Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[Shade]

I'd rather leave it in, since the original didn't specify and size restrictions. I'd be happy to note in the flavour text that the wizard generally used creatures of between Tiny and Huge size for his gargantuism experiments.

Besides, 8 to 50 pounds is pretty dang gargantuan for a housefly.

Not enough, in a world of "giant" and "dire" creatures.

I've got a better idea, how about changing the size increase so the minimum size is Large, e.g. Fine creatures are +5 size categories, Diminutive are +4 size categories.

We'd need to tweak the tables, but it should be simple enough.

Make it Huge, and I'll sign your petition.

Off the wall idea first.


To take this suggestion in a different direction - how about a template that makes a Gargantuan size version regardless of it's original size (Of course Colossal creatures would actually get smaller).

That sounds crazy...crazy fun!

It makes me want to do a "Man-sized" template, since so many unusually-sized creatures are referred to in that manner.

 

[Cleon]

Make it Huge, and I'll sign your petition.

I still quite like the original +3 size categories, and failing that I definitely prefer the cut-off at Large, since I fancied the smaller (or just smallest) size gargantuas to be too small to get their Trample SQ.

Although, giving them all Trample would make the Challenge Rating easier to figure.

What do you fancy, Mortis?

To take this suggestion in a different direction - how about a template that makes a Gargantuan size version regardless of it's original size (Of course Colossal creatures would actually get smaller).

That sounds crazy...crazy fun!

That's what the Titanic template does, and I wanted to have a different approach - otherwise we might as well just use that MMII template.

It makes me want to do a "Man-sized" template, since so many unusually-sized creatures are referred to in that manner.

Well, there's nothing stopping you.

 

[Cleon]

OK, if we're using a size cut-off (which I'm setting at Large whether Shade likes it or not ) we'll need to modify the size & HD entries and both tables in the template.

Like this:

Size and Type
The base creature's type remains the same.

If the base creature is Fine or Diminutive in size the mystaran gargantua is Large-sized, if the base creature is Tiny or larger the creature's size increases by three size categories.

If the base creature is Huge-sized, the mystaran gargantua will be Colossal-sized with a Space of 40 ft. and a reach of 40 ft. if tall, 30 ft. if long. If the base creature is Gargantuan or larger in size, the mystaran gargantua will be Colossal-sized with a Space of 50 ft. and a reach of 50 ft. if tall, 40 ft. if long.

Hit Dice
If the base creature has 2 or more HD, multiply the base creature's Hit Dice by 8. For mystaran gargantua with fewer than 2 HD, the gargantua will have 12 HD if the base creature has 1 HD, 9 HD if the base creature has 1/2 Hit Dice and 6 HD if the base creature has 1/4 Hit Dice.

Damage
A mystaran gargantua retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapons and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. The damage values of these attacks increase according to the following table (this includes improvement for increased size).

Mystaran Gargantua Damage
Old Damage . . New Damage by Base Creature's Size
(Each) . . . . Fine . . Diminutive . . Tiny or larger
. 0 . . . .. . 1d8*. . . 1d6* . . . .. . . 1d4*
. 1 . . . .. . 1d10 . . . 1d8 . . . . . . . 1d6
.1d2 . . . . . 1d12. . . 1d10 . . . .. . . 1d8
.1d3 . . . . . 3d6. . . . 2d8 . . . . . . . 2d6
.1d4 . . . . . 3d8. . . . 3d6 . . . . . . . 3d6
.1d6 . . . . . 4d8. . . . 4d6 . . . . . . . 4d6
.1d8 . . . . . 4d8. . . . 4d8 . . . . . . . 4d8
.1d10 . . .. . 4d10. . . 4d10 . . . . . . 4d10
.1d12 . . .. . 4d12. . . 4d12 . . . . . . 4d12
.2d6 . . . . . 8d6. . . . 8d6 . . . . . . . 8d6
.2d8 . . . . . 8d8. . . . 8d8 . . . . . . . 8d8
*If the base creature has an attack that deals no damage (such as a roper's strands), the attack does damage according to the "0" old damage row plus half the mystaran gargantua's damage Str bonus.
If the base creature has no attacks listed (such as a bat), it gains a single attack with the damage given in the "0" old damage row plus 1½ the mystaran gargantua's damage Str bonus. Use whichever type of natural attack seems most appropriate; it is usually a bite, slam or kick.

I'll have to leave the Mystaran Gargantua Modifiers table for later.

 

[Mortis]

Although, giving them all Trample would make the Challenge Rating easier to figure.

What do you fancy, Mortis?

Well... since you ask. I prefer 'the bigger the better' so would agree with Shade's cut off of Huge.

That's what the Titanic template does, and I wanted to have a different approach - otherwise we might as well just use that MMII template.

Ah, didn't know that - should really have checked though.

Well, there's nothing stopping you.

And the first candidate will be a man-sized halfling

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Well... since you ask. I prefer 'the bigger the better' so would agree with Shade's cut off of Huge.

