@M - You said, "I think it is the monster conversion project over on ENWorld. Let me look into it some more.
One obvious issue: the new mini is medium sized, so the creature would need to be paired down to size in the mechanics as well. I think we should reinstate some of Gygax's flavor in the description text--much better than the text I found. Also, if we wanted to toughen them up a little, the cold-based attacks could do normal damage, but slow them.
Edit: I guess Scott Greene did the conversion? Does not seem to have made it into any of the Tomes of Horror, however."

In response, I agree with yourself and Gene. We should pair this guy down to medium, making the mini effectively usable, but Gygax it up a bit. Thanks for sending me the link to Scott Greene's database, but I am afraid that's 3.0, not 3.5 from the looks of it. I too went reaching for the ToH I,II, and III but couldn't find these bad boys... I'm going to ask Gene to work his magic on them next! What do you think?

@Gene - I'll check these out tonight. I cannot wait, I'm so excited... and I'll pick up a handfull of Galeb Duhrs on the way home. Guess what M and I have on our wishlist for your conversion mastery next?!?!

Enjoy your break, Gene. When you come back, maybe after the galeb duhr, the howling hag?

Edit @ Pax - It must be 3e (2001). I really like that resource. I occasionally find broken links over there, so I hope that its days aren't numbered. It seems that it continues to get some updates, however, so maybe that is a good sign. It could be better organized.

Carrion Crawler - fantastic write up. Thanks again!

Questions for M or Gene: Does the TN for alignment specify something, maybe I don't understand. What is the T? Does this stand for tendency to be neutral/ or does this mean always neutral? Also, I went back through my 1st Ed. MM, and found the number of attacks have historically been 8. I'm wondering whether tentacle flurry just allows the creature to make a tentacle attack to multiple targets in different squares, but the creature, even as a standard action would still get 8 tentacles plus a bite as a standard action, since no full round action is described. I think that's the case - am I understanding correctly?

And this may sound like a silly question, but does "all opponents within 15 feet include all 52 potential squares that lie within a 15 foot threat radius of it? Maybe its just late and I'm tired.

Fantastic work. Thank you again.

Chain Golem - truly horrific! Very nice job, Gene. Excellent write-up as well. Woah... chain burst is truly wicked!

Some feedback (only if you're looking for some):
Missing the word "create" between to/.../one. And, missing "if" in the last sentence between orders/.../doing so is necessary...

P.s. I stopped off and picked up four of the Galeb Duhrs. I forgot they were CR 8-10 HD according to Gygax, and CR8 according to Scott Greene... so, I'll be waiting a long time before I use these little potent monsters (but I remember us discussing due to their diminutive size perhaps scaling this down...)

... And of course, any discussion about scaling down for size (something the 4e minis have notoriously done) leads me to think how nice it would be to have good stats for the Bulette! These little guys came in as space: 10ft, rather than the mighty 15+ minis of yore.

*sign*

Again, many thanks!

@Pax: Thanks much for the feedback, thanks for catching the formatting errors (how I missed 'em is beyond me :p), when I next upload a batch of new monsters I thrown the updated chain golem up with them.

On the carrion crawler: Yes all creatures within 15 ft. refer to literally all creatures within all those squares. It's basically an 'oh crap, lots of commoners/goblins/et cetera are attacking me, time for dinner' type attack. It's mainly there to keep it from being killed by melee swarm tactics.

When it comes to its eight tentacle attacks and a bite, that's only on a full-attack action, otherwise it gets one tentacle or the bite. At least that's how I'd rule it if I were DMing.

As for the TN alignment, that's the True Neutral (ex. Neutral Neutral on the law/chaos good/evil scale) alignment.

---

So currently on the block for when I get writing again is the Galeb Duhr (gonna have to dig up my monstrous manual for the lore on this one) and a large size bulette (I'll probably stat it up as a juvenile bulette or something that would be fitting to its smaller size)?

