Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead

[Shade]

I'm not sure we should limit it to humanoids. In fact, the image in the article showed a non-humanoid creature (it looks most like a dragon to me).

Maybe just limit it to living creatures? We could limit it by highest base saving throw of a certain amount (say, +9, which is normal for 15th level) so as to give spellcasters and fighters an equal entry point. That would allow monsters of 14 Hit Dice access. Thoughts?

 

[demiurge1138]

I like that idea!

 

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[demiurge1138]

I should point out that their DR should be 15/good, not 15/"holy".

 

[Shade]

Indeed! I'll fix it.

Armor Class: A dark lord has a +x profane bonus to Armor Class. (Fixed amount or equal to Cha modifier?)

A raise dead spell will destroy a dark lord, but it is allowed a saving throw versus spells.

Not affected by raise dead and reincarnate spells or abilities. Resurrection and true resurrection can affect undead creatures. These spells turn undead creatures back into the living creatures they were before becoming undead.

Should we stick with the usual undead reaction to such spells, or create a "Vulnerability to Life-Restoring Magic" SQ?

 

[demiurge1138]

I think we should use industry standard for the life-type magic. And I like profane bonus = Charisma modifier.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Ready for the difficult part?

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +x.

Treasure: x.

Alignment: Always chaotic evil?

Advancement: Same as base creature or by character class?

Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +x.

 

[freyar]

These are big, big bads, so I like triple standard treasure.

Always CE.

Advancement: I'd say same as base creature.

Uhh, tough one. CR+5 or 6? Needs to be at least +4, but I'd think even higher.

 

[Shade]

Let's see...

The minimal creature is 15th-level or 15 HD. For a creature with class levels, a CR of +5 would put it at CR 20. That may actually be too weak for a creature with disintegrate and time stop at will. Even the CR 25 phane can only use time stop 1/day, and the chronotyryn is limited to 3/day, without the added disintegrate ability.

I'm wondering if we shouldn't limit the SLAs a bit to make these things more reasonable.

 

[freyar]

Maybe. These seem comparable to phanes actually (man, the phane's stasis touch and null time field could be tough!). But CR +10 seems a bit crazy -- are there any precedents for that?