Special Conversion Thread: Aboleths

[bykov]

I'll add detect psionics. Does an equivalent power exist for detecting alignment?

Not really, you could either use detect hostile intent or just psionic detect good/evil.

Hmm...I wonder if that would be better handled by a feat.

Speaking of which, we might include an underbar suggesting some of the aboleth feats from Lords of Madness as replacements for the standard feats.

A few notable ones...

Memory Eater [General]...

This more has to the aboleth's ability to process the information. The mindwipe idea was more for flavor as to what happens to the consumed as it is digested, unless there is not hope for a consumed after it enters the great maw.....mwahahahahah!

Powerful Bite [General]...

I think freyar is correct in that there is a version discrepancy. According to the ecology, the standard aboleth's bite attack can do 3d6 damage. If we would rather keep in alignment with what 3.5 has done, I would suggest making a feat that has Powerful Bite as a prerequisite that grants the aboleth the Swallow Whole ability.

Also, a couple of abilities from the aboleth savant prestige class that might be appropriate for some of the better aboleths...

Enlarged Enslave (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, the range of a savant aboleth's enslave special attack is doubled from 30 feet to 60 feet.

True Enslave (Su): Beginning at 4th level, a savant aboleth's enslave ability grows much more powerful. An enslaved creature can no longer make a new Will saving throw each day to break free from the enslavement; the condition is permanent until successfully dispelled. Additionally, the enslavement lasts no matter how far the savant aboleth moves from its slaves. Slaves on a different plane remain enslaved, but the savant aboleth cannot communicate with them telepathically until they return to the same plane.

Definitely.

Bykov.

 

[freyar]

Let me try to summarize and see if we all agree.

Bites: To deal with the conflict between 2e and 3e, let's make all (Huge) aboleths have 1d4 base damage on bite attacks (we can increase damage for larger ones if we like). Then let's mention Powerful Bite as a feat (perhaps noting that larger aboleths should have damage advanced for Powerful Bite). Then write a feat to allow Swallow Whole; this feat must have Powerful Bite as a prereq. Good?

Other LoM feats: mention them, perhaps write some feats with them as prereqs if they would seem appropriate for some of the other "super"-aboleths. This could include a feat to mind wipe victims swallowed whole (with the swallow whole feat as a prereq).

Enlarged Enslave and True Enslave: Enlarged enslave is already being handled by changing the range in the enslave entries of the various aboleths we're doing. I don't really think it needs a separate entry. We're also doing "steps" of True Enslave in terms of the distance for extra Will saves in the enslave entry. But probably some of the best aboleths should end up with an effective True Enslave. We should check that we have the correct info for the psionic dominate on the psionic versions, though.

 

[Shade]

Your summary sounds spot on!

Also, did we ever discuss this?

This (a ruler's) telepathy has a range of 100 miles and allows complete communication with all subject aboleth in that range. Note that all other types of aboleth can and do communicate by telepathic means, though this has a range of no more than 20 miles and must be used consciously. They can also communicate with other intelligent creatures by these means, with a range of 100 yards, but seldom do so.

Note that Lords of Madness did not grant the aboleths any additional telepathic abilities, but the base aboleth does have the ability to speak telepathically with its enslaved victims (noted within the enslave ability).

 

[freyar]

Why don't we add telepathy to the greater, etc aboleths (but not saltwater, as it's a variant regular aboleth), allowing them to contact any aboleth under them in the hierarchy?

You know, there are actually 3 variant aboleths in LoM including stygian. They have basic kinds of stats (ie, add fly speed, change subtype, etc), but they may someday be interesting to work up completely.

 

[bykov]

I concur wtih freyar's summation.

I do believe that aboleth should have the Telepathy (Su) ability. It should specify ability to communicate and the ranges of contact with other aboleths, slaves and non-aboleth's.

Could we just kill Amphibious Aboleth? It makes so little sense I want to cry...

Honestly, just give all the rewritten aboleths Amphibious (Ex). They already have a land speed *and* can breath out of water.

Bykov.

 

[freyar]

Good point on the amphibious SQ. It's a little weird that the regular aboleth description calls it an amphibian but then doesn't give it the amphibious SQ. The only concern is compatibility with the regular aboleth. Maybe we leave it off the saltwater aboleth and perhaps give it to the greater, etc, aboleths. How's that?

 

[demiurge1138]

I'm alright with the greater aboleths being able to breathe air while their lessers can't.

 

[Shade]

Amphibious for all the greater aboleths (except saltwater) sounds good.

Telepathy range for greater aboleth?

 

[freyar]

Umm, 5 miles with subject aboleth and slaves? Same as the range for automatically breaking the enslave effect?

 

[Shade]

Plus the traditional 60 feet for communicating with other (non-enslaved) creatures?