 ranged (1d6+3/×3). Their weapons and armor are part of their origami body and cannot be disarmed or broken. Their quivers are always full of arrows, which hit their target with full effect and then turn into useless strips of paper
Leaping Locusts: This origami is formed from thousands of paper insects but fights as a single Medium creature. Speed is fly 30 ft (poor). It attacks by moving into an opponent's space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. A leaping locusts can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, and it can squeeze through any space large enough to contain a Diminutive creature. Any living creature that begins its turn with the leaping locusts in its space must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Dexterity-based.
Octopus: An octopus origami has Speed 30 ft. plus the special attacks Improved Grab and Constrict. They attack with arms +8 melee (1d4+3 damage). If their arms hit they can establish a hold without provoking an attack of opportunity by succeeding at a free action grapple check. Octopus origami can constrict a held opponent for 1d10+4 damage with a successful grapple check. Their grapple modifier is +12 and includes a +4 racial bonus.
Pinwheel: Pinwheel origami have Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares). They attack by slashing with the blades of their 'wheel', which have the attack properties of a +2 kukri +10 melee (1d4+4/18-20). Pinwheels normally slash at an opponent's legs as they roll past them. They have Run and Spring Attack as bonus feats.
Shield Beetle: Speed is fly 30 ft. (perfect). A shield beetle can enter the space of a creature or object its own size or smaller and protect them with its body without impeding the actions of whatever it is shielding. No more than one shield beetle can protect a single target. Any attacker that makes an attack roll to hit something protected by a shield beetle will automatically hit the beetle with the attack rather than the intended target. The shield beetle will suffer the full effects of the intercepted attack. The beetle has the normal 30 hit points of an origami creation. However, a shield beetle is immediately destroyed if it intercepts an attack that inflicts 15 hit points or more damage in a single attack or applies any kind of special effect. Attacks intercepted by a shield beetle are always fully absorbed; the shielded subject never suffers any "leftover" damage or special effects no matter how powerful the attack. The beetle will be destroyed even if a special effect it absorbs is something its construct traits would normally render it immune to.
Viper: Viper origami have Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft., Strength 8 and a +10 Climb skill. They attack with a bite +8 melee (1d4-1 plus poison). Their bite's poison is 1d6 Con/1d6 Con damage with a DC 14 Fortitude save. Viper origami have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. They use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher.

Ghostform (Su): A Seven Swords undead is normally invisible and intangible but senses its surroundings normally. Should the site it is haunting be disturbed, the spirit assumes a corporeal form as a swift action. The Paper Warrior materializes by ink flowing from an inkstone to write on blank paper, the words then leap up to become its tattooed body. Once materialized, the undead spirit can remain in solid form until the sun rises. It can resume ghostform as a full-round action.

Ki Push (Su): As a standard action, the Paper Warrior can point a finger and direct ki power at a single opponent within a range of 10 feet. The Paper Warrior makes a +8 ranged touch attack, and if the ki power hits the opponent must succeed at a DC 16 Fortitude save or be hurled 10 feet away from the Paper Warrior and fall prone, taking 1d6 points of damage.

Ki Resilience (Ex): Three times per day as a free action the Paper Warrior can gain a +3 morale bonus to a single saving throw. The Paper Warrior can use this ability immediately after a failed saving throw in the hope the bonus will allow it to succeed. If the Paper Warrior took any action after attempting a saving throw it cannot use this ki power upon it.

Ki Speed (Ex): The Paper Warrior can muster its inner power to move with superhuman speed, acting as if under the effects of a haste spell for a total of 5 rounds per day. These rounds need not be consecutive. This ability modifies the Paper Warrior's statistics to the following:

Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+3 Dex, +4 monk bonus, +1 dodge), touch 18, flat-footed 14
Attack: +1 kiseru +11 melee (1d4+5); or quill pen +11 touch (special)
Full Attack: +1 kiseru +11/+11/+6 melee (1d4+5); or quill pen +11/+6 touch (special); or +1 kiseru +9/+4 melee (1d4+5) and quill pen +9 touch (special); or unarmed strike +10/+10/+5 melee (1d8+2) [+9/+9/+9/+4 with flurry of blows]
Saves: Fort +9*, Ref +13*, Will +12*
*if it uses ki resilience this becomes Fort +12, Ref +16, Will +15

The Paper Warrior can cancel its ki speed as a free action.

Kiseru: The Paper Warrior has a +1 kiseru made of iron that is painted to look like wood.

Simple Weapon—Melee
Light Melee Weapon

	Cost	Dmg	Critical	Range	Weight	Damage Type
Kiseru*	5 sp	1d4	×2	—	2 lb.	Bludgeoning

Kiseru: A kiseru is a tobacco pipe about as long as its wielder's forearm. They are normally made of wood with metal ends, but some kiseru are made entirely of metal. While kiseru appear to be harmless smoker's pipes they are actually solid enough to be used as clubbing weapons.

The kiseru is a special monk weapon. This designation gives a monk wielding a kiseru special options.

