Special Conversion Thread: Aboleths

[freyar]

Should we give them Futuristic Weapons Proficiency?

Maybe (ranged only). But this just seems kind of strange. Magic experimenters somehow make more sense. Hmmmph, incomprehensible aberrations!

 

[demiurge1138]

Remember, back then aboleths saw magic as distasteful! Perhaps if we want to simplify things, we give them Item Mastery and Craft Wand and Craft Staff, noting that they favor spells that do direct damage to complement their inherent subtleties, then write a sidebar titled Aboleths with Death Rays? for presenting futuristic ranged weapons as an optional rule.

 

[freyar]

Ok, that makes much more sense, and I like those ideas.

 

[bykov]

Should we give them Futuristic Weapons Proficiency?

I have been thinking about just that. Now granted, we are looking to do a straight translation from previous editions to 3.5. However, the one thing that has been knawing at me is the ecology's addition of futuristic weapons. This is not something that I have even glimpsed in any other source (mind you my research may not be as comprehensive as I think). An item that could have been possibly misinterpreted in the writing of the article is that psionic 'schools' in AD&D were called 'sciences'. Would it be out of our scope to tweak this technological science to more of a psionic science? Where their research is more geared toward forwarding the aboleths mental capacity and genetic manipulation through eugenics.

Just my two cents.

Bykov.

 

[bykov]

Remember, back then aboleths saw magic as distasteful!

Yes, but material also contradicted itself with the Aboleth Savant (wiz/cleric) and the Grand Aboleth (Illusionist levels). We also have heard they would never worship any deity, including their creator, yet the aboleth savant was a cleric/wizard multi-class. Now in 3.5 we also have the Aboleth Mage. In both editions we have the glyphs also.

But considering the technology and the glyphs, I would love to completely go off the beaten path and give aboleth's preferred classes of Psion and Artificer. That seems to gel very nicely, but also contradicts the SRD which is our baseline.

All that considered, I like demiurge's thought process of setting them up as crafters, even though I would love to see that as more of a prestige class than part of the core creature.

Bykov.

 

[Shade]

I like where these are headed, and think we should allow for both "magitech" and "scitech".

I could see an underbar for treating them as artificers, and another for future tech.

Maybe we can get Rappy to offer some D20 Modern suggestions as well.

One question for bykov - why Gargantuan? As far as I can tell, their heads are just a bit bigger than standard aboleths, not their bodies.

 

[bykov]

One question for bykov - why Gargantuan? As far as I can tell, their heads are just a bit bigger than standard aboleths, not their bodies.

Inference I took from the write up. Greater is quite clear that the "Greater aboleth are simply larger. more intelligent versions of the common aboleth". While the Noble is vaguely so... "head is slightly larger than that of a common or greater aboleth".

In the article is specifies the length of the common (20'), greater (30'), ruler (40'), and grand (70') aboleths, but nothing on the noble.

For me, the cincher was the tentacle damage. The greater aboleth was 4-10 (2d4+2), while the noble aboleth was listed as 2-16 (2d8) per tentacle. Subsequently the ruler is listed as 5-20 (5d4).

You could honestly go either way and have it make sense.

Bykov.

 

[Shade]

In that case, let's start 'em at Huge, but allow them to advance to Gargantuan relatively quickly.

 

[bykov]

In that case, let's start 'em at Huge, but allow them to advance to Gargantuan relatively quickly.

I think in that case it decides one of the feats, Improved Natural Attack (tentacle).

Also, on a side note, the greater aboleth does not qualify for the Force of Will feat. A creature that uses powers or can use psi-like abilities is ineligible.

Bykov.

 

[Shade]

I think in that case it decides one of the feats, Improved Natural Attack (tentacle).

Nah...it's acceptable to vary damage a bit within size categories. Save the feat slot for something appropriately "scientific".

Also, on a side note, the greater aboleth does not qualify for the Force of Will feat. A creature that uses powers or can use psi-like abilities is ineligible.

Good catch. Suggested replacement?