D&D 3.x Creature Catalog 3.5 Overhaul Project

[Shade]

True.

 

[BOZ]

Prehensile Trunk (Ex): A baku can use its trunk as an extra "hand". It can grasp melee weapons and use them in combat, although the normal penalties for using an off-hand weapon apply, and its trunk counts as a third hand for the purpose of the Multiweapon Fighting feat and all other feats for which it is a prerequisite. A baku can also utilize certain magic items with its trunk, such as wands, rods, and staffs.

A baku can also use its trunk to assist with grapple checks and Climb checks, gaining a +2 competence bonus on all such checks. A baku loses its slam attack when using its trunk for anything else.

 

[Shade]

That works. We'll need to give this fella high ranks in Use Magic Device.

 

[BOZ]

ah, good point! added in the remaining ranks and synergy bonuses:

Abilities: Str 28, Dex 16, Con 21, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 15
Skills: (165) Bluff +15, Concentration +18, Diplomacy +21, Disguise +2 (+4 acting), Intimidate +4, Knowledge (arcana/psionics) +18, Knowledge (the planes) +18, Listen +18, Heal +16, Search +16, Sense Motive +16, Spot +18, Survival +17 (+19 other planes, +19 following tracks), Use Magic Device +17
Feats: Alertness, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will (plus one)

 

[full_moon_draw]

Psionics

I was looking round the General Monster Talk forum & found this thread. Thought I'd have a crack at the Psionics on this creature. As Psionic conversion seems to be my bag at the moment. I'm using my converstion of the Psionics handbook to map the powers (the conversion is available on a thread over on the conversions forum).


I've dropped all the abilities that weren't marked as "*All Baku have these Psionic powers". I'd suggest that we give the base creature the default set only, make advancement "by character class" & make the Baku's favoured class Wilder. I'd have thought the creatures level adajustment would be somewhere in the region of +8.


Psi-Like Abilities (Sp)
At Will: Astral Traveller (Will DC 11+Cha Mod), Animal Affinity, Body Adjustment, Cloud Mind (DC 12+Cha Mod), Compression, Demoralise (Will DC 11+Cha Mod), Ectoplasmic Form, Empathic Transfer, Psychic Crush (Will DC 15+Cha Mod),
3/Day: Aura Sight, Metamorphosis.

Manifester Level 12, Saves Are Charisma Based

Hope that's of some help? - Feel free to disregard - FMD

 

[BOZ]

see shade, seek and ye shall find.

how do the skills look above, BTW?

 

[Shade]

Woo-hoo! Thanks, full_moon_draw.

I'd drop Search and replace it with Spellcraft/Psicraft.

For the remaining feat with Magical Aptitude or Psionic Affinity.

I'd stick with advancing by HD...but nothing would prevent it from taking wilder or psion levels.

 

[BOZ]

i'll take a more in-depth look at the psionics shortly.

 

[full_moon_draw]

That little Psionic problem

i'll take a more in-depth look at the psionics shortly.

I think that's probably a good idea! Whilst I feel that my conversion into psi-like abilities works, I'm concerned that it fails to completely mirror the creatures 2nd edition capability. The old system gave the creature a pool of power points which it could draw on - thus giving it far more flexibility with it's use of psionic powers. This mechanisim would appear to have been dropped under D&D 3.x!

If you REALY want to mirror the original flexibility under D&D 3.x there's (as far as I can see) two ways of doing it. Firstly, give the creature levels in a psionic class (probably not such a wonderful idea as this would do horrible things to the CR). Secondly, somehow explore the concept of "wild" psionics (as used to exist under "Dark Sun rules" - but that's stepping outside the core rules!)

Anyway - If I can help, please let me know!!!

Cheers - FMD

 

[BOZ]

well, there are some creatures (see elder brain in Lords of Madness for example) that can manifest psionics as a psion, just like how solars can cast spells as a cleric.

not sure that i want to go this way with a baku though... in fact, i'd rather not.