D&D 3.x Creature Catalog 3.5 Overhaul Project

[Shade]

For the Attack line, I'd just go with claw or scimitar or quarterstaff.

I think the LAs from earlier still hold up.

The save DC for call lightning should be Cha-based, since all spell-like abilities are Cha-based, right?

Weights: Per Races of Faerun, aarakocras stand about 5 feet tall and only weigh about 90 pounds on average. Since the kenku are 5-7 feet tall, perhaps 90-150 lbs?

For the mimic spell abilities, how about they cast as sorcerer of a level equal to their HD?

 

[BOZ]

A few small issues:

Caster level for alternate form – is that important or can we just go “as HD” again?

For the clan elder, the organization was listed like this originally in the CC:
Organization: Solitary, pair, or gang (3-6
Think this is little more than a case of missing a ) or should it be more like “gang (3-6 clan elders and X kenku”?

Mimic spell DC would be 10 + spell level + Cha mod?

For call lightning, the only reason I wonder if the DC might be Wis-based is because that is a driud spell. I’m not picky though, Cha is fine. How many times per day do you think the clan leader should use this baby? At will might be too much, how about 1-3 times per day?

Other than that, it’s lookin good to me.

 

[Shade]

Caster level for alternate form – is that important or can we just go “as HD” again?

Actually, none of the eladrin even make mention of caster level in their alternate form ability. So I don't think we need one.

For the clan elder, the organization was listed like this originally in the CC:
Organization: Solitary, pair, or gang (3-6
Think this is little more than a case of missing a ) or should it be more like “gang (3-6 clan elders and X kenku”?

It seems weird that the clan elders would run around without regular kenku, doesn't it? So I'd go with 3-6 clan elders and 3-6 kenku.

Mimic spell DC would be 10 + spell level + Cha mod?

Yep.

For call lightning, the only reason I wonder if the DC might be Wis-based is because that is a driud spell. I’m not picky though, Cha is fine. How many times per day do you think the clan leader should use this baby? At will might be too much, how about 1-3 times per day?

According to the SRD, spell-like save DCs are always based on Charisma. I like 3/day.

Other than that, it’s lookin good to me.

Me too.

 

[BOZ]

Actually, none of the eladrin even make mention of caster level in their alternate form ability.

true, but those descriptions also do not mention the polymorph spell. i noticed that the quasit does, and it gives caster level 12, and some of the metallic dragons have it the caster level being their caster level.

 

[Shade]

Interesting. Weird, but interesting. I guess go with HD=caster level?

 

[BOZ]

Well, I thing one of the key things is that duration is one minute per level… it also affects the HD that the creature will have in the new form, but that is not really a problem.

Do you remember where you originally copied that description from?

 

[Shade]

I had to scroll back a few pages to find it, but it looks like I copied it from the phasm.

I think it makes sense now. The eladrins don't have caster levels because they can stay in their alternate form indefinitely. Essentially, they have two forms, and neither one is their "true" form. All these other critters have a true form, but can take on various other forms. Does that seem right?

 

[BOZ]

I see what you mean, and I came to the same conclusion.

Here is what we’ve taken it from.

They also have the innate ability of shape change once in every 30 days; after 7 days in the changed shape, they must resume normal form.

The problem is that we are contradicting ourselves.

Here is what we have so far.

Alternate Form (Su): A kenku can assume any form of Large size or smaller as a standard action. This ability functions as a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level Xth), except that the kenku does not regain hit points for changing form. A kenku can remain in its alternate form until it chooses to return to its natural form, or after seven days have passed, whichever comes first. It may only use this ability once every 30 days.

see the contradiction? We have a maximum duration in one part, but in another part we have a implied duration based on a caster level. Either we need to stick with the original maximum duration of 1 week, or skip that and go with a more limited duration as dictated by caster level and the polymorph spell.

 

[Shade]

Actually, you may be reading too much into this.

Alternate Form (Su): A kenku can assume any form of Large size or smaller as a standard action. This ability functions as a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level Xth), except that the kenku does not regain hit points for changing form. A kenku can remain in its alternate form until it chooses to return to its natural form, or after seven days have passed, whichever comes first. It may only use this ability once every 30 days.

Compare to the phasm....

Alternate Form (Su): A phasm can assume any form of Large size or smaller as a standard action. This ability functions as a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level 15th), except that the phasm does not regain hit points for changing form. A phasm can remain in its alternate form until it chooses to assume a new one or return to its natural form.

The phasm seems just as contradictory...is it 15 minutes (1 min/level as the polymorph spell) or indefinitely?

And now compare to the quasit:

Alternate Form (Su): A quasit can assume other forms at will as a standard action. This ability functions as a polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level 12th), except that a quasit does not regain hit points for changing form, and any individual quasit can assume only one or two forms no larger than Medium. Common forms include bat, monstrous centipede, toad, and wolf. A quasit in alternate form loses its poison attack.

Note that the quasit lacks any additional statement mentioning that it can remain in its alternate form until it chooses to assume a new one or return to its natural form. To me, this implies that the quasit is limited to the one minute per caster level, while the phasm (and in our case, the kenku) are not limited to the normal duration of the polymorph spell.

I think the wording of alternate form is poor in general, and that is where the problem lies. Thoughts?

 

[BOZ]

I agree that the phasm’s description is completely contradictory in that respect. However, this is how I’m choosing to look at it. Whenever a creature has an ability that functions similarly to a spell, it is assumed that the ability functions in the exact same way as said spell, given caster level, except for anything listed in the ability’s description which overrides or alters that. therefore, I would assume that a phasm could stay in an alternate form as long as it likes, and that a kenku could stay in an alternate form for up to a week. A quasit, however, is limited to 12 minutes at most. Given the kenku’s limitation of using this power only once monthly, a full week is a hell of a lot better than the nearly useless few minutes.

As I mentioned earlier, the other function of the spell is how many HD a kenku would have when appearing as something else. For this respect, I’d say it’s good that a kenku should not duplicate something more powerful than itself (despite the fact that they may “appear” as a god – they could pull off the deception as long as they don’t have to offer up proof of all that power!). therefore, having caster level = HD is a good idea.

Also, should we offer any caveat about the kenku not being able to use certain abilities (backstab, evasion, spells) while transformed or should it be a-OK in any form?

Satisfactory, otherwise?