Special Conversion Thread: Lycanthropes and their ilk

[Cleon]

Meeka is a lot smaller than a leopard, though, right? House cat size, I mean. I could see with going to Str 8, I guess, which is what a Tiny leopard would have. I can go with the higher Dex and Con 14 in all forms. AC 15 is ok, too.

Meeka only hunts people in her "human" alternate form so she'll normally be Medium-sized when attacking.

I like the idea of using "Tiny Leopard" for her cat form's stats but would be OK toning it down a bit.

How about we keep the original's Strength 14 in Human form then apply normal size-scaling rules so she's Strength 6 in her Tiny Cat form?

She's got the same AC in both forms, so how about giving her +2 NA in "human" form and +0 NA in her natural cat form so the NA increase balances her Tiny cat form's +2 size adjustment?

I'd give her the same Dex and Constitution in both forms. Con 14 is fine, but I'd increase the Dex to either 17 or a Leopard's 19. Dex 17 would match her AC to the original 5 so I'd go for that.

Let's see, AD&D Leopard's have a 1-3/1-3/1-6 claw/claw/bite routine which is pretty close to Meeka's 1-4/1-4/1-4 in "Human" form. Also, if her claws and bites are 1d4 when Medium size normal scaling would make them 1d2 when Tiny.

However, a standard SRD cat has 1d2 claws and a 1d3 bite, so I'm inclined to keep the higher bite damage which'd suggest she has a 1d6 bite when Medium sized. The SRD leopard has 1d3 claws and a 1d6 bite so the overall damage is pretty close - although Meeka can't rake in human form, which cuts down her damage potential a fair bit.

So:

Meeka (Cat Form): Tiny Magical Beast, Str 6, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17, AC 15 (+2 size, +3 Dex), 2 claws 1d2–2, bite 1d3–2, 2 rakes 1d2–2
Meeka (Human Form): Medium Magical Beast, Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17, AC 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural), 2 claws 1d4+2, bite 1d6+1

 

[freyar]

Yeah, I'll agree to all that. DR X/silver or magic in both forms, too; X=5 sound ok? Want to give the cat form pounce to go with rake? Otherwise, there's not much else to add in the way of special abilities.

 

[Cleon]

Yeah, I'll agree to all that. DR X/silver or magic in both forms, too; X=5 sound ok?

Hmm… the "or magic" makes it easy to circumvent in 3E so it doesn't make that much difference, but I'd tend to go for DR 10.

That said, I'm not much fussed either way.

Want to give the cat form pounce to go with rake? Otherwise, there's not much else to add in the way of special abilities.

I'd give her pounce in both forms. In for a penny and all that.

Shall I start a Working Draft then?

 

[Cleon]

Shall I start a Working Draft then?

Oh what the heck…

 

[Cleon]

Meeka Working Draft

Meeka
Tiny Magical Beast (Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d10+10 (37 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+2 size, +3 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/–5
Attack: Claw +10 melee (1d2–2)
Full Attack: 2 claws +10 melee (1d2–2) and bite +8 melee (1d3–2)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, pounce, rake 1d3–2
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 10/silver or magic, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17
Skills: Balance +13, Climb +11, Jump +15, Hide +23, Listen +7, Move Silently +15, Spot +7
Feats: Weapon Finesseᴮ, Multiattack, Stealthy

Human Form
Medium Magical Beast (Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d10+10 (37 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+7
Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d4+2)
Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d4+2) and bite +6 melee (1d3+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, pounce
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 10/silver or magic, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17
Skills: Balance +13, Climb +11, Jump +15, Hide +15, Listen +7, Move Silently +15, Spot +7
Feats: Weapon Finesseᴮ, Multiattack, Stealthy


Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 6-10HD (Tiny) or by character class
Level Adjustment: —

An exotically beautiful woman who moves with alluring grace. She has short-cropped black hair, dark skin and intense green eyes.

A meeka is an extremely rare type of predatory shapechanger. They are solitary creatures who are always female. In its natural form of a house cat she hunts rodents and other tiny vertebrates, but every month or so she takes the form of a female human to hunt humanoid prey.

A meeka is created when an ordinary cat is critically wounded by the bite of a feline lycanthrope and simultaneously exposed to fluke magical forces. The details of what magical forces are required may be unique to each meeka, but so far no magician or sage has bothered researching the subject. Meeka appear to be incapable of producing more of their kind.

