Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[BOZ]

Thinking ahead to skills.

Perform (dance)?

that's a possibility. it only has 6 ranks, but we could always work in some quirky stuff like that. they could be battle-dancers from Dragon Compendium 1!

Re-reading this, seems to suggest that is is only the Roosters (and possibly the cockrobins) that are Medium size.

regardless, i will keep the advancement as we decided, and dedicate some flavor text to explaining this.


some preliminary stats for the gyerian:

Gyerian
Small Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 3d8+X (X hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 40 ft (8 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (+1 size, +X Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/-X
Attack:
Full Attack: 2 claws +X melee (1d4+X) and beak +X melee (2d4+X)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: sneeze
Special Qualities: darkvision 60 ft
Saves: Fort +X, Ref +X, Will +X
Abilities: Str X, Dex X, Con X, Int 8, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 6 Perform (dance)?
Feats: 2

Environment: Temperate plains and forest
Organization: 1-4, 2-8, flock 10-40
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: K, O - or - K (W)
Alignment: Usually chaotic good
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Small); 7-9 HD (Medium), or by character class
Level Adjustment: +X


COMBAT

Originally found in (Mystery of the Snow Pearls), and AC9 - Creature Catalogue (1986), DMR2 - Creature Catalog (1993), and Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).

 

[Mortis]

Abilities: Str X, Dex X, Con X, Int 8, Wis X, Cha X

Str 8-11, Dex 11-14, Con 9-11, Int 8, Wis 11-13, Cha 9-11?

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Other avian humanoid ability scores:

Kenku: +2 Dexterity, -2 Strength.
Aaracokraa: Str 9, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 10

Both are Medium. Since the gyerian is Small, I'd recommend even lower Str and Con and higher Dex.

Maybe Str 6-9, Dex 13-16, Con 7-10, Int 8, Wis 11-13, Cha 9-11?

 

[Mortis]

Organization: Foraging party (1-4), wing (5-8), flock (10-40 plus 100% noncombatants plus 1 Xth-level cockrobin per 10 gyerian plus 1 Xth-level rooster).

A couple of things previously posted.

Sneeze (Ex): Whenever a gyerian fails a Will save, the gyerian lets out a powerful sneeze. This is a 5? ft. line of ? Any creature, of Medium size or smaller, struck by this line must make a Reflex save DC:X or take 1d4 points of damage and be knocked prone.

Although it cannot fly perhaps it's feathered arms could give it a racial bonus to Jump.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Mortis]

Maybe Str 6-9, Dex 13-16, Con 7-10, Int 8, Wis 11-13, Cha 9-11?

Ok then, how about

Str 7, Dex 15, Con 9, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10?

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

That'll work.

 

[BOZ]

it has a very high AC (3 translates to 17) for a small, lower-level critter. +1 for size, +2 for Dex means i would have to give it +4 natural to reach 17. got any other options in mind or is that OK for nat armor?

should the gyerian get another Will save to avoid sneezing (when it wants to avoid doing that)? i was thinking that we could give the DC some size-based mods (the same as for grapple checks) - little guys will go flying, but big guys are likely to remain rooted.

 

[Shade]

Bump the Dex up to at least 16, although I could see even going up to 18. That would leave +2 natural, which is much more "realistic".

As for the sneeze, why not just use the wind effects? If it were windstorm-equivalent,
a Small or smaller creature is blown away and a Medium creature is knocked down (assuming they don't save).

Knocked Down = Creatures are knocked prone by the force of the wind. Flying creatures are instead blown back 1d6×10 feet.
Blown Away = Creatures on the ground are knocked prone and rolled 1d4×10 feet, taking 1d4 points of nonlethal damage per 10 feet. Flying creatures are blown back 2d6×10 feet and take 2d6 points of nonlethal damage due to battering and buffeting.

 

[Mortis]

Bump the Dex up to at least 16, although I could see even going up to 18. That would leave +2 natural, which is much more "realistic".

18 would work.

As for the sneeze, why not just use the wind effects? If it were windstorm-equivalent,
a Small or smaller creature is blown away and a Medium creature is knocked down (assuming they don't save).

Probably the easiest way of doing it.

Regards
Mortis

 

[BOZ]

should the gyerian get another Will save to avoid sneezing (when it wants to avoid doing that)? i was thinking that we could give the DC some size-based mods (the same as for grapple checks) - little guys will go flying, but big guys are likely to remain rooted.

However, if we are going the route Shade suggested, we could have larger than Medium creatures be checked for one round?