trystero
Explorer
I'm not Sacrosanct, but he mentioned "access to CS3" in an earlier post, so I'm guessing Adobe InDesign CS3?
Give me your monster conversion request!
- Thread starter Sacrosanct
- Start date
I'm not Sacrosanct, but he mentioned "access to CS3" in an earlier post, so I'm guessing Adobe InDesign CS3?
Sacrosanct
Legend
In retrospect, you're probably right. I didn't see that clearly defined anywhere so I didn't do that sort of reverse engineering, and I guess I'll go back to my original disclaimer. I.e., I'm sure not everything is perfect, but I went with what felt right. For something like that, it's easy enough to adjust if you want. For things like Lancelot pointed out, those needed a rewrite I felt.
Hope that makes sense.
I use InDesign. I don't really have a template, per se. I just use an existing monster and replace the stats with the new ones, rather than re type everything all over again.
Unfortunately I'm traveling all week and don't have access to that computer to do any more.
Sacrosanct
Legend
So I'm back to my home PC 
That means a new monster. And that means I just had to do this famous (or rather infamous) Flail Snail!
That means a new monster. And that means I just had to do this famous (or rather infamous) Flail Snail!
Sacrosanct
Legend
One more for today, another famous creature
View attachment 64371
View attachment 64371
Attachments
Sacrosanct
Legend
OK one more, because I really wanted to use this in my own megadungeon, and the darkmantle was too low of a CR and the cloaker was too high. I wanted something in the middle.
The_Gneech
Explorer
I love these! Just sayin'.
-TG
-TG
Sacrosanct
Legend
Been working on an aquatic adventure, so here are two more
Ilbranteloth
Explorer
Here are a few you can easily write up in your format if you'd like. All from the Forgotten Realms. They borrow stat blocks from other monsters, and the major differences are in the descriptions.
Banedead
As ghast with the following changes.
No stench.
Ability Drain (Dexterity). Instead of paralysis, a successful strike with a claw attack reduces the target’s Dexterity score by 1d4. The target is paralyzed if this reduces their Dexterity to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
Baneguard
As skeleton with the following additions:
Innate Spellcasting. The baneguard’s innate spell casting ability is Charisma (Spell save 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
3/day: magic missile
1/day: blink. CR: 2
Direguard
As skeleton with the following additions:
Spectral Armor. The skeleton wears black, shadowy, semitransparent armor so that its bones show through, and red flames burn in their eye sockets. +1 AC and it has the ability to see invisible objects and creatures.
Innate Spellcasting. The baneguard’s innate spell casting ability is Charisma (Spell save 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
3/day: magic missile
1/day: blink.
CR: 2
Dread Warrior
As wight, except no life drain. (It's basically the skeleton or undead of a 4th level fighter).
Gulguthydra (one of my favorites)
As hydra plus the addition of two Otyugh-like tentacles.
It does not regrow heads.
It’s covered in a thick coating of greasy slime and excrement.
They are not subtle, the move straight toward what looks most edible, grab it, slam it to stun it, then eat it. Exposed skin, fur, or leather armor attracts its attention. Food encased in metal armor is its second preference.
Stench. Any creature that starts its turn within 80 feet of the gulguthydra must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. On a successful saving throw, the creature is immune to the gulguthydra’s stench for 24 hours.
Multiattack. The gulguthydra makes two tentacle attacks and five bite attacks.
Bite. In addition to the normal bite damage, the creature must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be infected with a disease. If the creature fails its Death saving throw to recover the disease, its maximum hit points are reduced by 5 (1d10). The target is dying if the disease reduces its hit points to 0. The reduction in maximum hit points lasts until the disease is cured, unless the creature is reduced to a maximum hit points of 0 and dying. If the creature recovers, its maximum hit points is permanently reduced by 1d10.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft, one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage plus 4 (1d8) piercing damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 13) and restrained until the grapple ends. The gulguthydra has two tentacles, each or which can grapple one target.
Tentacle Slam. The gulguthydra slams creatures grappled by it into each other or a solid surface. Each creature must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or take 10 (2d6+3) bludgoning damage and be stunned until the end of the gulguthydra’s next turn. On a successful save, the target takes half the bludgeoning damage and isn’t stunned.
