Special Conversion Thread: Plants

[freyar]

Well, they were originally 4HD. So how about CR 4 or 5?

 

[Cleon]

Well, they were originally 4HD. So how about CR 4 or 5?

I'd be OK with that, although it's a bit low for something that supposedly threatens an Elder Brain. We could come up with some lovely exception-based mechanisms to compensate though.

You know how much Shade likes them.

 

[freyar]

As I suggested upthread, I'd favor flavor text talking about the effect on elder brains. If you really want mechanics, what about some disease with a high Fort DC that only infects brain matter?

 

[Cleon]

As I suggested upthread, I'd favor flavor text talking about the effect on elder brains. If you really want mechanics, what about some disease with a high Fort DC that only infects brain matter?

Well I suppose I could accept that, it's not like the PCs are very likely to be Elder Brains.

 

[freyar]

Do elder brains have a level adjustment? If I remember, I might just have to check that tonight.

 

[Cleon]

Do elder brains have a level adjustment? If I remember, I might just have to check that tonight.

I can't recall offhand, but I suspect not.

Besides, if you had an Elder Brain PC you'd need someone to carry it about in a really big jar...

 

[freyar]

No need for the jar, they have a 30 ft fly speed. They don't actually have an LA line in their stat block, though the other monsters in Lords of Madness do. I suspect it's supposed to be LA: -, though.

Anyway, shall we proceed?

 

[Cleon]

No need for the jar, they have a 30 ft fly speed. They don't actually have an LA line in their stat block, though the other monsters in Lords of Madness do. I suspect it's supposed to be LA: -, though.

Elder Brains were immobile in their AD&D incarnations, and I prefer them that way.

 

[freyar]

I don't know, I find something appealing about a 10-ft-diameter levitating glowing brain.

Here's a start:

Purple Lichen (CR 5?)
Purple lichen, technically a fungus rather than a lichen, is a psionic parasite that grows in thin layers on underground floors, walls and ceilings. Any psionic creature within 10 feet of a patch of purple lichen must make a DC X Will save or lose Y power points. For each Z points the lichen patch drains, it grows to fill an additional 5 ft square. It is rumored that renegade mind flayers developed purple lichen to attack elder brains; some scholar speculate that purple lichen causes a horrific disease when placed in direct contact with brain matter.

A 5-ft square patch of purple lichen has 10? hit points but is immune to weapon damage. Purple lichen is rendered dormant by exposure to any bright light, and it is killed instantly by exposure to natural daylight or a daylight spell.

 

[Cleon]

I don't know, I find something appealing about a 10-ft-diameter levitating glowing brain.

If I found that attractive I'd keep it to myself!

Here's a start:

Purple Lichen (CR 5?)
Purple lichen, technically a fungus rather than a lichen, is a psionic parasite that grows in thin layers on underground floors, walls and ceilings. Any psionic creature within 10 feet of a patch of purple lichen must make a DC X Will save or lose Y power points. For each Z points the lichen patch drains, it grows to fill an additional 5 ft square. It is rumored that renegade mind flayers developed purple lichen to attack elder brains; some scholar speculate that purple lichen causes a horrific disease when placed in direct contact with brain matter.

A 5-ft square patch of purple lichen has 10? hit points but is immune to weapon damage. Purple lichen is rendered dormant by exposure to any bright light, and it is killed instantly by exposure to natural daylight or a daylight spell.

We'd settled on save for half damage.

I'd like to separate out the bit on their origin and add some mechanics for the disease. For the sake of simplicity (and nastiness) I'll say it works like mummy rot. Since the Dungeon article definitely says the lichen was created for that purpose, I'd fancy cutting the "rumoured".

I'm not sure I like the "technically a fungus rather than a lichen" bit. How about "parasitic fungoid lifeform", so it's like a fungus while not actually being one?

The original entry gives the lichen 4 HD and 30 hit points. That's for a patch that covers the walls of an entire room, though, so I'm OK keeping the HP/square lower.

Revising...

Purple Lichen (CR 5?)
Purple lichen is a parasitic fungoid life form that feeds off psionic energy. It can live in any damp underground area frequented by psionic creatures. Purple lichen may grow on any nonhazardous surface (walls, floor or ceiling), and can grow underwater or floating on subterranean pools. Whenever a psionic creature ends its turn within 10 feet of a patch of purple lichen the lichen will drain X psionic power points from them (DC Y Will save to halve this amount). For each Z points the lichen patch drains, it grows to fill an additional 5 ft square. A 5-ft square patch of purple lichen has 10? hit points but is immune to weapon damage. Purple lichen is rendered dormant by exposure to any bright light, and it is killed instantly by exposure to natural daylight or a daylight spell.

It is rumored that renegade mind flayers developed purple lichen to infect and destroy elder brains; some scholar speculate that purple lichen causes a horrific disease when placed in direct contact with brain matter. [Purple lichen causes a supernatural disease, called purple rot, that only affects psionic creatures with exposed brains that touch a patch of lichen. Purple rot's effects are the same as mummy rot, except a victim infested with purple rot will have filaments of purple lichen growing in their brain. This purple lichen infestation will drain power points from the victim and anyone else within 10 feet until the disease is cured.]