Converting Planescape monsters

[Cleon]

Let's sort out the abilities themselves, then we can figure out the table formatting.

OK, we can drop the recharge time, but what SRD critters are you thinking of without the recharge times (not counting SLAs)? I'm just blanking on that.

Destrachans are the first ones that spring to mind. Their Destructive Harmonics are cone attacks with no recharge time.

Do you have a better name?

Something like "Chilling Aura" our "Warmth-Sapping Aura" would sit better with me.

 

[freyar]

Chilling Aura (Su): An ash quasi-elemental radiates an aura of cold energy that does cold damage every round to all creatures within range.

Small: 5 ft. range, 1d3 hp
Medium: 10 ft. range, 1d4 hp
Large 20 ft. range, 1d6 hp
Huge 30 ft. range, 1d8 hp
Greater 30 ft. range, 1d10 hp
Elder 30 ft. range, 1d12 hp
Monolith 40 ft. range, 2d6 hp

Chilling Blast (Su): The ash quasi-elemental can create a cone-shaped blast of cold energy as a standard action, which damages all creatures in the area of effect (Reflex save for half damage).

Small: 10 ft. range, 1d6 hp, DC X
Medium: 20 ft. range, 1d8 hp, DC X
Large: 40 ft. range, 2d6 hp, DC X
Huge: 60 ft. range, 2d8 hp, DC X
Greater: 60 ft. range, 3d6 hp, DC X
Elder: 60 ft. range, 3d8 hp, DC X
Monolith: 80 ft. range, 4d6 hp, DC X


How do those look?

 

[Cleon]

Chilling Aura (Su): An ash quasi-elemental radiates an aura of cold energy that does cold damage every round to all creatures within range.

Small: 5 ft. range, 1d3 hp
Medium: 10 ft. range, 1d4 hp
Large 20 ft. range, 1d6 hp
Huge 30 ft. range, 1d8 hp
Greater 30 ft. range, 1d10 hp
Elder 30 ft. range, 1d12 hp
Monolith 40 ft. range, 2d6 hp

Chilling Blast (Su): The ash quasi-elemental can create a cone-shaped blast of cold energy as a standard action, which damages all creatures in the area of effect (Reflex save for half damage).

Small: 10 ft. range, 1d6 hp, DC X
Medium: 20 ft. range, 1d8 hp, DC X
Large: 40 ft. range, 2d6 hp, DC X
Huge: 60 ft. range, 2d8 hp, DC X
Greater: 60 ft. range, 3d6 hp, DC X
Elder: 60 ft. range, 3d8 hp, DC X
Monolith: 80 ft. range, 4d6 hp, DC X


How do those look?

Looks fine at first glance, although we may want to tweak the damage.

The original monster's "chilling blast" didn't include a save, but I think we should include it in the 3E version.

The cone effect also extinguishes "a normal flame, such as a torch or a campfire" - how are we handling that? I suggest it extinguishes any non-magical fire that does less damage than the Chilling Blast (using the table from the control flames power).

e.g. a Large Ash Quasi-Elemental (2d6 Blast) can extinguish alchemist's fire (1d6 fire) or a small campfire (1d6 fire), but not a large campfire (2d6 fire), which requires a Huge (2d8 Blast) Ash Quasi-Elemental.

 

[freyar]

How about it extinguishes any mundane fire up to 2 size categories smaller than the quasi-elemental? That seems easier than looking up fire damages...

 

[Cleon]

How about it extinguishes any mundane fire up to 2 size categories smaller than the quasi-elemental? That seems easier than looking up fire damages...

Fires don't have size categories as such in the RAW, but they do have intensities in d6s of fire damage.

 

[freyar]

Is there a table of those damage values? Do you just mean in the Control Flames power? That's the only place I find it, and it has both damage and size (which is just like object size).

 

[Cleon]

Is there a table of those damage values? Do you just mean in the Control Flames power? That's the only place I find it, and it has both damage and size (which is just like object size).

Erm, that is what I meant. Which is why I posted:

I suggest it extinguishes any non-magical fire that does less damage than the Chilling Blast (using the table from the control flames power).

 

[freyar]

Oh, right. Got too involved in the discussion to remember all the fine points.

I still think that size categories are easier since the DM wouldn't have to look anything up. And it makes the flame suppression a little more powerful.

 

[Cleon]

I still think that size categories are easier since the DM wouldn't have to look anything up. And it makes the flame suppression a little more powerful.

But fires don't come in standard size categories do they, how would you determine how big they are?

Also, the size of a fire isn't necessarily coupled with its intensity - should a very hot compact heatsource (e.g. an alchemist's furnace) be easier to sap than an expansive cooler fire (e.g. a scattered pile of burning leaves)?

 

[freyar]

While different fuels burn at different temperatures, you're getting away from the rules in the control flames power, which ties damage to size. You know, in the RAW, mundane fire is mundane fire. As for fires coming in size categories: all objects, including fires, fit in standard size categories. Plus, I think it's reasonable that the lingering fire from a direct hit of alchemist's fire is Tiny. I just think that using sizes uses the rules from control flames without making people look the rules up.