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Monster Conversion - Frostwind Virago (3.5 to PF1e)

Found this and decided to share it. Back before the pandemic happened, my group was playing the “Reign of Winter” Paizo AP. Needless to say they took a major detour, and as such I had to come up with something, and I recalled this cold lady. Given the fey they’d already come across over the adventure, this made sense. Unfortunately, our game was called short for obvious reasons, then one of our players got a transfer, and a couple of us lost contact. Needless to say they’ll never see this creature now, which is a shame.

Art is from Monster Manual V.

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FROSTWIND VIRAGO A pale female with smooth, attractive features and glossy blue eyes, this creature is draped in a fur cloak. Despite the fact that flakes of frost dust her shoulders, face, and arms, she seems charming. Frostwind Virago (CR 16; XP 76,800) NE Medium fey Init +7; Senses low-light vision; Perception +30 Aura mind freeze (30 ft.) DEFENSE AC 31, touch 23, flat-footed 23 (+7 Dex, +5 deflection, +1 dodge, +8 natural) hp 228 (24d6+144) Fort +18, Ref +26, Will +22 DR 10/cold iron; Immune cold; SR 27 OFFENSE Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect), swim 20 ft. Melee 2 frostbite touches +20 each (2d6+12 plus 3d6+12 cold) Special Attacks captivating call, icy vortex STATISTICS Str 17, Dex 24, Con 20, Int 16, Wis 17, Cha 20 Base Atk +12; CMB +19; CMD 38 Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved Disarm, Mobility, Persuasive, Spring Attack, Toughness, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (frostbite touch), Whirlwind Attack Skills Acrobatics +32, Bluff +30, Diplomacy +30, Escape Artist +30, Fly +26, Intimidate +30, Knowledge (nature) +18, Perception +30, Sense Motive +30, Stealth +30, Survival +30, Swim +23; Racial Modifiers +8 Fly, +4 Intimidate, +4 Survival, +8 Swim SQ unearthly grace Languages Auran, Common, Elven, Sylvan SPECIAL ABILITIES Captivating Call (Su) When a frostwind virago speaks and wills it to be so, all creatures (other than frostwind viragos) within a 300-foot-radius spread must succeed on a DC 27 Will save or become captivated. This is a language-based, sonic mind-affecting ability. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by that same frostwind virago’s call for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based. A captivated victim walks toward the frostwind virago, taking the most direct route available. If the path leads into a dangerous area, that opponent receives a second saving throw. Captivated foes can take no actions other than to avoid attack. A captivated victim within 5 feet of a frostwind virago stands there and offers no resistance to the fey’s attacks. The effect continues for as long as the frostwind virago speaks and for 1d4 rounds thereafter. A bard’s countersong ability allows a captivated victim to attempt a new Will save. Frostbite Touch (Su) A frostwind virago’s touch disrupts matter and freezes it. Each set of damage is modified by the frostwind virago’s Dexterity and Charisma bonus. The damage dealt is piercing and cold damage. Icy Vortex (Su) A frostwind virago can produce a whirling mass of ice shards that lasts 1 round in a 30-foot radius around herself. Creatures in the area take 6d6 points of piercing damage plus 6d6 points of cold damage unless they make a Reflex DC 27 for half. The save DC is Charisma-based. Mind Freeze Aura (Su) At the end of each of a frostwind virago’s turns, creatures within 30 feet of her must succeed on a DC 27 Will save or be shaken for 1 round. Those who fail by 5 or more are dazed for 1 round, and those who fail by 10 or more are stunned for 1 round. The save DC is Charisma-based. A frostwind virago can suppress this ability at will as a free action. Frostwind viragos are immune to this aura. Unearthly Grace (Su) A frostwind virago adds her Charisma modifier as a racial bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus to her Armor Class.

Monster Conversion - Trogg (Warcraft RPG to PF1e)

Last month, I released a conversion of a couple of Pathfinder 2e monsters converted to 1e. At the time I did it for the Throne of Night adventure path that sadly did not get completed, but lots of people are still running it despite that setback. Recently, I came across another adventure that could be fun to play as a side game for the AP, but I quickly learned that one of the monsters exclusive to it the scenario is not anywhere online. Instead of explaining to people how I’d change it, I thought it would be just as easy to convert it myself and show rather than tell.