Ilbrandlin
As Red Dragon wyrmling except:
No wings or flight.
Pin. An ibrandlin can jump and land on opponents, using its whole body to attack. A pin attack is only effective against Medium-sized or smaller creatures. It can pin as many creatures as will fit under its body (a 10-ft by 30-ft area). Targets must roll a DC 20 Dexterity save or be pinned under the Ilbrandlin. Creatures pinned take 4d6 bludgeoning damage per round until they escape with a DC 20 Strength check. The Ilbrandlin can choose not to inflict this damage.
Unicorn, Black
As unicorn except it’s chaotic evil, coal black, a spiraled silver horn, and burning red eyes.
Instead of Healing Touch it inflicts wounds (3/day).
I also needed this one for Steading of the Hill Giant Chief:
Dire Bear
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed: 40
STR 21 (+5) DEX 12 (+1) CON 18 (+4) INT 2 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 7 (-2)
Skills: Perception +3
Senses: Passive Perception 13
Languages: -
Challenge: 7
Keen Smell. The dire bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Maul. If the dire bear hits with both its bite and claw attack, the target is grappled. On subsequent rounds if the target remains grappled, the target takes 41 (4d10 + 20) bludgeoning damage.
Actions
Multiattack. The dire bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit:15 (1d10 + 10) piercing damage
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 19 (2d8 +10) slashing damage
Ilbranteloth
Banedead
As ghast with the following changes.
No stench.
Ability Drain (Dexterity). Instead of paralysis, a successful strike with a claw attack reduces the target’s Dexterity score by 1d4. The target is paralyzed if this reduces their Dexterity to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
Baneguard
As skeleton with the following additions:
Innate Spellcasting. The baneguard’s innate spell casting ability is Charisma (Spell save 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
3/day: magic missile
1/day: blink. CR: 2
Direguard
As skeleton with the following additions:
Spectral Armor. The skeleton wears black, shadowy, semitransparent armor so that its bones show through, and red flames burn in their eye sockets. +1 AC and it has the ability to see invisible objects and creatures.
Innate Spellcasting. The baneguard’s innate spell casting ability is Charisma (Spell save 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
3/day: magic missile
1/day: blink.
CR: 2
Dread Warrior
As wight, except no life drain. (It's basically the skeleton or undead of a 4th level fighter).
Gulguthydra (one of my favorites)
As hydra plus the addition of two Otyugh-like tentacles.
It does not regrow heads.
It’s covered in a thick coating of greasy slime and excrement.
They are not subtle, the move straight toward what looks most edible, grab it, slam it to stun it, then eat it. Exposed skin, fur, or leather armor attracts its attention. Food encased in metal armor is its second preference.
Stench. Any creature that starts its turn within 80 feet of the gulguthydra must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. On a successful saving throw, the creature is immune to the gulguthydra’s stench for 24 hours.
Multiattack. The gulguthydra makes two tentacle attacks and five bite attacks.
Bite. In addition to the normal bite damage, the creature must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be infected with a disease. If the creature fails its Death saving throw to recover the disease, its maximum hit points are reduced by 5 (1d10). The target is dying if the disease reduces its hit points to 0. The reduction in maximum hit points lasts until the disease is cured, unless the creature is reduced to a maximum hit points of 0 and dying. If the creature recovers, its maximum hit points is permanently reduced by 1d10.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft, one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage plus 4 (1d8) piercing damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 13) and restrained until the grapple ends. The gulguthydra has two tentacles, each or which can grapple one target.
Tentacle Slam. The gulguthydra slams creatures grappled by it into each other or a solid surface. Each creature must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or take 10 (2d6+3) bludgoning damage and be stunned until the end of the gulguthydra’s next turn. On a successful save, the target takes half the bludgeoning damage and isn’t stunned.
Ilbrandlin
As Red Dragon wyrmling except:
No wings or flight.
Pin. An ibrandlin can jump and land on opponents, using its whole body to attack. A pin attack is only effective against Medium-sized or smaller creatures. It can pin as many creatures as will fit under its body (a 10-ft by 30-ft area). Targets must roll a DC 20 Dexterity save or be pinned under the Ilbrandlin. Creatures pinned take 4d6 bludgeoning damage per round until they escape with a DC 20 Strength check. The Ilbrandlin can choose not to inflict this damage.
