Send In The Clowns… (or, Converting the Oddballs)
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Cleon
Legend
That could be fun, or we might need to save it for next April.
Is our stockpile of goofy monsters running low then?
I thought our supply was almost boundless, this is D&D after all.
Anyhow, I'd prefer doing the rest of that Dragon magazine's hybrid beasts sooner rather than later. Not sure I could sustain the anticipation for a whole year...
Shade
Monster Junkie
Let's finish 'em. Despite the fact that silliness doesn't have to be contained to April, these hybrids haven't been all that humorous for the most part, anyway, and it's satisfying to finish off a set. 
Dragonfly Turtle
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 0/3
MOVEMENT: 3, fly 36 (C)
HIT DICE: 8 (adult)
THAC0: 1-2 HD: 19 5-6 HD: 15
3-4 HD: 17 7-8 HD: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4,2-8, or 3-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hide limbs
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (10’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11-12)
XP VALUE:
1 HD: 35 5 HD: 420
2 HD: 65 6 HD: 650
3 HD: 120 7 HD: 975
4 HD: 270 8 HD: 1,400
Also known as “hovershells,” these creatures are a mix between a giant turtle and a giant dragonfly. They retain the turtle’s shell and limbs but sport the dragonfly’s head and wings. These creatures are highly valued as flying mounts.
Adding to the creature’s already bizarre appearance are the frequent “modifications” on its shell. To make it a more comfortable mode of travel, wizards often apply sovereign glue to the shell, attaching such things as chairs, chests, and the like. Dragonfly turtles are quite a sight, buzzing through the air with their legs pulled into their shells, ridden by a wizard seated comfortably on a padded chair mounted to the creature’s shell.
While dragonfly turtles do not understand the concept of treasure, there are often valuables in the furniture glued to them. The type of treasure, if any, varies on a case-by-case basis depending upon the needs and habits of the wizard using the dragonfly turtle as a riding mount. For obvious reasons, any chests making up part of a dragonfly turtle’s “furniture” are equipped with strong locks to prevent them from being accidentally opened while in flight.
Combat: The dragonfly turtle’s only attack is with its razorsharp mandibles, which cause 3d4 hp damage per round. Because of their large, heavy turtle shells, these creatures are not as maneuverable as the giant dragonfly, dropping down to maneuverability class C. While they can hover in place and fly as fast as a giant dragonfly, they are unable to dodge missiles as the giant insect can. Fortunately, their thick armored carapace protects them. The head and wings of a dragonfly turtle are AC 3; the armored shell is AC 0.
The wings of these creatures are gauzy and fragile; hitting one in combat requires a called shot, but once any of the creatures four wings suffers 4 hp damage, that wing is destroyed, and the dragonfly turtle is unable to fly, plummeting to the ground if airborne. Wing damage is calculated separately, as damage to the wings does not injure the beast.
Of course, as dragonfly turtles are used primarily as a means of transportation, anyone in combat with one of these creatures most likely must fight the person or persons riding aboard the beast. A dragonfly turtle’s hovering ability makes it a relatively stable platform, allowing missile weapons and spells to be used from the creature’s back without penalty.
Habitat/Society: Dragonfly turtles are a new race, purposely created by wizards as a means of transportation. As such, they are almost never encountered in the wild. Rather, they are kept in comfortable “stables” until needed. Because of their rather limited intelligence, dragonfly turtles will not seek to escape confinement as long as they cannot see outside; any barn-like structure will do to keep them in one place. If they must be “parked” outside, a strong chain is necessary, as they easily chew through even the strongest rope. They are intelligent enough to obey simple commands if properly trained: dragonfly turtles are controlled by a bridle and reins.
Ecology: If a wizard creates a male and a female of these creatures, they can be induced to mate. (Mating is a much simpler procedure for the beasts if there’s no “furniture” glued to the female’s shell, however.) The female lays 2-5 (1d4+1) leathery eggs that hatch in about 4 months. Newlyhatched dragonfly turtles are wingless and aquatic, able to swim at a movement rate of 3. They are about 3’ long when born, have 1 HD, and can bite for 1d4 points of damage.
