Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead


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Let's stick with a Human warrior for consistency with the original template (and to do less work).

Here's how it looks...

Dust Skeleton, Human Warrior
Medium Undead
Hit Dice: 1d12 (6 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+1 Dex, +2 heavy steel shield), touch 11, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple +0/+1
Attack: Scimitar +1 melee (1d6+1/18–20) or claw +1 melee (1d2+1)
Full Attack: Scimitar +1 melee (1d6+1/18–20) or 2 claws +1 melee (1d2+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Aura of dust, death throes
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, trail of dust, undead traits
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: Improved Initiative (B)
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Any
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —

Aura of Dust (Ex): A dust skeleton constantly emits a cloud of irritating dustin a 10-foot-radius. All living creatures which enter this cloud of dust must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d2 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.

Death Throes (Ex): If a dust skeleton is slain its body explodes into a burst of toxic dust, affecting all living creatures within a 10-foot-radius burst. Creatures within the area must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 2d6 rounds. Creatures that succeed on their saves are instead sickened for 1 round. The save DC is Strength-based.

Trail of Dust (Ex): A dust skeleton leaves a trail of dust wherever it goes. Any creature attempting to track a dust skeleton by sight receives a +12 circumstance bonus on their Survival checks to track the skeleton. This dust trail is a strong irritant, so creatures attempting to track its trail by scent are affected as if they were exposed to the skeleton's aura of dust (see above).


We can add a horse as well if you'd like.
 

Dust Skeleton Light Horse
Large Undead
Hit Dice: 3d12 (19 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 11 (–1 size, +2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 9
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+7
Attack: Hoof –2 melee (1d4+1*)
Full Attack: 2 hooves –2 melee (1d4+1*)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold, trail of dust, undead traits
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: Improved Initiative (B)
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Any
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —

Aura of Dust (Ex): A dust skeleton constantly emits a cloud of irritating dustin a 20-foot-radius. All living creatures which enter this cloud of dust must make a DC 13 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d2 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.

Death Throes (Ex): If a dust skeleton is slain its body explodes into a burst of toxic dust, affecting all living creatures within a 20-foot-radius burst. Creatures within the area must make a DC 13 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 2d6 rounds. Creatures that succeed on their saves are instead sickened for 1 round. The save DC is Strength-based.

Trail of Dust (Ex): A dust skeleton leaves a trail of dust wherever it goes. Any creature attempting to track a dust skeleton by sight receives a +12 circumstance bonus on their Survival checks to track the skeleton. This dust trail is a strong irritant, so creatures attempting to track its trail by scent are affected as if they were exposed to the skeleton's aura of dust (see above).
 

Those look ok, but isn't CR of 1/3 +1 a CR of 1 for the human warrior. Or CR 1/2? It looks awfully weak for CR 2.
 

Good question. I assumed it was a "round up" equation, but I'm unsure.

Perhaps it might be easier to just treat a dusk skeleton as one step higher on the skeleton CR chart?
 



Perhaps it might be easier to just treat a dusk skeleton as one step higher on the skeleton CR chart?

Going one step higher for the Challenge Rating is a good idea.

Looking at those samples the Death Throes DCs look a bit low.

Should we add a +2 racial bonus on Death Throes DC to the template?

This is their signature attack, after all.
 
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