Galeb Duhr (circa 1st Edition MMII, 1983) according to Gary G:
"The galeb duhr is a curious boulder-like creature with appendages that act as hands and feet. These intelligent beings are very large and slow moving. They live in rocky or mountainous areas where they can feel the "earth power" and control the rocks around them. Galeb duhr can cast the following spells as 20th-level magic-users, once per round: move earth, stone shape, passwall, transmute rock to mud, and wall of stone.
They animate 1-2 boulders within 6" of them (AC 0; MV 3"; HD 9; DM 4d6) as a treant controls trees. Galeb duhrs take double damage from cold-based attacks and save at -4 against them. They are not harmed by lightning or normal fire, but take full damage from magical fire, saving at +4 against fire attacks."

Thanks again.

P.s. Mairkurion was hoping also to put the Chillborn Zombie into the mix for v.3.5 processing. Thanks, O mighty Gene!

P.s. I picked up an ICE ARCHON from god-knows-where. I think its 4th edition. If so, my Monday night group confronts the lead worshiper of the cult of the ice princess next Monday, Dec 22nd. If its 4e and you have get inspired, it would be neat to have. Thanks again.

.... and I'm just imagining here.... It seems the Galeb Duhr are traditionally neutral, as you would say TN. And even Scott Green makes them out to shun combat...he writes, "The galeb duhr is a native of the Elemental Plane of Earth. It appeas as a large boulder-like creature with two large legs and feet. These act as its hands and feet. In combat, the galeb duhr shuns combat if at all possible. It will use its transmute rock to mud ability to sink into the ground and disappear. If pressed, though a galeb duhr will not hesitate to fight using its spell-like abilities and animating boulders to attack its foes."

You can use the link Mairkurion sent to see that Scott Green listed its Spell-like abilities, animate boulders, elemental, electrical immunity and cold vulnerability....

As a gamemaster, the trouble with neutral creatures is that you don't tend to get a lot of mileage out of the minis.... when PCs make nice quickly, the event becomes a non-encounter, at least, a non-combat.

.... but just using my imagination... Wouldn't it be cool if the thing was actually Neutral Evil or Chaotic Neutral. What if these were created as earthen slaves that did the bidding of powerful magic users long ago, and were worked so tirelessly that long after the death or demise of the wizard, and long after the castles and towers they slavishly were forced to build had crumbled from the weight of time, ... these creatures, now freed of their master's control, seek to harm the living with anger and vengence for the years of abuse by the living of both their sentience and of the earth itself.

.... not a suggestion though, because we're staying true to the history/tradition for such things.

.... but if I wanted to flip the script as they say, I could "use" these that way in an adventure..... Hmmmmnnnn....

Yeah, you know, with elementals of all different sizes, it seems like the galeb duhr hasn't quite found its niche yet. I will ponder this.

Those Ice Archons look pretty wicked, I'll definitely be statting one of those up. What are they, large sized? Since you'll probably be using it I can throw it to the top of the 'to-do' list; what level is your party so that I can know what CR to aim for (from the card it looks to be a rough CR 7 or 8 enemy but I can easily make it a bit more challenging)?

As for the Galeb Duhr, even though they're neutral I'll likely throw in a 'they're very protective of their territory and tends to shoo things away violently' clause so that its easier to make one into a combat should one want to do so. Likewise I'll be giving them the animate rock ability for sure (I'm thinking treat them as either animated objects or small elementals; likely the latter). Still, I may also provide a small blurb in the flavor text about their being evil galeb duhr that delight in killing creatures and 'feeding' their corpses to the earth. I'll definitely be looking at the link provided earlier for inspiration on them as well.

Also, I've already statted the chillborn zombie. It's on the first page; here's a link just to be safe:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?omouyialqot

Let's see...would could add Angel of Retribution into the hopper and perhaps the Blazing Skeleton. The Guulovorg is in the MMV. Anybody see the need to treat the Death Titan as anything other than a Death Giant?
Yes, I got the Chillborn, thanks (heh, maybe I gave Pax a complex? Or was it the sound of Gene working on the chain gang? :P)

A lot of the new miniatures do, actually (even dragonborn make semi-believable lizardmen).

Yeah, if I ever ended up with any, I was thinking the dragonborn were obvious half-dragons.

@Mairkurion - Yes, you gave Pax a complex.

I'll stop back in an hour with Ice Archon stats from the card I found. I remember now, I actually bought it purposefully - because I thought it looked cool. Hehe, pun intended!