By the by, the adventure is called “Unearthing Bael Moden” and it can be found in the Warcraft RPG Horde Player’s Guide on page 235. It was originally written for four level 2 PCs.

The trogg is a humanoid creature from the the Sword & Sorcery release of the Warcraft RPG. Rather than explain in detail what exactly these creatures are, I’ll just link their RPG write up instead. Way easier.

For those not looking to read all of that text, the TL;DR version would be “the first life form created by titans and are a grotesque parody of a dwarf, considered very distant cousins. Their flesh is living stone, and they have a capacity for great violence.”

What I found interesting is that there were two official stat blocks for the creature, including their own system rules. Unfortunately, Pathfinder 1e has to ignore some of those, so I combined the two stat blocks and converted it over as best as the monster creation rules would allow, while keeping the abilities as close to the original as possible. Note that Warcraft has the language Low-Common, which I switched to Undercommon.

Art is from the Warcraft RPG book.

Without further ado, the trogg’s stat block.

Monster Conversion - Draegloth (3.5 to PF)

Back during the 3.0 and 3.5 days of D&D, there was a creature released in the Forgotten Realms books called the draegloth. They were elite champions created by Lolth to protect the main drow houses. Said to be the outcome due to Lolth and a glaberzu getting together. Half-drow, half-demon. No half-fiend template here. There was also an “abomination” version created from a glaberzu and a drider.

While they were given weapons by the matriarchs of each house, a draegloth was a brutal combatant that preferred to use their teeth and claws. Particularly powerful draegloth were blessed by their deity and were given cleric or favored soul class levels. With Pathfinder 1e, you’d have cleric or oracle levels, with oracles likely being the more predominant class. That said, it’s much more likely that they’d be barbarians. In Pathfinder terms, you could argue that a truly “favored one” would be a barbarian/oracle/rage prophet. Actually, that’d probably be the most frighting outcome.

Most draegloths stand around 8 feet tall and weigh in around 350 lbs. They can be male or female, and like most drow and demons, are typically chaotic evil.

What’s even more interesting is that back when Sean K. Reynolds worked for WotC, he developed a 3PP half-draegloth template that could be on a regular drow or even a drider. Part of the lore was if a draegloth angered or displeased Lolth, they’d be turned into a drider as punishment. So if the monster presented here is too much, then the template is a nice second option. Even though it’s 3.5, it still balances out with some of the templates granted by Pathfinder 1e.

The reason I even bring this up is because of my recent updates with the Throne of Night. Once you’ve been fighting a few dozen drow, you get tired of the same old, same old. This is a nice (optional) change of pace. Gives both the players and GM something more to play with, and add something new to the game. I mean, we already have a drow marilith in Book 4. Why not go even further down the rabbit hole?

Without further ado, the converted draegloth.

Iron Furnace Golem

For those who watch Critical Role, *SPOILERS*, the newest episode had Vox Machina take on three iron golems that had been modified with a magma core. It was horrifying. Funny enough, I had designed something similar while I was running a homebrew game for my old group. Thanks to Rite Publishing coming out with the 101 Not So Simple Templates book, I was able to advance a few golems that my party would think that they could easily take down. Unfortunately, we never got to that point, and they’ve seen sitting on my hard drive waiting to be finished. I never had completed them beyond note taking, but episode 108 inspired me to finish them. Hopefully I’ll be able to use them on my current group. Only time will tell.

