Special Conversion Thread: Unicorns

[freyar]

Cunnequine, then? Just add a couple special abilities to a regular unicorn? Touch attack for opposite alignment and turning (including extraplanar critters, or add banishment separately?)?

 

[Shade]

That sounds about right, and I think I prefer the turn check vs. extraplanar creatures rather than an additional SLA/Su ability.

 

[demiurge1138]

I think I'd rather they got dismissal as an SLA, but I'll go with the consensus.

 

[freyar]

I'm pretty ambivalent on this. The effect sounds more like banishment/dismissal, but there is a lot of precedent (via domains, etc) for turning affecting non-undead. Perhaps Cleon can vote?

 

[Shade]

Upon further consideration, most unicorn abilities are spell-like and tied to their horns, so I think I'm leaning toward the dismissal option.

Giving them planar turning inadvertently ties them to a deity, which doesn't feel quite right.

 

[Cleon]

Upon further consideration, most unicorn abilities are spell-like and tied to their horns, so I think I'm leaning toward the dismissal option.

Giving them planar turning inadvertently ties them to a deity, which doesn't feel quite right.

Don't see how planar turning ties them into a deity any more than them being able to turn undead does.

In AD&D clerics could turn (banish) evil spirits like demons and devils, so that just seems an extension of this ability. It certainly isn't modelled on a spell so I'd prefer to keep it using a turning mechanism. Something like:

Turn Conjured Spirits (Su): A cunnequine can turn creatures with the Extraplanar subtype as if they were undead. If the turning attempt would destroy the target the creature is forced back to its proper plane as if by a dismissal spell.

Besides, I'm finding the "helm of opposite alignment" touch attack more outrageous, although mechanically it's pretty straightforward.

Reverse Alignment (Su): Once per day a cunnequine can try to change a creature's alignment with a touch of its horn (+X melee touch attack). The target must succeed at a DC Y Will save or its alignment is reversed as by a helm of opposite alignment. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Do we want to include the original's +2 penalty on the save DC?

 

[freyar]

A racial penalty on the opposite alignment? We could do that, though it would be unusual. Then again, it shouldn't be easy. Sure, I'm ok with that.

Turn Conjured Spirits looks fine, but let's combine it with the turn undead. What effective level should it have for turning? The original is at 11, compared to 4HD, which might be a bit high. Something like HD +2? Determines both turning ability and times/day?

 

[Shade]

Don't see how planar turning ties them into a deity any more than them being able to turn undead does.

It doesn't. But turn undead ties them to a deity more than the standard unicorn's powers do.

Unicorns strike me as more tied to nature (closer to druids) than to deities. Thus, to me, the SLA makes more sense than the turn undead ability.

However, if we go the planar turning route, there's already precedent and no need to over-complicate it with a new ability. Especially if the end result is going to be a dismissal anyway.

It looks like we're currently at a stalemate. Anyone lurking wanna chime in?

The racial penalty for opposite alignement does seem odd, but I suppose it could work.

 

[freyar]

Well, I think we really should give them turn undead, so I wouldn't be concerned about that. Perhaps they are tied to a nature deity? Anyone else?

 

[Cleon]

A racial penalty on the opposite alignment? We could do that, though it would be unusual. Then again, it shouldn't be easy. Sure, I'm ok with that.

Turn Conjured Spirits looks fine, but let's combine it with the turn undead. What effective level should it have for turning? The original is at 11, compared to 4HD, which might be a bit high. Something like HD +2? Determines both turning ability and times/day?

Sounds fair, so we've now got something like:

Turn Undead and Spirits (Su): A cunnequin can turn undead as if it were a cleric of a level 2 higher than its Hit Dice. A cunnequine can also turn creatures with the Extraplanar subtype, including summoned creatures, as if they were undead. If the turning attempt would destroy an Extraplanar creature it is forced back to its proper plane instead, as if by a dismissal spell.