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<blockquote data-quote="exile" data-source="post: 3801950" data-attributes="member: 20068">So, a while back I decided that I wanted to emulate Grendel (from Beowulf) in D&amp;D. I wasn't so interested in modeling him directly from the epic poem, but more from my memory of the epic poem. Also, I wanted my new monster to fit squarely within D&amp;D cosmology. I remember Grendel as being something like an ogre, but tougher, and with a hag for a mother. I went searching for info on such information on this website. I was directed to a FR supplement for information about hagspawn and a Dragon article that had already done the work of converting Grendel, his mother, etc., into D&amp;D stats. The hagspawn wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the poster who directed me to it got the name wrong, calling it hagborn, and as I often do, I stole the name. I didn't even bother with the dragon article because, by that time, I wasn't interested in someone else's interpretation of Grendel; I was interested in the craetive process of developing my own. So, I turned to the Monster Manual (and was pleasantly reminded of an association between ogres and hags) and The Book of Templates- Deluxe Edition. Using these two resources, I have completed a template, that when added to an ogre, especially one with fighter and/or barbarian levels, makes a very nasty Grendel. Enjoy.Hagborn (Annisborn) TemplateAnnisborn is an inherited template that is most often applied to giants and humanoids. Annisborn are always male.Size and Type: The base creature's type changes to monstrous humanoid with these exceptions. Aberrations, dragons, fey, and outsiders retain their type. Elementals become outsiders. Oozes and vermin become aberrations. Size is unchanged.Hit Dice: Increase the base creature's racial HD by one die size, to a maximum of d8. Do not increase class HD.Speed: Speed is unchanged per the base creature.Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +5 (this stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature has).Attack: Base attack bonus is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn has two claw attacks and a bite attack, and the claws are the primary natural weapon. If the base creature can use weapons, the annisborn retains this ability. An annisborn fighting without weapons uses a claw when making an attack action.Full Attack: An annisborn fighting without weapons uses both claws and its bite when making a full attack. If armed with a weapon, it may use the weapon as its primary attack and its bite as a natural secondary attack. If it has a free hand, it uses a claw as an additional natural secondary attack. Most hagborn choose not to use weapons, so that they can gain the full benefit of their special attacks (see below).Damage: An annisborn has claw and bite attacks. If the base creature does not have these attack forms, use the damage values in the table below. If the base creature does have these attack forms, use the table below (but treat the base creature as if it were one size larger than it really is) or the base creature's damage values, whichever are greater.Size&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Bite Damage (+1/2 STR Mod)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Claw Damage (+STR Mod)Miniscule&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Fine&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Diminutive&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1Tiny&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1d2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d2Small&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1d3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d3Medium&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d4Large&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d6&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1d6Huge&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2d4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2d4Gargantuan&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2d6&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2d6Colossal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 2d8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2d8Titanic&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 3d8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3d8Special Attacks: Improved grab, rake, and rend.Special Qualities: Damage reduction 1/bludgeoning, darkvision 60', spell resistance 6+HD (including class levels).Saves: Saves are unchanged per the base creature.Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: STR +4 and DEX +2.Skills: Skills are unchanged per the base creature.Feats: Great FortitudeEnvironment: Environment is unchanged per the base creature, but annisborn are most commonly encountered in cold marshes.Organization: Organization is unchanged per the base creature.Challenge Rating: Challenge rating s equal to that of the base creature +2.Treasure: Treasure is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn often wears a 'hag eye' as a ring, brooch, or other adornment.Alignment: Usually chaotic evil.Advancement: By character class.Level Adjustment: +4CombatAn annisborn inherits its mother's physical attacks, favoring its powerful claws and bite over nonmagical weapons. Though annisborn lack their mother's spell-like abilities, they are often cunning and do what they can to divide and confuse their opponents before combat.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an annisborn must hit an opponent of its size or smaller with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.Rake (Ex): An annisborn can attack a grappled foe with both claws at no penalty.Rend (Ex): An annisbornthat hits with both claw attacks latches onto the opponent's body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an amount of damage equal to twice the anniborn's claw attack plus one and a half times its strength modifier.Chad</blockquote>

