Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[freyar]

Is that really all the goatkin? Wow!

 

[Cleon]

Is that really all the goatkin? Wow!

We've still got the Bielgorad and their demon lord Bielgorna to stat up, but at least those don't have Goat Magic and Resonance like the caprine.

So would you like to start on the Bielgorad?

I'll post the original Goatmen of Kavaja text here for reference:

Bielgorad
Armour Class: 0
Hit Dice: 6** (L)
Move: (120’) 40’
Attacks: 2 fists or 1 weapon
Damage: 1d4+3 or 1d10+5
No. Appearing: 3-30
Save As: F6
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: None
Intelligence: 12
Alignment: Chaotic (CE in AD&D)
XP Value: 725

Monster Type: Construct, Planar Monster (Enchanted)

Bielgorad, otherwise known as the Shepherds of Bielgorna, look like massive goatlings with reddish skin and black hair, about the size of minotaurs and with a relative Strength of 18. They wear +2 magical suits of armor and wield +2 magical polearms.

These oversized weapons include a crook which entraps a human-sized foe at the neck, much like a shepherd’s crook would a sheep. A Strength check with a -10 penalty is needed to break free. While entrapped, a victim cannot cast magic or fight. If the bielgorad does not sustain damage during the round a victim was immobilized (or the following round, as appropriate), the victim is lifted and dropped into enchanted nets held by awaiting shepherds. Once in a net, a captive is wholly disabled.

Bielgorad exude a pungent smell that may be detected as far as 100’ downwind. They are notorious for using siege weaponry when assaulting fortifications. They radiate a permanent protection from good 10’ radius and may dimension door once per day. They have no access to Goat Magic and are fully loyal to Bielgorna. Any attempt to control their minds will result in their deaths rather than the betrayal of their master. When killed, Shepherd of Bielgorna and their equipment disintegrate.

Terrain: Any.​

 

[freyar]

Hey, these don't seem too complicated!

So, Large Outsider, 6HD should be a place to start.

 

[Cleon]

Hey, these don't seem too complicated!

Well compared to the Goatkin they ain't complicated but that isn't saying much.

So, Large Outsider, 6HD should be a place to start.

Yup.

What subtypes if any do they have?

I can see (Goatkin) or possibly even (Goatkin, Tanar'ri) for them.

Also, are there any existing monsters we can use as models or inspiration.

Maybe Minotaurs or one of the lower ranking demons?

 

[Cleon]

Bielgorad
Large Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Goatkin?)
Hit Dice: 6d8+ ( hp)
Initiative: +–
Speed: 30 ft. in banded armor (6 squares); base speed 40 ft.
Armor Class: 22 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural, +2 banded armor), touch 10, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+14
Attack: Crook +9 melee (d+); or unarmed strike +9 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Crook +9/+4 melee (d+); or unarmed strike +9/+4 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Crook, net, stench
Special Qualities: Darkvision ### ft., magic circle against good, spell-like abilities
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +7
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 13
Skills: Skill [SPs 9@9 SPs]
Feats: 3 feats, Improved Unarmed Strikeᴮ
Environment: A chaotic evil-aligned plane
Organization: Solitary or ()
Challenge Rating: #
Treasure: None/Standard/% coins, % goods and % items/Double/Triple
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: – HD () or by character class
Level Adjustment: —/+#

Description.

Background.

Combat
Tactics.

Crook (Ex and Su? Su?): .

Net (Su?): .
The original text says a victim caught in the crook will be " lifted and dropped into enchanted nets held by awaiting shepherds. Once in a net, a captive is wholly disabled." So we need to include said nets in the writeup.

Magic Circle against Good (Su): This ability continuously duplicates the effect of the spell. A bielgorad cannot suppress this ability.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): Once per day a bielgorad can use dimension door. Caster level 8th or 12th?.

Stench (Ex): .

"Death Before Betrayal?" (Ex): Will die instead of submitting to mind-controlling powers.

"Linked Equipment?" (Ex): .Armor, crook and net disintegrate upon blelgorad's death.

Skills: .

Originally appeared in Goatmen of Kavaja (Bruce Heard, 2012).
(sourced from The Goatmen of Kavaja.)

Published with permission from Bruce Heard.

Skill Ranks:

 

[Cleon]

Posted a placeholder Bielgorad Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

Goatkin, Native, I think.
There's a notation "Monster Type: Construct, Planar Monster (Enchanted)" in the original text. Should we give them some kind of Construct traits? Or maybe we should make them Construct (Extraplanar) rather than Outsiders. Thoughts?

 

[Cleon]

Goatkin, Native, I think.
There's a notation "Monster Type: Construct, Planar Monster (Enchanted)" in the original text. Should we give them some kind of Construct traits?

Giving them both the Construct and Planar Monster Type is a bit bizarre and I can't offhand think of any official BECMI monster that has such.

It also has a logical clash with their description: Bielgorad die rather than submit to mind-control but in BECMI, like 3E, creatures of the Construct Type are immune to mental effects (charm, sleep, illusions, etc.) so mind-controlling them is impossible.

I'd make them regular living Outsiders with a few construct-style traits like immunity to poison and the inability to reproduce (since they are creations of The Shepherd).

Or maybe we should make them Construct (Extraplanar) rather than Outsiders. Thoughts?

The (Enchanted) type is for creatures that are vulnerable to protection from evil and the like, and is used for monsters that can only be harmed by magical weapons or are magically summoned or controlled.

That tells me they're definitely Outsider (Extraplanar) in 3E terms and I'd be happy throwing in Goatkin too.

They definitely aren't Native Outsiders like the Prime Material Goatkin.

I did muse over whether they are Tanar'ri in 3E terminology, but that subtype isn't used in the SRD so I wouldn't recommend it.

Shall we giving them (Chaotic, Evil) too, for good measure?

Bielgorad
Large Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil, Goatkin)

 

[freyar]

Yes, I'll go for those. Looks good (or rather chaotic and evil ).

We have Int 12 and Str 18, if you want to keep those. That seems fine for 6HD. AC is pretty good, though they have +2 armor (what kind??) and seem more likely to have decent NA than really high Dex. So maybe Dex 10-11. Con is probably decent (does the ** on the HD indicate something about bonus hp?). I'd also guess Wis and Cha both similar to Int. What do you think?

 

[Cleon]

Yes, I'll go for those. Looks good (or rather chaotic and evil ).

Agreed.

We have Int 12 and Str 18, if you want to keep those. That seems fine for 6HD. AC is pretty good, though they have +2 armor (what kind??) and seem more likely to have decent NA than really high Dex. So maybe Dex 10-11. Con is probably decent (does the ** on the HD indicate something about bonus hp?). I'd also guess Wis and Cha both similar to Int. What do you think?

In BECMI that'd match +2 plate with a +1 DEX bonus if there aren't any other factors that improved the Armour Class like an equivalent to the natural armour bonus.

So if we gave it +2 full plate and DEX 12 or 13 it'd be AC 20 once the size penalty is applied.

We might want to give it a 40 ft. base speed if we aim to match the Speed of an unencumbered human the original had.

So it's as fast as an Ogre not slightly slow for its size like a Minotaur.

If you'd rather give it lighter armour and NA that's doable too.

Let's see, if we went for the "no DEX bonus" option for AC 20 we could do it with…

+2 banded mail and +3 natural armour.
+2 chainmail and +4 natural armour.
+2 chain shirt and +5 natural armour.

EDIT: As for its mental scores, I was thinking they'd be on par with the original's INT 12 too.