Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[Mortis]

Echohawk claims that the Vaults of Pandius have the Sis'thik. He's usually right about such things.

Yeah, it's here.

I have no objection to converting it here though. Although if we ignore the creatures on EChhawk's list that have been converted elsewhere the number of unconverted creatures will obviously jump up.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Cleon]

Echohawk claims that the Vaults of Pandius have the Sis'thik. He's usually right about such things. We could do them ourselves, though we usually prefer to go after unconverted beasties.

Yes, there's a version of the Sis'thik in the Vaults, but we haven't got a Creature Catalog one.

Also, The Vaults of Pandius has conversions of the Cay-Man and Gator Men (e.g. Cayman and Gurrash Lizardfolk), which we've independently converted, so I think we should complete the set with the Sis'thik.

 

[Shade]

Yes, there's a version of the Sis'thik in the Vaults, but we haven't got a Creature Catalog one.

Also, The Vaults of Pandius has conversions of the Cay-Man and Gator Men (e.g. Cayman and Gurrash Lizardfolk), which we've independently converted, so I think we should complete the set with the Sis'thik.

Let's do it. Anyone have the stats handy?

 

[Cleon]

Let's do it. Anyone have the stats handy?

Yup.

 

[Cleon]

Lizard-Kin - Sis’thik
Climate/Terrain: Tropical or sub-tropical desert
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Tribe
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Omnivore
Intelligence: Average (8–10)
Treasure: A
Alignment: Neutral evil
No. Appearing: 3d6
Armor Class: 5 (4 with armor)
Movement: 9
Hit Dice: 3+3
THAC0: 17
No. of Attacks: 1 or 3
Damage/Attack: By weapon +2 or 1d6 (claw)/1d6 (claw)/1d3 (bite)
Special Attacks: Nil
Special Defenses: Fire resistance
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (6’ tall)
Morale: Elite (13)
XP Value: 175
270 bodyguard
650 shaman
975 queen

The lizard-kin of Mystara share an ancient lineage. The chameleon men are the oldest of these races; some believe that caymen, gator men, sis’thik, and standard lizard men all descend from a common ancestor related to chameleon men. Relations between lizard men and the four lizard-kin races, however, range from indifferent at best to hostile at worst.

Sis’thik (Desert Scourge)
In burning deserts live nomadic humanoids called Sis’thik, a proud race of reptilian warriors that feat nothing.

Sis’thik have thick, leathery light tan skin that lets them blend in with the arid terrain. Their nostrils can seal out dust, and transparent eye screens allow them to see in sandstorms.

Combat: Female sis’thik use scimitars in combat and sometimes employ shields (boosting their AC to 4). These females boast great strength, inflicting a +2 bonus to damage rolls using melee weapons. Males, if force, attack with claws and bite.

Normal fires do not affect sis’thik; plus, these lizard-kin suffer only 1 point of damage per die of magical fire damage.

Habitat/Society: Sis’thik tribes have 3d6 × 10 adult members, plus 4d6 noncombatant children. Female sis’thik control the tribes and do all the fighting. The males seem slow and stupid, existing only for mating and drudge work. Females do not reproduce often, considering how much other work they have to do. Most lay a clutch of 2d4 eggs every other year.

Each sis’thik tribe follow a queen with 8 Hit Dice, who receives a +3 bonus to damage rolls. The queen is accompanied at all times by 2d4 bodyguards, each with 4+1 Hit Dice. Each tribe also includes 1d4 shamans of 1dt to 8th levels.

Some sis’thik tribes breed xytar lizards as mounts; two sis’thik can ride a single xytar. In addition, these lizard-kin have been known to cooperate with blue dragons.

Each sis’thik tribe has its own territory. Any who wish to cross it must debase themselves before the queen and shower the tribe with gifts of wine, food, and metal items. Sis’thik sometimes build shelters of mud brick, usually near oases and other resting places. They do not appreciate others using these structures without permission.

Ecology: Sis’thik prey on creatures such as ant-lions, camels, jackals, and wyverns. They savor the taste of copper dragon flesh, which has resulted in enmity between the two races. These lizard-kin also enjoy eating figs, dates, and cacti.

Originally appeared in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).

