Memento Mori monster

[freyar]

Hmmm....

I can see several possible approaches to the "shocking grasp".

1.) Start with a flat amount of "dice" worth it can use. (Let's just base it off the max and leave it up to DMs if they want to start with less...the whole random aspect wreaks havoc with CRs and so on).
2.) Allow it to release as much as it has HD, taking damage equivalent to the amount it releases.
3.) Do something similar to lay on hands, where it is a factor of its HD * Cha modifier.

As for a cap, I'm not sure it is needed, since it begins with a finite amount and doesn't really want to use it all at once.

I like option 2. It does 1d6 damage for each hp of damage it takes. Sound reasonable?

 

[Shroomy]

I like freyar's suggestion also, but what happens when the memento mori is reduced to 0 hit points? Dispersal doesn't really jive with the 2e fluff text.

 

[Shade]

I like freyar's suggestion also, but what happens when the memento mori is reduced to 0 hit points? Dispersal doesn't really jive with the 2e fluff text.

Agreed. Back to the drawing board...

 

[Shroomy]

I think that ditching the power pool mechanic would be a good idea. It makes the creature easier to balance and generates less paperwork for the DM. I would go for an at will shocking grasp ability and perhaps a way to boost the damage output by using a portion of its energy (either Charisma or hit point drain).

 

[Shade]

I think that ditching the power pool mechanic would be a good idea. It makes the creature easier to balance and generates less paperwork for the DM. I would go for an at will shocking grasp ability and perhaps a way to boost the damage output by using a portion of its energy (either Charisma or hit point drain).

That's definitely reasonable.

 

[freyar]

How about this?

Shocking Touch (Su): The touch attack of a memento mori normally deals 1d6 points of electricity damage (as the shocking grasp spell). However, as a swift action, the memento mori can sacrifice one or more hit points to add that many dice of damage to its touch. For example, a memento mori could sacrifice 3 hp to deal 4d6 dice of electricity damage on its next successful touch attack.

 

[Shade]

I like that. We can use flavor text to explain its self-limiting of using it all at once.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Should we move on to skills and feats? (And do we need a special ability to say it gets a deflection bonus equal to its Cha bonus?)

I'd like to give it full 7 ranks in Intimidate, with a +4 racial bonus possibly.

 

[Shade]

Should we move on to skills and feats? (And do we need a special ability to say it gets a deflection bonus equal to its Cha bonus?)

Yes to the first question, no to the second (it's assumed as part of the incorporeal subtype).

I'd like to give it full 7 ranks in Intimidate, with a +4 racial bonus possibly.

That sounds reasonable.

I'd say max ranks in Knowledge (history) as well. Listen, Spot, and Sense Motive also seem like good choices.