Send In The Clowns… (or, Converting the Oddballs)

[Shade]

Here are the essentials from the wooly mammoth from Frostburn:

Huge
14 HD
Speed: 40 ft.
+10 natural armor
Attack: Gore (2d10+18)
Full Attack: Slam (2d6+12) and 2 stamps (2d6+6) or gore (2d10+18)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, toss, trample 2d8+18
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 8, Con 25, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Listen +12, Spot +11
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Improved Bull Rush, Multiattack, Power Attack
Environment: Cold plains
Organization: Solitary or herd (4-16)

 

[BOZ]

Here are the essentials from the wooly mammoth from Frostburn:

cool…

we can lift the ability scores straight from that mammoth. guess I will go with Huge for the size too.

now, in 2E blink dogs and the blink spell worked a lot different than they do now:

Blink
(Alteration)

Range: 0 Components: V, S
Duration: 1 rd./level Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: The caster Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell, the wizard causes his material form to "blink" directly from one point to another at a random time and in a random direction. This means that melee attacks against the wizard automatically miss if initiative indicates they fall after he has blinked.
Each round the spell is in effect, the wizard rolls 2d8 to determine the timing of the blink--the result of the dice roll is used as the wizard's initiative for that round. The wizard disappears and instantaneously reappears 10 feet distant from his previous position. (Direction is determined by a roll of 1d8: 1 = right ahead, 2 = right, 3 = right behind, 4 = behind, 5 = left behind, 6 = left, 7 = left ahead, 8 = ahead.) The caster cannot blink into a solid object; if such is indicated, reroll the direction. Movable objects of size and mass comparable to the caster are shoved aside when the caster blinks in. If blinking is impossible except into a fixed, solid object, the caster is then trapped on the Ethereal Plane.
During each round that he blinks, the spellcaster can be attacked only by opponents who win initiative or by those who are able to strike both locations at once (for example, with a breath weapon, fireball, or similar wide-area attack forms). Opponents with multiple attacks, or those operating under haste or similar effects, can often strike early enough to have at least one attack against the caster.
If the spellcaster holds off his attack (if any) until after the blink, the 2d8 delay until the blink is added to his normal 1d10 initiative roll (thus, he probably attacks last in the round). The spellcaster can also try to get his attack in before he blinks (he must announce his intent before rolling the 2d8 for blink timing and the 1d10 for initiative). In this case, the caster compares the two dice rolls, hoping that his initiative roll is lower than his blink roll (the two rolls are not added if he is trying to attack before he blinks). If so, he attacks according to his initiative roll, then blinks according to the blink roll. If his blink roll is lower than his initiative roll, however, he blinks first and then attacks in whatever direction he's facing (he must go through with his attack, even if he is facing in the wrong direction to affect anyone).

You’ll notice there that the spell works more like a teleportation effect than as a shifting between the Material and Ethereal planes (though that is apparently the medium for the teleportation). I propose we give the mammoth the blink power the way the blink dog has it, for consistency, but to keep the comedic effect I think we should add a sort of power that randomly teleports the ephelunt.

 

[Shade]

You’ll notice there that the spell works more like a teleportation effect than as a shifting between the Material and Ethereal planes (though that is apparently the medium for the teleportation). I propose we give the mammoth the blink power the way the blink dog has it, for consistency, but to keep the comedic effect I think we should add a sort of power that randomly teleports the ephelunt.

Yep. And the blink dog also has the dimension door ability, which could easily be randomized.

 

[BOZ]

oh, you’re totally right, and I didn’t even realize that.

Blink (Su): A blink wooly mammoth can use blink as the spell (caster level Xth), and can evoke or end the effect as a free action.

They will blink on a roll of 5 or better on 1d12, with a range of up to 60’, and will reappear as per a 1d12 roll: 1 = in front of opponent; 2 = shield (or left) front flank; 3 = unshielded (or right) front flank; 4-8 = behind opponent; 9-12 = on top of opponent.

here’s the fun part.

