Special Conversion Thread: Unicorns

[Cleon]

Looks great! Updated.

Oh, and the Sea Unicorn probably shouldn't have "*Sea unicorns have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent" under Skills. I think that was a holdover from the Palomino Unicorn.

 

[Shade]

We should be grateful they are not biting every unicorn they encounter, to spread the Curse of Cetaceathropy.

I caught that once. It was a summer I'll never forget...

Why have you cut Jump out of the Hippocampus and Dolphin form's stats?

I'll add it back. I thought it was just from the speed bonus, and most non-land speed critters don't list that.

Also, I just noticed I forgot to capitalize "Swim" and "Powerful charge" in the Dolphin-form's stat line. Furthermore I'm thinking the line "In equine form the sea unicorn gains the Amphibious quality so it can breathe air but loses its blindsight." reads a bit clumsily.

Could we change that passage to:

Dolphin Form
Speed: swim 80 ft.
Attack: Horn +10 melee (2d6+10)
Full Attack: Horn +10 melee (2d6+10)
Special Attacks: powerful charge 3d6+13
Special Qualities: Blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 60 ft., immunity to poison, charm, and compulsion, low-light vision, scent, spell-like abilities, wild empathy

In equine form the sea unicorn loses its blindsight but gains the Amphibious quality, allowing it to breathe air and water.

Will fix.

That looks easy. It's just an SRD unicorn with a 120 ft. (good) fly speed slapped on to it and Temperate Mountains for an environment.

The only real question is what shall we change its collective noun to.

A flock on Unisus sounds a bit mundane.

A Flight?

An Ascension?

A Summit (as in a mountain peak)?

I like summit.

Oh, and the Sea Unicorn probably shouldn't have "*Sea unicorns have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent" under Skills. I think that was a holdover from the Palomino Unicorn.

Will remove.

 

[Cleon]

I caught that once. It was a summer I'll never forget...

I bet you had a whale of a time.

 

[Shade]

I sure did, but I blubbered uncontrollably afterward.

Added to Homebrews.

Wanna borrow any of this from its pegasus parent?

Spell-Like Abilities: At will—detect good and detect evil within a 60-foot radius. Caster level 5th. [It already gets detect evil from its unicorn lineage.]

Skills: Pegasi have a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.

 

[Cleon]

I sure did, but I blubbered uncontrollably afterward.

It's a terrible experience to feel yourself losing all sense of porpoise.

Added to Homebrews.

Wanna borrow any of this from its pegasus parent?

Spell-Like Abilities: At will—detect good and detect evil within a 60-foot radius. Caster level 5th. [It already gets detect evil from its unicorn lineage.]

Skills: Pegasi have a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.

Yes I would. We could do with something to distinguish them from a regular Unicorn apart from a fly speed.

The SRD Pegasus has 1d6 damage hooves, to we want to give the Unisus the same?

It's also got feats which are rather more Combat Worthy - Flyby Attack and Iron Will instead of the regular Unicorn's Alertness and Skill Focus (Survival).

Shall we swap the regular unicorn's Alertness for Flyby Attack?

It's already got a good Will save from its amazing Wisdom score, so it has less need of Iron Will. If we give it a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Listen it can go without Alertness and still have a 2 point higher modifier in those skills.

Speaking of skills, shall we drop its 4 points in Jump and put them somewhere else? Since it flies it doesn't need to invest in the Jump skill.

A Pegasus has Diplomacy and Sense Motive, so how about 2 points in each?

That would give them:

Feats: Flyby Attack, Skill Focus (Survival)
Skills: Diplomacy +9, Listen +13, Move Silently +9, Sense Motive +7, Spot +13, Survival +8*

Skills: Unisi have a +4 racial bonus on Listen, Move Silently and Spot checks. *Unisi have a +3 competence bonus on Survival checks within the boundaries of their forest.

 

[Shade]

Sounds great! Updated.

Since their environment is forest and mountains, we'll need to define their territory for purposes of the teleport and Survival bonus. State simply "an area up to one square mile"?

 

[freyar]

Agreed to "one square mile." The org also needs changing from "grace."

Should we add something like powerful charge, or do we think that's just a usual diving charge (I feel like there is such a thing in the SRD, but I can't find it right now).

 

[Shade]

I'll fix the org. We decided upon "summit" upthread.

I'm not sure about the SRD, but I found the following:

Power Dive (Ex) If a flying warforged raptor makes a charge attack against an opponent on the ground, it can make a full attack.

Power Dive (Ex): At 6th level, an Aglarondan griffonrider gains the ability to direct her bonded mount to perform a power dive attack while she is riding it. The griffon must begin its move at least 50 feet above its target, and it uses the charge action to attack with both foreclaws simultaneously, making a single attack that deals 2d4 + (Strength bonus x 1 1/2) points of damage. The griffon may fly past the target and alter course after it makes its attack.

Power Dive [General]
You can fall upon an oppenent from the sky.
Prerequisite: Str 15, fly speed (average maneuverability).
Benefit: When flying, you can dive and land on an opponent to deal extra damage. This is a standard action that can only affect creatures that are smaller than you. You make an overrun attack, but the opponent cannot choose to avoid you. If you knock down the target, you may make an additional slam attack, dealing the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times your Strength bonus (rounded down). This attack is at the usual +4 bonus against prone opponents.

Size Power Dive Damage
Fine 1d2
Diminutive 1d3
Tiny 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 2d8
Colossal 4d6

Normal: Without this feat, you can attack with just one natural weapon and do not have a chance to knock down the opponent.
Special: If you fail in the overrun attempt and are tripped in turn, you are instead knocked down and deal the indicated damage to yourself.
Source: Draconomicon, page 72.

Swoop (Ex): A noctral can execute a swoop attack that is similar to a charge action in all respects, except as noted here. The noctral must fly toward its target for a minimum of 50 feet in a straight line. If the swoop attack succeeds, the noctral can attempt to grapple the target without provoking an attack of opportunity or deal double claw damage (4d4+8 points) instead.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed to "one square mile." The org also needs changing from "grace."

Should we add something like powerful charge, or do we think that's just a usual diving charge (I feel like there is such a thing in the SRD, but I can't find it right now).

I think a standard dive attack would be enough. 2d8+16 damage is nothing to be sneered at.

I'll fix the org. We decided upon "summit" upthread.

I'm not sure about the SRD, but I found the following:

Power Dive (Ex) If a flying warforged raptor makes a charge attack against an opponent on the ground, it can make a full attack.

Power Dive (Ex): At 6th level, an Aglarondan griffonrider *SNIP"*

Power Dive [General]
You can fall upon an oppenent from the sky. *SNIP"*

Swoop (Ex): A noctral can execute a swoop attack *SNIP"*

Of those I like Power Dive the best, but would be just as happy without it.

Besides, is that feat OGL? Methinks it is not.

 

[Shade]

No, the feat is closed content, so would have to simply serve as inspiration for an ability.

I agree, though, that the standard dive attack will suffice.

Updated.

Finished?