Planescape Converting Planescape monsters

[Shade]

Good point about aquatic trippoing...try this one from Oriental Adventures instead:

Unbalancing Strike [General]
You can strike a humanoid opponent's joints to knock your target off-balance.
Prerequisite: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist or monk's stunning attack, Wis 15+.
Benefit: Against a humanoid opponent, you can make an unarmed attack that has a chance of unbalancing your target. If your attack is successful, you deal normal damage and your target must attempt a Reflex saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 your level + your Wisdom modifier). If the target fails this saving throw, he is thrown off balance for 1 round, losing any Dexterity bonus to AC and giving attackers a +2 bonus on their attack rolls.

But you're probably right that IBR is enough.

 

[BOZ]

yeah. this ability might be nice, but this isn't really a combat oriented creature, so IBR will do it for me. besides, it has a couple of other attack forms...

 

[Shade]

That's fine with me.

 

[BOZ]

the rest of its abilities...

Balaenas can also perform a tail slap attack against an opponent in the water with it, Due to the size of the balaenas' tail, the tail slap acts as an area effect weapon. Any creature within 10 yards of the tail slap will automatically take 2-12 points of damage, no save allowed. Victims must then make a saving throw vs. paralyzation or be stunned for 1 -6 melee rounds, It air breathers are stunned in the water, they must make a Constitution check for each round they are left stunned and unattended in the water. Failure means they take an additional 14 points of damage. A balaena will never willingly leave intelligent creatures helpless in the water after a tail slap.

Balaenas can also slap an opponent in the water with their mighty tails. The tail strikes an area 10 feet in diameter. Any creature in this area of effect must successfully save versus paralyzation or suffer 2d6 points of damage. Creatures of size L or smaller are also stunned for 1 to 6 rounds. Human and demihuman swimmers who are stunned must make a Constitution check or suffer 1d4 points of damage each round they are stunned, unless they are immune to drowning or are aided by another creature. A balaena'll never willingly leave intelligent creatures helpless in the water after a tail slap.

this seems like it would be a bit more than a normal tail slap attack. Sounds like it would hit a 10-foot square area, or a 30-foot radius, depending on which version you were using. One version provides for a saving throw to avoid the damage, while the other does not. The one that gives no saving throw allows a save to avoid stunning, while the other stuns automatically if the damage is taken. And, of course, stunned creatures may drown.

Under water, balaenas can emit an extremely loud shrieking noise. Anyone under water within 100 yards of the balaena must make a saving throw vs. breath weapon or be deafened for 2-12 days. This shriek is also 30% likely to attract the attention of, 1-2 other balaena who will arrive within 14 melee rounds. Though they can make their shrieking noise in any round that they don't attack, the roll to attract other balaenas is made only the first time in any combat situation.

A balaena's third means of defense is its magical song. The creature can sing only underwater, and its song affects only other creatures that are submerged. The balaena can make no other attacks during a round in which it sings. There are several possible effects of a balaena's song; first of all, it can use its song to summon help from any other nearby balaenas or to warn them of danger. If it summons help, there is a 30% chance that 1 or 2 other balaenas respond within 2 to 5 melee rounds. (In the River Oceanus, this chance increases to 80%.)

The second effect of the singing is a powerful hypnotism spell; any creature within 100 yards must successfully save versus spell or become susceptible to a telepathic suggestion from the singing balaena. Usually the suggestion is to "cease fighting," or "leave in peace." Last but not least, the song can be used to charm fish or aquatic monsters. The balaena can order these creatures to attack its enemies, but does so only under the direst of circumstances.

The second version of the sonic attack elaborates on the first one a bit.

Because of their acute sense of hearing, balaenas are only surprised on a roll of '1' when under water.

Listen bonus eh?

Balaenas can cast know alignment at will and can communicate with any intelligent creature with their powerful telepathy. Because of their telepathy, they are 50% likely to be able to tell when someone is lying to them.

