Wanted: Sea Monster Sighting Reports!

[steveflam]

The name of the short story is "The Vanished Ones". Dragonov is described in detail in the 2E Champions of the Mists. If you don´t have that let me know, i can send you an excerpt. (Edit: sent you a pm)

Perhaps you might also want to tackle the question how Dragonov has lost 3 levels from his Champions of the Mists stats (human ranger 20 (with the Monster Hunter character kit), CG) to his more recent mention in the sidebar on p.84 in Gazetteer 2 (male human afflicted mountain loup-garou Rgr17, CG).

Is Champion of mists 2nd edition? Maybe they adjusted him down?

[Jakob]

Yes, yes, I already have access to all of the sources, thanks guys (and gals ).

I much prefer the Gaz II version. I think I'll stat him out just to know what he can do*... Is there a magic item he is known for or something like that? I don't have the books with me, and I can't remember...
Anyway, his role would be sticking with my NPC and mainly ensure he'll stay alive.

I started the submission with an introduction of the Twins.

*Yes, I know. It's sick. But I like statting the NPC I write about.

[NeoTiamat]

It's alright, I do the same.

There's something a little relaxing in just concentrating on pure numbers and rules sometimes. [/End D&D Addicts Anonymous]

I'm not sure that the reason for why Dragonov lost three levels is really something we should go into in this netbook. Its probably just a design error that crept in, eh, it happens. And he's is *still* miles stronger then just about any other NPC in Ravenloft, with maybe a handful of exceptions.

On the flip side, it might be interesting to include a 3e version of Dragonov in the 'Who's Doomed' section at the back (Who's Drowned perhaps?), assuming there aren't copy-right issues.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

I'm not sure that the reason for why Dragonov lost three levels is really something we should go into in this netbook. Its probably just a design error that crept in, eh, it happens. And he's is *still* miles stronger then just about any other NPC in Ravenloft, with maybe a handful of exceptions.

The LA for the mountain loup-garou template is +3, at least according to Denizens of Dread, so the writers probably docked him just enough levels to keep him out of epic territory.

On the flip side, it might be interesting to include a 3e version of Dragonov in the 'Who's Doomed' section at the back (Who's Drowned perhaps?), assuming there aren't copy-right issues.

That would be cool! Dragonov's one of those NPCs I'd wished had gotten a write-up in GazII, in the first place; seeing him detailed now would be a nice fringe-benefit of this project.

As for copyright issues, WotC's been content to turn a blind eye to the netbooks up until now, and for characters a lot more recognizable than Dragonov. So long as we're not charging anybody for downloads, we're free advertising from their POV.

(I love the "Who's Drowned" idea, BTW. )

[The Giamarga]

It might be an typo/error or it might have been on purpose to get his CR to 20 as Roti mentioned. Anyways i figured why not roll along with it and explain it in-game too, it might perhaps spark an idea about a tragic encounter gone wrong.

As for signature items check out the CotM description.

And talking about conversion/statting madness: I would give him some Monster Hunter levels (from RLPHB) if not that class had those lousy hit dice. I mean it is his role: The greatest Monster Hunter. So perhaps Rgr10/Monster Hunter5/Lycanthrope Hunter5. Or maybe use the Moon Bane prc from CoD, that one seems to be made for him. But the Monter Hunter prestige class from RLPHB does need some revising.

[Jakob]

I'd stick with the true ranger... In 3.5 the ranger is MUCH more powerful and likable than in 3.0. And Dragonov is not obsessed by lycanthropes: he is a good "monster hunter" in the broader term. He hunts EVERY monster, non just lycanthropes.
I fear I'll have to make two separate stat blocks for Dragonov... One for "my" ranger (a ranger who gets bonus feats instead of the dumb "choose bow or two weapons" and gets the knowledge skill associated with its favored enemy* ) and one for the "normal" ranger.

Anyway, the "ranger 17" was in 3.0, when there were no racial HD added with the lycanthrope template... In 3.5 he'd end up as a 23-HD creature...


*I always found it plain STUPID: "Look! I'ts a dragon! My favoured enemy since 1st level!" "Ok, how do we fight it?" "Dunno. Not a wizard".

[DeepShadow of FoS]

That would be cool! Dragonov's one of those NPCs I'd wished had gotten a write-up in GazII, in the first place; seeing him detailed now would be a nice fringe-benefit of this project.

At least Dragonov got an honorable mention! Merilee was conspicuously absent. Should I associate one of my narrators with T. LaMark in order to work her into this project?

[Rotipher of the FoS]

I fear I'll have to make two separate stat blocks for Dragonov... One for "my" ranger (a ranger who gets bonus feats instead of the dumb "choose bow or two weapons" and gets the knowledge skill associated with its favored enemy* ) and one for the "normal" ranger.

