D&D 3E/3.5 Creature Catalog 3.5 Overhaul Project

[Aspect of BOZ]

Erratic Form (Ex): A nimbus changes form frequently, and has four shapes that it typically appears in: ball lightning (a slowly drifting ball of light similar to a will-o-wisp); sheet lightning (a veil similar to a small aurora); bolt lightning (bolts of light arcing from object to object); or St. Elmo's fire (a diffuse, flickering glow that surrounds an object). The nimbus can change from one form to another at will as a free action. The nimbus can reach its maximum speed of 120 feet only in bolt form; in other forms, it's limited to a speed of 50 feet.

I think we should change this to Alternate Form, similar to how eladrins handle it.

perhaps. it's not a major power or anything, although there are slight ability variations. mostly it's just changing the shape of its energy-body.

Engulf (Ex): A nimbus in the form of St. Elmo’s fire can attempt to surround an opponent and electrocute it. It cannot make a touch attack during a round in which it electrocutes. As a standard action, the nimbus moves into the space of another creature, filling that space up with its energy form. Opponents can make attacks of opportunity against the nimbus, but if they do so they are not entitled to a saving throw. A victim who does not attempt an attack of opportunity must succeed at a Reflex save (DC 16) or be engulfed by the nimbus; on a success, they are pushed back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the nimbus moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the nimbus’ shock touch, and are considered to be grappled and trapped within its body. The nimbus can only use this attack up to four times per day, as further attacks will drain its energy.

If the target is wearing armor made of ferrous metal (such as iron or steel, but not mithril or adamantine), or is carrying more than 25 pounds worth of ferrous metal equipment, the nimbus receives a +2 circumstance bonus to its attack roll.

The second paragraph can be dropped, since it never makes an attack roll to engulf.

Perhaps it still has to hit with its Shock attack, although I'd agree that any creature engulfed automatically takes the damage.

well, actually, that second part was something i put in the strategy text originally. i posted it where i posted it, because it related to the same set of text that the engulf ability came from. it was meant to go with the shock attack, as Mortis surmised.

Rather than stating "as the spell", I'd just go with:

Lightning Bolt (Su): As a standard action, a nimbus can discharge a 60-foot line of lightning that deals 2d6 points of electricity damage (Reflex DC 16 half). The save DC is Constitution(?)-based.

works for me. Constitution is probably right, so DC 15.

DR 10/magic or 5/magic as Mortis suggested.

i'll go with DR 5 since these guys aren't high on the CR.

I'm attempting a rewrite of this to better mimic the fire elemental's burn ability and similar abilities:

Shock (Ex): A nimbus's touch attack deals 5d6 points of electricity damage. Creatures hitting a nimbus with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take Xd6 points of electrical damage. A creature that hits a nimbus with a metallic weapon takes an additional 1d4 points of electrical damage and must succeed on A DC X Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Since stunning causes a creature to drop all held items, I figured it would make sense here. It doesn't seem too powerful for a creature of its CR.

i like it.

Borrowing from Cryonax (which we borrowed from somewhere else)...

Absorb Electricity (Su): A magical attack that deals electricity damage heals a nimbus for 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause a nimbus to exceed its full normal hit points, any excess hit points are lost. A nimbus gets no saving throws against electricity effects.

Now, AFAIK, there is no effect that drains electricity but would a nimbus get a save in that case?

works for me. Mortis, not sure what you mean?

Hmmm....ice storm doesn't technically include water...it's a cold effect. I'd recommend either expanding the ability to encompass all cold effects, or limit it to spells that specifically mention water.

why can't we have both?

I'd add critical hits and sneak attack to that, since it has no discernible anatomy.

that works. could it be flanked?

Static Charge (Ex): When the nimbus is provoked, it generates a static charge powerful enough to give creatures within thirty feet a mild electrical charge. This causes an uncomfortable feeling to creatures within ten feet of the nimbus, and causes any ferrous metal objects to glow with their own St. Elmo's fire. This induced charge does no damage, though it may appear hostile and dangerous.

Perhaps this could function as faerie fire?

splain?

We could modify this:

Incomprehensible (Ex): Because of the blood mother's alien mentality, the gurgling language it speaks in its normal form cannot be understood by any creature except blood elementals and other blood mothers. No mundane or magical effect that usually allows verbal communication (including a tongues spell or a monk's tongue of the sun and moon ability) allows any other creature to understand it. Blood mothers can, however, learn the languages of other species to the limits of their Intelligence. They can understand such languages while in their natural form, but they can speak them only in mortal form. Because they are capable of understanding other languages, blood mothers are not immune to language-dependent effects.

