Garnfellow
Explorer
Hey, all --
I'm getting ready for next weekend's game, which looks to be a showdown between the PCs and a big, nasty beastie. The monster concept is loosely based on Echidna of Greek myth by way of Edmund Spenser: a half woman, half dragon terror. I built her by "multiclassing" a young adult sin dragon from Green Ronin's Testament setting with a nymph. I then used the Monster's Handbook guidelines to add some more spell-like abilities and a poison sting.
Anyway, this is what I came up with in the end, and I'd appreciate any input -- problems, questions, ideas, suggested tactics, etc. The text in red are the back-up calcs, as per the useful Game Mechanics system for statting out NPCs.
Echidna: female unique dragon; CR 15; Large Dragon [Evil, Extraplanar]; HD 18d12+90 plus 12d6+60; hp 314; Init +4 (+0 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Spd 60 ft, swim 30 ft; AC 31, touch 16, flat-footed 31 (-1 size, +15 natural, +7 deflection); BAB +24 (+18 Dragon, +6 Nymph); Grp +34; Atk +30 melee (1d8+9 plus poison, barbed tail) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, +1 Weapon Focus); Full Atk Atk +30 melee (1d8+9 plus poison, barbed tail) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, +1 Weapon Focus) and +27 melee (1d8+3, 2 claws) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, -2 secondary attack); Space/Reach 10 ft/5 ft; SA blinding beauty, confront sin, poison, spells, spell-like abilities, stunning glance; SQ blindsense, cold resistance 10, DR 10/cold iron, divine vulnerability, fire resistance 10, keen senses, immunities, unearthly grace, wild empathy +13; SR 20; AL NE; SV Fort +27, Ref +26, Will +29 (Dragon F+11, R+11, W+11; Nymph F+4, R+8, W+8; Con +5, Dex +0, Wis +3; +7 unearthly grace); Str 22, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 24.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +38, Diplomacy +38, Escape Artist +19, Hide +20, Intimidate +25 (+29 against Medium-sized creatures), Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (religion) +25, Listen +38, Move Silently +29, Search +25, Sense Motive +34, Spot +38, Swim +33, Use Magical Device +13; Ability Focus (stunning glance) 6th, Alertness 1st, Blind Fight 21th, Cleave 24th, Improved Initiative 3rd, Improved Natural Attack (barbed tail) 18th, Improved Sunder 27th, Multiattack 12th, Power Attack 15th, Quicken Spell-like Ability (darkness) 30th, Weapon Focus (barbed tail) 9th.
Blinding Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 30 feet of Echidna. Those who look directly at her must succeed on a DC 23 Fortitude save or be blinded permanently as though by the blindness spell. Echidna can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Blindsense (Ex): Echidna can pinpoint creatures within a distance of 60 feet. Opponents that Echidna can’t actually see still have total concealment against her.
Confront Sin (Su): Echidna is made stronger by the sin of her opponents. All physical attacks do bonus damage equal to +2 damage for each step the target's alignment is away from lawful good.
Divine Vulnerability (Su): Echidna has a weakness, a special action that any person with a good alignment can do to instantly destroy her. [I'm still playing around with what the special action might be. Any suggestions?]
Frightful Presence (Ex): The ability takes effect automatically whenever Echidna attacks or charges. Creatures within a 150 ft radius are subject to the effect if they have less than 18 HD. A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a DC 26 Will save remains immune to Echidna's frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Immunities (Ex): Echidna is immune to sleep effects and paralysis effects.
Keen Senses (Ex): Echidna sees four times as well a human in shadowy illumination and twice as well in normal light. She also has darkvision out to 120 feet.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 24, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—darkness, discern lie (DC 20), dispel magic, magic circle against good; 3/day—confusion (DC 21), crushing despair (DC 21), deeper darkness, silence (DC 19), slow (DC 20), touch of idiocy; 1/day—dimension door, insanity (DC 24), plane shift (DC 23), mass suggestion (DC 23), song of discord (DC 22). Caster level 13th.
Spells: Echidna casts divine spells as a 7th-level druid and arcane spells as a 1st-level sorcerer.