In addition to their other abilities, balaenas can communicate with any intelligent creature by means of their innate magical telepathy. They can know alignment at will. Due to their keen senses, they are surprised only on a 1 by underwater attackers.

and a few spell-like abilities there, I'd say detect evil and discern lies to keep things simple.

The second method for summoning a balaena is more straightforward. A wizard must step into the water of Oceanus and cast any of the monster summoning spells. This method will always attract the attention of a balaena.

Balaenas're especially important because of their usefulness to travelers along the Oceanus and other bodies of water. A balaena can carry up to 12 man-size creatures on its back indefinitely, swimming almost 100 miles a day. A balaena can carry up to 4 man-size creatures in its mouth if the travelers need to go underwater. The balaena's mouth is relatively dry and clean, and the creature can go as long as half an hour while sharing its air.

On rare occasions, balaenas journey into the Astral Plane or venture to the seas of a prime-material world. These solitary wanderers can spend years exploring these far realms before returning to their home waters.

 

[Shade]

this seems like it would be a bit more than a normal tail slap attack. Sounds like it would hit a 10-foot square area, or a 30-foot radius, depending on which version you were using. One version provides for a saving throw to avoid the damage, while the other does not. The one that gives no saving throw allows a save to avoid stunning, while the other stuns automatically if the damage is taken. And, of course, stunned creatures may drown.

Something like this?

"Stunning Slap" (Ex): Balaenas can slap the water with their mighty tails. All creatures within a 30-foot radius take 2d6 points of damage and must succeed on a DC X Fortitude(?) save or be stunned for 1d6 rounds. Stunned creatures are unable to make Swim checks and may begin to drown. The save DC is Strength(?)-based.

The second version of the sonic attack elaborates on the first one a bit.

I see several options for this ability:

1.) Deafens foes
2.) Summons other balaenas
3.) Suggestion
4.) Charm fish

Do we want all of these?

Listen bonus eh?

Yeah, and maybe Alertness as a feat.

and a few spell-like abilities there, I'd say detect evil and discern lies to keep things simple.

Sounds good.

On rare occasions, balaenas journey into the Astral Plane or venture to the seas of a prime-material world. These solitary wanderers can spend years exploring these far realms before returning to their home waters.

Add astral projection and/or plane shift to the spell-likes?

 

[BOZ]

Something like this?

"Stunning Slap" (Ex): Balaenas can slap the water with their mighty tails. All creatures within a 30-foot radius take 2d6 points of damage and must succeed on a DC X Fortitude(?) save or be stunned for 1d6 rounds. Stunned creatures are unable to make Swim checks and may begin to drown. The save DC is Strength(?)-based.

I like it! yes on Fortitude save and Strength-based DC. Should we add Str bonus to damage or not?

Another thought though… look at these sections again:

Balaenas can also perform a tail slap attack against an opponent in the water with it, Due to the size of the balaenas' tail, the tail slap acts as an area effect weapon. Any creature within 10 yards of the tail slap will automatically take 2-12 points of damage, no save allowed.

Balaenas can also slap an opponent in the water with their mighty tails. The tail strikes an area 10 feet in diameter. Any creature in this area of effect must successfully save versus paralyzation or suffer 2d6 points of damage.

does that not sound like the tail is attacking a single target, but also affecting nearby creatures? I think maybe the tail slap should be its normal attack (2d6+Str 1 1/2), and the residual effect is that if the opponent is waterborne, everyone in the radius also in the water takes 2d6 straight up, and all creatures in the radius make the save or be stunned.

I see several options for this ability:

1.) Deafens foes
2.) Summons other balaenas
3.) Suggestion
4.) Charm fish

Do we want all of these?

maybe the “call your buddies” isn’t so much an ability, but since the other whale-dudes can hear it they can choose to come. The deafening shriek might be a separate ability. The last two could probably be rolled into a “song” power, separate from the louder shriek.