Or the alien mind ability...

Alien Mind (Ex): Any attempt to establish a telepathic link to the Abomination's mind (via detect thoughts, a psionic ability, dominate monster, and so on) automatically fails.

i like the alien mind, though i may grab some bits from the other one. hey, when we were donig our last batch of conversions i asked if we had something like this.

I don't think so. Neither the will-o'-wisp, lantern archon, or shocker are incorporeal.

i agree - no incorpoeality, since it has an energy body like those creatures.

 

[Shade]

perhaps. it's not a major power or anything, although there are slight ability variations. mostly it's just changing the shape of its energy-body.

I'm a fan of consistency, that's all.

Here's what I was thinking...

Change speed line to 50 feet.

Alternate Form (Su): A nimbus has four forms: ball lightning (a slowly drifting ball of light similar to a will-o-wisp); sheet lightning (a veil similar to a small aurora); bolt lightning (bolts of light arcing from object to object); or St. Elmo's fire (a diffuse, flickering glow that surrounds an object). In St. Elmo's fire form, it can use its engulf ability. In bolt lightning form, its fly speed improves to 120 ft. (perfect). It gains no additional abilities in ball or sheet lightning forms.

A nimbus remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does a nimbus revert to any particular form when killed. A true seeing spell reveals all forms simultaneously.

We should probably work this in somewhere as well...

In all its forms, the nimbus gives off a brilliant white or blue-white light.

How about...

Brilliance (Ex): In all its form, the nimbus gives off a brilliant white or blue-white light equal to a light spell.

well, actually, that second part was something i put in the strategy text originally. i posted it where i posted it, because it related to the same set of text that the engulf ability came from. it was meant to go with the shock attack, as Mortis surmised.

Ahh...might want to name-drop the ability, then.

works for me. Constitution is probably right, so DC 15.

Cool.

i'll go with DR 5 since these guys aren't high on the CR.

Again, cool.

why can't we have both?

That works...just be sure to clarify cold counts.

that works. could it be flanked?

Nope.

The alkilith takes it a few steps further...

Amorphous (Ex): An alkilith is not subject to flanking or critical hits. It is immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing.

splain?

"A pale glow surrounds and outlines the subjects. Outlined subjects shed light as candles. Outlined creatures do not benefit from the concealment normally provided by darkness (though a 2nd-level or higher magical darkness effect functions normally), blur, displacement, invisibility, or similar effects. The light is too dim to have any special effect on undead or dark-dwelling creatures vulnerable to light. The faerie fire can be blue, green, or violet, according to your choice at the time of casting. The faerie fire does not cause any harm to the objects or creatures thus outlined."

i like the alien mind, though i may grab some bits from the other one. hey, when we were donig our last batch of conversions i asked if we had something like this.

Yup, good ol' Abom of Driinka, I believe.

i agree - no incorpoeality, since it has an energy body like those creatures.

 

[BOZ]

I'm a fan of consistency, that's all.

Here's what I was thinking...

Change speed line to 50 feet.

Alternate Form (Su): A nimbus has four forms: ball lightning (a slowly drifting ball of light similar to a will-o-wisp); sheet lightning (a veil similar to a small aurora); bolt lightning (bolts of light arcing from object to object); or St. Elmo's fire (a diffuse, flickering glow that surrounds an object). In St. Elmo's fire form, it can use its engulf ability. In bolt lightning form, its fly speed improves to 120 ft. (perfect). It gains no additional abilities in ball or sheet lightning forms.

A nimbus remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does a nimbus revert to any particular form when killed. A true seeing spell reveals all forms simultaneously.

that works for me. before i had it changing forms as a free action. how does it work with the above?

We should probably work this in somewhere as well...

How about...

Brilliance (Ex): In all its form, the nimbus gives off a brilliant white or blue-white light equal to a light spell.

works for me.

Ahh...might want to name-drop the ability, then.

If the target is wearing armor made of ferrous metal (such as iron or steel, but not mithril or adamantine), or is carrying more than 25 pounds worth of ferrous metal equipment, the nimbus receives a +2 circumstance bonus to its attack roll when using its shock ability.

That works...just be sure to clarify cold counts.

hmm... we could keep it simple and give it vulnerability to cold and something like this:

Vulnerability to Water (Ex): A nimbus takes half again as much (+50%) damage as normal from any magical effect that involves water, regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or failure.

Nope.

The alkilith takes it a few steps further...

