Converting Planescape monsters

[Shade]

Outsider (Lawful) or Outsider (Good, Lawful)?

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Outsider (Good, Lawful)

 

[Cleon]

Outsider (Lawful) or Outsider (Good, Lawful)?

I'd say just Lawful, going by the description.

Their reasoning "lawless creatures would be better dead" doesn't suggest they're that Good.

 

[Shade]

I'd say just Lawful, going by the description.

Their reasoning "lawless creatures would be better dead" doesn't suggest they're that Good.

That's reasonable.

We can make the alignment "Always lawful, often good" to account for the original good tendencies.

 

[Cleon]

That's reasonable.

We can make the alignment "Always lawful, often good" to account for the original good tendencies.

Aren't we talking subtypes at the moment, not the Alignment entry itself?

Anyhow, Outsider (Lawful) and "Always lawful, often good" is fine by me.

I did wonder about "Always lawful, never Evil", but that seems too far for a creature from a good(ish) aligned plane.

 

[freyar]

Agreed to Outsider (Lawful) and "Always lawful, often good."

I'm not sure the shape changing quite fits alternate form or change shape. And it doesn't have much mechanical benefit. Maybe make it "change form" and maybe allow a minor benefit (some forms have a Climb speed, etc)?

 

[Shade]

Before we get into special abilities, let's figure out the basics so I can get a Homebrews started.

Int is given: 16

Other mental scores are probably within a few points of that.

Dex should be high. It has fantastic AC, and is blindingly fast with its whirlwind attack. Maybe Dex 20 or even 22?

Str seems like it might be slightly above average, based on its 1d10 damage.

I see no strong indicators for Con.

 

[Cleon]

Before we get into special abilities, let's figure out the basics so I can get a Homebrews started.

Int is given: 16

Other mental scores are probably within a few points of that.

Agreed, I'm thinking their Wisdom ought to be higher than their Charisma. They don't seem very personable creatures.

Dex should be high. It has fantastic AC, and is blindingly fast with its whirlwind attack. Maybe Dex 20 or even 22?

It could just have good natural armour. If it can extrude combat-protrusions that are effectively the same as a 2-handed sword (4 ft. blades doing 1d10 damage), it might also have skin as tough as steel.

Str seems like it might be slightly above average, based on its 1d10 damage.

I see no strong indicators for Con.

Define "average" here.

Should it be in the same ballpark as a lesser tanar'ri? For comparison, consider the following AD&D critters.

Busen: HD 8, AC 0, 1d10/1d10
Babau: HD 8+14, AC -3, 1d4+1/1d4+1/2d4
Bar-Igura: HD 6+6, AC 0, 1d6/1d6/2d6
Bulezau: HD 7+3, AC -1, 1d4+1/1d4+1/2d8/1d3 or 2d8/1d3 and weapon +6
Elemental: HD 8, AC 2, 2d10 (air), 4d8 (earth), 3d8 (fire) or 5d6 (water)
Movanic Deva: HD 8, AC -1, 2 attacks by weapon (+1 flame tongue 2H sword)

 

[Cleon]

I'm not sure the shape changing quite fits alternate form or change shape. And it doesn't have much mechanical benefit. Maybe make it "change form" and maybe allow a minor benefit (some forms have a Climb speed, etc)?

Yes, we could give it a list of options and say it chooses whichever one of them fits its assignment.

I'm not sure whether to bother, since it seems more flavour than functional. Its attacks always do the same damage, and there's no mention of them taking on a form in order to gain an additional form of movement.

 

[freyar]

The whirlwind is a good argument for fairly high Dex, though. And, to me, the damage means the Str is probably comparable to the Large air and fire elementals. I'll suggest a line of Str 15, Dex 20, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 11.