Random Teleport (Su): In any round that a blink wooly mammoth uses its blink ability, there is a 75% chance that it will automatically teleport, as dimension door (caster level Xth), as a free action at the end of its turn. The ability affects only the blink wooly mammoth, which never appears within a solid object. The mammoth will reappear up to 60 feet away from its original position (distance determined randomly), as will reappear as per the result of a 1d12 roll: 1 = in front of opponent; 2 = shield (or left) front flank; 3 = unshielded (or right) front flank; 4-8 = behind opponent; 9-12 = on top of opponent.

Well, hmm, that last part will need to be changed due to the removal of facing rules. Got any ideas?

 

[Shade]

oh, you’re totally right, and I didn’t even realize that.

Blink (Su): A blink wooly mammoth can use blink as the spell (caster level Xth), and can evoke or end the effect as a free action.

The blink dog has a caster level equal to twice its HD, which won't really work in this case. How about just making it equal to its HD?

here’s the fun part.

Random Teleport (Su): In any round that a blink wooly mammoth uses its blink ability, there is a 75% chance that it will automatically teleport, as dimension door (caster level Xth), as a free action at the end of its turn. The ability affects only the blink wooly mammoth, which never appears within a solid object. The mammoth will reappear up to 60 feet away from its original position (distance determined randomly), as will reappear as per the result of a 1d12 roll: 1 = in front of opponent; 2 = shield (or left) front flank; 3 = unshielded (or right) front flank; 4-8 = behind opponent; 9-12 = on top of opponent.

Well, hmm, that last part will need to be changed due to the removal of facing rules. Got any ideas?

That I do. How about using the rules for splash (formerly grenadelike) weapons, but add the bit for above the opponent?

Essentially: 1 being the closest point of the opponents's space to the blink mammoth's current position, 2 through 8 counting clockwise around the opponent, and 9-12 directly above the opponent.

 

[BOZ]

The blink dog has a caster level equal to twice its HD, which won't really work in this case. How about just making it equal to its HD?

that’ll work – same for the teleportation effect then also.

That I do. How about using the rules for splash (formerly grenadelike) weapons, but add the bit for above the opponent?

Essentially: 1 being the closest point of the opponents's space to the blink mammoth's current position, 2 through 8 counting clockwise around the opponent, and 9-12 directly above the opponent.

not bad. let me see what I can do with that… (borrowing a bit from the feystag)

The mammoth will reappear a random distance from its original space, up to 60 feet away. The mammoth can reappear on the ground, or in the air. To determine where it reappears, roll 1d12; if the result is 1-8, consult the "Missing With a Thrown Weapon" diagram on page 158 of the Player's Handbook. If the result is 9-12, the mammoth reappears directly above an opponent.

 

[Shade]

that’ll work – same for the teleportation effect then also.

Sounds good.

not bad. let me see what I can do with that… (borrowing a bit from the feystag)

The mammoth will reappear a random distance from its original space, up to 60 feet away. The mammoth can reappear on the ground, or in the air. To determine where it reappears, roll 1d12; if the result is 1-8, consult the "Missing With a Thrown Weapon" diagram on page 158 of the Player's Handbook. If the result is 9-12, the mammoth reappears directly above an opponent.

Should we give it a crush attack, or something similar, should it appear avove an opponent?

 

[BOZ]

yes. (does the part i wrote above look good?)

If a blink mammoth appears directly above its opponent, the victim is crushed for 6-36 hp damage. All of his equipment must save vs. crushing blow, and the victim must save vs. wands to avoid being knocked unconscious for 2-12 rounds. Only one blink mammoth will “drop in on” a victim at a time. Additionally, any victim so struck must make a dexterity check on 4d6 to avoid being knocked down, thus giving the blink mammoths a +2 to-hit bonus if the victim fails to get initiative to stand up.

 

[Shade]

Yep. What you wrote looks good.

I'd prefer the standard crush ability to the crushing equipment/unconsciousness of the original.

 

[BOZ]

just a straight up dragon-style crush attack then?