5E: Converting AD&D Monsters to Fifth Edition
- Thread starter Cleon
- Start date
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
Ack...was about to start on ghuuna...but we never finished Utahraptor? (incorporated claws and 7d10+21)
Description
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This creature is a larger relative of the Deinonychus that stands about 6 feet tall, with a total length of 18 feet and an average weight of 650 pounds. It has the same appearance, habits, and abilities as its smaller cousin.
It is by nature a stealth-and-pounce attacker.
(Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #54 (Jul/Aug 1995) as part of "The Fiends of Tethyr" by David Howery.)
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does it need anything else?
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NB: dndbeyond has Giant Hyena from basic rules
Description
-----------------------------
This creature is a larger relative of the Deinonychus that stands about 6 feet tall, with a total length of 18 feet and an average weight of 650 pounds. It has the same appearance, habits, and abilities as its smaller cousin.
It is by nature a stealth-and-pounce attacker.
(Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #54 (Jul/Aug 1995) as part of "The Fiends of Tethyr" by David Howery.)
--------------------------------
does it need anything else?
--------------------------
NB: dndbeyond has Giant Hyena from basic rules
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
7d10+21 seems a bit high for the Claws damage.
Yes, I know you meant for its Hit Dice.
So you prefer that to the Hit Points 68 (8d10 + 24) in the current draft of the Utahraptor?
I'm fine either way, and the original monster had 7 HD.
Hmm, the Dungeon Magazine version has a much higher Number Appearing than its smaller cousins: the 2E Utahraptor has NA: 5-20 compared to the 1-6 of the Deinonychus in the Monstrous Manual or the 1d6+10 of the Velociraptor in Dragon #187.
That suggests we might comment that they sometimes run in oversized packs that prey upon Huge and dangerous animals.
That'll do. The AD&D Giant Hyena was supposed to be the same animal as a Hyaenodon.
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
Yeah left at 7d10+21 - rejigged description slightly and posted at Utahraptor
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
Cleon
Legend
Er, 7d10 + 21 averages to 59 hit points not 61.
The Description seems a bit clunky, how about:
Large relatives of the Deinonychus, this dinosaur stands about 6 feet tall and averages 18 feet long and 650 pounds in weight. A Utahraptor is a stealth-and-pounce pack predator whose appearance and habits match its smaller cousins. Most Utahraptor packs contain three to six adults, but packs that specialize in hunting huge and dangerous prey sometimes number up to twenty.
Better?
The information content is the same except for the pack sizes.
By the way, the 3-6 "standard pack" in the above proposal comes from the Creature Catalog's 3E conversion of the Utahraptor, which just cribbed the pack size of the SRD Deinonychus.
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
Yeah better...published at Utahraptor now
Cleon
Legend
Hmm, going through this in order.
Going by the precedent of standard lycanthropes such as the Werewolf, shouldn't the type be "humanoid (gnoll, shapechanger)" and the alignment just "chaotic evil."
The Armour Class is missing a (natural armor) tag. The original monster had a point better armour than an AD&D Werewolf or Gnoll (AC 4 vs 5) which might justify giving it AC 13 instead of 12. I wondered about giving it a shield in humanoid form for another +2 to AC when in gnoll form, but the Dragon #89 text says "they shun armor" and the illustration shows an unarmored Ghuuna. Indeed it might be completely naked, but a strategically placed Hyaenodon protecting its modesty.
I think the Hit Points are way too low. The original monster is a Lycanthrope-style shapechanger with HD 6+6 (33 hp), which is between a Weretiger's 6+3 (30 hp) and a Werebear's 7+3 (34½ hp).
In 5E, a Weretiger has Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48)[CON 16 (+2)] and a Werebear has Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54)[CON 17 (+3)].
So I reckon it ought to be in the same ballpark. Either give it CON 16 or 17 (I prefer 17) and either the same HD as a weretiger/werebear for Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48) or Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54), go inbetween with Hit Points 127 (17d8 + 51) or assume that the +6 in the original's HD formula indicates an unusually tough constitution and award it a higher CON and slightly fewer HD for a similar average. Maybe Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 50) and CON 18 (+4).
EDIT: Dang, just noticed a typo in the above. The final alternative HP should be 15d8 + 60 not +50. :ENDEDIT
It should have separate speeds in humanoid and hyena forms like a Werewolf, i.e. Speed 30 ft. (50 ft. in hyena form)
I think I'd better start a Working Draft.
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
Ghuuna
Medium humanoid (gnoll, shapechanger), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 60)
Speed 30 ft. (50 ft. in giant hyena or hybrid form)
Skills Perception +4
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Gnoll (can't speak in giant hyena form)
Challenge 6 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Shapechanger. The ghuuna can use its action to polymorph into a Large hyena-humanoid hybrid or giant hyena, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The ghuuna has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Iron Vulnerability. A ghuuna's damage immunity does not protect it from bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons made of cold iron or meteoric iron.
