Remastered Abomination Vaults?

[thejeff]

I'm currently running this, but still on the first couple levels. Wondering what people think about replacing monsters with new remastered versions.

Specifically thinking about the ghouls down on level 3, since they got pretty big changes and my players are getting close to exploring down there.

I was always a bit concerned with the Incapacitation weirdness of paralyze - basically irrelevant with the regular ghouls, but then surprisingly deadly when they hit a boss on level with them.

[Ectar]

The removal of paralysis makes the Ghoul less spiky, but they made them stronger in other way. D8 and D6 replace their previous D6 and D4 jaws and Claws, respectively.
They now get Grab on their claws, which has a lower potential than paralysis, but is a lot more consistent (even accounting for having to roll athletics).
Plus they get a Stench aura which can make them particularly good at hitting the back line, where the fort saves tend to be lower.

IMO, by far the biggest difference is the method of creating new ghouls. Gone is Ghoulish Fever contracted through the Jaws attack and say hello to Ghoul Whispers. So the ghoul has to grab a creature and spend an action to try and inflict the curse through a will save.
Being a curse makes it harder to deal with than a disease, but it also takes more action economy to expose a creature to the affliction in the first place.

[thejeff]

Ghoul whispers is also just much creepier, which I like.

Overall I think they're just better balanced. I don't think incapacitation works well for monsters.

Practically though, it's largely a question of whether I want to change the adventure up that much - especially for the unique monsters.

[HardlyKnowEm]

You might consider replacing the Barbazus with Vordines. Barbazus were one of the first monsters released, in Age of Ashes, before the game balance really settled, and they're known for punching far above their weight. I personally think they're fun to play as a GM, but some players find them less fun to play against.

Vordines have the same level and vibe as Barbazus, but seem a little more in line with level 5 creatures.

[TypicalCricket]

Also what about Drow? Are they now just elves that live underground? Or would you recommend changing the Ancestry of some NPCs like Volluk Azrinae to something different entirely (I thought Hobgoblin might be fun)?

[thejeff]

HardlyKnowEm wrote:

You might consider replacing the Barbazus with Vordines. Barbazus were one of the first monsters released, in Age of Ashes, before the game balance really settled, and they're known for punching far above their weight. I personally think they're fun to play as a GM, but some players find them less fun to play against.

Vordines have the same level and vibe as Barbazus, but seem a little more in line with level 5 creatures.

I'll take a look at those. We're not near that yet - unless they really rush downstairs and survive the wrong direction.

[thejeff]

TypicalCricket wrote:

Also what about Drow? Are they now just elves that live underground? Or would you recommend changing the Ancestry of some NPCs like Volluk Azrinae to something different entirely (I thought Hobgoblin might be fun)?

So far I've only described Volluk as "an elf", so no commitment. I'll have to decide what to do with the drow in the lower levels eventually.

[HardlyKnowEm]

TypicalCricket wrote:

Also what about Drow? Are they now just elves that live underground? Or would you recommend changing the Ancestry of some NPCs like Volluk Azrinae to something different entirely (I thought Hobgoblin might be fun)?

I have been calling them "Cave Elves"; one of my players also happens to play a character with the Cave Elf ancestry. In the supplementary material to Sky King's Tomb, underground elves are given the name Ayindilar. The inhabitants of Yldaris elves don't really fit the traditional "Drow" mold, anyways, and so I think all you need is the terminology change.

Hobgoblins would be fun, though. You might need need to insert more generations between Quara and her ancestor that made an agreement with Belcorra. And, of course, you'd lose out on the cool art if that's something you use at the table.