Converting Planescape monsters

[freyar]

Cool!

Huge construct, Int 3, and I figure physical stats like an improved stone or iron golem. It might be worth boosting the HD a little to go with the larger size compared to stone and iron golems. Good size damage values, too!

Special abilities look like: Paralysis gaze, Su ability to break S/P weapons when they hit it, imp grab and swallow whole. Sound right?

 

[Cleon]

Cool!

Huge construct, Int 3, and I figure physical stats like an improved stone or iron golem. It might be worth boosting the HD a little to go with the larger size compared to stone and iron golems. Good size damage values, too!

Special abilities look like: Paralysis gaze, Su ability to break S/P weapons when they hit it, imp grab and swallow whole. Sound right?

The bit about them swallowing foes is in the flavour text but isn't supported by their game mechanics. It could be a special effect they do to foes they've slain with their attacks.

Wouldn't mind giving them Pounce.

Agree about increasing their Hit Dice. Double it to 30 HD?

What shall we do for ability scores:

Huge Stone Golem - Str 37, Dex 7, Con -, Int -, Wis 11, Cha 1, NA +21
Huge Griffon - Str 26, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 13, Cha 8, NA +9
Huge Constrictor Snake - Str 25, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2, NA +4

Give it the Stone Golem's Strength and NA?
Give it the Griffon's Charisma & Dexterity, since it's basically Griffon shaped?
Average the Griffon & Snakes other mental scores?

Griffon-Serpent Golem: Str 37, Dex 13, Con -, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 8, NA +21

 

[freyar]

I think sometimes the planescape monsters have some leeway about what abilities the monsters actually have, so I can go either way on swallow whole (since the victims are screaming, though, I think they're still live). I'm fond of swallow whole, though. Same on pounce.

The rest sounds ok.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Speak Abyssal (or just understand it)?

The original alignment was neutral, but with the ties to the Abyss and some sentience, I'd suggest chaotic evil.

Do we want rake as well (like a griffon), or are we assuming their hindquarters are serpentine? We could make legless and legged varieties, the former with constrict and the latter with rake. Just a thought.

 

[freyar]

Just understand, I think. CE is ok by me.

Let's do two varieties, though whichever one is 2nd should just be an underbar.

Maybe 2d8+Str bludgeoning on Swallow Whole and 20 or 25 hp to cut out?

Paralyzing Gaze (Su): Paralysis, 1d6? rounds, 30 feet, Fortitude DC X negates. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Maybe we should boost Cha to 10 at least?

 

[Shade]

Let's make the one with rake the standard version (since it more closely resembles a true griffon).

Agreed to boosting Cha to 10. Gaze duration looks decent.

Updated.

 

[freyar]

Ok, how do we want to do the "shatters blades" SQ? Literally, any P/S weapon that hits it must save or break?

 

[Shade]

We have several precedents from which we could borrow:

Reflexive Sunder (Ex): The armor plates that cover a rukanyr shift and rub against each other in combat, creating a jarring sound like that of trees rubbing together in a high wind. Anyone who strikes a rukanyr with a slashing or piercing melee attack must make a Reflex save (DC 11) or the armor plates shift and crush the weapon, dealing 4d6+5 points of damage to the weapon and tearing it from the victim's grasp. The weapon lands at the attacker's feet if it is not broken by the damage. The save DC is Dexterity-based.

Frostbrittle (Su): Any weapon that strikes Cryonax has its hardness reduced by 5 for 10 rounds, thereby increasing the effectiveness of sunder attempts against the weapon. In addition, rolling a 1 on an attack with the targeted weapon causes it to take damage equivalent to the amount it would have dealt on a successful hit.

 

[freyar]

Hmm, I'm thinking something like the Reflexive Sunder, but Su.

X (Su): A serpent griffon is surrounded by a crackling field of energy that damages weapons that strike it. Any manufactured weapon that strikes a serpent griffon must make a DC X Fortitude save or take X points of damage. The save DC is X-based.

Should we remind people of item save rules?

 

[Cleon]

Hmm, I'm thinking something like the Reflexive Sunder, but Su.

X (Su): A serpent griffon is surrounded by a crackling field of energy that damages weapons that strike it. Any manufactured weapon that strikes a serpent griffon must make a DC X Fortitude save or take X points of damage. The save DC is X-based.

Should we remind people of item save rules?

I haven't seen anything I really disagree with so far.

I prefer the Reflexive Sunder approach. I'd rather keep the "shimmering" the original description mentions. Something like:

Reflexive Sunder (Su): A serpent griffon golem's scales create a shimmering field of energy that damages weapons that strike it. Any opponent that strikes the golem with a manufactured weapon must make a DC 25 Reflex save or the weapon takes 3d8+13 points of damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

EDIT: Do we want it to only shatter slashing and piercing weapons like in the original description, with bludgeoning weapons being immune? If so, it needs to be more like:

Blade-Sundering Scales (Su): A serpent griffon golem's scales create a shimmering field of energy that damages any slashing or piercing weapon that strike it. Any opponent that strikes the golem with a manufactured non-bludgeoning weapon must make a DC 25 Reflex save or the weapon takes 3d8+13 points of damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.