Given that Rapid Shot and Improved Precise Shot apply to any ranged weapon, not just bows, Dragonov could actually benefit a fair bit from the archery combat option when he's hurling knives or hand axes. On top of that, it's quite reasonable to make Manyshot useable with firearms in a setting where such weapons are common: the early pistols and muskets really could be loaded with more than one ball at a time, for greater damage.

I like the Knowledge class skill idea, BTW. Either that, or apply rangers' Favored Enemy bonus to checks about the enemies in question, same as for Sense Motive, Survival, etc.

[Jakob]

I fear I'll have to make two separate stat blocks for Dragonov... One for "my" ranger (a ranger who gets bonus feats instead of the dumb "choose bow or two weapons" and gets the knowledge skill associated with its favored enemy* ) and one for the "normal" ranger.

Given that Rapid Shot and Improved Precise Shot apply to any ranged weapon, not just bows, Dragonov could actually benefit a fair bit from the archery combat option when he's hurling knives or hand axes. On top of that, it's quite reasonable to make Manyshot useable with firearms in a setting where such weapons are common: the early pistols and muskets really could be loaded with more than one ball at a time, for greater damage.

I like the Knowledge class skill idea, BTW. Either that, or apply rangers' Favored Enemy bonus to checks about the enemies in question, same as for Sense Motive, Survival, etc.

I'll see. Just give me the time to finish the item for PAIZO RPG Superstar (:D) and my translation... Oh, who am I kidding? I think Dragonov will be statted in a few days.

Should I keep him 17° level? With the mountain loup-garou template he'll make the dreaded jump into the epic levels (Gwydion will KNOW FEAR! )...

EDIT: While reading Dragonov entry from CotM I found this two things.

From the day he killed Hamer, Dragonov aged no more. He has wandered the Demiplane of Dread for nearly two hundred years now, hunting lycanthropes and trying to atone for Hamer's murder. Even though he has long since discovered a cure for lycanthropy, he refuses to use it on himself until he has tracked down and killed each and every loup-garou in Ravenloft.

Urgh. I guess we should keep it (it's canon). Anyway it's... Strange?

Because he favors a two-handed weapon (his great axe), he seldom takes advantage of the ranger's ability to use two weapons at one. The same is true of the ranger's normal archery bonus, which is negated by his use of a crossbow.

There. This is how he fights.
I'll ask help from the people at Ars Arcana too. We've got some good rules lawyer.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Let's stick to sub-epic here. Partly because consistency with published work is desirable, and partly because if he's epic-tough, it may actually make him less useful to DMs. Even at 17th level, he's well out of most Ravenloft PCs' league, not to mention most darklords'.

[Jakob]

Human male mountain loup-garou ranger 15 is, then.

EDIT: Sorry, ranger 14. A dire wolf has 6 HD.
By the way... Where do the fast healing and spell resistance of the loup garou come from?

EDIT2: Did you notice? No lycanthrope hunters, in 3.5.

[cure]

I am toying with the idea of making up as an option a Jolly Roger's template for application in exceptional cases.

So I am trying to back out the stats for its ability scores. My problem is determining the baseline ability score for a normal human. Are they 11, 11, 11, 10, 10, 10 and, if so, are how are they distributed among the six abilties?

The Jolly Roger scores are Str 13, Dex 8, Con -, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14. Evidently a template would specify a Con of nil, but I am trying to get the plus and minuses for the rest.

Thanx.

[NeoTiamat]

The 10s and 11s are the base scores for all basic monsters and NPCs (that is, those without PC classes), and are distributed randomly. Functionally, there's no differences between, say, Str 15 and Str 14, so it just makes it so the numbers are a little more organic looking. RAW (Rules as Written), you subtract 10 from all even ability scores and 11 from odd ones.

The catch is that I think monsters also gain ability points at every 4th hit dice, so that can sometimes it can get a bit confusing. (Can someone correct me on this?)

In the case of the Jolly Roger, *I'd* say the template would be:

Str +2, Dex -2, Con ---, Cha +2

This presupposes starting scores of Str 11, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, and Cha 11. The 4th Hit Dice ability point enters charisma.

[NeoTiamat]

Regarding the Mountain-Loup Garou's fast healing and SR....

Ravenloft lycanthropes are odd, they don't always follow the accepted D&D rules of lycanthropy. SR and Fast healing out of nowhere, Worgs (Magical Beasts and thus technically ineligible) as lycans, some Lycans missing one or more forms (Werejaguars, wereleopards, sea stalkers), etc.

You could just make Dragonov a basic Werewolf Lord (Were- Dire Wolf), or a RL Mountain Loup-Garou. I doubt it matters. Fast Healing 1 and SR 14 in a CR 17 character?

[Jakob]

It was more a matter of understanding its powers. Reading CotM, I noticed fast healing and resistance to magic were features of the loup-garou even in older editions. I'll stick with the RL loup garou, anyway.

On Ars Arcana I'm currently trying to understand HOW THE HELL, strictly following the rules, I can make a lycanthrope hunter in 3.5.