[QUOTE="exile, post: 3801950, member: 20068"] So, a while back I decided that I wanted to emulate Grendel (from Beowulf) in D&D. I wasn't so interested in modeling him directly from the epic poem, but more from my memory of the epic poem. Also, I wanted my new monster to fit squarely within D&D cosmology. I remember Grendel as being something like an ogre, but tougher, and with a hag for a mother. I went searching for info on such information on this website. I was directed to a FR supplement for information about hagspawn and a Dragon article that had already done the work of converting Grendel, his mother, etc., into D&D stats. The hagspawn wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the poster who directed me to it got the name wrong, calling it hagborn, and as I often do, I stole the name. I didn't even bother with the dragon article because, by that time, I wasn't interested in someone else's interpretation of Grendel; I was interested in the craetive process of developing my own. So, I turned to the Monster Manual (and was pleasantly reminded of an association between ogres and hags) and The Book of Templates- Deluxe Edition. Using these two resources, I have completed a template, that when added to an ogre, especially one with fighter and/or barbarian levels, makes a very nasty Grendel. Enjoy. Hagborn (Annisborn) Template Annisborn is an inherited template that is most often applied to giants and humanoids. Annisborn are always male. Size and Type: The base creature's type changes to monstrous humanoid with these exceptions. Aberrations, dragons, fey, and outsiders retain their type. Elementals become outsiders. Oozes and vermin become aberrations. Size is unchanged. Hit Dice: Increase the base creature's racial HD by one die size, to a maximum of d8. Do not increase class HD. Speed: Speed is unchanged per the base creature. Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +5 (this stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature has). Attack: Base attack bonus is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn has two claw attacks and a bite attack, and the claws are the primary natural weapon. If the base creature can use weapons, the annisborn retains this ability. An annisborn fighting without weapons uses a claw when making an attack action. Full Attack: An annisborn fighting without weapons uses both claws and its bite when making a full attack. If armed with a weapon, it may use the weapon as its primary attack and its bite as a natural secondary attack. If it has a free hand, it uses a claw as an additional natural secondary attack. Most hagborn choose not to use weapons, so that they can gain the full benefit of their special attacks (see below). Damage: An annisborn has claw and bite attacks. If the base creature does not have these attack forms, use the damage values in the table below. If the base creature does have these attack forms, use the table below (but treat the base creature as if it were one size larger than it really is) or the base creature's damage values, whichever are greater. Size Bite Damage (+1/2 STR Mod) Claw Damage (+STR Mod) Miniscule - - Fine - - Diminutive 1 1 Tiny 1d2 1d2 Small 1d3 1d3 Medium 1d4 1d4 Large 1d6 1d6 Huge 2d4 2d4 Gargantuan 2d6 2d6 Colossal 2d8 2d8 Titanic 3d8 3d8 Special Attacks: Improved grab, rake, and rend. Special Qualities: Damage reduction 1/bludgeoning, darkvision 60', spell resistance 6+HD (including class levels). Saves: Saves are unchanged per the base creature. Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: STR +4 and DEX +2. Skills: Skills are unchanged per the base creature. Feats: Great Fortitude Environment: Environment is unchanged per the base creature, but annisborn are most commonly encountered in cold marshes. Organization: Organization is unchanged per the base creature. Challenge Rating: Challenge rating s equal to that of the base creature +2. Treasure: Treasure is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn often wears a 'hag eye' as a ring, brooch, or other adornment. Alignment: Usually chaotic evil. Advancement: By character class. Level Adjustment: +4 Combat An annisborn inherits its mother's physical attacks, favoring its powerful claws and bite over nonmagical weapons. Though annisborn lack their mother's spell-like abilities, they are often cunning and do what they can to divide and confuse their opponents before combat.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an annisborn must hit an opponent of its size or smaller with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Rake (Ex): An annisborn can attack a grappled foe with both claws at no penalty. Rend (Ex): An annisbornthat hits with both claw attacks latches onto the opponent's body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an amount of damage equal to twice the anniborn's claw attack plus one and a half times its strength modifier. Chad [/QUOTE]

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