GITP Monster Competition Chat Thread III

[Zom B]

The rough basics and idea for the Chanukah Chorror are up. Statting comes next, and adjusting numbers on damage to coincide with the intended CR.

The Gelt Fueled ability, btw, is not trying to insinuate any money-hunger/jewish stereotype. It's merely a "you get gelt from hitting it because it is its hit points" kind of thing.

[Debihuman]

For that matter, the Felpine Shambler could use some preliminary critiquing, of the mechanical aspects at least. I'm still working on the lore and plot hooks.

It looks pretty good to me. You missed the ability that the saves are based on in the Cone Bombs. It seems that Aura of Gloom should be a Supernatural ability and that Cone Bomb, Felpine Berries and Root should be Extraordinary abilities and Tree Travel probably be Spell-like.

Well, the Dryad of the Sanguine Holly is posted. Any comments would be really, really appreciated.

I haven't checked this one closely but it looks very good. This is a dryad variant so it may not actually qualify as a "new" monster but VT is the arbiter of that.

Debby

[unosarta]

I haven't checked this one closely but it looks very good. This is a dryad variant so it may not actually qualify as a "new" monster but VT is the arbiter of that.

Debby

Huh, I hadn't thought of that.

I hope it isn't DQed.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Huh, I hadn't thought of that.

I hope it isn't DQed.

Nope, not a problem with it, though it does bear a resemblance to a succubus, right down to its draining kiss.

[Debihuman]

Thanks VT. I'm sure that's a huge relief. I've seen critters get disqualified before (usually for not being complete) but it's always better to be sure.

Debby

[The Glyphstone]

It looks pretty good to me. You missed the ability that the saves are based on in the Cone Bombs. It seems that Aura of Gloom should be a Supernatural ability and that Cone Bomb, Felpine Berries and Root should be Extraordinary abilities and Tree Travel probably be Spell-like.



I haven't checked this one closely but it looks very good. This is a dryad variant so it may not actually qualify as a "new" monster but VT is the arbiter of that.

Debby

Whoops - you're right, I forgot to add the type tags to its abilities.

[BisectedBrioche]

I've had an idea, but it's more of a CN prankster that doesn't care about causing problems. Would that fit into the theme or should I make it more actively malicious?

[The Glyphstone]

I've had an idea, but it's more of a CN prankster that doesn't care about causing problems. Would that fit into the theme or should I make it more actively malicious?

Well, if I was allowed to enter furry Langoliers into a contest about eldritch abominations and abberations, you should be able to get away with an amoral prankster in a contest about evil holiday monsters.

[Debihuman]

The Christmas goose is up. Please PEACH. Thanks.

Debby

[unosarta]

The Christmas goose is up. Please PEACH. Thanks.

Debby

That monster makes me want to dress it up in a weird costume, and then call it a "silly goose."

... and then subsequently get my face burned off.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

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[Debihuman]

That monster makes me want to dress it up in a weird costume, and then call it a "silly goose."

... and then subsequently get my face burned off.

I understand completely. I had originally planned on calling fire damage, "your goose is cooked" but ultimately decided against it.

Debby

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I understand completely. I had originally planned on calling fire damage, "your goose is cooked" but ultimately decided against it.

*snrk*

[Admiral Squish]

I think I'm going to have to go make the obvious entry, as soon as I awaken. I'm hunting for my third monster competition title.

[ajkkjjk52]

I've posted the core mechanics for the Insanity Claws. I'll finish the stat block ASAP, hopefully within 24 hours. I'll happily accept any comments, particularly on the phrasing of the abilities.

[Zom B]

G-d, do you have any idea how hard it is to find an image for a giant Hanukkah-themed monster?

[BisectedBrioche]

G-d, do you have any idea how hard it is to find an image for a giant Hanukkah-themed monster?

Strangely enough, yes.

[Admiral Squish]

This fellow is turning out more complicated than I expected...

[Morph Bark]

Question, is it allowed to submit multiple monsters if they are technically a part of one another? Like, them having a symbiotic relationship of sorts?

[Admiral Squish]

You're a mean one...