Martial Artistry (Ex): The Paper Warrior possesses the base attack bonus, bonus feats, AC bonus, unarmed strike and flurry of blows abilities of an 8th-level monk. It adds its inherent monklike abilities to any monk levels it might acquire. Thus, a Paper Warrior 2nd-level monk possesses the bonus feats, AC bonus, unarmed strike and flurry of blows of a 10th-level monk.

Martial Resilience (Ex): The Paper Warrior has all good saves.

Prone Fighting (Ex): The Paper Warrior can fight from a prone position without penalty.

Quill Pen (Su): This two-foot long silver tipped quill pen is a +1 light weapon. If the Paper Warrior makes a successful melee touch attack with its quill pen, the victim must make a DC 16 Will save or be confused for 6 rounds. On a successful save, the target is dazed for 1 round. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Rejuvenation (Ex): The Paper Warrior cannot be destroyed through simple combat. If "destroyed" its body and equipment collapses with a loud rustling sound, leaving a crushed ball of paper-like remains that crumble into ash at the slightest touch. A pen nib shaped into a small sword-shaped charm pendant simultaneously appears concealed somewhere nearby (typically in a writing case mixed with normal pen ribs). Finding this concealed item requires a DC 15 Search check or DC 25 Spot check.

The following night, the Paper Warrior reappears at full strength at whatever place it haunted and the sword charm vanishes. The Paper Warrior can only be destroyed permanently if its sword charm is destroyed before it rejuvenates. A typical sword charm is a Fine sized object with 20 hp, hardness 12, and break DC 24.

Speak With Animals (Sp): The Paper Warrior can use speak with animals once per day as a spell-like ability. This is a granted power from the Animal cleric domain.

Special Weakness - Desk (Ex): Each of the seven swords have a different special weakness. The Paper Warrior's is that its existence is tied to the desk where its quill pen rests. This desk is made of mahogany and has AC 3, hardness 6, break DC 27, and weighs 200 lbs. Any damage done to the desk is also inflicted upon the Paper Warrior. In addition, whenever a Seven Swords is damaged through its special weakness it must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 plus damage inflicted) or be shaken for 1 round. Should the Paper Warrior be destroyed, the desk is also destroyed.

Spells: The Paper Warrior has the spellcasting ability of an 8th level cleric with the Animal and Trickery domains. It gains the granted powers of its cleric domains.

Typical Cleric Spells Prepared (6/5+1/4+1/4+1/2+1; save DC 13 + spell level):
0—detect magic, guidance (×2), read magic, resistance (×2);
1st—bane, calm animals*, entropic shield, obscuring mist, sanctuary, shield of faith;
2nd—desecrate, hold person (×2), invisibility*, silence;
3rd—bestow curse, contagion, dispel magic, dominate animal*, summon monster III;
4th—air walk, confusion*, poison.
*Domain spell. Domains: Animal and Trickery.

Unholy Resilience (Su): The Paper Warrior gains a +3 profane bonus to its saving throws.

Unholy Toughness (Ex): The Paper Warrior gains a bonus to its hit points equal to its Charisma modifier × its Hit Dice.

Possessions: +1 kiseru, 14 sheets of origami creation paper, quill pen.

In Kara-Tur
The Seven Swords were the leading members of the Ito clan and lived in Ito-Jo castle. The malign influence of a krakentoa led to their rule becoming tyrannical and eventually brought down a dreadful curse upon the Swords and the entire castle, turning it into a haunted place of the damned. The Seven Swords of Ito-Jo cannot be destroyed simply by destroying their sword charms. The only way to permanently lay them to rest is to slay the krakentoa responsible for the curse.

The Paper Warrior was once Ito Chomei, a notable scholar. He cared nothing about the misery of the clan's subjects so long as the paperwork was "elegant".

Originally appeared in OA2 - Night of the Seven Swords (1986).

 

[freyar]

It would be good to get the original stats on this one, too.

How about Str 10, Dex 17, Con -, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15?

 

[Cleon]

It would be good to get the original stats on this one, too.

How about Str 10, Dex 17, Con -, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15?

Those numbers are fine except giving it Strength 10 feels weird to me. In life he was a famed "Warrior", so you'd think he'd have had an above-average score.

The AD&D modifiers say he was in the range 8-15, so I'd be inclined to give it somewhere in the Strength 13-15 range.

I guess he could have been a Dex-based fighter who relied on paper constructs for power.

 

[freyar]

We could go with Str 14 or 16 if you like. He does seem Dex-based, but either of those Str values still leaves him more dexterous.

 

[Cleon]

We could go with Str 14 or 16 if you like. He does seem Dex-based, but either of those Str values still leaves him more dexterous.

Let's make it Strength 14.

Updating the Paper Warrior Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

OK, I think we're probably ready for the special abilities now. Can you repost the original monster, so we can get to work on those?

 

[Cleon]

OK, I think we're probably ready for the special abilities now. Can you repost the original monster, so we can get to work on those?

Sure.