Converting Psionic Creatures

[RavinRay]

Looks like these should have our bite version of rend. We called that "maul" IIRC, but that doesn't sound right for a spider. The description of the hook legs also makes them sound like they should have Imp Grab, though it's not specifically mentioned.

Maybe "shred" sounds like a better fit, and I like your idea of Improved Grab.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Psionics Summary

Level Dis/Sci/Dev Attack/Defense Score PSPs
3 2/2/7 -/MB,M- 12 45

Psychometabolism – Science: shadow form; Devotions: body control, body equilibrium, chameleon power, reduction.

Telepathy – Science: mind link; Devotions: contact, attraction, invisibility.

MB,M = mind blank and mental barrier
attraction
body equilibrium
shadow form = shadow body
body control = adapt body
chameleon power = chameleon
reduction = compression
contact = ?
invisibility = SLA?

We'll need to figure out a manifester level, usages per day, and a 3.5 equivalent for contact.

The spider’s mandibles are powerful enough to pierce plate armor.

The claws appear to be the primary attack, but this suggests powerful bite and possibly some ignoring of hardness.

Reuse this?

Powerful Bite (Ex): A walking dead's jaws are extraordinarily powerful. It applies 1-1/2 times its Strength modifier to damage done with its bite.

...and/or this...

Adamantine Bite (Ex): A leucrotta deals bite damage as if its teeth were magic adamantine weapons both for purposes of bypassing the hardness of objects and for overcoming damage reduction. On a critical hit, a leucrotta's bite deals triple damage. A leucrotta often attacks its opponents weapons and shields.

Unlike those of many normal spiders, each of the hook spider’s eight eyes are primary eyes. The eyes are arranged high on the creature’s head, giving it 360-degree vision.

All-around vision?

Hook spiders are almost as intelligent as human beings, and demonstrate a diabolical patience and skill in hunting. They create traps made from materials on hand and their own webbing, they use stealth to surprise their prey, and packs of spiders operate wifh perfect coordination.

This suggests Craft (trapmaking) ranks, and possibly a racial bonus, as well as the usual racial bonuses for hunting spiders.

 

[freyar]

I think what you put in for "maul" is what we've been calling "gnaw," which is more like constrict than rend. I was thinking

Maul (Ex): If a hook spider hits with both claw attacks, it automatically bites doing 1d6 damage and exposing the victim to poison.

Definitely all-around vision.

I think I'd go with both powerful bite and adamantine bite. That would require changing the bite damage in maul, too.

Agreed on trapmaking.

EDIT: I think RavinRay said somewhere upthread that contact isn't necessary in 3.5 psionics.

 

[Cleon]

I think what you put in for "maul" is what we've been calling "gnaw," which is more like constrict than rend. I was thinking

Maul (Ex): If a hook spider hits with both claw attacks, it automatically bites doing 1d6 damage and exposing the victim to poison.

That's fine by me.

Definitely all-around vision.

Likewise.

I think I'd go with both powerful bite and adamantine bite. That would require changing the bite damage in maul, too.

I wouldn't bother with either. We can just give it 1.5 Str bonus to its bite (like a dragon) without needing to clutter up space with a SA to justify it. The biting through plate armour bit just seems to be puffery to me, like saying a monster could "kill a strong warrior with one swipe of a claw". Besides, (a) there's no mention of it gnawing through stone or doing anything else adamantine jaws would allow, and (b) it doesn't need any special attack to pierce plate - any creature can injure a foe in plate armour if their attack roll is high enough!

Agreed on trapmaking.

Yes, trapmaking's good.

EDIT: I think RavinRay said somewhere upthread that contact isn't necessary in 3.5 psionics.

RavinRay was right too. Many of the 2E mind-attack psionics required the attacker to establish a link to the opponent's mind, which was what the Contact power was for.

 

[Cleon]

Maybe "shred" sounds like a better fit, and I like your idea of Improved Grab.

Oh, and Improved Grab is good. Those hooks ought to be good for something!

Shouldn't we add an "auto-grab" effect to the maul, since it pins its opponent?

 

[RavinRay]

invisibility = SLA?

Yes. Just like the duergar's.

At least in the Marvel Universe invisibility can be psionic, just ask Susan Storm Richards.

 

[Shade]

EDIT: I think RavinRay said somewhere upthread that contact isn't necessary in 3.5 psionics.

Ahh, missed that. Thanks!

I wouldn't bother with either. We can just give it 1.5 Str bonus to its bite (like a dragon) without needing to clutter up space with a SA to justify it. The biting through plate armour bit just seems to be puffery to me, like saying a monster could "kill a strong warrior with one swipe of a claw". Besides, (a) there's no mention of it gnawing through stone or doing anything else adamantine jaws would allow, and (b) it doesn't need any special attack to pierce plate - any creature can injure a foe in plate armour if their attack roll is high enough!

I'll agree on dropping the adamantine bite, but powerful bite has been used several times in official sources for non-dragons that need extra Str bonus on secondary attacks. Dragons explicitly spell out the bite doing extra damage in their overview section, so in a way they do go to the trouble to point it out.

Shouldn't we add an "auto-grab" effect to the maul, since it pins its opponent?

We can expand improved grab to include the bite, or simply note in the maul writeup that grappled creatures are automatically pinned.

Yes. Just like the duergar's.

At least in the Marvel Universe invisibility can be psionic, just ask Susan Storm Richards.

Indeed! I always find it odd that "psionic invisibility" isn't a power.

Updated.

We still need a a manifester level and usages per day for the PLAs:

adapt body
attraction
body equilibrium
chameleon
compression
mental barrier
mind blank
shadow body

 

[Cleon]

I'll agree on dropping the adamantine bite, but powerful bite has been used several times in official sources for non-dragons that need extra Str bonus on secondary attacks. Dragons explicitly spell out the bite doing extra damage in their overview section, so in a way they do go to the trouble to point it out.

We can expand improved grab to include the bite, or simply note in the maul writeup that grappled creatures are automatically pinned.

I'm OK with powerful bite, and somewhat prefer the "auto-pin maul".

Indeed! I always find it odd that "psionic invisibility" isn't a power.

It was in AD&D.

We still need a a manifester level and usages per day for the PLAs:

adapt body
attraction
body equilibrium
chameleon
compression
mental barrier
mind blank
shadow body

My first thought was either Manifester level 3 like the original monster or 5 to match its HD. Some of its powers are high level though (e.g. shadow body's 8th level), so maybe we should go for manifester level 10 or something?

It doesn't have any attack powers, so it isn't that overwhelming.

As for usages, how's this:


adapt body 3/day
attraction 3/day
body equilibrium At will
chameleon At will
compression 3/day
mental barrier 3/day
mind blank, personal 1/day
shadow body 1/day

I'm presuming the mind blank is the personal variety.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Skills & Feats next?

Divide its 7 skill points between Craft (trapmaking), Move Silently and Listen?

3 in MS and Listen and 1 in trapmaking?

Multiattack and Weapon Finesse for the feats?