Anyways, I was really hoping to get a proper review of this one, I was intending to sic him on my players in a christmas one-shot.

[Zom B]

Question, is it allowed to submit multiple monsters if they are technically a part of one another? Like, them having a symbiotic relationship of sorts?

It's been done before as sort of a Voltron-type entry. Technically, only one of the monsters is the entrant, I believe, and the others are there as support material, like adding feats into your homebrew class.

[LOTRfan]

Quick, hide the druids!

Here's the Goat of Sacrificial Horror, bringing Yule back to the Christmas season.

Anyone want to give it a quick PEACH?

[Debihuman]

Quick, hide the druids!

Here's the Goat of Sacrificial Horror, bringing Yule back to the Christmas season.

Anyone want to give it a quick PEACH?

The goat looks pretty good. Just a few minor things in no particular order...

How does it get its insight bonus to AC? There should be a special ability that allows for this.

Strangulation is listed as a special attack but there is no mention of in the abilities section below the stat block. You might want to note if there is a Reflex save and whether it negates or if it is for half damage for this ability as well. DC is 10 +1/2 creature's HD + ability modifier.

You have both the gore and the arm wreaths listed as primary attacks, however, one of these should be a secondary attack.

See here: "When a creature has more than one natural weapon, one of them (or sometimes a pair or set of them) is the primary weapon. All the creature’s remaining natural weapons are secondary. "

See also, "A creature’s primary natural weapon is its most effective natural attack, usually by virtue of the creature’s physiology, training, or innate talent with the weapon. An attack with a primary natural weapon uses the creature’s full attack bonus. Attacks with secondary natural weapons are less effective and are made with a -5 penalty on the attack roll, no matter how many there are. (Creatures with the Multiattack feat take only a -2 penalty on secondary attacks.) This penalty applies even when the creature makes a single attack with the secondary weapon as part of the attack action or as an attack of opportunity. "

I recommend that the gore be primary and the 2 wreaths be secondary and take the -5 penalty.

Magical beasts get skill points equal to (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die. Total skills should be 28 for the first hit die and then 7x12 for the remaining hit dice for a total of 112 skill points and that's before you add the modifiers. Your numbers are off.

You have an asterisk marking some of the feats but didn't indicate what the asterisk is for. I'm guessing you wanted to denote which book the feats are from but that information is missing.

How much does the Wreath weigh?

You're a mean one...

Anyways, I was really hoping to get a proper review of this one, I was intending to sic him on my players in a christmas one-shot.

While I truly like your take on the Grinch, I note that you had previously statted up a grinch in this forum back a few years [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=1]. Since this is a completely different version, I'll assume it doesn't violate the rules, but VT is the final arbiter on these matters as always.

In no particular order...

Organization should be: Solitary (Unique) or with Max.

The save for Termite Smile is probably Con based but you didn't say so.

You should have the tags for the Special Abilities (Su, Sp or Ex),

Treasure should be listed especially since Mr. Grinch has a LOT of items that the PCs would love to take from him.

Mr. Grinch would probably advance by Class as a Ranger since he has Max and I could see Hoo as a favored enemy.

"Ft." is missing after 60 in Darkvision.

Debby

[Admiral Squish]

While I truly like your take on the Grinch, I note that you had previously statted up a grinch in this forum back a few years [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=1]. Since this is a completely different version, I'll assume it doesn't violate the rules, but VT is the final arbiter on these matters as always.

In no particular order...

Organization should be: Solitary (Unique) or with Max.

The save for Termite Smile is probably Con based but you didn't say so.

You should have the tags for the Special Abilities (Su, Sp or Ex),

Treasure should be listed especially since Mr. Grinch has a LOT of items that the PCs would love to take from him.

Mr. Grinch would probably advance by Class as a Ranger since he has Max and I could see Hoo as a favored enemy.

"Ft." is missing after 60 in Darkvision.

Debby

I admit, I did make a Grinch before, but that was more of an NPC than a unique monster.

I wasn't sure, really, it was a little odd.

Yes, termite smile is con-based.

Alright, I'll add in the tags momentarily.

How do you note the specific treasure? Is there a format?

