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

[BOZ]

did we agree on decreasing its Str score?

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.

i'm not aware of an effect that drains electricity...

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.

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.

actually, i'm inclined to disagree with that. the 2E will-o-wisp had an AC of -8, which has a lot to do with why its AC is 29 now. the 2E nyth had AC1, which was better than the nimbus' AC2, and the nyth has an AC of 24 now. so while i agree that an AC increase sounds OK, i'd be more inclined to go with, say a +6 deflection bonus. AC 24 seems to be higher than average for CR7 creatures anyway.

 

[Shade]

did we agree on decreasing its Str score?

I don't recall. I'm fine with it, though.

actually, i'm inclined to disagree with that. the 2E will-o-wisp had an AC of -8, which has a lot to do with why its AC is 29 now. the 2E nyth had AC1, which was better than the nimbus' AC2, and the nyth has an AC of 24 now. so while i agree that an AC increase sounds OK, i'd be more inclined to go with, say a +6 deflection bonus. AC 24 seems to be higher than average for CR7 creatures anyway.

Fair enough.

 

[BOZ]

i thought you'd had an idea for the Str score, is why i was asking.


i could have missed it, but i didn't see any size specifics listed in the original text. it was listed as "S" so i went with Small. we could make it the same as a will-o-wisp, or we could go with just anything in the chart on p314 of the MM: 2-4 ft and 8-60 lbs, or whatever else makes sense.


i don't think we discussed this ability:

On the Material Plane, the nimbus isn’t an aggressive creature, playing among the mountain peaks for the sheer joy of it. If attacked, however, it’s well able to defend itself. Its preferred means of attack is to surround its victim in its St. Elmo’s fire form, and electrocute the creature. A successful to hit roll indicates that the nimbus has managed to engulf its target and has discharged its shocking current. If the target is wearing armor made of ferrous metal (iron or steel, but not mithril or adamantine), or is carrying more than 250 gp weight of ferrous metal equipment, the nimbus receives a +2 bonus to its hit roll. Although this is the creature’s preferred manner of attack, it can only use this attack four times per day, since further attacks prohibitively drain the creature’s energy.

and this is what we have for that:

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.

 

[Shade]

i thought you'd had an idea for the Str score, is why i was asking.

Oh yeah. <scrolls back> Str 6 like you suggested earlier should work.

i could have missed it, but i didn't see any size specifics listed in the original text. it was listed as "S" so i went with Small. we could make it the same as a will-o-wisp, or we could go with just anything in the chart on p314 of the MM: 2-4 ft and 8-60 lbs, or whatever else makes sense.

I think it simply left it as "S", so I figured mimicking the wisp would be easiest.

i don't think we discussed this ability:

and this is what we have for that:

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.

While this follows the standard for engulf attacks, I don't think "they are pushed back or aside" really makes sense in this case, nor should they be considered grappled. I see it more like a swarm attack, where the nimbus simply ends its move in the creatures space, and they are vulnerable to its shock attacks until they choose to move. I could see stating that a creature composed of metal or wearing metal armor might not be able to move away without dragging the nimbus with it, though. Thoughts?

 

[BOZ]

While this follows the standard for engulf attacks, I don't think "they are pushed back or aside" really makes sense in this case, nor should they be considered grappled. I see it more like a swarm attack, where the nimbus simply ends its move in the creatures space, and they are vulnerable to its shock attacks until they choose to move. I could see stating that a creature composed of metal or wearing metal armor might not be able to move away without dragging the nimbus with it, though. Thoughts?

you're probably right about "pushing" opponents, since it is mostly insubstantial, but the opponent has to go somewhere when the nimbus moves into is space. instead of "they are pushed back" how about "they must move aside"?

why would metal cause the creature to have to drag the nimbus though?

 

[Shade]

you're probably right about "pushing" opponents, since it is mostly insubstantial, but the opponent has to go somewhere when the nimbus moves into is space. instead of "they are pushed back" how about "they must move aside"?

If it worked like a swarm attack, they wouldn't have to move at all. But otherwise, it could work like blade barrier, where "they must move aside" would work.

why would metal cause the creature to have to drag the nimbus though?

I was picturing attempting to move a metal rod that was being shocked away from the source...the lightning would follow.

 

[BOZ]

like that?

"Electrocute" (Ex): Four times per day, a nimbus in its St. Elmo’s fire form can attempt to surround an opponent and electrocute it. As a standard action, a nimbus can move into the another creature's space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it fills the entire square with its energy form. When using this attack, a nimbus deals automatic shock damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move, with no attack roll needed. This attack is not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover.

Any electrocuted creature composed of metal or wearing metal armor cannot move without dragging the nimbus with it, unless the nimbus chooses to move on its own.

 

[Shade]

I like it!

 

[BOZ]

heh, cool. any preference for this?

On this plane they are solitary creatures. On their own plane, however, they are common, congregating in groups.

 

[Shade]

It's probably easiest to just go with "solitary or group (2-X)" and then mention in the flavor text that they are usually only encountered singly on the Material Plane.

Possible group names: storm, cloud, pattern