Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead

[Shade]

Lookin' good. A few things, though...

Originally they had but a single spell.

Theoretically, any magical spell could be put into the eyes (using enchant an item or permanency), but two factors limit the gems' magical power. The spells used in the gems are normally fourth level or lower; and spells tied to the "natural" power of the gem types are easier to make permanent.

If designing a unique variety of gem eyes, the DM should be careful which spells are put into the eyes. Since it takes at least a 9th-level magic-user to animate the dead, and an 11th-level magic-user to animate gem eyes, certain spells such as fireball or lightning bolt are simply too powerful for low-level adventures.

As it stands, a ruby eyes could employ a 7d6 fireball or lightning bolt 2/day. In fact, it can open with a 7d6 fireball, wait a round, then unleash a 7d6 lightning bolt. Too powerful?

 

[demiurge1138]

Hm. Maybe the 1/3 rounds is a good qualifier. Also, Shade, I'm not seeing where you're seeing the ability for them to have multiple SLAs.

 

[freyar]

Hm. Maybe the 1/3 rounds is a good qualifier. Also, Shade, I'm not seeing where you're seeing the ability for them to have multiple SLAs.

I'd be fine with going back to 1/3 rounds. But, yeah, the way it's written, each is supposed to have only a single SLA. Should we tone down the CL on these?

 

[demiurge1138]

I like the CL - the gem eyes is basically a walking scroll. We might have to up the CR, or maybe tie hit dice to the level of the spell in them.

 

[Shade]

Sorry guys...I must have glossed over the word "single" when skimming the ability.

Ooh...I like the idea of tying the level of the spell to the Hit Dice. Following the skeleton CR progression and adding 1 at each step, then comparing it to when spellcasters gain new spell level levels, yields...

3-4 HD = CR 2, 1st-level spell
5-6 HD = CR 3, 2nd-level spell
7-8 HD = CR 4
9-10 HD = CR 5, 3rd-level spell
11-12 HD = CR 6
13-15 HD = CR 7, 4th-level spells
16-18 HD = CR 8
19-20 HD = CR 9, 5th-level spells

How's that?

 

[freyar]

I like that a lot. Then we can go with CL=HD and every other round for the spells. (Or CL = minimum for that level spell?)

 

[Shade]

I think CL=HD should suffice, and is easier for the DM.

 

[demiurge1138]

CL = HD works for me.

Are we going to have the template work as currently written, or are we going to change it to account for the HD/CL thing? For example, could a human skeleton have 20 HD and a CL 9 spell, or is it always going to be 4 HD with a CL 2 or whatever?

 

[freyar]

I'd actually prefer to change the HD part of the template to be the creator's preference (but always base creature's HD +3 as a minimum), if you both agree.

 

[demiurge1138]

This I like. Lets you have human skeletons still throwing down the hurt in the form of 7d6 fireballs.