Update OGL Gargoyle

[Sigurd]

This is a Gargoyle that is part of an AEG adventure, AEG8325 - Temple of the Iron Codex. What is the expert advice on setting a Challenge Rating and updating the stats?


Greater Vesagos Gargoyle
HD: 9d10+16 (94hp)
Initiative:+3 (Dex)
Speed: 25 ft; fly 55 ft (Average)
AC 20 (+3Dex, +7 Natural)
Atk: 2 Claws +8 (3d4), Bite +4 (3d6), Breath Weapon (Fire) +10 (3d10)
Face/Reach: 10ft. X 10ft./10ft.
SQ: Dam Reduct 20/+1; Immune to Fire-based attacks
SV: Fort +8, Ref+6, Will+1
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 10, Wis. 11, Cha 7
Al: N
Skills: Hide +9, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Multiattack, Weapon Finesse (Claw, Bite), Power Attack

Lesser Vesagos Gargoyle
HD: 6d10+6 (52hp)
Initiative:+2 (Dex)
Speed: 45 ft; fly 75 ft (Average)
AC 18 (+2Dex, +6 Natural)
Atk: 2 Claws +8 (1d4), Bite +4 (1d6), Breath Weapon (Fire) +8 (1d10)
Face/Reach: 5ft. X 5ft./5ft.
SQ: Dam Reduct 15/+1; Immune to fire-based attacks
SV: Fort +8, Ref+6, Will+1
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis. 11, Cha 7
Al: N
Skills: Hide +9, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Multiattack, Weapon Finesse (Claw, Bite)


The Adventure gives it some other powers but they are not listed as OGL so I'm confining this to just their stats as listed. I'm thinking its a good beefy Gargoyle -- anyone have any other favourite gargoyles? Maybe some OGL gargoyle creation rules?

I'm very curious about people's opinions.

 

[freyar]

Interesting that Dex is better than Str. Huh.

Anyway, to update to 3.5, change the "face" to "space" which would be 10 ft for the greater and 5 ft for the lesser. These should be monstrous humanoids, but the HD size (d10) seems too big -- is that a change from 3.0? Weapon Finesse applies to all natural attacks now, too, so they get another feat, and you need to redo skill points.

 

[Garnfellow]

Gargoyles were magical beasts (earth) in 3.0, and changed to monstrous humanoids (earth) in 3.5. I really never understood the change -- all it does is lower the HD from d10 to d8 and swaps the good Reflex save for a good Will save, and I don't think either change better models a gargoyle. I believe Scott kept the marlgoyles as magical beast in his 3.5 update of Tome of Horrors, and I can get behind that.

Another change: Str increased from 11 to 15

The damage reduction would need to be changed to probably 15/magic and 10/magic to stay in line with the 3.5 DR changes.

I would be inclined to rewrite the monster by forgetting the whole lesser/greater distinction, use the lesser as a base and let in advance by HD into large size. Something like this:

Vesagos Gargoyle __________ CR 5
N Medium magical beast
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +6, Spot +6
_________________________________________________
DEFENSE___________________________________________

AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 52 (6d10+6 HD)
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +2
DR 10/magic; Immune fire
__________________________________________________
OFFENSE__________________________________________

Spd 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +9 (1d4+2) and
bite +7 (1d6+1)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon
__________________________________________________
STATISTICS_______________________________________
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 7
Base Atk +6; Grp +8
Feats Multiattack, Weapon Focus (claw, bite)
Skills Hide +8, Listen +6, Spot +6
Advancement 7-8 HD (Medium), 9-12 HD (Large), 13-18 HD (Huge)
__________________________________________________
SPECIAL ABILITIES__________________________________

Breath Weapon (Su) 60-foot cone, damage 1d10 fire, Reflex half DC 17. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 

[freyar]

Looks pretty nice, Garnfellow! I could see making them a strong CR 4, but CR 5 seems reasonable too.

Sigurd, if you want more gargoyles, take a look at these in the CC:
Gargoyle of the Tors
Archer gargoyle
Spouter gargoyle
Stone lion gargoyle

 

[Shade]

Garnfellow's revisions look quite good.

 

[Sigurd]

Thank you so much Garnfellow!

I have a whole file of your conversions and I really appreciate your monster sense.


Sigurd

 

[Garnfellow]

Thanks -- I hadn't worked much with d20 monsters for a while, and I had kind of missed it.