Yes the Guulovorg is well displayed in the MMV. Remind me to give my players better armor before that whopping encounter!

** = symbol of a sword in a circle

Ice Archon
Medium Elemental Humanoid (Cold)
Level 19 Soldier
AC: 36; F33;R31;W29;HP/Bloodied117/58
Init: +21; SPD6
Senses: Perception +13; Resist: cold 25
Attacks: **Warhammer +23 vs. AC; 1d10+9 +5 cold AND Slowed 1 rnd
Relentless Strike: +4 atk and +10 dmg to Slowed.
Abilities: Icy Ground - Adj squares difficult terrain; cold creatures not affected
S+18(28);CON+13(19);DEX+16(24);INT+10(12);WIS+13(18);CHA+10(13)

On other side:
66 (in a big black circle)
Level 14; AC: 29; DEF: 25; SPEED 8; HP: 85
Attack Actions: **Icy Warhammer: +19 vs AC; 20 cold Damage AND Slowed (Speed 2)
Abilities: Evil. Elemental. Cold. Resist 10 Cold.
Special Powers - Icy Wallow: +4 Attack against any enemy whose Speed is currently lower than its normal Speed. - Icy Ground: Adjacent squares count as difficult terrain for non-Cold enemies.
"The relentless hammer of an unyielding glacier, the frozen essence of remorseless malice."

"Icy Wallow"...heh-heh.

Ah... so I picked up an Angel of Retribution (at Mairkurion's prompting) and three Soulrider Devils (cause I think they looked interesting.

Yes, I'd be interested in:
Ice Archon
Angel of Retribution
Souldrider Devil - only if you thought it was interesting....?

... Mairkurion & Gene: I would like your thoughts on those INFERNAL ARMOR things.... what are they? What is the Deathgrasp Sarcophagus? ...And those little venus-fly trap thingy things?

Anything worth lookin at out of those?

Just my two bits: I thought the infernal armor was the least interesting looking mini of the batch, but I haven't seen it in the flesh. Yeah, what are those other things? Constructs? I like the way the sarcophagus looked, but I've no clue. Are they treated over on the Wizards website? (Now, when I go over there, I feel like I'm on a raid.)
Edit: The infernal armor could be treated as a medium animated object, but given the AC of plate armor. If you wanted it to be "infernalized," you could add the fiendish template to it (stretching the rules).

Hey M - how are you?

Given the going rate (cost) of the Helmed Horror, I don't have any. I was hoping to use the infernal armor to represent the Helmed horrors from FRCS - Monster Compendium.

Okay, the current minis-to-stat roster looks like so:
Ice Archon
Large-sized Bulette
Angel of Retribution
Blazing Skeleton (I have one of these :p )
Soulrider Devil

That look right?

I'll be starting on the Ice Archon later today, I'll likely also get the bulette statted up as well.

---

As for the Infernal Armor and Death Grasp Sarcophagus... I have no idea... I don't really like either of them, I mean, how is a sarcophagus an enemy? I could see using it as a set decoration, but really nothing beyond that. As for the armor... I just don't like it, there's something about how it looks that irritates me but I can't pinpoint it.

Still, if you guys would like me to stat them up, I'd be more than willing to do so.

Did I mention the Howling Hag? I got two of them, and I like how they look.

@ Gene said, "I could see using it as a set decoration, but really nothing beyond that. As for the armor... I just don't like it, there's something about how it looks that irritates me but I can't pinpoint it."

Yeah, I know exactly how you feel. Nah, lets leave the junk behind...

Did I mention the Howling Hag? I got two of them, and I like how they look.

Current work order is as follows:
Ice Archon
Galeb Duhr
Angel of Retribution
Blazing Skeleton (I have one of these :p )
Large-sized Bulette
Soulrider Devil
Howling Hag

The only mini from the above list that I can give a guaranteed date/time for being finished is the Ice Archon (which I'll have done today).

EDIT: Also, Pax, thanks for providing the Ice Archon statistics. They are most helpful.

And lo the world is frozen in the grasp of...

