5E: Fifth Edition Monsters Inspired by Third Edition Sources

Cleon

Legend
This thread's for conversions of monsters that debuted in Third Edition D&D products that either lack Fifth Edition incarnations or their official 5E versions are different enough for it to seem worthwhile.

Finished conversions will be added to the Completed Fifth Edition Creatures Index.

Note that some of the monsters in the Index of 5th Edition Conversions of 3E Monsters are from other threads and forums than this one. The conversion's source is indicated using the following tags:

A = AD&D Monsterᴬ (1E or 2E)
3 = Third Edition Monster³
H = Homebrewᴴ (New Monster)

For example, Ti-khana have their own Homebrew thread but originated from the 3rd Edition Fiend Folio, so Ti-khana conversions are tagged H. The Blackscales are extra-tough generic lizardfolk conversions in the AD&D thread inspired by a monster from 3E's Monster Manual III, so are tagged A.

Index of 5th Edition Conversions of 3E Monsters
NAME​
CR​
D&D Beyond [CC Post]​
Enworld​
Dinosaur—Cliff Raptorᴴ​
2​
Dodkongᴴ​
25​
Grasshopper, Giantᴬ​
1/4​
Lizardfolk—Blackscaleᴬ​
3​
Lizardfolk—Blackscale Championᴬ​
4​
Swarm of Demonic Locusts³​
1​
Thrall of Pazuzu³​
2​
Thrall of Pazuzu—Voice of Pazuzu³​
#​
Ti-khana Deinonychusᴴ​
2​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Giantᴴ​
2​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Venomwingᴴ​
1/4​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Venomwing Swarmᴴ​
5​
Ti-khana Pterosaur, Warᴴ​
7​
Ti-khana Triceratopsᴴ​
9​
Name—Subtype
#​
—​
 
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Casimir Liber

Adventurer
Okay, so to start with in my Pazuzu cult buffing, I used Cult Fanatic statblock as a starting point for a CR 2 (4th lvl) Thrall of Pazuzu and came up with this so far:
 

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Cleon

Legend
Presumably this is based inspired on the Thrall of Pazuzu prestige class?

It's got a stray "fanatic" in Spellcasting and Multiattack.

Speaking of Spellcasting, it seems a little weird the thrall's picked a Wisdom-based spellcasting class when its Charisma has a higher modifier, but the 5E SRD Fanatic does the same, so at least it's consistent!

Don't much care for Noxious Cough. Would prefer some kind of Temptation power as that's one of Pazuzu's schticks. Possibly as a regular Action rather than a Bonus one though.

Not 100% sure about Dark Devotion but I guess it doesn't hurt.

The 3E thrall of pazuzu could speak with, charm and dominate avians depending on level. Maybe do something with that?

Some of the ability description could do with a bit of polishing.

Don't forget that being able to fly and attack at range with thrown daggers, poison spray or vicious mockery would affect its CR as would the addition of a Bonus Action attack.

How many of these chaps are likely to get thrown at the PCs at one time? If there's a lot of them, keeping their game mechanics relatively simple could be helpful.
 

Casimir Liber

Adventurer
I based them on a 4th level thrall from that dragon issue.

Have ditched dark Devotion for an Avian Affinity.

ok changed spellcasting to charisma-base as makes more sense. changed a cantrip. Am imagining them as a mini-boss for low levels (i.e. bossing a bunch of aarakocra or kenku) or group under a High Thrall (CR 4 or 5?) at higher levels. Could make Fly slower (as was in original) and bonus action recharge 5-6 or something.
 

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Cleon

Legend
Will start an Enworld Working Draft.

Does it need Religion? It could just have Deception, Insight, Persuasion then its number of skills would match the cult fanatic you're using as a model.

A dagger does rather wimpy damage, so I'm tempted to have the thrall instead wield a hefty blade like its master Pazuzu.

Maybe a Longsword?

EDIT: Am also thinking they should speak Abyssal as well as their native language.
 
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Cleon

Legend
Thrall of Pazuzu
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR​
DEX​
CON​
INT​
WIS​
CHA​
11 (+0)​
14 (+2)​
12 (+1)​
10 (+0)​
13 (+1)​
14 (+2)​

Skills Deception +4, Insight +3, Persuasion +4
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal plus one other language (usually Common)
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Speak with Aerial Creatures. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a fly speed. If the creature has an intelligence lower than 8 it will only understand simple concepts.

Spellcasting. The thrall is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following spells prepared.
  • Cantrips (at will): friends, poison spray, prestidigitation, vicious mockery
  • 1st level (4 slots): command, inflict wounds, shield of faith
  • 2nd level (3 slots): dust devil, hold person
Wings of Pazuzu. The thrall has grown a pair of black raven wings; this gift from Pazuzu grants it the power of flight.

