Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[Shade]

Hmmm....

It doesn't appear that we've converted the strangleweed. I searched the forums for "suffocate", and it seems we considered using it for the eolian, and better judgement prevailed. Beyond that, we only worked on it with one of the dragons for coming up with immunity to strangulation.

 

[freyar]

Ahh, right, we didn't end up using it. Let's try this:

Grass Garrote (Ex): If grab grass succeeds on a touch attack against an opponent, it can immediately make a grapple check as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grass wins the grapple check, its victim must begin to hold its breath. The victim must continue to hold its breath or begin suffocating until succeeding on an opposed grapple check to escape. Grab grass has a +X racial bonus to grapple checks, which is reflected in the statistics above.

 

[Shade]

I like it!

Let's also add "Additionally, an affected creature cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components." since it just makes sense.

 

[freyar]

Excellent suggestion! Should we also add that the victim and/or grass are considered grappled, since this is more or less a grapple attack?

 

[Shade]

Possibly.

Let's figure out the basics. Go with Medium and 5-foot-square patch as base? I'm assuming one attack per 5-foot-square, so should we say that for each additional 5-foot-square of space, it gains an additional attack?

Since it has a converted AC of only 19, and essentially gains 4 bonus hp/HD, how about...

Str 15, Dex 13, Con 18, Int -, Wis 11, Cha 1?

 

[freyar]

You mean AC 11.

Abilities seem fine to me.

 

[demiurge1138]

I think we should specify "not cast spells with verbal components". If someone grappled by these guys gets off a stilled, silent spell, I say let 'em.

 

[freyar]

We're agreed on that. I guess the question for me is if this specific kind of grapple should prevent use of somatic components or not. I'd have to go look up the precise garrote rules to see what they say (my summary linked above isn't that complete).

 

[demiurge1138]

Well, the "treated as grappled" leads me to believe that.

 

[freyar]

Well, it's not quite a normal grapple. Here's Dragon 355:

You must use both hands to strangle (...) and cannot take any of the following grapple actions: attack your opponent, retrieve a spell component, or use an opponent's weapon. A creature being strangled cannot attempt to pin an opponent, take an opponent's weapon used to garrote him, speak, or take any vocal actions (such as casting a spell with a verbal component).

This suggests to me that you can use somatic components; after all, your arms aren't pinned.