Meeka speak Common plus the language of one humanoid race, typically the most numerous race in their territory.

COMBAT
In feline form, meeka hunt small animals such as mice and rats, just like other domestic cats. In human form, meeka are skilled predators of humanoids. They open combat by pouncing, then attack with claws and bite. An experienced meeka will use trickery and deceit to pick off victims while pretending to be human. They hide the bloody remains of their ambushes to avoid leaving a trail.

Alternate Form (Su): Meeka can assume the form of a common housecat or a humanoid.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a meeka must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.

Pounce (Ex): If a meeka charges a foe, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks if the meeka is in its natural cat form.

Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +10 melee, damage 1d3–2.

Skills: Meeka have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. Meeka have a +8 racial bonus on Balance, Climb and Jump checks. They can use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier for Climb and Jump checks if this is better. A meeka can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

*In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, a meeka in cat form's Hide bonus improves to +8.

In Ravenloft
In the Lands of Mist Meeka is an involuntary shapechanger, the fluke result of a cat being injured by a werepanther. She must assume human form on the three nights of the full moon and remain in cat form the rest of the time. She is infected with a feline equivalent of afflicted lycanthropy, so can attempt to voluntarily change forms using the Control Shape skill.

Originally from Children of the Night - Werebeasts (1998).


Skill Breakdown
Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot at 6 ranks each

 

[freyar]

DR 10 is ok. At her likely CR, I don't think magic weapons are a given.

We can just use the standard Alternate Form, yes?

Let's set Advancement to "6-10HD (Tiny) or by character class." If you don't like including both, I'd be ok with just character class advancement.

Comparing to the SRD cat and leopard would suggest including a +4 racial bonus to Hide and Move Silently, and +8 on Climb, Balance, and Jump (favoring +8 on Climb b/c of the climb speed). And the Hide bonus should increase to +8 in tall grass/heavy undergrowth in cat form.

 

[Cleon]

DR 10 is ok. At her likely CR, I don't think magic weapons are a given.

We can just use the standard Alternate Form, yes?

Yes to both.

Updating Meeka Working Draft.

Let's set Advancement to "6-10HD (Tiny) or by character class." If you don't like including both, I'd be ok with just character class advancement.

I was originally leaning towards going for "by character class" since (a) common housecats don't have HD advancement but humanoids do, (b) the original flavour describes her learning human languages and customs, which might indicate a more "humanoid" approach to advancement.

However, she is also described as an instinctive hunter who only uses her natural weapons, which argues for HD advancement.

So I can see it going either way. At least if we stick in "6-10HD (Tiny) or by character class" we outsource the problem to whoever runs the young lady!

I also wondered about changing the 6-10 HD advancement to 6-8 HD like a Lion, but overall the wider threat range gives her a bit more utility.

Comparing to the SRD cat and leopard would suggest including a +4 racial bonus to Hide and Move Silently, and +8 on Climb, Balance, and Jump (favoring +8 on Climb b/c of the climb speed). And the Hide bonus should increase to +8 in tall grass/heavy undergrowth in cat form.

I'd also like to keep the Cat's "use Dex modifier on Climb and Jump" ability but enhance it to use best of Str or Dex modifier.

Like so:

Skills: Meeka have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. Meeka have a +8 racial bonus on Balance, Climb and Jump checks. They can use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier for Climb and Jump checks if this is better. A meeka can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

*In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, a meeka in cat form's Hide bonus improves to +8.

 

[freyar]

We might as well give the DM a choice of advancement types.

I like your proposal for the skill bonuses. How about Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot at 6 ranks each? Then Weapon Finesse(B), Alertness, and Stealthy for feats (which would match up nicely with the cat, leopard, and lion)?

 

[Cleon]

We might as well give the DM a choice of advancement types.

Updating Meeka Working Draft.

I like your proposal for the skill bonuses. How about Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot at 6 ranks each? Then Weapon Finesse(B), Alertness, and Stealthy for feats (which would match up nicely with the cat, leopard, and lion)?

She's got more SPs than a Cat or Leopard so she can do without at least one of those skill feats. I'd be inclined to swap Alertness for Multiattack. That still results in +6 Listen & Spot, which is a point better than the SRD Leopard's +7.

 

[freyar]

Sure, switching Alertness to Multiattack sounds good.

Treasure, alignment, environment seem fine as is. As for CR, think she's a weak CR 3 perhaps?