Amorphous (Ex): An alkilith is not subject to flanking or critical hits. It is immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing.

yoink!

"A pale glow surrounds and outlines the subjects. Outlined subjects shed light as candles. Outlined creatures do not benefit from the concealment normally provided by darkness (though a 2nd-level or higher magical darkness effect functions normally), blur, displacement, invisibility, or similar effects. The light is too dim to have any special effect on undead or dark-dwelling creatures vulnerable to light. The faerie fire can be blue, green, or violet, according to your choice at the time of casting. The faerie fire does not cause any harm to the objects or creatures thus outlined."

ah, like so?

Static Charge (Ex): When a nimbus is provoked, it generates a static charge powerful enough to give creatures within 30 feet a mild electrical charge, which does no damage. This causes an uncomfortable feeling in creatures within 10 feet of the nimbus, and causes any ferrous metal objects to glow as if by the faerie fire spell. This induced charge does no damage, though it may appear hostile and dangerous.

Yup, good ol' Abom of Driinka, I believe.

nope, i think it was maybe the maedar that was "immune to telepathy". we just nixed that ability IIRC rather than give it something cool like alien mind.

 

[Shade]

that works for me. before i had it changing forms as a free action. how does it work with the above?

I changed it to swift to limit it to once per round, but if you'd prefer free action, that is fine as well.

If the target is wearing armor made of ferrous metal (such as iron or steel, but not mithril or adamantine), or is carrying more than 25 pounds worth of ferrous metal equipment, the nimbus receives a +2 circumstance bonus to its attack roll when using its shock ability.

Great!

hmm... we could keep it simple and give it vulnerability to cold and something like this:

Vulnerability to Water (Ex): A nimbus takes half again as much (+50%) damage as normal from any magical effect that involves water, regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or failure.

I like it.

ah, like so?

Static Charge (Ex): When a nimbus is provoked, it generates a static charge powerful enough to give creatures within 30 feet a mild electrical charge, which does no damage. This causes an uncomfortable feeling in creatures within 10 feet of the nimbus, and causes any ferrous metal objects to glow as if by the faerie fire spell. This induced charge does no damage, though it may appear hostile and dangerous.

You're on a roll.

 

[BOZ]

I changed it to swift to limit it to once per round, but if you'd prefer free action, that is fine as well.

you did?

how about:
"A nimbus can assume one of four forms as a swift action"

 

[Shade]

you did?

how about:
"A nimbus can assume one of four forms as a swift action"

Heh. I did, before I apparently cut n' pasted over it! In fact, I think I had nearly exactly what you just proposed.

 

[Mortis]

Mortis, not sure what you mean?

Just thinking out loud really.

A nimbus wouldn't want to save against a lightning bolt (etc) if the end effect is benefical to it. I.E. it gets healed. However, if there was a spell or an effect that could remove electricity from the nimbus (maybe a clever pc would try to 'earth' the nimbus) it would want to save.

Upon reflection however, electricty removed from the nimbus is accounted for in hp loss.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

For its physical characteristics, shall we just borrow from the will-o’-wisp’?

"A will-o’-wisp’s body is a globe of spongy material about 1 foot across and weighing about 3 pounds, and its glowing body sheds as much light as a torch."

For the AC, note the following comparable critters:
Lantern archon: +4 natural armor
Will-o’-wisp: No natural armor, +9 deflection
Nyth: No natural armor, +4 deflection
Shocker: Only Dex

I kinda like the idea of deflection rather than natural armor. Note that the Will-o’-wisp has AC 29 and the nyth AC 24. Our guy is currently sitting at AC 18. Since both the nyth (CR 5) and Will-o’-wisp (CR 6) are lower CR than our guy, I think we should replace its natural armor with at least a +9 deflection bonus, which would give it AC 25.

 

[Mortis]

I kinda like the idea of deflection rather than natural armor. Note that the Will-o’-wisp has AC 29 and the nyth AC 24. Our guy is currently sitting at AC 18. Since both the nyth (CR 5) and Will-o’-wisp (CR 6) are lower CR than our guy, I think we should replace its natural armor with at least a +9 deflection bonus, which would give it AC 25.

I agree with the Deflection bonus instead of Natural Armor, but I would be tempted to go higher - say +12. Although I could accept +10 as a minimum, not that it is down to me

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

I agree with the Deflection bonus instead of Natural Armor, but I would be tempted to go higher - say +12. Although I could accept +10 as a minimum, not that it is down to me

I don't see a problem with +12...the wisp is +5 better than the nyth at only 1 CR higher, and this fella is two CRs higher than the wisp.