D&D 4E Design a Modron in 4E, Enworld Community!

[Daniel D. Fox]

Love 'em or hate 'em, Modrons remain one of the most inexplicable and dangerous (if not perhaps silly) foes of the Outer Planes. With the advent of the multiversal reorganization of the planes, Modrons have a firm place in Mechanus, an Astral dominion comprised of slowly spinning continent-sized cogs of electrum and astral diamond.

As a part of the new mythology, I'd like to drive a community effort to redesign the Modrons with 4E in mind (single-functioning modrons). As the originator of this thread, I'll start with the base Monodrone; the messenger and the servile (as a minion). Feel free to add your own versions, or work your way up towards Primus as an Exarch of Erathis!

Try to carry over the same immunities I listed for the base modrons, scaling upward by Heroic, Paragon and Epic levels:
Immune poison; Resist 5 fire, 5 acid, 5 cold
Saving Throws +5 against charm effects


Unofficial Changes to Mechanus in 4E and the Modrons
As Regulus touches the very edge of the Elemental Chaos, I am using abilities that cause the modrons to go "haywire". This is to reflect some of the changes in the multiverse, and give the old-school Modrons some sort of unpredictability (see Regulus Is Amiss). This is a result of the Great Modron March (for you 2nd edition folks), as punishment by Erathis against his exarch Primus.

Erathis "moved" Regulus closer to the Elemental Chaos in the Astral, which has caused some upheaval. Primus and his modrons have steadily became less lawful over time, leaning towards Unaligned with Erathis. Of course, this has given rise to another faction of the Modrons lead by Primus's contemporary, an exarch of Erathis called Secundus who's cold logic drives a great internal war between Regulus and Remus (home of Secundus and the purely Lawful Neutral Modrons). Basically, Primus's modrons in Regulus are developing free will and are Unaligned while Secundus's modrons in Remus are nearly mindless and Lawful Neutral.

With the Elemental Chaos influence, Rogue Modrons and even elementally-infused Modrons are definitely a possibility!

Monodrone Messenger Level 4 Soldier
Medium abberant humanoid (living construct) XP 175
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +3, Darkvision
HP 56; Bloodied 28; see also regulus is amiss
AC 20; Fortitude 15, Refl ex 15, Will 17
Immune poison; Resist 5 fire, 5 acid, 5 cold
Saving Throws +5 against charm effects
Speed 5; fly 10 (clumsy)
mLogical Thrust (standard; at-will) ✦Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the
end of the monodrone messenger’s next turn; see also hive mind
Hive Mind
The monodrone messenger gains a +1 bonus to melee attacks if it has
an ally adjacent to the target.
Regulus Is Amiss (immediate reaction; when bloodied)
The monodrone messenger makes a basic attack against the
nearest foe or ally
Alignment Any Languages Supernal
Skills Endurance +8, Intimidate +7
Str 18 (+6) Dex 14 (+4) Wis16 (+5)
Con 13 (+3) Int 10 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment plate armor, light shield, spear


Monodrone Servile Level 4 Minion
Medium abberant humanoid (living construct) XP 44
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +3, Darkvision
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion; see
also regulus is amiss
AC 20; Fortitude 15, Refl ex 15, Will 17
Immune poison; Resist 5 fire, 5 acid, 5 cold
Saving Throws +5 against charm effects
Speed 5; climb 7 (spider climb)
mLogical Thrust (standard; at-will) ✦Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the
end of the monodrone servile’s next turn; see also hive mind
Hive Mind
The monodrone servile gains a +1 bonus to melee attacks if it has
an ally adjacent to the target.
Regulus Is Amiss (immediate reaction; when killed)
The monodrone servile makes a basic attack against the
nearest foe or ally
Alignment Any Languages Supernal
Skills Endurance +8, Intimidate +7
Str 18 (+6) Dex 14 (+4) Wis16 (+5)
Con 13 (+3) Int 10 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment plate armor, light shield, spear

 

[avin]

Hmmm... not Secundus, maybe some of them start to get conscious of the world around... lots of Rogue Modrons...

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

Here's a template for a Modron that has been tainted by the Elemental Chaos:

Elementally-Tainted Elite Controller
Humanoid or magical beast (elemental, see body of elemental chaos) XP Elite
Defenses +2 Reflex/AC for Air, +2 Fort/AC for Earth,
+2 Reflex/Fort for Fire or +2 Reflex/Will for Water
Resist 5 (air, earth, fire or water) at 1st level, 10 fire at 11th level, 15 at 21st
level
Saving Throws +2
Action Point 1
Hit Points +8 per level + Constitution score
Powers
Body of Elemental Chaos
Choose either air, fire, water or earth. Any creature that hits the elementally-tainted
with a melee attack takes elemental damage equal to 2 + one-half its level.
Master of the Elements
The Elementally-Tainted can convert any attack power it has
to it’s native element. Change a power’s energy keyword, or add
elemental energy to an attack power that doesn’t normally deal
energy damage.

 

[Szatany]

Here's a template for a Modron that has been tainted by the Elemental Chaos:

Hmm chaotic modrons. Madrons?

 

[HazardCatcher]

Hmm chaotic modrons. Madrons?

HAHA! Yes!

 

[Evilhalfling]

I like the idea, unfortunately it doesn't fit in my 4e world's cosmology.
but minions that mark? ewww.

so what progression are you thinking? I'm okay with level 4 as a base, but.. I don't think monodrones should ever be a threat individually, only showing up as minions, they always went down with 1 hit, why change this now?

Mondron - minion only
duodrone - brutes.
tridrone - skirmishers
quadrone - soldiers (artillery)
pentadrone - elite controller (last heroic threat)

I don't know bout duodrones - they are barely intelligent laborers (according to the 3e web enhancement I have handy) but they do poor damage.
They might be best as minions as well.