Iron Golem image by dleoblack

Iron Furnace Golem (CR 15; XP 51,200) N Large construct Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +2 DEFENSE AC 30, touch 10, flat-footed 29 (+2 Dex, +20 natural, –1 size) hp 180 (20d10+70) Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +8 Defensive Abilities blazing innards, shatter stash (firebomb), smoking burst; DR 15/adamantine; Immune construct traits, magic OFFENSE Speed 20 ft. Melee 2 slams +32 (2d10+19/19–20) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (DC 20), fiery eruption (DC 20), powerful blows STATISTICS Str 36, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 15, Cha 1 Base Atk +20; CMB +34; CMD 45 SPECIAL ABILITIES Blazing Innards (Ex) A divine furnace creature's interior body is filled with a fiery liquid similar to molten iron. If it suffers more than 10 points of damage from a single melee piercing or slashing attack, liquid metal spurts from the wound and onto the attacker, inflicting 2d6 points of damage (–2 points to non-adjacent attackers, minimum of 1 point of damage). Half the damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from divine power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by resistance to fire-based attacks. Breath Weapon (Su) As a free action once every 1d4+1 rounds, an iron golem can exhale a 10-foot cube of poisonous gas. This gas cloud persists for 1 round; any creature within the area when the golem creates it (as well as any creature that passes through the cloud during the remainder of that round) is exposed to the cloud's poisonous effects. This poison is magically created each time the golem uses this power. Breath weapon—inhaled; save Fort 20; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Constitution damage; cure 2 saves. The save DC is Constitution-based. Fiery Eruption (Ex) As a free action once every 4 rounds, a divine furnace creature can cause fiery energy to erupt from its upper body and flow over the surrounding area, much like a cauldron boiling over. All creatures within a 30-foot radius of the furnace creature takes 15d6 damage. Half the damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from divine power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by resistance to fire-based attacks. A successful Reflex save DC 20 halves this damage. Immunity to Magic (Ex) An iron golem is immune to spells or spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance. Certain spells and effects function differently against it, as noted below. • A magical attack that deals electricity damage slows an iron golem (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. • A magical attack that deals fire damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. An iron golem gets no saving throw against fire effects. • An iron golem is affected normally by rust attacks, such as those of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell. Powerful Blows (Ex) An iron golem inflicts one and a half times its Strength modifier and threatens a critical hit on a 19–20 with its slam attacks. Shatter Stash (Ex) Parts of the golem are made with hollowed sections carved from deliberately weaker materials, designed to shatter when struck by attackers. A confirmed critical deals critical damage to the construct and shatters the hollowed section, releasing whatever substance the creator placed inside. Once the shatter stash is damaged, this modification is destroyed (it cannot be repaired). A construct can only have one shatter stash at a time. After the modification is destroyed, the construct can be modified with shatter stash again at the normal cost. Firebomb stash: A 15-foot burst of fire explodes out of the modified construct's stash. Creatures within the burst must succeed on a DC 12 Reflex saving throw or take 2d6 points of fire damage. A successful save halves the damage. Cost 1,200 gp. Smoking Burst (Ex) Once per minute as a free action, a divine furnace creature can cause a large, choking cloud to roil forth from its body. It creates a thick, dense area of smoke in a 60-foot radius centered on its body. Living creatures can't breathe in the smoke and must hold their breath or suffocate. The smoke provides partial concealment against adjacent opponents and total concealment against opponents who are farther away. The cloud lasts for 1d4+1 rounds.

#pathfinder #monster manual #bestiary #advanced bestiary #encounter #cr 15 #dnd #d&d #Dungeons and Dragons #Dungeons & Dragons #iron golem #roleplaying game #d20 #critical role #vox machina

Monster Conversion - Sword Spider

Another monster on the list that’s in the 2e module is the sword spider. This was probably the hardest to convert just because of how the monster creation rules are. This is one of the most unbalanced CR 5 creatures I’ve seen. They can barely hit the broad side of a barn, but when they do, they deal CR 11 average damage. It’s ridiculous. I don’t know if this makes them a strong CR 5 or a weak CR 7.

Unlike the previous two monsters, this one actually has an updated picture.

All monsters converted are property of their original copyrighted owner.

#monster manual #bestiary #advanced bestiary #pathfinder #conversion #d20 #sword spider #Dungeons and Dragons

Monster Conversion - Storoper

Still in the middle of converting a bunch of monsters for a 2e module to Pathfinder, and here’s another monster conversion I thought I’d share with all of you.

Just to note, I’m working on a basic bestiary for Purple Duck Games right now. Just a 10 monster mini bestiary, but it’s still something. These will include creatures like the cavern giant, the gloom, and a few others that I’ve already shared on my blog like the cavernivore and blessed ring.

This particular monster was technically already converted as the stone roper in the Tome of Horrors, but this is one of those things where a CR 6 version just doesn’t cut it for a level 10 party. So, here’s my take on the creature. I kept the abilities of the roper and stone roper, and merged them together.

Like the spirit troll, the image hasn’t been updated since the 1980′s.

All monsters converted are property of their original copyrighted owner.

Originally converted to Pathfinder via Tome of Horrors Complete.