Stunning Glance (Su): As a standard action, Echidna can stun a creature within 30 feet with a look. The target creature must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unearthly Grace (Su): Echidna adds her Charisma modifier as a bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus to her Armor Class. (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses).
Wild Empathy (Ex): By making a successful wild empathy check, Echidna can improve the attitude of an animal as if making a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person. The ability normally takes 1 minute to use, and Echidna and the animal have to be able to study each other (within 30 feet under normal visibility conditions).
Druid Spells Prepared (6/5/4/3/1, DC 13 + spell level): 0—flare, guidance (2), resistance (2), virtue; 1st—endure elements, entangle (2), obscuring mist, pass without trace; 2nd—bear's endurance, chill metal, fog cloud, owl's wisdom; 3rd—protection from energy, spike growth, wind wall; 4th—freedom of movement.
Sorcerer Spells Known (5/5, DC 17 + spell level): 0—daze, detect magic, ghost sound, resistance; 1—silent image, sleep.
Possessions: 34,000 gp—wand of hold person 4,500 gp, periapt of wisdom +2 (reflected in statistics above) 4,000 gp, fire opal pendant 3,600 gp, gold platter 3,300 gp, sapphire tipped sceptre 3,000 gp, ivory sword 2,700 gp, gold and silver coffer 2,500 gp, brass orb inlaid with moonstone 2400 gp, gold bull idol 1200 gp, brass bowl 1000 gp, tapestry 800 gp, scroll of endure elements, owl's wisdom, wind wall 575 gp, potion of blur 300 gp, ivory statuette 60 gp, scroll of ray of enfeeblement and summon monster I 50 gp, 4,015 gp remaining wealth in coins.
Physical Description: From above the waist, Echidna appears to be a beautiful human woman, but below is the form of a foul dragon with blue-black scales.
Skills (Dragon): Concentration 18 ranks (+5 Con), Diplomacy 16 ranks (+7 Cha, +2 synergy), Escape Artist 7 ranks (+0 Dex), Hide 16 ranks (+0 Dex, -4 size), Intimidate 18 ranks (+7 Cha), Knowledge (arcana) 7 ranks (+4 Int), Knowledge (religion) 21 ranks (+4 Int), Listen 18 ranks (+3 Wis, +2 Alertness), Move Silently 16 ranks (+0 Dex), Search 21 ranks (+4 Int), Sense Motive 18 ranks (+3 Wis), Spot 18 ranks (+3 Wis, +2 Alertness), Swim 7 ranks (+6 Str, +8 racial trait), Use Magic Device 9 ranks (+4 Int) = 270 (210 skill points)
Skills (Nymph): Concentration 15 ranks, Diplomacy 13 ranks, Escape Artist 12 ranks, Hide 12 ranks, Listen 15 ranks, Move Silently 13 ranks, Sense Motive 13 ranks, Spot 15 ranks, Swim 12 ranks = 120 (120 skill points).
NOTE: Number of feats is derived as follows: 1 at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 27th, 30th = 11
OTHER NOTES:
The sin dragon was modified for 3.5 (CR 8 > CR 9; fire resistance 20 > fire resistance 10; cold resistance 20 > cold resistance 10; DR 10/+3 > 10/cold iron) and water movement (loses fly speed and gains swim speed). Added 2 HD of dragon and a barbed sting (with poison) for +1 CR.
Using Monster's Handbook guidelines, added 6 HD of fey and increased CR by +3 with new spell-like abilities: confusion, crushing despair, deeper darkness, insanity, plane shift, mass suggestion, silence, song of discord, touch of idiocy. Increased caster level on all spell-like abilities (where appropriate) to 13th.
I'm getting ready for next weekend's game, which looks to be a showdown between the PCs and a big, nasty beastie. The monster concept is loosely based on Echidna of Greek myth by way of Edmund Spenser: a half woman, half dragon terror. I built her by "multiclassing" a young adult sin dragon from Green Ronin's Testament setting with a nymph. I then used the Monster's Handbook guidelines to add some more spell-like abilities and a poison sting.
