Making a creature.

[xigbar]

it was the design & development series of articles. it can be found on the 3.5 archive still on the wizards site. they were having a contest accompanied by a forum poll on creating a new monster. the final result was posted in one of the articles. from work wotc site is blocked, so i cannot search very effectively. i have a saved copy at home somewhere.

Feel free to PM that to me if you find it. In the meantime, I'm tweaking this until I get the desired result. Anyone know about needing the intelligence score to cast a SLA?

 

[xigbar]

Groundbreaker: When a Magestone Golem uses it's Levitate SLA, it can end the spell at will, causing a shockwave that spreads from it's landing point with a radius equal to half it's falling distance. The shockwave does does 1d6 damage for every 2d6 falling damage the Magestone Golem takes from ending Levitate, Reflex half. All targets of the ability who fail the reflex save are knocked prone.[/QUOTE]

I would make it:

[/COLOR]

The dude can use his high strength and presumably decent speed to Jump around the battlefield and literally shake things up.

That sounds better, although it'd be better able to get altitude via Levitate. It would be fun to have him to have him jump off of a high cliff to use this ability, though. Dramtic entry. Also, I was thinking of adding that the shockwave makes the affected area treated as rubble (halved movement.)

 

[kitcik]

That sounds better, although it'd be better able to get altitude via Levitate. It would be fun to have him to have him jump off of a high cliff to use this ability, though. Dramtic entry. Also, I was thinking of adding that the shockwave makes the affected area treated as rubble (halved movement.)

He can have both - the levitate helps to get him somewhere high to jump from.

I like the rubble. He can jump out of it.

 

[nijineko]

ahah! found it. =D

here is the link: Tactics and Tips: You Craft the Creature

the specific ability i was referencing is called "blasphemous geometries (EX)". fun ability.

 

[xigbar]

ahah! found it. =D

here is the link: Tactics and Tips: You Craft the Creature

the specific ability i was referencing is called "blasphemous geometries (EX)". fun ability.

I'd have to reflavor it a bit, and change it to a chance of passing through as a straight line, hitting something behind the creature, but otherwise, this a very useful link. Also, what do people think of having some Spell Resistance on the creature to reflect that it's sentience is derived from magic?

 

[kitcik]

I like both ideas.

And maybe immunity to disintegrate / similar because it can pull itself back together. Anyway, just a thought.

 

[xigbar]

I like both ideas.

And maybe immunity to disintegrate / similar because it can pull itself back together. Anyway, just a thought.

How about adding a miss chance to all ranged targeting attacks? Melee weapons, I'd say you're close enough not to miss, but arrows, and a beam from Disintigrate, could pass right through. 50% miss chance?

Also, the projected CR from where I'm sitting is 17 or 18? Is that about right, once I add in the ability from nijineko's article, and SR?

 

[kitcik]

I might go 20% miss chance as the solid parts are pretty big.

I am terrible at estimating CR. Personally, I don't use it. I just kinda visualize how a battle will go and set the power of the monsters how I see appropriate - a 1E approach. This fits better to me because all characters of X level are not equal.

 

[xigbar]

Okay, here's another draft;

Magestone Golem
(Living Construct Type)
Huge Size
Str:43
Dex:16
Con:30
Int:19
Wis:15
Cha:16
15Ft Space/Reach
40ft. Land Speed.
AC:31(10+Dex Mod-Size Mod+21 Natural)
DR:10/Magic, Adamantine
Spell Resistance 25
HP:310(20HD)
BAB:+15, Grapple:+40
Usually Neutral
Speaks Common, Celestial, Infernal, Abyssal, and Draconic.
Atk:Slam:4d6+24?
Full Attack:3 Slams, 4d6+24
Feats:Imp. Unarmed Strike, Imp. Natural Strike, Power Attack, Leap Attack, Close Quarters Fighting, Crush, Quicken SLA(Slow)

Rocket Punch(Su) :A Magestone Golem's Slam Attacks are treated as having the Throwing, Returning, and Collision properties. They are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. A Mage Stone Golem can make iterative attacks with this ability due to it's base attack bonus.

Perpetual Shifting(Su) :A Magestone golems disconnected pieces are in constant motion. This gives the Magestone Golem Light Fortification. Additionally, all projectiles, and ranged spells that specifically target the Magestone Golem have a 25% miss chance. Area spells are exempt. If a spell fails to overcome the miss chance, it continues moving to through the Magestone Golem, not affecting it, to it's maximum range, affecting anything that would be subject to it's new area of effect and effects.

Earth Shatter(EX) :If a Magestone Golem falls from any height of at least 10 feet, it causes a shockwave a number of feet in diameter equal to the distance it fell. Everything caught in the shockwave take 1d6 points of damage, plus an additional 1d6 points of damage for each 20ft the Magestone Golem fell, reflex half. Anything that fails it's reflex is not knocked prone. All terrain in the affected area is now considered rubble, and halves all movement on it's surface.

Magic Life Force(Su) :If a Magestone Golem is in the area of an Antimagic Field, it is considered unconcious. However, when attempting an Antimagic Field in an area with a Magestone Golem, you must succeed on an opposed caster level check.

SLAs:Levitate/At will, Stone Wall/3 per day, Slow(Quickened)/3day, Earthquake/1 per day.

Alignment: Usually Neutral

Environment: Any

CR:18.

 

[xigbar]

I think the previous draft is good enough. I just need to CR it, and, also, would you guys use it in your game?