Yeah, ranger was the other idea. I was thinking about that, but dire wolf would be rather weak.

I'll go fix that.

[Debihuman]

Treasure is noted as Standard, Double, or Triple plus whatever special equipment is noted in the monster entry such as weapons, armor, items, etc.

See monster entries in the SRD or Monster Manual for examples.

Debby

[Admiral Squish]

Treasure is noted as Standard, Double, or Triple plus whatever special equipment is noted in the monster entry such as weapons, armor, items, etc.

See monster entries in the SRD or Monster Manual for examples.

Debby

I had it as standard before. I bought Mr. Grinch's gear with the NPC gear value chart out of the SRD, so is that standard? Is it standard + the specialty gear? I've never seen an SRD monster with magic gear.

[The Glyphstone]

I had it as standard before. I bought Mr. Grinch's gear with the NPC gear value chart out of the SRD, so is that standard? Is it standard + the specialty gear? I've never seen an SRD monster with magic gear.

Well, the Titan comes default with 'Double standard plus +4 half-plate and Gargantuan +3 Adamantine Warhammer".

[Debihuman]

I had it as standard before. I bought Mr. Grinch's gear with the NPC gear value chart out of the SRD, so is that standard? Is it standard + the specialty gear? I've never seen an SRD monster with magic gear.

See Demon, Balor.

Most items aren't unbalancing (although I think the MM and SRD did a disservice to some creatures in this way), but I think yours ranks in power enough to justify them in the Treasure section.

Debby

[LOTRfan]

The goat looks pretty good. Just a few minor things in no particular order...

How does it get its insight bonus to AC? There should be a special ability that allows for this.

Strangulation is listed as a special attack but there is no mention of in the abilities section below the stat block. You might want to note if there is a Reflex save and whether it negates or if it is for half damage for this ability as well. DC is 10 +1/2 creature's HD + ability modifier.

You have both the gore and the arm wreaths listed as primary attacks, however, one of these should be a secondary attack.

See here: "When a creature has more than one natural weapon, one of them (or sometimes a pair or set of them) is the primary weapon. All the creature’s remaining natural weapons are secondary. "

See also, "A creature’s primary natural weapon is its most effective natural attack, usually by virtue of the creature’s physiology, training, or innate talent with the weapon. An attack with a primary natural weapon uses the creature’s full attack bonus. Attacks with secondary natural weapons are less effective and are made with a -5 penalty on the attack roll, no matter how many there are. (Creatures with the Multiattack feat take only a -2 penalty on secondary attacks.) This penalty applies even when the creature makes a single attack with the secondary weapon as part of the attack action or as an attack of opportunity. "

I recommend that the gore be primary and the 2 wreaths be secondary and take the -5 penalty.

Magical beasts get skill points equal to (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die. Total skills should be 28 for the first hit die and then 7x12 for the remaining hit dice for a total of 112 skill points and that's before you add the modifiers. Your numbers are off.

You have an asterisk marking some of the feats but didn't indicate what the asterisk is for. I'm guessing you wanted to denote which book the feats are from but that information is missing.

How much does the Wreath weigh?

Debby

Thank you for doing this so quickly. I'll fix the wreath arm attacks and make mention in the magical item entry that they are secondary attacks. Wreaths aren't that heavy... maybe a 1 pound or two? I'll but that down until I can be sure.

I advanced its HD to prevent the "too many powers, not enough HD" problem. I must've forgot to add the additional skills gained. Thanks.

I'll add another ability to explain the insight bonus.

As for strangulation, it is mentioned in the Wreath part of the entry. Its basically constrict. I'll change the name to better explain it, and I'll add it under the stat block and mention that its magical item grants it this power.

[Admiral Squish]

Alright, fixed the treasure, added a mention of advancement by character class, and added a clause about multiple infestations of termite smile stacking.

So, anyone notice that I stole virtually all the abilities straight from the song? 'you're as cuddly as a cactus' 'You've got termites in your smile' 'the three words that best describe you are as follows and I quote: Stink, Stank, Stunk.' 'You're a crooked jerky jockey and you drive a crooked hoss'