Rampage. When the ghuuna reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its turn, the ghuuna can take a bonus action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The ghuuna makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite (Giant Hyena or Hybrid Forms Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (3d4 + 7) piercing damage in giant hyena form, or 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be cursed. Gnolls are cursed with ghuuna crocutanthropy while other humanoids are cursed to contract a random disease (roll 1d4 with 1=filth fever, 2=mind fire, 3=seizure, 4=slimy doom) with effects as described in the contagion spell. The diseased target must immediately make another DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. This disease lasts for 7 days or until it is cured. Every 24 hours the target can repeat the saving throw to either remove the disease's poisoned condition or, if they are unpoisoned, be cured of the disease.
Claws (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) slashing damage.
Greatsword (Gnoll Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage..
Description
A ghuuna is a gnoll with the ability to fully or partially transform into a demonic hyena the size of a horse. They shun the use of armor or shields in their humanoid form and are usually armed with the largest sword they can find. Like werewolves, ghuunas often form packs that may include hyenas and giant hyenas.
Gift of Crocutanthropy. Ghuuna are similar to lycanthropes in many respects, including being forced into their beast or hybrid form during a full moon, but are not vulnerable to silver weapons; instead being harmed by special forms of iron. A nonmagical silvered blade is as useless as a steel one when fighting a ghuuna.
Ghuunism is considered a blessing by gnolls, a gift from their Demon Lord, giving ghuunas a high position as champions and leaders in gnoll society. Ghuunas are jealous of their status so rarely create potential rivals by afflicting other gnolls with their crocutanthropy. Most ghuunas are natural born shapechangers whose gift can only be removed with a wish, but a remove curse can strip an afflicted crocutanthrope of ghuunism.
Beasts of the Gnoll Lord Since a ghuuna was granted its powers by the demonic Gnoll Lord, some priests and shamans of the Beast of Butchery have a special spiritual authority over them. This manifests as the ability to cast geas on a ghuuna once a day as an Innate Spellcasting ability. The most powerful gnoll clerics can use geas on ghuunas multiple times a day and have other powers over them, such as dominate person or locate creature.
(Originally created by Tomas Willis; appeared in Dragon Magazine #89 (September 1984) as part of the "Creature Catalog" centrefold insert.)
Medium humanoid (gnoll, shapechanger), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 60)
Speed 30 ft. (50 ft. in giant hyena or hybrid form)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+5) | 7 (–2) | 12 (+1) | 9 (–1) |
Skills Perception +4
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Gnoll (can't speak in giant hyena form)
Challenge 6 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Shapechanger. The ghuuna can use its action to polymorph into a Large hyena-humanoid hybrid or giant hyena, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The ghuuna has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Iron Vulnerability. A ghuuna's damage immunity does not protect it from bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons made of cold iron or meteoric iron.
Rampage. When the ghuuna reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its turn, the ghuuna can take a bonus action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The ghuuna makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite (Giant Hyena or Hybrid Forms Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (3d4 + 7) piercing damage in giant hyena form, or 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be cursed. Gnolls are cursed with ghuuna crocutanthropy while other humanoids are cursed to contract a random disease (roll 1d4 with 1=filth fever, 2=mind fire, 3=seizure, 4=slimy doom) with effects as described in the contagion spell. The diseased target must immediately make another DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. This disease lasts for 7 days or until it is cured. Every 24 hours the target can repeat the saving throw to either remove the disease's poisoned condition or, if they are unpoisoned, be cured of the disease.
Claws (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) slashing damage.
Greatsword (Gnoll Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage..
Description
A ghuuna is a gnoll with the ability to fully or partially transform into a demonic hyena the size of a horse. They shun the use of armor or shields in their humanoid form and are usually armed with the largest sword they can find. Like werewolves, ghuunas often form packs that may include hyenas and giant hyenas.
Gift of Crocutanthropy. Ghuuna are similar to lycanthropes in many respects, including being forced into their beast or hybrid form during a full moon, but are not vulnerable to silver weapons; instead being harmed by special forms of iron. A nonmagical silvered blade is as useless as a steel one when fighting a ghuuna.
Ghuunism is considered a blessing by gnolls, a gift from their Demon Lord, giving ghuunas a high position as champions and leaders in gnoll society. Ghuunas are jealous of their status so rarely create potential rivals by afflicting other gnolls with their crocutanthropy. Most ghuunas are natural born shapechangers whose gift can only be removed with a wish, but a remove curse can strip an afflicted crocutanthrope of ghuunism.
Beasts of the Gnoll Lord Since a ghuuna was granted its powers by the demonic Gnoll Lord, some priests and shamans of the Beast of Butchery have a special spiritual authority over them. This manifests as the ability to cast geas on a ghuuna once a day as an Innate Spellcasting ability. The most powerful gnoll clerics can use geas on ghuunas multiple times a day and have other powers over them, such as dominate person or locate creature.
(Originally created by Tomas Willis; appeared in Dragon Magazine #89 (September 1984) as part of the "Creature Catalog" centrefold insert.)
Last edited:
Cleon
Legend
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