The Ice Archon:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?hmdht2un53c

Hopefully your players are high enough level for him, Pax. :p

Also, as promised, the fixed version of the chain golem:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mujiezzzv3n

Bulette
Large Natural Beast
Level 9 Elite Skirmisher
Init +5; SPD 6; BRW 6
Ac:25; Fort:24; Ref:20; Will:21; HP/Bloodied:94/47
Senses: darkvision; Perception +5
Resist: save +2
ATTACKS: **Bite +16 vs AC; 1d12+7 AND -5 AC 1 rd
* Earth Furrow: Standard; brw 6, enter smaller enemy's space; +14 vs Fort; knowk prone. Cover until start of next turn.
Overbearing Assault: +4 atk and dmg against prone.
LIMITED POWERS: Action Point 1
Burrowed Rufuge: Standard, only while Bloodied; brw 6, no opp atk; heal 47, No recharge.
<- Earthcrest: STandard, brw only; burst 2; +14 vs AC; 3d8+7. Rchg4
STR+11(25; CON+10(22); DEX+7(17); INT+0(2); WIS+7(16); CHA+3(8)

Other side........
59 in a big circle
Level 9; AC 27; DEF22; SPEED6; HP90
Attack Actions: **Bite: +14 vs AC:20 Damage
<- Earthcrest: If this creature moves at least 3 squares from its starting position using Burrow, at the end of its move, attack all targets within 2 swuares, +15 vs AC; 20 Damage
ABILITIES: Beast Burrow +4 DEF (Fort)
The earth is their sea, and they are murderous sharks to any who walk the land.

Hope that helps.

P.s Marvelous job on the earth archon. My players are only 5th level but I am glad you gave the creature the powers it deserves on sheer flavor alone. (I might still use it and just have their as*es handed to them. Hehe.)

P.p.s. The Ice Archon's FF is 34 with a Dex showing +4, though below the Dex in the ability statistics shows a DEX of 24 (with a +7 bonus). My thought is that the 24 is right, so perhaps making Flat Footed something like 27 rather than 34?

Very nice job, Gene. (Also, one minor point - under Fire Vulnerability: third line ("allow" should be allowed.)

Talk to you soon!

Gene,
Check your inbox. I sent you all the stats for Dungeons of Dread and Against the Giants in pdfs. Hopefully that will help...and save Pax's fingers.
M.

Hi M.,

Does such a compendium exist for v.3.5? Except for wotc Web-based databases?

@Mairkurion {TM}:

@Pax Veritas: Fixed the spelling errors, thanks for bringing them to my attention (since I copy/pasted that from the chillborn zombie it was there as well). Thanks for the bulette as well. Now, onto the flat-footed AC; I'm not seeing where you're getting the 4 DEX from, his natural DEX modifier is indeed +7 but he's wearing full-plate which caps it at +1 - as far as I can tell, the 34 flat-footed armor class is correct. If I'm missing something do bring it to my attention as it's possible that I'm being dense :p. Thanks.

---

Anyways, here are the links to the updated ice archon and chillborn zombie:

Archon, ice
Zombie, chillborn

Gene, your secret message has been received. The plan is now initiated.

EDIT: Mmm...tasty updates. Don't know how I missed your unique heading until now.

Pax, they've made it quite difficult to find, but happily they haven't removed it. Link.

Gene, your secret message has been received. The plan is now initiated.

EDIT: Mmm...tasty updates. Don't know how I missed your unique heading until now.

Hey Gene, — is your e-mail address on your Web site? I'd like to get in on all this secretive goodness too.

Also, I think on the Flat-footed number, it was me who was dense. Late at night I subtracted the full DEX modifier from the AC to get a flat-footed number much lower than the one you display. I just took the AC minus the full DEX modifier you had listed in the attributes section. Sorry.

Hey Gene, — is your e-mail address on your Web site? I'd like to get in on all this secretive goodness too.

Just throw the word Paizo somewhere in the title so I know you're not spam .:p

Also, I think on the Flat-footed number, it was me who was dense. Late at night I subtracted the full DEX modifier from the AC to get a flat-footed number much lower than the one you display. I just took the AC minus the full DEX modifier you had listed in the attributes section. Sorry.

I've compiled all the monsters I've statted for you fine folks up to this point into a single (bookmarked) document for easy perusal. Here's a link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?luyy5zxmzt1

Nice Bestiary!