Storoper This creature is a vaguely cone-shaped creature with six tentacles and a large, gaping mouth filled with serrated teeth. CR 10 XP 9,600 CE Medium aberration Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 200 ft.; Perception +24 ---DEFENSE--- AC 25, touch 12, flat-footed 23 (+2 Dex, +13 natural) hp 126 (12d8+72) Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +13 Defensive Abilities stony hide; Immune electricity; Resist cold 10, SR 21 Weaknesses vulnerability to fire ---OFFENSE--- Speed 10 ft.; climb 10 ft. Melee bite +18 (3d8+13/19–20) Ranged 6 strands +12 touch (1d4 Strength) Special Attacks pull (strand, 5 feet), strands, venom pulse ---TACTICS--- Most encounters with a stone roper begin when it fires its strong, sticky strands. A stone roper attacks anything that comes within 50 feet by suddenly shooting out its tentacle strands. It prefers to attack two victims at once, each with three strands. The first two victims struck are affected with its venom pulse. If this succeeds, they are immediately released before they can be affected by the stone roper's Strength damage weakening effect. If the venom fails, the stone roper continues to hold the creatures and the weakness takes effect on the creatures' turn. ---STATISTICS--- Str 28, Dex 15, Con 23, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 12 Base Atk +9; CMB +18; CMD 30 (can't be tripped) Feats Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (strand) Skills Climb +32, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +16, Perception +24, Stealth +17 (+25 in stony or icy areas), Survival +18; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +8 Stealth in stony or icy areas Languages Aklo, Terran, Undercommon ---SPECIAL ABILITIES--- Stony Hide (Ex) A stone roper's tough hide renders it immune to damage from nonmagical ranged attacks, save those of unusually large size (such as boulders hurled by a giant). Strands (Ex) Most encounters with a stone roper begin when it fires up to six strong, sticky strands up to 50 feet away (no range increment). A roper's attacks with its strands are treated as ranged touch attacks. Strands can be severed by any amount of slashing damage (a strand is AC 20). Once a strand has successfully struck a victim, it remains attached until severed or retracted by the stone roper (which it may do as a free action). Attached strands do no further Strength damage, but the struck individual is subject to the pull effect each round, and is subject to the stone roper's venom pulse ability. A creature that begins its turn attached to a strand is numbed and weakened by the strange material, and for each strand attached must make a DC 22 Fortitude save or take 1d4 points of Strength damage. The save DC is Constitution-based, and poison resistances and immunities apply. Venom Pulse (Ex) Twice per day, a stone roper can exude a pulse of venom through all of its attached strands as a free action. A creature attached to a strand must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude save or be paralyzed (multiple attached strands to not require multiple saves or increase the save DC). A paralyzed creature appears to have been turned to stone (DC 20 Perception check or close inspection reveals that this is in fact not the case). One round after being paralyzed, the victim recovers and must succeed on a DC 22 Will save or act as if under the effects of a charm monster spell for 2d4 minutes. A charmed creature fights for and defends the stone roper. If the stone roper is killed, a charmed victim acts as if under the effects of a confusion spell for 1d6+2 rounds. The save DCs are Constitution-based, and poison resistances and immunities apply.

#monster manual #pathfinder #bestiary #advanced bestiary #d20 #roper #conversion #Dungeons and Dragons

Monster Conversion - Cavernivore (3.5 to PF1e)

Last May, I was going through a few bestiaries, and came across this monster from a 3.5 revised 3pp publisher. Back then, I said: So I had mentioned before, that the cavernoivore would be a great monster to add to (Throne of Night), however, it was 3.5 and not yet converted. Well, I was bored last night and that's exactly what I did. This was much more difficult than I thought it would be because 3PP creations sometimes go way out there for mechanics. This was no exception. Also, it now had to conform to the PF Monster Creation rules set forth by the bestiaries. So, here's my take on it. And yes, I have no problem if Gary takes this. He's welcome to have a more expert-like person go over it with a fine tooth comb. Considered putting it up on my blog, but figured I'll just put it here. Most people would be likely to see it. I'll probably put it up on my blog later.

Well, it’s later so here I am putting it up on my blog. As I brought up before, this is a monster that's perfect for any dwarf that's getting claustrophobic and looking to get back to the surface.

The monster originally came from Complete Minions by Bastion Press. Originally it was a CR 10. With the Pathfinder bestiary building rules, this thing is definitely a CR 12.

Normally it’s @thecreaturechronicle who does the monster conversions among those whom I follow, and I still to mainly races or monster builds, but this one was just too cool to not add to my library.

