Expedition to the Barrier Peaks: Androids, Robots, Assorted Flora and Fauna

[VorpalBunny]

Gosh, I'm in awe that you are even trying to tackle such a project. I'm interested like the rest to see you pull this off. As far as suggestions? Don't burn yourself out on this.
None-the-less I'd love to share this gem of an adventure with all the "newbies" I game with who only know of AD&D from my "back in my day" side tracks.

Keep us posted & good luck!

Thanks! Yeah, I'm convinved that I need psychiatric help . But with my gaming group on temporary hiatus I have more time on my hands - and idle hands *are* the devil's playground... When it's (finally) done I plan on submitting it to the conversion library so anyone who wants it will have free access to it.

I'm up to level 3, but taking things fairly slowly, so I don't burn myself out (and also to see if I can steal stuff from the d20 Future SRD when it's released. )

Have you thought about making them ablative DR, like Stoneskin? Make it DR 10/- ablative up to 20 (I'd up this to 40 for the conversion, as the amount of damage PCs of appropriate level can dish out is obscene) that regenerates 3 per round?

Good idea. The only reservation I have about DR is that according to the rules, DR is bypassed by energy attacks and there is *a lot* of energy weapons to be had in this adventure.

 

[Enkhidu]

The only reservation I have about DR is that according to the rules, DR is bypassed by energy attacks and there is *a lot* of energy weapons to be had in this adventure.

I had forgotten about that - but its a fairly simple fix. The shield provides both DR and ER - both ablative (which means that a shocking burst great axe hit might take out the shield in one hit, but that's what shocking burst greataxes are supposed to do!).

 

[Piratecat]

I'd probably handle the shielding as temporary hit points that slowly get regained round by round. Sure, you can describe it as a force shield... but it really just uses the hit point mechanic.

 

[Enkhidu]

I'd probably handle the shielding as temporary hit points that slowly get regained round by round. Sure, you can describe it as a force shield... but it really just uses the hit point mechanic.

It wasn't until you posted this that I realized that my DR/ER idea above just re-invented the wheel. D'oh!

 

[VorpalBunny]

I'd probably handle the shielding as temporary hit points that slowly get regained round by round. Sure, you can describe it as a force shield... but it really just uses the hit point mechanic.

Right-o. Basically it's a 20 hit point kicker for police robots. With 3e damage potentials it shouldn't make that much of a difference though (depending, of course on how fast the shield regenerates... ).

 

[Piratecat]

I'm a big believer in simplicity. The less stuff I have to keep track of, the happier I am -- and this is a good example of where a simple mechanic models a complex idea. Just never tell the PCs how it works.

 

[VorpalBunny]

One of the "killer plants" from level four.

[Edit: I fiddled around some more and came up with this. I increased the size of the plant (according to the wtite up in the adventure, they're 8 ft. to 13 ft. tall), gave it a Dexterity attribute, and upped the Con score a little bit.]

PURPLE BLOSSOM

Large Plant
Hit Dice: 6d8+6 (33 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 0 ft.
AC: 12 (-1 size, +3 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+3
Attack: Sap +4 ranged (special)
Full Attack: Sap +4 ranged (special)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Sap
Special Qualities: Plant, tremorsense 10 ft.
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +3
Abilities: Str –, Dex 10, Con 13, Int –, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: Temperate and warm forests
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-10 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: -

Sap (Ex): The vibrations of any creature passing beneath the purple flowers of this plant will cause them to tilt and drip sap from the flower. If a creature is struck by the sap it must roll a DC 14 Fortitude save or take 3d6 Con primary and secondary damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[Piratecat]

Does 3d6 con seem high to anyone else? In addition, players might want to harvest the sap for their own use as a weapon. "Here, Mr. Dragon. Have a nice salad appetizer!"

 

[VorpalBunny]

Does 3d6 con seem high to anyone else? In addition, players might want to harvest the sap for their own use as a weapon. "Here, Mr. Dragon. Have a nice salad appetizer!"

As I was converting it the voice in the back of my head said the damage values might be excessive; but with a +4 attack bonus and DC 14 Fort save it doesn't seem too difficult (especially for mid-level characters). Remember - the original's sap caused instantaneous death on a failed save (with a 25% "to hit" chance I might add) - I wanted to keep the flavor of the original without nerfing the plant too much - but I think 1d10 Con/1d10 Con might work well too. Enough damage to kill an average creature (an average of 11 points Con damage with two failed saves), but still enough to make a hardened adventurer think twice. Watcha think?

It didn't occur to me that PCs might want to harvest the sap . Any ideas as to a gp value? Black lotus extract goes for 4,500 gp in the DMG. It inflicts the same damage (3d6 Con/3d6 Con) but has a higher save (DC 20). I'm thinking that kight be a good place to start...

 

[Piratecat]

I like the 1d10/1d10; high enough to be freakin' scary, but not necessarily an instant death sentence. As for the price, I'd peg it at 3800 if you're using 3d6/3d6 - DC 14, and 2500 if you're using 1d10/1d10 - DC 14.