Planar Rulers

[BOZ]

O.K, that has got to be the nastiest Slaad Lord I have ever seen (Actually, it's only the third I have seen the stats for...)

i converted a couple more, and you'll find em on the converted page.

 

[Knight Otu]

Thanks, people!
Any comments to the template or the sample rulers?

I think the main reason Xi'Parnturil looks so nasty is that his DR and SR are higher than those converted into the creature catalog, and that those do not have maximum hit dice.
Most have more hit dice, though.

However, I think that the CR should be higher... 30 HD above the normal for a death slaad (say a +22 increase in CR), the template is a +7 increase, that would lead to a total of CR 42, does that sound better?

Mhh that would make him an equal challenge as Ygorl...

 

[Knight Otu]

I edited a few spelling errors and added in the Natural Extension ability description for Xi'Parnturil.

Also, I came up with a few more planar ruler abilities. I'd like some feedback on them .

Improved Spell Resistance: The planar ruler's Spell Resistance increases by 3. This ability can be chosen multiple times.
Increased Calling/Summoning CR: This ability requires that the ruler has a calling or summoning ability. The maximum CR total of this ability increases by 3. The maximum CR for a single creature remains the rulers CR -10. This ability can be chosen multiple times.
Powerful Calling/Summoning: This ability requires a calling or summoning ability. The planar ruler treats his CR as 1 point higher for the purpose of determining the limits of his calling or summoning ability. This ability can be chosen multiple times, but no more than five times.
Templated Calling/Summoning: This ability requires both a template infusion ability as well as a calling or summoning ability. The planar ruler may apply any template that he could apply with his template infusion ability to a summoned/called creature, as long as it doesn’t ecxeed the normal maximum for his calling or summoning ability. However, the ruler cannot call or summon a creature if it only fits his summoning ability due to the template applied.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Knight Otu mate!

That is one hell of a sprawling template!

42 abilities/changes, compared to 15 for the Paragon and Pseudonatural Templates.

Its going to take me a while to go through all this (at first glance it looks a bit long winded) - you don't think you would just be better off making them deities?

 

[Knight Otu]

Hi, Upper_Krust!

42 abilities/changes, ...

And a few more to come.

compared to 15 for the Paragon and Pseudonatural Templates.

Just remember that not all changes are applied, and it doesn't look that bad anymore.

But I admit that I didn't really count the abilities.

Its going to take me a while to go through all this

Did you want to say 'mess'?

you don't think you would just be better off making them deities?

Actually, that was the point - making them powerful without making them deities. This way, they can represent a seperate challenge for those who use deities with stats, or they can be used as challenging NPC's for those who do not want to stat deities.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Just a point of clarification: when you apply this template a second time, you just get another HD worth of planar ruler abilities? Or do you get +8 to all abiliites, deflection and insight bonuses to AC, etc., etc., as well? From Ashmadiel's example it looks like you don't.

Any further refinements or thoughts? It is a really very interesting template, and I appreciate the work that went into it.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi, Upper_Krust!

Hi Knight Otu mate!

And a few more to come.

Ouch.

Just remember that not all changes are applied, and it doesn't look that bad anymore.

I think a few are perhaps maybe unnecessary.

But I admit that I didn't really count the abilities.

I haven't actually counted the abilities granted to deities - but I am sure it is less than herein.

Did you want to say 'mess'?

Lets just say its a rough diamond.

Actually, that was the point - making them powerful without making them deities.

This way, they can represent a seperate challenge for those who use deities with stats, or they can be used as challenging NPC's for those who do not want to stat deities.

You see to me all power is relative; so that point is somewhat irrelevant.

 

[Knight Otu]

Hi, all!

Just a point of clarification: when you apply this template a second time, you just get another HD worth of planar ruler abilities? Or do you get +8 to all abiliites, deflection and insight bonuses to AC, etc., etc., as well? From Ashmadiel's example it looks like you don't.

You get more planar ruler abilities and spell-like abilities. Indirectly, you also get higher SR. Anything that is not dependant on HD is not gained again, such as the ability increases.

Any further refinements or thoughts?

I'm still rather unhappy with the summoning/calling abilities, but still, I have two additional abilities for that route. One allows creation of creatures in a more or less lengthy timeframe, the other further improves the options you have in summoning. There are other things I still don't like, such as this line in the Class Benfit ability:

The ruler only has the spellcasting progression, skills and class features of the class.

As you notice, the planar ruler gets the skill points of the class, which allows for some rules breakage, so I feel that it should not be allowed. Yet, for some classes, it may be unbalancing if they did not gain their skill points. I'm pretty much undecided.

It is a really very interesting template, and I appreciate the work that went into it.

Thanks!

I think a few are perhaps maybe unnecessary.

Possibly. A few are mostly flavor, for example the Natural Extension ability. What stops the planar ruler from aquiring a weapon as powerful as he is? Only availability. That is why Imix and Xi'Parnturil both have this ability. It is hard to find extremely large greatswords or bloodwhips, and it is ever harder to find enchanted weapons of this type.
The Class Benefits ability might be in this line, also. Why not just advance in this class? Mostly because this might make the creature too powerful for it's intended position.
Changed Creature Type might be the worst thing in this line. For most creature types, it does next to nothing. But, it allows a celestial humanoid like Akhu to become an outsider, which just feels right.
Every ability has it's justification.

I haven't actually counted the abilities granted to deities - but I am sure it is less than herein.

I think that I made sure that each ability lies somewhere between a SDA and an Epic Feat (with the obvious exception of the Feat PRA).

Lets just say its a rough diamond.

You could help me cut it into a brillant.

Edit: Whew, I feared that I lost this reply in some browser sillyness; and edited a copy&paste sillyness.