Each year thereafter they grow 1 HD and 1’ in length, adding 1d4 to their bite damage every three years, until they do full damage (3d4) when 6 years old. Their wings grow in when they reach 4 years of age, at which point they stop swimming (their wings don’t function well when wet). Dragonfly turtles live about 20 years. Their diet consists mainly of insects captured in flight and fish, although they also ingest small quantities of plant matter (especially algae).
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #243 (1998).
Dragonfly Turtle
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 0/3
MOVEMENT: 3, fly 36 (C)
HIT DICE: 8 (adult)
THAC0: 1-2 HD: 19 5-6 HD: 15
3-4 HD: 17 7-8 HD: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4,2-8, or 3-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hide limbs
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (10’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11-12)
XP VALUE:
1 HD: 35 5 HD: 420
2 HD: 65 6 HD: 650
3 HD: 120 7 HD: 975
4 HD: 270 8 HD: 1,400
Also known as “hovershells,” these creatures are a mix between a giant turtle and a giant dragonfly. They retain the turtle’s shell and limbs but sport the dragonfly’s head and wings. These creatures are highly valued as flying mounts.
Adding to the creature’s already bizarre appearance are the frequent “modifications” on its shell. To make it a more comfortable mode of travel, wizards often apply sovereign glue to the shell, attaching such things as chairs, chests, and the like. Dragonfly turtles are quite a sight, buzzing through the air with their legs pulled into their shells, ridden by a wizard seated comfortably on a padded chair mounted to the creature’s shell.
While dragonfly turtles do not understand the concept of treasure, there are often valuables in the furniture glued to them. The type of treasure, if any, varies on a case-by-case basis depending upon the needs and habits of the wizard using the dragonfly turtle as a riding mount. For obvious reasons, any chests making up part of a dragonfly turtle’s “furniture” are equipped with strong locks to prevent them from being accidentally opened while in flight.
Combat: The dragonfly turtle’s only attack is with its razorsharp mandibles, which cause 3d4 hp damage per round. Because of their large, heavy turtle shells, these creatures are not as maneuverable as the giant dragonfly, dropping down to maneuverability class C. While they can hover in place and fly as fast as a giant dragonfly, they are unable to dodge missiles as the giant insect can. Fortunately, their thick armored carapace protects them. The head and wings of a dragonfly turtle are AC 3; the armored shell is AC 0.
The wings of these creatures are gauzy and fragile; hitting one in combat requires a called shot, but once any of the creatures four wings suffers 4 hp damage, that wing is destroyed, and the dragonfly turtle is unable to fly, plummeting to the ground if airborne. Wing damage is calculated separately, as damage to the wings does not injure the beast.
Of course, as dragonfly turtles are used primarily as a means of transportation, anyone in combat with one of these creatures most likely must fight the person or persons riding aboard the beast. A dragonfly turtle’s hovering ability makes it a relatively stable platform, allowing missile weapons and spells to be used from the creature’s back without penalty.
Habitat/Society: Dragonfly turtles are a new race, purposely created by wizards as a means of transportation. As such, they are almost never encountered in the wild. Rather, they are kept in comfortable “stables” until needed. Because of their rather limited intelligence, dragonfly turtles will not seek to escape confinement as long as they cannot see outside; any barn-like structure will do to keep them in one place. If they must be “parked” outside, a strong chain is necessary, as they easily chew through even the strongest rope. They are intelligent enough to obey simple commands if properly trained: dragonfly turtles are controlled by a bridle and reins.
Ecology: If a wizard creates a male and a female of these creatures, they can be induced to mate. (Mating is a much simpler procedure for the beasts if there’s no “furniture” glued to the female’s shell, however.) The female lays 2-5 (1d4+1) leathery eggs that hatch in about 4 months. Newlyhatched dragonfly turtles are wingless and aquatic, able to swim at a movement rate of 3. They are about 3’ long when born, have 1 HD, and can bite for 1d4 points of damage.
