Converting Planescape monsters

[demiurge1138]

I think so!

 

[Shade]

Next up is one of the most maligned creatures in the history of D&D (and, not surpisingly, the last demon to be converted). Let's see if we can turn it into something less despicable...

Dire Whiner (Demon)
Frequency: Very Rare
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 0
Move: 6”"
Hit Dice: 10
% in Lair: 100%
Treasure Type: F, G
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 6d6
Special Attacks: See below
Special Defenses: See below
Magic Resistance: See below
Intelligence: High
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: L
Level/X.P. Value: VIII/3,600 + 14/hp

The dire whiner is a type of demon that typically appears as a large, ugly woman, smeared with dirt and slime. Dire whiners usually live in caves or swamps in the Abyss and on most Prime Material planes.

The dire whiner obtains food, treasure, and other necessities by using her special abilities to whine, complain, and put down, which are magically powered insults. (Examples: Whine — “I waaaant a nice magic ring, like that one you’re wearing.” Complain — “Nobody likes me; I’m just a misunderstood old woman.” Put down — “You slob! You don’t have the brains of a worm!”)

The whine ability acts as a suggestion spell. It is used to force the victims of the dire whiner to bring it food and treasure. The complain ability acts as a druidic feeblemind spell. It is used against any magic-using creatures that enter her lair. The final ability, put down, acts as a verbal symbol of hopelessness spell, and is used to break new victims to her will. These abilities can be used one at a time at will. All abilities affect all creatures within earshot.

The dire whiner preys on the demons, mephits, and other creatures of the area. She has accumulated a great store of treasure and magic, and whines to get the accumulated treasures of the party. She complains at magic-using creatures, and uses a put-down to try to force the characters into ultimate submission.

Originally appeared in H4: Throne of Bloodstone (1988).

 

[freyar]

Well, the mechanical abilities are ok, though I don't like the slant of the flavor much. We could go a long way, I think, by getting rid of the gender.

 

[Shade]

Good point.

I can almost see this thing as physically weak, almost comically helpless physically, but with incredible mental prowess. Something like M.O.D.O.K in Marvel comics.

 

[demiurge1138]

Perhaps it should be an amorphous, slug-like creature with alternate form?

 

[Cleon]

Well, the mechanical abilities are ok, though I don't like the slant of the flavor much. We could go a long way, I think, by getting rid of the gender.

Changing the name would make even more sense to me. A lot of things would be better than "Dire Whiner"!

Misery Demon?

Carping Fiend?

Disparagloth (from "Disparage" and the -loth ending some D&D fiends have?)

 

[Cleon]

Perhaps it should be an amorphous, slug-like creature with alternate form?

Having it be a shapechanger makes sense, then it can assume any of a wide range of helpless-looking, pitiful but foul guises (the default old crone, or a limbless beggar, starving street urchin et cetera).

 

[freyar]

Perhaps it should be an amorphous, slug-like creature with alternate form?

I also like this idea.

As for changing the name, I can see the colloquial "dire whiner" and the "real" fiendish name, like we've done before.

 

[Shade]

Agreed to keeping "dire whiner" and adding a fiendish name.

Disparagloth (from "Disparage" and the -loth ending some D&D fiends have?)

"-loth" is for yugoloths, but we could use "-lith" (like the marilith, bebelith, and so on).

Let's figure out ability scores so we can Homebrew this thing.

Similarly HD demons...
Hezrou: Str 21, Dex 10, Con 29, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 18
Vrock: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 25, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 16
Cerebrilith: Str 22, Dex 13, Con 25, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21
Alkilith: Str 16, Dex 25, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15

The alkilith is oozlike, so since we're going with sluglike, we could borrow its Str and Con. Mental prowess should be closer to the psionic cerebrilith.

That gives us Str 16, Dex x, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21

For Dex, do we want to make it sluggish, going with the hezrou's score of 10? If so, we'll need +10 natural armor to get the original AC. The alkilith has +6 natural armor, which might be a better fit. In that case, we'd need Dex 18-19, or give it some sort of deflection or insight bonus.

 

[freyar]

Let's go with Dex 10-11 and the Wis-based insight bonus. That seems to fit the flavor well enough.