Add astral projection and/or plane shift to the spell-likes?

I was thinking of it as a possibility. Unless their knowledge of planar portals and such is so great that they just know where to go to find their own way there.

Do we have some official 3E rules somewhere about how the River Oceanus works?

Would we need to include anything for these?:

The second method for summoning a balaena is more straightforward. A wizard must step into the water of Oceanus and cast any of the monster summoning spells. This method will always attract the attention of a balaena.

Balaenas’re especially important because of their usefulness to travelers along the Oceanus and other bodies of water. A balaena can carry up to 12 man-size creatures on its back indefinitely, swimming almost 100 miles a day. A balaena can carry up to 4 man-size creatures in its mouth if the travelers need to go underwater. The balaena’s mouth is relatively dry and clean, and the creature can go as long as half an hour while sharing its air.

 

[Shade]

I like it! yes on Fortitude save and Strength-based DC. Should we add Str bonus to damage or not?

Another thought though… look at these sections again:

does that not sound like the tail is attacking a single target, but also affecting nearby creatures? I think maybe the tail slap should be its normal attack (2d6+Str 1 1/2), and the residual effect is that if the opponent is waterborne, everyone in the radius also in the water takes 2d6 straight up, and all creatures in the radius make the save or be stunned.

I agree, the tail slap should be a normal attack dealing 2d6+Str damage and releasing the stunning slap ability if in water.

How about this:

"Stunning Slap" (Ex): If a balaena hits a waterborne opponent with a tail slap attack, all creatures within a 30-foot radius must succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or be stunned for 1d6 rounds. Stunned creatures are unable to make Swim checks and may begin to drown. The save DC is Strength-based. A balaena can also slap the water (rather than a creature) with its mighty tail as a standard action with the same effect.

maybe the “call your buddies” isn’t so much an ability, but since the other whale-dudes can hear it they can choose to come. The deafening shriek might be a separate ability. The last two could probably be rolled into a “song” power, separate from the louder shriek.

That all sounds good.

I was thinking of it as a possibility. Unless their knowledge of planar portals and such is so great that they just know where to go to find their own way there.

Do we have some official 3E rules somewhere about how the River Oceanus works?

Not a whole lot. The Manual of the Planes states "This plane-spanning waterway provides a path between realms, layers, and neighboring Outer Planes." However, it doesn't seem to go to the Astral or Material Planes, so I'd say the spell-likes are warranted.

Would we need to include anything for these?:

No to the summoning, other than adding the usual summon monster spells that can be used.

As for the other, it looks like the very similar elsewhale from Planar Handbook has the answer. Note that the elsewhale is Gargantuan.

Carry Passengers (Ex): An elsewhale can carry up to 1 Large, 4 Medium, or 16 Small creatures in its mouth, without swallowing or otherwise endangering the carried passengers. Only willing passengers may be carried inside the mouth (but unwilling creatures may be caught in the bite grapple). Creatures carried within the closed mouth enjoy a breathable atmosphere for the same period of time that the elsewhale can hold its breath (see below). When carried in the creature's mouth or in its bite grapple, subjects automatically fail their saving throws against the elsewhale's plane shift spell-like ability.

 

[BOZ]

BTW, are there any significant differences between the elsewhale and the balaena, or is one just the other renamed? (of course, even if it is, i'd like to complete this conversion anyway).

 

[Shade]

Let's see:

Elsewhale is a Gargantuan magical beast, not a Huge outsider.

It attacks with bite and tail slap rather than ram and tail slap.

Its only spell-like ability is plane shift. It doesn't have any special whalesong abilities.

SQ: Blindsight 120 ft., carry passengers, hold breath, low-light vision, spell-like abilities

It does not specifically live in the River Ocaeanus.

 

[devilish]

Any thoughts to modrons? They haven't been covered
in 3.5 and only as a WOTC supplement for 3.0