Anyway, this is what I came up with in the end, and I'd appreciate any input -- problems, questions, ideas, suggested tactics, etc. The text in red are the back-up calcs, as per the useful Game Mechanics system for statting out NPCs.
Echidna is a Monster direfull dred,
Whom Gods doe hate, and heauens abhor to see;
So hideous is her shape, so huge her hed,
That euen the hellish fiends affrighted bee
At sight thereof, and from her presence flee:
Yet did her face and former parts professe
A faire young Mayden, full of comely glee;
But all her hinder parts did plaine expresse
A monstrous Dragon, full of fearefull vglinesse.
Spenser, The Faerie Queene Book VI, Canto VI.
Whom Gods doe hate, and heauens abhor to see;
So hideous is her shape, so huge her hed,
That euen the hellish fiends affrighted bee
At sight thereof, and from her presence flee:
Yet did her face and former parts professe
A faire young Mayden, full of comely glee;
But all her hinder parts did plaine expresse
A monstrous Dragon, full of fearefull vglinesse.
Spenser, The Faerie Queene Book VI, Canto VI.
Echidna: female unique dragon; CR 15; Large Dragon [Evil, Extraplanar]; HD 18d12+90 plus 12d6+60; hp 314; Init +4 (+0 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Spd 60 ft, swim 30 ft; AC 31, touch 16, flat-footed 31 (-1 size, +15 natural, +7 deflection); BAB +24 (+18 Dragon, +6 Nymph); Grp +34; Atk +30 melee (1d8+9 plus poison, barbed tail) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, +1 Weapon Focus); Full Atk Atk +30 melee (1d8+9 plus poison, barbed tail) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, +1 Weapon Focus) and +27 melee (1d8+3, 2 claws) (+24 BAB, +6 Str, -1 size, -2 secondary attack); Space/Reach 10 ft/5 ft; SA blinding beauty, confront sin, poison, spells, spell-like abilities, stunning glance; SQ blindsense, cold resistance 10, DR 10/cold iron, divine vulnerability, fire resistance 10, keen senses, immunities, unearthly grace, wild empathy +13; SR 20; AL NE; SV Fort +27, Ref +26, Will +29 (Dragon F+11, R+11, W+11; Nymph F+4, R+8, W+8; Con +5, Dex +0, Wis +3; +7 unearthly grace); Str 22, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 24.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +38, Diplomacy +38, Escape Artist +19, Hide +20, Intimidate +25 (+29 against Medium-sized creatures), Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (religion) +25, Listen +38, Move Silently +29, Search +25, Sense Motive +34, Spot +38, Swim +33, Use Magical Device +13; Ability Focus (stunning glance) 6th, Alertness 1st, Blind Fight 21th, Cleave 24th, Improved Initiative 3rd, Improved Natural Attack (barbed tail) 18th, Improved Sunder 27th, Multiattack 12th, Power Attack 15th, Quicken Spell-like Ability (darkness) 30th, Weapon Focus (barbed tail) 9th.
Blinding Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 30 feet of Echidna. Those who look directly at her must succeed on a DC 23 Fortitude save or be blinded permanently as though by the blindness spell. Echidna can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Blindsense (Ex): Echidna can pinpoint creatures within a distance of 60 feet. Opponents that Echidna can’t actually see still have total concealment against her.
Confront Sin (Su): Echidna is made stronger by the sin of her opponents. All physical attacks do bonus damage equal to +2 damage for each step the target's alignment is away from lawful good.
Divine Vulnerability (Su): Echidna has a weakness, a special action that any person with a good alignment can do to instantly destroy her. [I'm still playing around with what the special action might be. Any suggestions?]
Frightful Presence (Ex): The ability takes effect automatically whenever Echidna attacks or charges. Creatures within a 150 ft radius are subject to the effect if they have less than 18 HD. A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a DC 26 Will save remains immune to Echidna's frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Immunities (Ex): Echidna is immune to sleep effects and paralysis effects.