Unicorn, Black
As unicorn except it’s chaotic evil, coal black, a spiraled silver horn, and burning red eyes.
Instead of Healing Touch it inflicts wounds (3/day).
I also needed this one for Steading of the Hill Giant Chief:
Dire Bear
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed: 40
STR 21 (+5) DEX 12 (+1) CON 18 (+4) INT 2 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 7 (-2)
Skills: Perception +3
Senses: Passive Perception 13
Languages: -
Challenge: 7
Keen Smell. The dire bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Maul. If the dire bear hits with both its bite and claw attack, the target is grappled. On subsequent rounds if the target remains grappled, the target takes 41 (4d10 + 20) bludgeoning damage.
Actions
Multiattack. The dire bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit:15 (1d10 + 10) piercing damage
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 19 (2d8 +10) slashing damage
Ilbranteloth
The_Gneech
Explorer
Hit me with a tentamort!
Well, no, don't actually do that. I mean, my conversion request is for a tentamort.
Being hit with a tentamort would probably be painful. And disturbing.
-The Gneech
Well, no, don't actually do that. I mean, my conversion request is for a tentamort.
Being hit with a tentamort would probably be painful. And disturbing.
-The Gneech
Sacrosanct
Legend
Ilbranteloth
Explorer
I don't think you need to have the rule about hitting with advantage or rolling a 20 to grapple. All of the creatures that have a grapple ability automatically do so if they hit. This is also in line with similar creatures. The escape DC should be 12 based on your stats, and the dissolve should be DC 10.
As for the dissolving itself, the Mummy Rot is a good model - the maximum hit point total is reduced once every 24 hours.
Here are the abilities using existing text from the MM.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 12) and restrained until the grapple ends. The tentamort has two tentacles, each of which can grapple one target. Each tentacle can be attacked (AC 20; 18 hit points, immunity to poison and psychic damage). Destroying a tentacle deals no damage to the tentamort. A severed tentacle regrows in 1d4 days.
Dissolve. The tentamort injects acid into targets grappled in its left tentacle through a bone needle causing 3 (1d6) acid damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer its hit point maximum decreases by the same amount. The creature can't regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 3 (1d6) for every 24 hours that elapse. If the creature's hit point maximum is reduced to 0, the target dies, and its internal organs are dissolved into mush. The condition can be removed by a lesser restoration or greater cure disease magic.
Ilbranteloth
As for the dissolving itself, the Mummy Rot is a good model - the maximum hit point total is reduced once every 24 hours.
Here are the abilities using existing text from the MM.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 12) and restrained until the grapple ends. The tentamort has two tentacles, each of which can grapple one target. Each tentacle can be attacked (AC 20; 18 hit points, immunity to poison and psychic damage). Destroying a tentacle deals no damage to the tentamort. A severed tentacle regrows in 1d4 days.
Dissolve. The tentamort injects acid into targets grappled in its left tentacle through a bone needle causing 3 (1d6) acid damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer its hit point maximum decreases by the same amount. The creature can't regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 3 (1d6) for every 24 hours that elapse. If the creature's hit point maximum is reduced to 0, the target dies, and its internal organs are dissolved into mush. The condition can be removed by a lesser restoration or greater cure disease magic.
Ilbranteloth
Sacrosanct
Legend
I have that ability with the specific mention of advantage or Nat 20 to go along with the higher DC. That is intentional. Any normal grapple as you mention would be a lower DC, thus the specific ability
The_Gneech
Explorer
Sweeeet. Thanks!
-TG
-TG
Theodric the Obscure
First Post
Thanks for all your work, Sacrosanct! Keep it up!
Sacrosanct
Legend
Happy Monday. One more per request
Personally, the idea that I can be retrained when hit by the root attack is pretty scary. You go in as a 20th level fighter, the next thing you known your a 20th level clown specialised in sheep-frogging.... ;o)
Sacrosanct
Legend
And now you know why I have someone else do all my editing
Sacrosanct
Legend
Today's entry. A highly requested one
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