So, without further ado, the Cavernivore.

CAVERNIVORE A huge and hungry underground reptile appears. Its large and ferocious maw, completely filled with sharp and jagged teeth, also has three luminescent tendrils which extend from its head and give off light. Cavernivore (CR 12; 19,200 XP) N Huge magical beast Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +19 DEFENSE AC 27, touch 10, flat-footed 26 (+2 Dex, +17 natural, –2 size) hp 162 (12d10+96) Fort +16, Ref +11, Will +6 OFFENSE Speed 40 ft., climb 10 ft. Melee bite +22 (4d8+12) and 2 claws +22 (2d6+12) Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. TACTICS Before Combat The cavernivore is a lazy beast and prefers to lie around and let its prey come to it. Consequently, it prefers to attack from a position of surprise. As creatures close in on the cavernivore's location, make a Perception check for the cavernivore. If successful, it maneuvers its tendrils so that they remain out of sight. If the cavernivore fails its roll, creatures can identify the light source as a tendril with a successful DC 20 Perception check. If this roll is failed, the party is surprised when they turn the corner and come face to face with the creature. Unless creatures make a genuine effort to move silently and without a light source, the cavernivore is probably not surprised by their presence. For its surprise attack, the cavernivore uses its Power Attack feat to attempt to finish a victim off in one cruel bite During Combat Once in melee, the creature attacks with its powerful jaws, as well as its strong claws. Its light tendrils offer it little advantage in a fight, so it retracts them to ensure they are not injured. It uses its Power Attack against less armored opponents in order to kill them off sooner. If its prey flees the battle, the creature only pursues if it has not downed a single victim. Otherwise, it stays and expends its energies eating and digesting those left behind. STATISTICS Str 34, Dex 14, Con 26, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 13 Base Atk +12; CMB +26; CMD 38 Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Climb +24, Perception +19, Stealth +4 (+16 underground); Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +8 Perception, +12 Stealth underground SQ luminescence SPECIAL ABILITIES Luminescence (Ex) The cavernivore has three long and flexible tendrils ending in luminescent glands. These glands give off a weak but constant full spectrum glow, each shedding bright light to a range of 30 feet and shadowy illumination to a range of 60 feet. The light resembles sunlight, but does not adversely affect sunlight sensitive creatures. The cavernivore cannot turn off or extinguish these lights, but it can cover its tendrils with its body as a move action and completely smother the light. It cannot hide unless its light is concealed. The tendrils can be targeted with sunder attacks. Each has 8 hp (separate from the cavernivore’s total hit points).

#throne of night #pathfinder #bestiary #monster manual #advanced bestiary #d20 #add-ons #pathfinder 1e #pathfinder rpg #dungeons & dragons #Dungeons and Dragons #drow #drow campaign #dwarf #dwarf campaign #underground campaign #adventure path

I'm in an evil adventure. Instead of raising the barbarian, my character is thinking of turning her into a ghoul. If her player, the GM, and myself are all on board with this, how would we go about doing this? She still wants to be able to enrage, and we'd rather apply a template that doesn't mean she has to be one level lower than everyone else. Maybe, at the most, use up a feat on Being a Ghoul.

I’ve actually run into this problem recently myself, as a character of mine recently got ghoul-ified. As undead, you no longer have a Constitution score, and you are no longer affected by fatigue (like you would be at the end of a rage). Normally, anything Constitution-based for a creature that becomes undead is switched over to being Charisma-based, but this can potentially create some imbalance issues if you’re looking at just the numbers, but the penalties for being undead (like being destroyed at 0 hit points, hiding your appearance, ghoul stench, hunger for flesh, etc.) I feel balances things out okay.

My best recommendation is to take a peek at Green Ronin Publishing’s Advanced Bestiary, which actually has a ghoul template to apply to your character and makes this whole process much more straightforward.

#mod thistletop #ghoul #pro tips #green ronin #advanced bestiary

Monster Conversion - Cavernivore (3.5 to PF1e)

Well, it’s later so here I am putting it up on my blog. As I brought up before, this is a monster that's perfect for any dwarf that's getting claustrophobic and looking to get back to the surface.

The monster originally came from Complete Minions by Bastion Press. Originally it was a CR 10. With the Pathfinder bestiary building rules, this thing is definitely a CR 12.

So, without further ado, the Cavernivore.

#advanced bestiary

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