As I look out at my mini collection, your work helps me pretend 4e never happened. Thanks for breathing life into a few of these minis - they'll all see play in my current Pathfinder campaign.

Thanks Gene & Mairkurion!

-Pax-

Nice Bestiary!

As I look out at my mini collection, your work helps me pretend 4e never happened. Thanks for breathing life into a few of these minis - they'll all see play in my current Pathfinder campaign.

Thanks Gene & Mairkurion!

-Pax-

Work on the other minis is progressing nicely, I do a bit of one then jump over to another. I've yet to start on the galeb duhr as I'm trying to dig up my 2nd edition monstrous manual to use as fluff material (the darn thing's around here somewhere, probably buried under something).

Just for the record, my judgment at this point is that Demonweb is the best set of miniatures we've seen in a few years. Looks like I'll be adding to the queue in the new year... :o

Mairkurion - feel free to share with me which figures and creature concepts you like the best - this will give me the lead-time I need to also acquire those that I agree are great concepts/figures.

Merry Christmas, M & Gene.

To you folks as well! :)

Are we taking a holiday break....?

Yup. :p

Dealing with the relatives and whatnot. I'm getting what work done I can when I get free time.

A bit of good news, though; I did manage to dig up my 2nd edition Monstrous Manual so I can finally start working on the Galeb Duhr. If I manage to get some time alone later today I may get it all written up.

No pressure... take your time, I've just been checking this thread pretty often, so, I'll take it easy too. Happy holidays! Good luck with the fam.

Hey guys, sitting in JFK with the new Mrs. M, waiting for our plane to Barcelona. It'll be a couple of weeks before you hear from me... ; )
Enjoy the rest of your holidays!

Congratulations, M.

Best wishes on your honeymoon to Bar"the"lona.

I recall the dialect uses "th" in pronounciation of the city name. I seem to remember hearing there was a king there with a lisp...maybe Philip, and since everyone followed suit.

Many wishes for a safe flight and wonderful time. Talk to you when you return!!!

-Pax-

Hey Gene, was just perusing your monsters and had a quick question.
How are you determining the save DC's on a monsters special ability? The standard has been 10+ half the hit dice + relevant ability modifier + feat bonus. Some seem to follow this (gnaw demon's ankle biter), but some don't (Enormous Carrion Crawler's paralysis).

Your write-ups look interesting and I may have more questions as I look deeper.

Hey Gene, was just perusing your monsters and had a quick question.
How are you determining the save DC's on a monsters special ability? The standard has been 10+ half the hit dice + relevant ability modifier + feat bonus. Some seem to follow this (gnaw demon's ankle biter), but some don't (Enormous Carrion Crawler's paralysis).

Your write-ups look interesting and I may have more questions as I look deeper.

Questions are always welcome, I'll make time to answer as many as I am able.

As a rule I just throw out a base of 10 or so (higher or lower depending on what I have the monster's CR at) plus a relevant ability modifier. I used to do it the right way (as you mentioned) but late game it gets to having save DCs that are crazy high compared to the save modifier of non-heavily optimized characters. As a rule I approach monster design with more of a 'yeah, that looks about right' style than a strictly by-the-books approach. If you'd like me to run through all my writeups and set DCs by the books I can do so.

Hi Ghettowedge. I often speak of my "guru" friend on these message boards. He's the guy who "knows what's in the hill giant's sack, and has a "feel for" exactly what would "look right" for a demons hp and saves... maybe, you could adopt Gene's approach of modifying the traditional math, yet stay with 3.5. I am very glad you prompted that question from Gene - its wonderful to see such good critical thinking these days... it can sometimes be hard to find.

Just my two cp.

Okay - I've got nothing to loose by asking since its probably impossible anyhow....

GENE - would it be possible to send me an Ice Archon set at about half the power of your first one. I did the stat alterations myself, and the session where my group will encounter it is actually tomorrow, so I would need it by 4pm. But if you can't, that's okay, I'll use mine - maybe I'll share my stats when I have a chance.... take care. Happy New Year.

P.s. The issue is I have other villains running about and the CR is too high for the party now.