Team Huge leads 2-1. You'll need to drum up support elsewhere, Cleon, for your Not-So-Gargantuan Gargantua!

 

[Cleon]

Team Huge leads 2-1. You'll need to drum up support elsewhere, Cleon, for your Not-So-Gargantuan Gargantua!

I knew you would gang up on l'il old me. Just 'cause you're a size category Huger, you big bullies.

Well, I guess Huge it is then. I'll need to tweak the previous proposal for the size changes:


Size and Type
The base creature's type remains the same.

Increase the base creature's size category by three steps. If the base creature is up to Small-sized, the mystaran gargantua is Huge-sized, if the base creature is Medium-sized or larger, the creature's size increases by three size categories.

If the base creature is Huge-sized, the mystaran gargantua will be Colossal-sized with a Space of 40 ft. and a reach of 40 ft. if tall or 30 ft. if long. If the base creature is Gargantuan or larger in size, the mystaran gargantua will be Colossal-sized with a Space of 50 ft. and a reach of 50 ft. if tall or 40 ft. if long.

Hit Dice
If the base creature has 2 or more HD, multiply the base creature's Hit Dice by 8. For mystaran gargantua with fewer than 2 HD, the gargantua will have 12 HD if the base creature has 1 HD and 8 HD if the base creature has less than 1 HD.

Damage
A mystaran gargantua retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapons and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. The damage values of these attacks increase according to the following table (this includes improvement for increased size).

Mystaran Gargantua Damage
Old Damage . . New Damage by Base Creature's Size
(Each) . . . . Fine . . Diminutive . . Tiny or larger
. 0 . . .. . . 1d8* . . . 1d6* . . . .. . . 1d4*
. 1 . . . . . 1d10 . .. . 1d8 . . . . . . . 1d6
.1d2. . . . . 1d12 . . . 1d10 . . . . . . . 1d8
.1d3 . . . . . 3d6. . . . 2d8 . . . . . . . 2d6
.1d4 . . . . . 3d8. . . . 3d6 . . . . . . . 3d6
.1d6 . . . . . 4d8. . . . 4d6 . . . . . . . 4d6
.1d8 . . . . . 4d8. . . . 4d8 . . . . . . . 4d8
.1d10 . . . . 4d10 . . . 4d10 . . . .. . . 4d10
.1d12 . . . . 4d12 . . . 4d12 . . . .. . . 4d12
.2d6 . . . . . 8d6. . . . 8d6 . . . . . . . 8d6
.2d8 . . . . . 8d8. . . . 8d8 . . . . . . . 8d8
*If the base creature has an attack that deals no damage (such as a roper's strands), the attack does damage according to the "0" old damage row plus half the mystaran gargantua's damage Str bonus.

If the base creature has no attacks listed (such as a bat), it gains a single attack with the damage given in the "0" old damage row plus 1½ the mystaran gargantua's damage Str bonus. Use whichever type of natural attack seems most appropriate; it is usually a bite, slam or kick.

Mystaran Gargantua Modifiers Table
Size of. . . . Natural . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ability. Trample
Base Creature . Armour . Str . Dex . Con . Area . Damage . Damage
Fine . . . . . . Same .. +30 .. -2 . +12 .. ×6 .. +1d10 . . . 2d8
Diminutive . . . Same .. +28 .. -2 . +12 .. ×5 . . +2d4 . . . 2d8
Tiny . . . . . . +2NA .. +24 .. -2 . +10 .. ×5 . . +1d8 . . . 2d8
Small. . . . . . +5NA .. +20 .. -2 . +10 .. ×4 . . +1d6 . . . 2d8
Medium . . . . . +9NA .. +24 .. -2 . +12 .. ×4 . . +1d8 . . . 3d8
Large . . . . . +12NA .. +24 .. -- . +12 .. ×3 .. +1d10 . . . 4d8
Huge. . . . . . +16NA .. +24 .. -- . +12 .. ×3 .. +1d12 . . . 6d8
Gargantuan. . . +20NA .. +24 .. -- . +12 .. ×2 . . +2d6 . . . 8d8
Colossal. . . . +25NA .. +24 .. -- . +12 .. ×2 . . +2d6 . .. 12d8

 

[Cleon]

I've Updated the working draft to include the bonus Snatch and Hover feats we agreed on.

I've also removed the "Huge or larger" from the Trample entry since all the Gargantuas will qualify now.

Once we've settled on the Huge-size adjustments, I'd like to argue about the windstorm and waterblast special attack I proposed earlier.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

How about making colossal creatures with this template applied Colossal+?

 

[Cleon]

How about making colossal creatures with this template applied Colossal+?

They already are.

If you check my Working Draft you'll see any base creature of Huge or greater size becomes a Colossal+ gargantua.

 

[freyar]

Whew, that's a lot to catch up on. And I have this vague idea that we're retreading ground from some 3rd party OGL products. I'd like them to at least be Huge if not bigger; say you want to apply the template to a fly, then start with a giant fly instead!!