Special Conversion Thread: Finishing off the fey

[Cleon]

As for the dogai, I think I'm convinced by native outsider. Their reversed joints (and sometimes hands) immediately make me think of rakshasas, which happen to be native outsiders.

Yes, I agree on Native Outsider. It fits their description as "spirits" better than Monstrous Humanoid.

Definitely a generous version of alternate form, the SLAs given above with possibly others related to crop failing, and I'd think a low Int.

I'd rather just give them the more limited shape-changing (alter self or change self) suited to their mediocre Hit Dice. Perhaps this is a 'lesser dogai'. We could give them illusion powers (minor image?) and say they use them for the rock/tree/constellation disguises. A 1/day or 1/week diminish plants would be enough to represent their crop blighting ability.

As for their ability scores, since we've already compared them to a Rakshasa how about taking a Rakshasa's ability scores and and knocking 2 or 4 off the mental stats, so:

Rakshasa: Str 12, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 17
​

Modify by -4 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha.

Dogai: Str 12, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 15
​

If we give it Con 16 and three levels of outsider, its 3d8+9 Hit Dice average 22 hit points, or 3 short of the original's 25. If we want to remedy that shortfall we could easily give it Toughness as a regular or bonus feat or up its Con to 18.

 

[freyar]

I think alter self doesn't help, because then they could only look like outsiders! But we could do a limited alternate form (humanoids only, maybe only females though I'd go for both genders). Minor image is a good idea, and diminish plants is just what I was thinking.

Using the "4.5 rule," I think they'd have 5 and a half HD.

 

[Shade]

Better yet, why not use the rakshasa's change shape ability?

Change Shape (Su): A rakshasa can assume any humanoid form, or revert to its own form, as a standard action. In humanoid form, a rakshasa loses its claw and bite attacks (although it often equips itself with weapons and armor instead). A rakshasa remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but the rakshasa reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell reveals its natural form.

I like 5 HD and the suggest ability scores (Str 12, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 15). Minor image and diminish plants also appeal.

 

[demiurge1138]

These guys are shaping up pretty nicely! Do we want to give them natural attacks? Claws or slams? Some other SLAs might be appropriate, like scare, prestidigitation and maybe levitate? You can get a lot of spooky stuff from those, and that's the vibe I get from these guys. Sort of spooky, sort of silly.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good!

Let's go with claws like the rakshasa.

Added to Homebrews.

Since these are shaping up as "lesser rakshasa cousins", how about borrowing some of the following?

• damage reduction x/good and piercing
• spell resistance
• A rakshasa has a +4 racial bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks.

Always lawful evil like rakshasa, or does anyone else feel a more chaotic vibe here?

 

[freyar]

Let's keep prestidigitation as at will.

I actually would like to make them a little dumber. Maybe Int 7.

DR 5/good or piercing maybe.
Just a little SR. Maybe CR +5 or 6.
Racial bonuses make sense.
Maybe a chaotic vibe, but especially a dumb vibe.

 

[Cleon]

Better yet, why not use the rakshasa's change shape ability?

Change Shape (Su): A rakshasa can assume any humanoid form, or revert to its own form, as a standard action. In humanoid form, a rakshasa loses its claw and bite attacks (although it often equips itself with weapons and armor instead). A rakshasa remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but the rakshasa reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell reveals its natural form.

I like 5 HD and the suggest ability scores (Str 12, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 15). Minor image and diminish plants also appeal.

The Rakshasa's Change Shape is a great idea, I'm fine with that.

 

[Cleon]

Sounds good!

Let's go with claws like the rakshasa.

How about it slaps its enemies with its giant ears in its natural form, for 2 slam attacks?

It's a bit goofy, but I like the idea.

Since these are shaping up as "lesser rakshasa cousins", how about borrowing some of the following?

• damage reduction x/good and piercing
• spell resistance
• A rakshasa has a +4 racial bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks.

Always lawful evil like rakshasa, or does anyone else feel a more chaotic vibe here?

Well I'd prefer to skip the DR (as there's no mention of it in the original), but if we do give it one I'd just go for DR 5/magic or DR 5/good. It certainly doesn't feel tough enough to merit an "X and Y" Damage Reduction.

Spell Resistance is a good idea, (SR 13?), as are a rakshasa's racial bonuses to Bluff and Disguise.

As for the alignment, either Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Evil. They don't seem to be out to kill and destroy people, more torment or mislead them.

 

[Cleon]

Let's keep prestidigitation as at will.

I actually would like to make them a little dumber. Maybe Int 7.

Intelligence 7 is OK by me, it means fewer skill points to fuss over!

 

[Shade]

I'll go along with the lower Int, but I can't go for the ear-slappin'. (sorry Cleon).

Some of the sources declare them evil, so I'd want to make them at least "often evil" as well as "always chaotic".

There's so little in the original writeup that the omission of mentioning something like DR doesn't make me want to rule it out. I'd rather stick with similar DR to the rakshasa, but could be persuade to make it damage reduction 5/good or piercing.

Rakshasas have fantastic SR (CR+17). Why don't we halve that, to CR+8 (like demons)?

How often should charmp person be used? 3/day?

Rakshasas speak Common, Infernal, and Undercommon. Since these guys are chaotic counterparts, swap Infernal for Abyssal?