Each year thereafter they grow 1 HD and 1’ in length, adding 1d4 to their bite damage every three years, until they do full damage (3d4) when 6 years old. Their wings grow in when they reach 4 years of age, at which point they stop swimming (their wings don’t function well when wet). Dragonfly turtles live about 20 years. Their diet consists mainly of insects captured in flight and fish, although they also ingest small quantities of plant matter (especially algae).
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #243 (1998).
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Ok, these are actually a little funny, at least with the furniture.
3e Giant Dragonfly abilities (from CC): Medium, Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 9, +5 natural
3e Giant Snapping Turtle (from CC): Medium, Str 32, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 8, +16 natural
Going to large gives us Str 23, Dex 13, Con 18, +7 natural or Str 16, Dex 8, Con 17, +9 natural. Split the difference and go with Str 20, Dex 11, Con 18? The natural armor should be high due to the shell; AC 20 would be +11 natural at these stats.
More quick thoughts:
Hover should be a bonus feat.
Maybe a "critical" vulnerability for damaging the wings.
Anything about the furniture, or just flavor for that?
3e Giant Dragonfly abilities (from CC): Medium, Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 9, +5 natural
3e Giant Snapping Turtle (from CC): Medium, Str 32, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 8, +16 natural
Going to large gives us Str 23, Dex 13, Con 18, +7 natural or Str 16, Dex 8, Con 17, +9 natural. Split the difference and go with Str 20, Dex 11, Con 18? The natural armor should be high due to the shell; AC 20 would be +11 natural at these stats.
More quick thoughts:
Hover should be a bonus feat.
Maybe a "critical" vulnerability for damaging the wings.
Anything about the furniture, or just flavor for that?
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
Strength 32 for a Medium sized turtle? I don't remember them being that nasty!
Only joking, I remember them being pretty big, and going by the size adjustment they were Gargantuan.
Actually that gets me thinking. The illustration for them suggests dragonfly turtles get a lot bigger than 10 feet long. Assuming the chair is sized for a human and not a gnome, I'd guesstimate the Dragonfly Turtle is some 12 feet wide and 18 feet long - easily Huge sized considering turtles are weighty for their length.
So, how about advancing them to Gargantuan?
A Dragon Turtle is a Huge 12HD creature so might prove a handy basis for HD comparison. Their growth stages could go 1-2 HD (Small), 3-5 HD (Medium), 6-11 HD (Large), 12-23 HD (Huge), 24-32 HD (Gargantuan) based on the description.
So the 8 HD adult we're statting up could be about halfway through its Large advancement - say, 6 feet wide, 10 feet long and 2000 pounds.
I also wondered about downsizing a Dragon Turtle to Large, which would give Str 19, Dex 8, Con 17, +14 natural. However I feel Dragon Turtle's are sadly underpowered in 3E (I'd use the SRD stats for a Large Juvenile Dragon Turtle myself, but that's another issue).
So, I'd rather lean towards the higher of those two, i.e.:
Dragonfly Turtle: Str 22, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 8, +10 natural
Hover as a bonus feat was the one of first things that occured to me, too.
Rather than a critical vulnerability it reads more like you can make Sunder attacks against the wings with fiery weapons or burn them off with AoE spells. We may want to just drop it, but if we decide to give it this trait I'm thinking something like:
Combustible Wings (Ex): A dragonfly turtle's four wings are highly flammable. An opponent with a flaming weapon may make Sunder attacks against a wings (AC17). If they do 4 or more points of fire damage in a single hit the wing burns off. A dragonfly turtle which has lost a single wing cannot fly, but can slow its fall to X feet per round and land without taking falling damage. A turtle that has lost two or more wings takes normal falling damage.
A dragonfly turtle that fails a Reflex save against an area of effect fire attack must make an additional Fortitude save at the same DC or suffer damage to its wings. If it took 5 or more fire damage from the attack its wings are damaged but it is able to make an erratic but semi-controlled descent (as if it had lost a single wing), 10 or more damage and it falls like a stone.
