[EQ/WoW] Converting the froglok/murloc to *D&D

[dd.stevenson]

I would be disappointed if the Croakers (cool name, BTW) didn't have some sort of tongue grappling / disarming / tripping ability.

Lots of good ideas on this thread.

Thing is, if I were introducing a kid to 3.x, I think I would steer them away from the grappling rules.

honestly, the best bet here might be a refluff of Pathfinder's throwing net.

 

[Ramaster]

The combat maneuver vs combat maneuver defense system from pathfinder y much easier to grasp and makes a tiny bit more sense than 3.5 rules for such things. I would run the game as pathfinder rather than D&D if I was you. The SRD is wicked good and combat maneuvers are much clearer and easy to understand.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Even a sharp five and a half year old would give up on either 3E or Pathfinder. I'm going with a stripped down version of C&C. My brother learned to play AD&D as an elementary schooler, and this is a close modern analogue.

 

[dd.stevenson]

Fair enough. The OP talked about the SRD, so I just assumed 3rd.

C&C sounds like a much better way to go, though.

 

[Kinak]

If you want a tongue attack, the Pathfinder boggard actually has a pretty cool non-grapple tongue attack:

Sticky Tongue (Ex) A creature hit by a boggard's tongue attack cannot move more than 10 feet away from the boggard and takes a –2 penalty to AC as long as the tongue is attached (this penalty does not stack if multiple tongues are attached). The tongue can be removed by making an opposed Strength check as a standard action or by dealing 2 points of slashing damage to the tongue (AC 11, damage does not deplete the boggard's actual hit points). The boggard cannot move more than 10 feet away from the target, but the boggard can release its tongue as a free action. Unlike a giant frog, a boggard cannot pull targets toward it with its tongue.

Granted, you'd want to pare that down for old school play, like:
"A creature hit by the croaker's tongue attack cannot move more than 10 feet away from the croaker, nor can the croaker move more than 10 from it. The victim can use a standard action to cut through the tongue with a slashing weapon or make an opposed Strength check to detatch the tongue."

It still being kind of complicated aside, I don't think it's a great fit for the croakers. Might be good for their (theoretical) frog pets, though, as it combines evilly with the croakers tendency to run away.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, these guys are froggy cannon fodder, not more complex monsters. A combat move like that befits a more special critter instead.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Would a single Expeditious Retreat equivalent a day be too few for Croakers to receive?

 

[dd.stevenson]

Honestly, I don't think I would sweat it--not for cannon fodder. Maybe take a page from 5E: if they're running in fear, on a roll of 5-6 on a d6 they benefit from expeditious retreat. Makes em erratic, and keeps the bookkeeper at bay.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Honestly, I don't think I would sweat it--not for cannon fodder. Maybe take a page from 5E: if they're running in fear, on a roll of 5-6 on a d6 they benefit from expeditious retreat. Makes em erratic, and keeps the bookkeeper at bay.

I like that idea.