Keen Senses (Ex): Echidna sees four times as well a human in shadowy illumination and twice as well in normal light. She also has darkvision out to 120 feet.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 24, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—darkness, discern lie (DC 20), dispel magic, magic circle against good; 3/day—confusion (DC 21), crushing despair (DC 21), deeper darkness, silence (DC 19), slow (DC 20), touch of idiocy; 1/day—dimension door, insanity (DC 24), plane shift (DC 23), mass suggestion (DC 23), song of discord (DC 22). Caster level 13th.
Spells: Echidna casts divine spells as a 7th-level druid and arcane spells as a 1st-level sorcerer.
Stunning Glance (Su): As a standard action, Echidna can stun a creature within 30 feet with a look. The target creature must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unearthly Grace (Su): Echidna adds her Charisma modifier as a bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus to her Armor Class. (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses).
Wild Empathy (Ex): By making a successful wild empathy check, Echidna can improve the attitude of an animal as if making a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person. The ability normally takes 1 minute to use, and Echidna and the animal have to be able to study each other (within 30 feet under normal visibility conditions).
Druid Spells Prepared (6/5/4/3/1, DC 13 + spell level): 0—flare, guidance (2), resistance (2), virtue; 1st—endure elements, entangle (2), obscuring mist, pass without trace; 2nd—bear's endurance, chill metal, fog cloud, owl's wisdom; 3rd—protection from energy, spike growth, wind wall; 4th—freedom of movement.
Sorcerer Spells Known (5/5, DC 17 + spell level): 0—daze, detect magic, ghost sound, resistance; 1—silent image, sleep.
Possessions: 34,000 gp—wand of hold person 4,500 gp, periapt of wisdom +2 (reflected in statistics above) 4,000 gp, fire opal pendant 3,600 gp, gold platter 3,300 gp, sapphire tipped sceptre 3,000 gp, ivory sword 2,700 gp, gold and silver coffer 2,500 gp, brass orb inlaid with moonstone 2400 gp, gold bull idol 1200 gp, brass bowl 1000 gp, tapestry 800 gp, scroll of endure elements, owl's wisdom, wind wall 575 gp, potion of blur 300 gp, ivory statuette 60 gp, scroll of ray of enfeeblement and summon monster I 50 gp, 4,015 gp remaining wealth in coins.
Physical Description: From above the waist, Echidna appears to be a beautiful human woman, but below is the form of a foul dragon with blue-black scales.
Skills (Dragon): Concentration 18 ranks (+5 Con), Diplomacy 16 ranks (+7 Cha, +2 synergy), Escape Artist 7 ranks (+0 Dex), Hide 16 ranks (+0 Dex, -4 size), Intimidate 18 ranks (+7 Cha), Knowledge (arcana) 7 ranks (+4 Int), Knowledge (religion) 21 ranks (+4 Int), Listen 18 ranks (+3 Wis, +2 Alertness), Move Silently 16 ranks (+0 Dex), Search 21 ranks (+4 Int), Sense Motive 18 ranks (+3 Wis), Spot 18 ranks (+3 Wis, +2 Alertness), Swim 7 ranks (+6 Str, +8 racial trait), Use Magic Device 9 ranks (+4 Int) = 270 (210 skill points)
Skills (Nymph): Concentration 15 ranks, Diplomacy 13 ranks, Escape Artist 12 ranks, Hide 12 ranks, Listen 15 ranks, Move Silently 13 ranks, Sense Motive 13 ranks, Spot 15 ranks, Swim 12 ranks = 120 (120 skill points).
NOTE: Number of feats is derived as follows: 1 at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 27th, 30th = 11
OTHER NOTES:
The sin dragon was modified for 3.5 (CR 8 > CR 9; fire resistance 20 > fire resistance 10; cold resistance 20 > cold resistance 10; DR 10/+3 > 10/cold iron) and water movement (loses fly speed and gains swim speed). Added 2 HD of dragon and a barbed sting (with poison) for +1 CR.
Using Monster's Handbook guidelines, added 6 HD of fey and increased CR by +3 with new spell-like abilities: confusion, crushing despair, deeper darkness, insanity, plane shift, mass suggestion, silence, song of discord, touch of idiocy. Increased caster level on all spell-like abilities (where appropriate) to 13th.
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