Special Conversion Thread: Aboleths

[demiurge1138]

Let's let break enchantment work on the enslavement. It has to be good for something, right?

Telekinesis or some component thereof for imp. phantasmal force, perhaps?

 

[Shade]

According to the 2e to 3e conversion guide, improved phantasmal force = minor image. That said, I'm fine with adding something more worthy of its power level.

Break enchantment works for me.

At will for the enslavement may work. I checked the remaining aboleths to be converted, and all state that they have "has enslavement powers equal to those of a greater aboleth".

 

[demiurge1138]

It's got enough illusions at its disposal. And I like the feel of telekinesis.

 

[freyar]

Break enchantment is ok by me. It's still a step up from remove curse.

I also prefer telekinesis. When would one of these ever want to use minor image? And telekinesis has a number of corresponding powers. As for limiting to one of the effects, I'm agnostic. We should probably keep the combat maneuver option, at least.

 

[Shade]

Let's go full telekinesis for the standard version, and pick some of the telekinetic powers for the psionic variant.

Is everyone OK with the "at will" enslavement?

 

[freyar]

That all sounds good to me. Heck, I'd be fine with giving it all three of the psionic telekinetic powers.

 

[Shade]

At will or 3/day for telekinesis (and telekinetic force/maneuver/thrust)?

Still need to address the following from upthread:

Boost caster/manifester level? Normal aboleth is double HD (or 8 higher than HD) for caster level, 5 higher than HD for manifester level.

Usage rate of dim door and levitate?

Anyone have the sample backwards-converted body equilibrium SLA handy?

Weight for the saltwater aboleth? (we missed it before moving on). Regular aboleth weighs 6,500 pounds. This thing is 5 foot longer.

 

[bykov]

Multiple Aboleths, or just one?

1. Common aboleth have a life span of about 2,000 years. Greater and noble aboleth live to be about 3,000 years old. Rulers can live as long as five millennia, while the grand aboleth may well be immortal.

This is from Dragon 131.

Based on this and the common conception that aboleths are immortal and that 2e did not typically utilize the concept of monster progressions, per se. Would it not make more sense to develop an outline that deatils what improvements a aboleth gets as it ages instead of following the 2e ideal of several different aboleths?

Also, in deference to the core aboleth, wouldn't the concept of genetic memory thus imply that an aboleth possesses great intelligence, more so than the 15 INT given to it in the MM? Considering the genetic memory of it's predecessors could be host to countless thousands of consumed memories, would it not only be feasible, but likely, that an aboleth would possess a 20+ INT at 8 HD?

My next thought is based on the thought process that aboleths possess great mental capacity and rule through power, not personality. Is it possible to make their psi-like abilities Intelligence-based?

Please don't take this as derision towards the great efforts you all have made towards these conversions, as it is good to see others still embracing the great malleability of 3.5.

Thanks for reading, keep up the great work.
Bykov.

 

[Shade]

Welcome to the discussion, bykov!

I'd prefer to stick with multiple aboleths (even if it really is the same aboleth "advancing"...it just makes for easier bookkeeping).

Good point on the Intelligence. I could see an across-the-board boost, and/or use of the following ability...

Knowledgeable (Ex): A thendar makes Knowledge checks for any Knowledge skills as if it had a minimum of 10 ranks in that skill. To surpass the 10-rank minimum, it must assign more than 10 ranks to the skill as normal.

Psi-like abilities were standardized to Charisma-based in 3.5, as opposed to the somewhat confusing wide range of psionic ability bases within 3e. If we keep the ratio of Cha comparable (or better, in the case of standard aboleths) than Int, they'll be none the worse for wear.

 

[freyar]

At will or 3/day for telekinesis (and telekinetic force/maneuver/thrust)?

Still need to address the following from upthread:

Boost caster/manifester level? Normal aboleth is double HD (or 8 higher than HD) for caster level, 5 higher than HD for manifester level.

Usage rate of dim door and levitate?

Anyone have the sample backwards-converted body equilibrium SLA handy?

Weight for the saltwater aboleth? (we missed it before moving on). Regular aboleth weighs 6,500 pounds. This thing is 5 foot longer.

Let's go at will for telekinesis. These are greater aboleths, for heaven's sake!

How about boosting CL to 12 higher than HD and ML to 8 higher than HD?

Let's go at will for dim door and levitate, like the other SLAs.

Hmm, can't remember where that was. Some dragon maybe? Or a unique outsider?

12000 lb for the saltwater. It's longer but not a whole lot thicker.

1. Common aboleth have a life span of about 2,000 years. Greater and noble aboleth live to be about 3,000 years old. Rulers can live as long as five millennia, while the grand aboleth may well be immortal.

This is from Dragon 131.

Based on this and the common conception that aboleths are immortal and that 2e did not typically utilize the concept of monster progressions, per se. Would it not make more sense to develop an outline that deatils what improvements a aboleth gets as it ages instead of following the 2e ideal of several different aboleths?

Also, in deference to the core aboleth, wouldn't the concept of genetic memory thus imply that an aboleth possesses great intelligence, more so than the 15 INT given to it in the MM? Considering the genetic memory of it's predecessors could be host to countless thousands of consumed memories, would it not only be feasible, but likely, that an aboleth would possess a 20+ INT at 8 HD?

My next thought is based on the thought process that aboleths possess great mental capacity and rule through power, not personality. Is it possible to make their psi-like abilities Intelligence-based?

Please don't take this as derision towards the great efforts you all have made towards these conversions, as it is good to see others still embracing the great malleability of 3.5.

Thanks for reading, keep up the great work.
Bykov.

Welcome to the discussion, bykov!

I'd prefer to stick with multiple aboleths (even if it really is the same aboleth "advancing"...it just makes for easier bookkeeping).

Good point on the Intelligence. I could see an across-the-board boost, and/or use of the following ability...

Knowledgeable (Ex): A thendar makes Knowledge checks for any Knowledge skills as if it had a minimum of 10 ranks in that skill. To surpass the 10-rank minimum, it must assign more than 10 ranks to the skill as normal.

Psi-like abilities were standardized to Charisma-based in 3.5, as opposed to the somewhat confusing wide range of psionic ability bases within 3e. If we keep the ratio of Cha comparable (or better, in the case of standard aboleths) than Int, they'll be none the worse for wear.

I'll echo Shade and say welcome! I also want to convert these as written, but age categories for aboleths is an interesting idea for other projects...

I don't want to boost Int too much, since I want things to stay in line with the SRD aboleth. But we could increase the greater aboleth some, and the Knowledgeable ability is perfect for these!