Actions

Multiattack. The thrall makes two attacks. It can use its rapier or a dagger for either attack.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60, one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Bewitch Aerial Creature (Recharges After Long Rest). The thrall of pazuzu selects a creature with a fly speed it can see within 60 feet. The aerial creature must succeed at a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw, with advantage if the creature is hostile (which will always be the case if the thrall or their allies are fighting it). If it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by the thrall for 1 hour during which it regards the thrall as a friendly acquaintance.
 The thrall can use an action to compel a bewitched aerial creature to perform a specific action, such as "charge that creature and attack it", "pick up this object and follow me" or "go to that wall and pull the leftmost lever". The creature makes a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw. If it fails, it must use its reaction to move up to its speed and make a melee attack (or another action of similar complexity) as the thrall directed. If the save succeeded, the creature falls prone and makes another Wisdom saving throw which ends the charm effect if it succeeds.
 Each time the charmed creature takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw. The effect ends if the save succeeds.
 An aerial creature knows it was charmed by the thrall when the effect ends. If the creature ended the charm with a successful Wisdom save, it becomes immune to the thrall's bewitchment for the next 24 hours.

Pazrael's Breath (Recharges After A Long Rest). The thrall of pazuzu exhales a demonic locust swarm into an adjacent space (see Swarm of Demonic Locusts for statistics). The thrall can exhale the swarm into areas occupied by other creatures, including the thrall itself. Roll initiative for the swarm, which has its own turns. It obeys any verbal commands the thrall gives it in Abyssal. The swarm never attacks the thrall and recognizes the thrall's allies. If the thrall doesn't issue any commands, the swarm starts attacking random creatures and devouring vegetation while defending itself from hostile creatures and trying to stay within 30 feet of the thrall. An undirected swarm that has no victims or crops in sight will slake its thirst for destruction by vandalizing property. The swarm vanishes back to the lower aerial kingdoms after 6 rounds. If the thrall of pazuzu stops concentration on Pazrael's Breath, the swarm vanishes at the start of the thrall's next turn. It also disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or if the thrall orders it to return home.

Bonus Actions

Lethal Legerdemain. The thrall makes one melee or ranged attack with a dagger.

Noxious Spores (Recharge 5-6). The thrall coughs a cloud of toxic spores at a creature within 15 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Emptying a vial of holy water on the target also ends the effect on it.


Description

Thralls of pazuzu are devotees of the demon prince Pazuzu. They were once ordinary humanoids but were transformed in body and soul once they enslaved themselves to Pazuzu. They now have black vulture-like wings sprouting from their shoulders and malevolent, aquiline features.
Advocates of Evil. Thralls of pazuzu seek to spread the word of their dark patron and in so doing spread chaos and evil like a blight. They tempt others to ask their demon lord for aid and step upon the slippery slope to damnation. When they cannot tempt others into serving their master, they plot to inflict death and torment upon as many innocents as it can. Thralls view creatures that cannot fly as pitiful and foolish, and often uses the promise of flight to seduce victims into serving Pazuzu.
Flying Threats. Thralls often call upon Pazuzu's favored creatures—any evil monster that flies—to aid their unholy crusade. Their commonest minions are clouds of demonic locusts* they exhale with their Breath of Pazrael power. A thrall of pazuzu can bend flying creatures to its will using Bewitch Aerial Creature and delights in forcing neutral or good-aligned flyer to perform evil acts.
 Thralls of pazuzu prefer to fight from the sky while mocking ground-bound enemies. They typically invoke a shield of faith and use Breath of Pazreal, then fly above their opponents' reach while hurling down ranged attacks, spells, and Noxious Spores.

* Note: The demonic locusts a thrall of pazuzu can breathe out are detailed in a separate "Swarm of Demonic Locusts" entry.

(Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #329 (March 2005) as part of "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Pazuzu - Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms" by James Jacobs.)
 
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Cleon

Legend
Rather than using "Avians" for things like avian affinity methinks "Aerial Creatures" works better.

Pazuzu's Prince of the Aerial Kingdoms, not Prince of Avians.

I'm thinking we could useone of the following:

Speak with Aerial Creatures #1. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that knows at least one language and has a fly speed.

Speak with Aerial Creatures #2. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a fly speed. If the creature has an intelligence lower than 8 it will only understand simple concepts.

Speak with Aerial Creatures #3. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate simple concepts to beasts or monstrosities with a fly speed and an Intelligence lower than 8.​

Of the above, #2. is my favourite.
 

Casimir Liber

Adventurer
ok, gone with #2. Also reworded languiages to "Abyssal plus any one language (usually Common)". Deleted religion as a skill.

Re weapons, I was thinking of something "light" like a rapier maybe.
 

Cleon

Legend
ok, gone with #2. Also reworded languiages to "Abyssal plus any one language (usually Common)". Deleted religion as a skill.

Updated Thrall of Pazuzu Working Draft.

Re weapons, I was thinking of something "light" like a rapier maybe.

As you like, it's you're baby.

Was wondering about adding a ranged weapon like a crossbow or longbow, mostly because they're really effective for a flying monster.

However Pazuzu himself doesn't have a ranged weapon, so maybe his thralls wouldn't.
 

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