 

[Mortis]

Here's the version from the earlier (1986) AC9 - Creature Catalogue

SIS’THIK (DESERT SCOURGE)

Armour Class: 5 or 4
Hit Dice: 3+3
Move: 90’ (40’)
Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite or 1 weapon
Damage: 1-6/1-6/1-3 or by weapon +2
No. Appearing: 2-12 (30-180)
Save As: Fighter: 2
Morale: 10
Treasure Type: A
Intelligence: 8
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 50

The sis’thiks (or desert scourges) are nomadic lizard-like humanoids who live in burning deserts. They have self-sealing nostrils and transparent membranous eye screens which allow them to function in the fiercest of sand storms. Their skin is thick and leathery, reducing water loss to a minimum, and giving them Armour Class 5 without a shield (AC 4 with a shield). A sis’thik can travel long distances, and even fight in the midday sun, with a daily water intake of less than a quarter of the amount a human would need.

The female sis’thiks control the tribe and do all the fighting. The males, who tend to be slow and stupid, watch the tribe’s animals (see below) and, when they are not working, spend their time basking in the sun.

Sis’thiks are a proud, warrior race who fear no-one and nothing. They consider the desert to be their property, and all who cross it or live in it do so only by the sis’thiks’ goodwill. Caravans are allowed to cross the desert only if they do not offend against the sis’thiks’ customs. In practical terms this means that caravan leaders must debase themselves before the sis’thiks while heaping presents upon the creatures. Metal goods, gems and fine wines are most favoured by the sis’thiks, and it is a wise caravaneer who lays in ample supplies of these items for any crossing of sis’thik lands.

The sis’thiks have domesticated the fierce desert dwelling xytars (see page 81) which are bred as mounts. Two sis’thik warriors are closely attached to each xytar, and are responsible for its well being and training. Both sis’thiks ride the creature, one controls the action of the xytar and attacks with a long spear, while the other attacks with either a short bow or a long spear. When ridden by sis’thiks a xytar’s morale increases to 10, but the sis’thiks are unable to make the xytar use its breath weapon at will, so there is still only a 33% chance (1-2 on 1d6) that it will breathe.

Occasionally sis’thik tribes work in conjunction with blue dragons to attack settlements near to their deserts. Sis’thiks riding the dragons sweep over the walls of the settlement as xytar-mounted sis’thiks attack and storm the gates. Fortunately these alliances are very rare and last only long enough to satisfy both the dragons’ greed for treasure, and the sis’thiks’ love of battle.

Female sis’thiks are very strong and inflict an extra 2 points of damage with any weapon they use. When not mounted, they use scimitars (long, curved swords - D 1-8) as well as biting their opponents. They are led by a queen with 8 Hit Dice who does +3 damage and who has 2d4 4 Hit Dice bodyguards with her at all times. Each tribe also has ld4 shamans of levels 1-8 who care for the spiritual needs of the tribe.

Sis’thiks are unaffected by normal fires and take only minimum damage from magical fires.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Cleon]

Here's the version from the earlier (1986) AC9 - Creature Catalogue

SIS’THIK (DESERT SCOURGE)

Ta Mortis. I mused about posting the BECMI stats.

They don't add much, except the "Intelligence 8" suggests they're at the low end of AD&D's average (8-10) intelligence.

First question, are we including the original's sexual dymorphism? The females have a +2 Str bonus to damage, do most of the fighting, and are apparently faster and smarter than the males.

e.g.:

The female sis’thiks control the tribe and do all the fighting. The males, who tend to be slow and stupid, watch the tribe’s animals (see below) and, when they are not working, spend their time basking in the sun.

So, do we stat up the "typical Sis'thik" as a female, then give a male a separate statblock?

 

[freyar]

Hmmm, I'd definitely make the typical one a female. But I don't know if I want to bother with a separate statblock for the males. Maybe just list them as "noncombatants" or something.

 

[Shade]

Hmmm, I'd definitely make the typical one a female. But I don't know if I want to bother with a separate statblock for the males. Maybe just list them as "noncombatants" or something.

Agreed! Most stat-reflected sexual dymorphism was jettistoned in 3e.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed! Most stat-reflected sexual dymorphism was jettistoned in 3e.

Bah, next they'll be having male Nymphs and female Satyrs.

So are we going for the "noncombatant male" route?