Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead
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freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
How about the following?
Hit Dice: Drop all class and racial Hit Dice from the base creature. The number of Hit Dice is assigned at the time of their creation (in conjunction with the spell-like ability of the gem eye, see below). However, gem eyes always have at least 3 HD, and the create undead spell cannot create gem eyes of more than 20 HD. Gem eyes have d12 Hit Dice.
Spells (Sp): Each gem eye has a single spell-like ability corresponding to a spell up to 5th level. This spell-like ability may be used twice per day. The level of the spell chosen for this ability is determined by the gem eye's HD, as indicated in the table below. The Caster Level is equal to the HD.
The school of spell is determined by the type of gem in the gem eye's eye sockets, as follows: ruby - evocation, sapphire - abjuration, diamond - transmutation, amethyst - illusion, opal - conjuration, pearl - enchantment, obsidian - divination, emerald - necromancy. The task a gem eye is assigned usually depends on the spell-like ability it possesses.
HD Level of Spell
3-4 1st-level spell
5-8 2nd-level spell
9-12 3rd-level spell
13-18 4th-level spell
19-20 5th-level spell
Challenge Rating: Depends on Hit Dice. See table.
Hit Dice Challenge Rating
3-4 HD CR 2
5-6 HD CR 3
7-8 HD CR 4
9-10 HD CR 5
11-12 HD CR 6
13-15 HD CR 7
16-18 HD CR 8
19-20 HD CR 9
Hit Dice: Drop all class and racial Hit Dice from the base creature. The number of Hit Dice is assigned at the time of their creation (in conjunction with the spell-like ability of the gem eye, see below). However, gem eyes always have at least 3 HD, and the create undead spell cannot create gem eyes of more than 20 HD. Gem eyes have d12 Hit Dice.
Spells (Sp): Each gem eye has a single spell-like ability corresponding to a spell up to 5th level. This spell-like ability may be used twice per day. The level of the spell chosen for this ability is determined by the gem eye's HD, as indicated in the table below. The Caster Level is equal to the HD.
The school of spell is determined by the type of gem in the gem eye's eye sockets, as follows: ruby - evocation, sapphire - abjuration, diamond - transmutation, amethyst - illusion, opal - conjuration, pearl - enchantment, obsidian - divination, emerald - necromancy. The task a gem eye is assigned usually depends on the spell-like ability it possesses.
HD Level of Spell
3-4 1st-level spell
5-8 2nd-level spell
9-12 3rd-level spell
13-18 4th-level spell
19-20 5th-level spell
Challenge Rating: Depends on Hit Dice. See table.
Hit Dice Challenge Rating
3-4 HD CR 2
5-6 HD CR 3
7-8 HD CR 4
9-10 HD CR 5
11-12 HD CR 6
13-15 HD CR 7
16-18 HD CR 8
19-20 HD CR 9
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Sure! Sounds good.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Before we get into the samples, there are some things in the template I just realized need to be fixed. Since the HD is no longer HD+3, the feats are not original feats +1. I'm also not so sure about skills. What if we do this?
Skills: Recalculate the gem eye's skill ranks based on its new HD and Int and assign new skill ranks. The class skills of the base creature are class skills for the gem eye.
Feats: Reassign feats according to the new HD of the gem eye. Use the base creature's feats first, then add more feats if necessary. Gem eyes usually gain Skill Focus (Concentration) and Combat Casting as their first two additional feats.
Edit: Or maybe it is better to assign skills and feats as if a generic undead.
Skills: The gem eye has HD+3 skill ranks, which are split evenly between Spot and Listen.
Feats: Gem eyes have the following feats, gained in this order as they gain HD: Skill Focus (Concentration), Combat Casting, Ability Focus (Spells), Weapon Focus (claw), Alertness, Great Fortitude, and Lightning Reflexes.
Also, do we still want to leave the saves the same? I guess skeletons do, but that's wacky for the changing HD.
Skills: Recalculate the gem eye's skill ranks based on its new HD and Int and assign new skill ranks. The class skills of the base creature are class skills for the gem eye.
Feats: Reassign feats according to the new HD of the gem eye. Use the base creature's feats first, then add more feats if necessary. Gem eyes usually gain Skill Focus (Concentration) and Combat Casting as their first two additional feats.
Edit: Or maybe it is better to assign skills and feats as if a generic undead.
Skills: The gem eye has HD+3 skill ranks, which are split evenly between Spot and Listen.
Feats: Gem eyes have the following feats, gained in this order as they gain HD: Skill Focus (Concentration), Combat Casting, Ability Focus (Spells), Weapon Focus (claw), Alertness, Great Fortitude, and Lightning Reflexes.
Also, do we still want to leave the saves the same? I guess skeletons do, but that's wacky for the changing HD.
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demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I think we should give it new skills, but let it keep the feats of the base creature. Make Concentration a class skill. Giving it both Skill Focus (concentration) and Combat Casting strikes me as redundant.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
I guess I could see the argument that the feats are "reflexive" and left even though the mind is essentially created anew. Ok, fair enough. Forgot about Concentration, also.
Skills: The gem eye has HD+3 skill ranks, all of which are assigned to Concentration.
Feats might be easier if we redo the HD line again. I've also realized that there are some odd situations where the gem eye might not qualify for its old feats due to changed ability scores. What about this?
Edit to add:
Hit Dice: Drop all class Hit Dice from the base creature. The number of Hit Dice is assigned at the time of their creation (in conjunction with the spell-like ability of the gem eye, see below). However, gem eyes always have at least 3 HD or the base creature's HD, whichever is greater. The create undead spell cannot create gem eyes of more than 20 HD. Gem eyes have d12 Hit Dice.
Feats: Keep all feats associated with the racial hit dice of the base creature if it still meets the prerequisites. If a creature of the gem eye's new HD would have more feats, add feats in the following order: Skill Focus (Concentration), Ability Focus (Spells), Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus (claw), Alertness, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes.
Skills: The gem eye has HD+3 skill ranks, all of which are assigned to Concentration.
Feats might be easier if we redo the HD line again. I've also realized that there are some odd situations where the gem eye might not qualify for its old feats due to changed ability scores. What about this?
Edit to add:
Hit Dice: Drop all class Hit Dice from the base creature. The number of Hit Dice is assigned at the time of their creation (in conjunction with the spell-like ability of the gem eye, see below). However, gem eyes always have at least 3 HD or the base creature's HD, whichever is greater. The create undead spell cannot create gem eyes of more than 20 HD. Gem eyes have d12 Hit Dice.
Feats: Keep all feats associated with the racial hit dice of the base creature if it still meets the prerequisites. If a creature of the gem eye's new HD would have more feats, add feats in the following order: Skill Focus (Concentration), Ability Focus (Spells), Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus (claw), Alertness, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes.
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