Mind Flayer Dragon Article Discussion Thread

[BOZ]

Welcome to our thread for discussing our Dragon article project!

I've determined that our lineup of monsters will be: Nerve Swimmer, Illithocyte, Draknor, Brainstealer Dragon, Mind Worm, Voor Larva, Gohlbrorn, and Ustilagor.

I have started or will start a discussion thread (similar to the "Converting..." threads) for each of those monsters so that we can work out how each of them should be. There is also a single thread that contains all the stats and flavor text we have worked out, which will be deleted when we submit the completed article: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=116455

This thread here will be used for discussion of the article itself. In time, it will also be used to decide what introductory text to use in the article. Pay attention to this thread, as I will have important information here.

Participation
Anyone can participate, to any degree they wish. Any constructive input should be helpful. If you provide some useful input, I will try to get your name mentioned in the article.

If you see yourself wanting and being able to help out a great deal, and want to make sure to get your name in the article and get a share of the payment for said article, you can sign a copy of the disclosure form provided on the last page of this PDF: http://www.paizo.com/writersguidelines/dragon_writers_guidelines.pdf You'll want to have that signed page scanned and sent to me - e-mail me at kbozman74 @ a o l .com.

Now, do not sign this form unless you really plan on helping out. This means checking these forums more than once in awhile, and providing regular input. This means providing some stats, and helping with the flavor text. If you don't think you can do this, don't fill out the form.

 

[BOZ]

sorry for the pause, but i had a good reason.

you may notice that the monster lineup has changed... you can try to guess the reason for this or think what you will, but i will neither confirm nor deny anything at the moment.

for now, i have started threads on the illithocyte and draknor. i am also going to start a thread for each of knight otu's original creations in a moment. the rest will come sometime this week.

 

[BOZ]

Now posted, the brainstealer dragon, mind worm, and nerve swimmer. Knight Otu made these creatures initially, but they belong to all of us now, so treat them like your own and comment.

Voor Larva, Ustilagor, and Gohlbrorn threads coming soon, probably later today.

Now, here’s a question for you guys. Psionics & psi-like abilities: there is more than one way to present this on a monster writeup. One way is the “psi-like ability” block found in the Expanded PsiHB. The other is the “psionics which are really just spell-like abilities” block found in the MM (see couatl, mind flayer). I think it would be a good idea for us to present both, so that people who use one method can use that, and other people can use the other. The question I have for you would be, should we present the writeups of psionic creatures like those in the ExPsiHB with a note at the end for people who don’t use that book, or should we present them like the monsters in the MM and have a “using these creatures with the ExPsiHB” section?


Research
If you want to help with the text, but feel that you have not the slightest hint of writing ability, you can always do research! Check out this new thread I just posted for ideas (there are many, and more coming no doubt), and this older thread for a few more. All you have to do then, to help out, is find some passages in those books that you think would be useful for writing up some introductory text.

 

[Shade]

Now, here’s a question for you guys. Psionics & psi-like abilities: there is more than one way to present this on a monster writeup. One way is the “psi-like ability” block found in the Expanded PsiHB. The other is the “psionics which are really just spell-like abilities” block found in the MM (see couatl, mind flayer). I think it would be a good idea for us to present both, so that people who use one method can use that, and other people can use the other. The question I have for you would be, should we present the writeups of psionic creatures like those in the ExPsiHB with a note at the end for people who don’t use that book, or should we present them like the monsters in the MM and have a “using these creatures with the ExPsiHB” section?

I'd definitely prefer the latter choice, as the MM is the core book, and the most widely used. Those who have the XPH will be happy to have any psionics in dragon, so I don't think they'll mind it as a "footnote" section.

 

[BOZ]

cool. anyone else?

 

[Knight Otu]

I'm fine either way, really. Whatever works best.

 

[BOZ]

OK then. We will stat up any critter with psionic powers in the manner that the MM handles it. There will be a side bar (or just a section at the end each monster’s description) that explains to add the Psionic subtype and switch the powers to psi-like abilities.

FYI, there is now a thread for the gohlbrorn.

 

[BOZ]

updated the creatures thread, and added a thread for the ustilagor and voor larva.

 

[Shade]

With our final selections, the title "Monsters of the Mind" seems a bit of a misnomer. Very few of these creatures have any mind-affecting abilities.

 

[BOZ]

we can always change the name.

PS, i included pictures with the draknor and illithocyte, and i have one for the ustilagor, gohlbrorn, and voor larva when i get to them.