Special Conversion Thread: Moldvay's Undead

[freyar]

10 ft seems like a lot just to have one stored spell, but I could do 5 ft. If they're hasted when full, I think they'll get some chances to discharge some spell levels anyway.

 

[Shade]

5/10/15 at Medium/Large/Huge is fine by me, as is the improved death throes.

I would prefer to have the speed-up happen somewhere midway in the process. If they're only one level away from exploding they are unlikely to demonstrate the ability very much.

I was picturing the videogame trope where the boss monster tends to increase speed as it nears death to increase the challenge.

10 ft seems like a lot just to have one stored spell, but I could do 5 ft. If they're hasted when full, I think they'll get some chances to discharge some spell levels anyway.

That works for me.

 

[Cleon]

I was picturing the videogame trope where the boss monster tends to increase speed as it nears death to increase the challenge.


That works for me.

5 feet still seems too fiddly to me.

Another idea I was thinking about was it goes into a hasted death throes if its spell capacity is exceeded instead of just exploding...

Something like "if an absorbing zombie's spell capacity is exceeded the creature attacks in a burst of frenzied speed as its animating energies overload and burn its body out. The zombie acts as if hasted for X rounds , adding Y electrical damage to all its natural attacks, before being destroyed."

 

[Shade]

It sort of works that way now, with less fiddly bits. Since it is mindless, it essentially stores spell levels and releases them whenever it can. If at any time it gets fully charged, it would go hasted. Then it would either release spell levels again (and cease being hasted), or explode.

Honestly, the speed bit was just an extra idea I was exploring. It has nothing to do with the original writeup, so if it's too problematic, we can just drop it.

 

[Cleon]

It sort of works that way now, with less fiddly bits. Since it is mindless, it essentially stores spell levels and releases them whenever it can. If at any time it gets fully charged, it would go hasted. Then it would either release spell levels again (and cease being hasted), or explode.

Honestly, the speed bit was just an extra idea I was exploring. It has nothing to do with the original writeup, so if it's too problematic, we can just drop it.

Just dropping it would certainly be easier and closer to the original.

Suppose I could give up all the beautiful arguments we'd have about the "hasty" version.

 

[freyar]

Yes, it's probably easier to drop the hasting!

 

[Shade]

OK, then.

Updated.

Organization: x

Challenge Rating: x

An absorbing zombie can be created with a create undead spell from a xth-level caster, but also requires x.

 

[freyar]

Org: any, like a normal zombie?
They can really dish out damage, but they're not too durable. CR 3 if the wizards get going?
11th or lower. I want to say spell turning, but that's even higher level. I don't think these are tough enough to justify that. If we bumped the HD or something, it could work, but not right now.

 

[Shade]

Special Ingredients: A protection from magic scroll must be burned and the ashes inserted into the mouth of the body before animation. Shocking grasp must be cast during animation.

Just stick with shocking grasp? Or perhaps add spell immunity?

 

[Cleon]

Org: any, like a normal zombie?
They can really dish out damage, but they're not too durable. CR 3 if the wizards get going?
11th or lower. I want to say spell turning, but that's even higher level. I don't think these are tough enough to justify that. If we bumped the HD or something, it could work, but not right now.

Yes, while a wand rod of absorption does have spell turning as a prereq it does seem too high level a spell.

Guess we could use a lower level abjuration that counters magic, such as anti-magic shell or lesser globe of invulnerability.

As for organization, why not base it on the original's 1-8 No. Appearing?

Organization: Solitary or gang (2-8)

Challenge Rating 3 may be a little high considering their lousy AC and mediocre damage. If their opponents just hold the spellcasting and hack them up they won't last long,.

They may be more of a CR 2.