Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[freyar]

The racial bonuses work for me.

Intimidate and Knowledge (the planes)?

Track and Skill Focus (Survival)?

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Give 'em the same racial bonuses as shadows?

Skills: Shadows have a +2 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks and a +4 racial bonus on Search checks. *A shadow gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of shadowy illumination. In brightly lit areas, it takes a –4 penalty on Hide checks.

I was thinking more of the Shadow Mastiff's Shadow Blend ability.

Skills: 6 at 7 ranks
Hide, Listen, Spot, Survival...

Feats: 2
Track?

Maybe Tumble so it can slip through enemies like a shadow?

It doesn't need Move Silently to sneak up to victims since it's incorporeal.

Intimidate?

I'd give it Track as a bonus feat.

Looking at other Lupine SRD monsters we've got things like Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite), Dodge, Alertness and Run as examples.

I would go for Run and Weapon Focus (bite) for them, but the other examples are good picks too.

 

[freyar]

Tumble is a bit less useful for an incorporeal creature too, but I'll admit that there aren't a lot of great choices.

Track as bonus is fine, but then I think I'd prefer Imp Init to Run. WF (bite) is ok.

 

[Shade]

Agreed to Improved Init and WF (bite), with Track as a bonus feat.

Should we give 'em scent and the usual wolf "tracking by scent" bonus?

Updated.

Freyar--break the tie on shadow's hide bonuses vs. shadow blend. My support for the former is to not tread too much upon the shadow mastiff's niche.

 

[freyar]

Trying to find a compromise: why don't we give them scent and the Survival bonus like a shadow mastiff and the Hide bonus like a shadow?

 

[Cleon]

Agreed to Improved Init and WF (bite), with Track as a bonus feat.

Should we give 'em scent and the usual wolf "tracking by scent" bonus?

Updated.

Freyar--break the tie on shadow's hide bonuses vs. shadow blend. My support for the former is to not tread too much upon the shadow mastiff's niche.

Trying to find a compromise: why don't we give them scent and the Survival bonus like a shadow mastiff and the Hide bonus like a shadow?

That's fine by me.

You know, 1d4 seems a bit feeble for their bite attack. How about making it 1d6 like a regular Wolf or Shadow Mastiff.

Challenge Rating and Advancement next?

They look around a CR3 to me.

Advancement 5-8 HD (Medium); 9-12 HD (Large), same as a Hellhound?

 

[freyar]

When Shade gets the hp to add to 26 like they should, I'll agree with you on all points, including the bite.

 

[Cleon]

When Shade gets the hp to add to 26 like they should, I'll agree with you on all points, including the bite.

Good point!

Any ideas on the descriptive & tactical text? How's this for a start:

Shadow Wolves are creatures of pure shadow. According to legend, they were called into being by powerful magic users, and have since roamed free and multiplied. While shadow wolves avoid highly illuminated areas if they can, they are not particularly vulnerable to bright light.

A shadow wolf is between 2 and 3 feet tall at the shoulder.

Combat
Shadow wolves prefer to sneak up to a victim and bite them, then retreat and wait for their fading venom to take effect.

 

[Cleon]

Updated with the "but".

Gah! We forgot to add the Strength bonus to the Strangle Vines' Strangling DCs - they should be DC12 Reflex, DC16 Strength/Escape Artist.

 

[freyar]

Shadow wolf description and tactics are looking good.

We'll have to get Shade to fix the homebrews there...