As for the furniture, that looks like flavour for an exotic saddle or howdah to me.A dragonfly turtle that fails a Reflex save against an area of effect fire attack must make an additional Fortitude save at the same DC or suffer damage to its wings. If it took 5 or more fire damage from the attack its wings are damaged but it is able to make an erratic but semi-controlled descent (as if it had lost a single wing), 10 or more damage and it falls like a stone.
Cleon
Legend
No replies on the Dragonfly Turtle?
I don't fancy keeping the 3d4 bite attack so I think I'd go for a number to either side. I like 2d8 for them, since (a) a Dragon Turtle downsized to Large would have a 3d6 bite and (b) I fancy the Dragon Turtles' juvenile growth stages goes something like this in 3E:
Hatchling - Small, 1HD, NA +6, Str 8, 1d4 bite, swim speed 10 ft, no fly speed.
Juvenile - Medium ,2 HD, NA +8, Str 10, 1d6 bite, swim speed 10 ft, no fly speed.
Young - Medium, 4 HD, NA +8, Str 14, 1d8 bite, gain fly speed, no swim speed.
Young Adult - Large, 6 HD, NA +10, Str 18, 2d6 bite.
Mature Adult - (as below)
Oh well, here's a first draft of the stats based on the proposals so far:
Dragonfly Turtle
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 8d10+24 (68 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+18
Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d8+9)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d8+9)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Combustible wings, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: 11 points
Feats: 3 feats plus Hover (B)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 5?
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-11 HD (Large), 12-23 HD (Huge), 24-32 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
A typical dragonfly turtle weighs about 2000 pounds and is 10 feet long with a shell up to 6 feet across.
Combustible Wings (Ex): A dragonfly turtle's four wings are highly flammable. An opponent with a flaming weapon may make Sunder attacks against a wings (AC17). If they do 4 or more points of fire damage in a single hit the wing burns off. A dragonfly turtle which has lost a single wing cannot fly, but can slow its fall to X feet per round and land without taking falling damage. A turtle that has lost two or more wings takes normal falling damage.
A dragonfly turtle that fails a Reflex save against an area of effect fire attack must make an additional Fortitude save at the same DC or suffer damage to its wings. If it took 5 or more fire damage from the attack its wings are damaged but it is able to make an erratic but semi-controlled descent (as if it had lost a single wing), 10 or more damage and it falls like a stone.
I don't fancy keeping the 3d4 bite attack so I think I'd go for a number to either side. I like 2d8 for them, since (a) a Dragon Turtle downsized to Large would have a 3d6 bite and (b) I fancy the Dragon Turtles' juvenile growth stages goes something like this in 3E:
Hatchling - Small, 1HD, NA +6, Str 8, 1d4 bite, swim speed 10 ft, no fly speed.
Juvenile - Medium ,2 HD, NA +8, Str 10, 1d6 bite, swim speed 10 ft, no fly speed.
Young - Medium, 4 HD, NA +8, Str 14, 1d8 bite, gain fly speed, no swim speed.
Young Adult - Large, 6 HD, NA +10, Str 18, 2d6 bite.
Mature Adult - (as below)
Oh well, here's a first draft of the stats based on the proposals so far:
Dragonfly Turtle
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 8d10+24 (68 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+18
Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d8+9)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d8+9)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Combustible wings, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: 11 points
Feats: 3 feats plus Hover (B)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 5?
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-11 HD (Large), 12-23 HD (Huge), 24-32 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
A typical dragonfly turtle weighs about 2000 pounds and is 10 feet long with a shell up to 6 feet across.
Combustible Wings (Ex): A dragonfly turtle's four wings are highly flammable. An opponent with a flaming weapon may make Sunder attacks against a wings (AC17). If they do 4 or more points of fire damage in a single hit the wing burns off. A dragonfly turtle which has lost a single wing cannot fly, but can slow its fall to X feet per round and land without taking falling damage. A turtle that has lost two or more wings takes normal falling damage.
A dragonfly turtle that fails a Reflex save against an area of effect fire attack must make an additional Fortitude save at the same DC or suffer damage to its wings. If it took 5 or more fire damage from the attack its wings are damaged but it is able to make an erratic but semi-controlled descent (as if it had lost a single wing), 10 or more damage and it falls like a stone.
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