Obliviax

[BOZ]

also, something i noticed while skimming the thread:

Camouflage (Ex): a Spot or Wilderness Lore check, DC 20, is needed to distinguish an obliviax from normal moss.

i got to thinking that being unseen would be key for these guys, and that's one way we could do it.

or we could go with a standard Hide check - they get +12 for their size, but i'm not sure if the lack of a Dex score imposes a penalty on Hide checks. we could give them a racial bonus to Hide either way.

 

[BOZ]

I like the idea of minimum caster level. Keeps the bookkeeping tidy.

indeed. simple enough, how's about:
The caster level for a stolen spell is the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell, regardless of the original caster's level.

 

[Shade]

I like the mechanic you've described.

Regarding the camouflage, this is one of those rare creatures where I actually think the ability is appropriate, rather than a Hide check.

"A creature with no Dexterity score can’t move. If it can perform actions (such as casting spells), it applies its Intelligence modifier to initiative checks instead of a Dexterity modifier. The creature automatically fails Reflex saves and Dexterity checks."

While it doesn't specifically state "Dex-based checks", the last two words may imply that. Using camouflage circumvents this issue.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

that works for me. does anything need to be modified regarding dhaga's model?

Camouflage (Ex): a Spot or Wilderness Lore check, DC 20, is needed to distinguish an obliviax from normal moss.


post #64 is still waiting for a response as well.


also, i had an idea - how about if some obliviax are working with cults of Zuggtmoy in exchange for giving them a body to move around in?


and:

i was looking at the ToH version of the memory moss ... it has a mechanic for someone who ate a memory moss and gained someone else's spells: Any non-spellcaster that attempts to cast a spell gained in this way must succeed at a Concentration check (DC 10 + spell level) or the spell fizzles away. we don't need to use that specific mechanic, but something similarly simple might be a good idea.

Not sure of how to model someone eating moss with spells from another spellcaster would work. The Concentration check's kind of nice, but I don't want to steal it all out. How about Spellcraft? They have to decipher another mage's mental shortcuts, or something like that. And we might as well make Spellcraft useful for something

 

[Shade]

a few issues that do remain, however:

should it have vulnerability to cold? (i prefer not)

Agreed...not.

CR - 1?

I think that's about right. It's incredibly weak, despite having one potentially deadly ability (although the odds of it stealing high-level spells are quite slim).

"A creature can regain its stolen memories, or gain the memories stolen from someone else, by eating the living obliviax that stole them. As a full-round action, a creature can scrape the obliviax up, and ingest the entire moss while it is still alive. The eater must succeed on a DC X Fortitude save or take (1d3?) points of Constitution damage and be sickened for 3d6 minutes. If the eater succeeds on his saving throw, he gains all the memories and whatever uncast spells the obliviax had remaining, both for the next 24 hours. If the eater was not the person who had lost the spells in the first place, the remaining spells (are considered temporary bonus spells and are cast at the same DC and caster level as the original caster? see mossling entry below)."


1d3 Con damage fine? DC for Fort save - 15? how about that last sentence?

Sure. Yes. Change to "minimum caster level".

caster level for detect thoughts?

I'd go with 18th, like the rakshasa.

 

[BOZ]

how about the other items from my last post?


should we add this (from the archer bush) to the eating an obliviax?:
A delay poison or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from the sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their saving throws.

 

[demiurge1138]

Yes, I agree that anti-poison spells should effect obliviax nausea. And I like the Zuggtmoy connection.

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

Agreed.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

and the remaining items from post #74?

 

[Shade]

Spellcraft makes sense. Also, I'd recommend that the user be required to have the minimum score in the relevant ability score to cast the spell (thus, Int 13 for a 3rd-level wizard spell).