Athasian Cloud Ray - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Athasian Cloud Ray

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
brun01
Jun 25, 2007 13:51:17 I was never satisifed with the cloud ray on MM2, so I finally decided to make a conversion of the Athasian version.

Cloud Ray, Athasian
You step on an outcropping of rock, when suddenly it transforms into a huge creature with a broad, flattened speckled-brown body on top and drab olive and white underneath. Four jet-black eyes stares at you, its 20-feet maw lined with razor-sharp teeth open.
Cloud Ray, Athasian CR 16
Always N Colossal magical beast (psionic)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +8, Spot +14
Languages ―
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AC 15, touch 3, flat-footed 14
(-8 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural)
hp 207 (18 HD)
Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +4
Speed fly 40 ft. (average) (8 squares); Flyby Attack, Hover, Wingover
Melee bite +21 (3d10+12) and tail slap +18 (2d8+6 plus thunderclap)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 20 ft. (40 ft. with tail slap)
Base Atk +18; Grp +34
Atk Options Cleave, improved grab, Snatch, thunderclap
Psi-like Abilities (ML 12th):
At will—control air (60 mph alteration*), inertial barrier, psionic levitate
3/day—dream travel, telekinetic force (425 pounds*)
*Includes augmentation for the cloud ray’s manifester level.
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Abilities Str 33, Dex 13, Con 22, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 12
Feats Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Grab, SnatchB, Wingover
Skills Hide -13*, Listen +8, Spot +14
*Cloud rays receive a +16 racial bonus on Hide checks while in rocky or sandy terrain.
Advancement 19–32 HD (Colossal)
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Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, a cloud ray 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 swallow whole that round.
Swallow Whole (Ex) A cloud ray can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Huge or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 4d10+14 points of crushing damage per round from the cloud ray’s digestive system. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by dealing 20 points of damage to the cloud ray’s digestive tract (AC 16). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. The cloud ray’s gullet can hold 2 Huge, 8 Large, 32 Medium, 128 Small or smaller creatures.
Thunderclap (Ex) Any creature hit by a cloud ray’s tail slap must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude save or be deafened for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Through the skies and clouds of Athas slowly fly these deadly giants. Cloud rays can sometimes be seen crossing the evening sky flapping their huge pectoral fins.
Strategies and Tactics
The preferred attack of the cloud ray is to simply swallow its victim whole. Failing that, the cloud ray will employ its tail slap. The cloud ray will move in as close as possible on a silent glide and then strike the target with its tail, using a whip-like motion. The tail whip lashes out so quickly that it produces noise, like a thunder clap.
Although innately psionic, cloud rays become infuriated when someone uses a telepathic power on them. It drives them into a tremendous rage, and they will do anything they can, barring landing, to capture and devour the offending psionic creature.
Sample Encounter
Cloud rays might be encountered alone or in mated pairs, gliding over the Athasian skies.
Individual (EL 13): A hungry cloud ray is looking for prey. After detecting a suitable one, it dives quickly, trying to swallow its prey whole.
Ecology
Cloud rays wander aimlessly through the Athasian skies always searching for their next meal. On rare occasions they land on the ground and may be mistaken for an outcropping of rock. Those hapless enough to be standing on a ray when it decides to become airborne may become its next meal. A cloud ray’s preferred diet consists of devouring other flying creatures. They have a special fondness for rocs, pterrax, and flying humanoids, such as aarakocra and kenku. Their only natural predators are airborne drakes.
After a good meal, cloud rays will sometimes psionically dream travel while their meal digests. Cloud rays have territorial respect for others of their species and, with very few exceptions, do not intrude into another ray’s air space.
Cloud rays can live up to 50 years, with a life span between 20 and 30 being more typical. They are solitary creatures except when they seek a mate. Females have a gestation period which lasts over 3 years. They bear living young while airborne. The male catches and supports the young ray on his back for the first year of its life while the female forages. After the young cloud ray learns to fly and becomes self-sufficient, the three go their separate ways.
Environment: Cloud rays can be found anywhere on Athas, but they prefer to live around rocky or sandy terrain, since their coloration matches those areas.
Typical Physical Characteristics: A typical cloud ray stands around 100 feet wide and weighs around 18,000 pounds.
Cloud rays have a broad, flattened body and flap their huge pectoral fins to aid their psionic levitation. They are speckled-brown on top and drab olive and white underneath. Sets of ridges protect the creatures’ eyes. They have four jet-black eyes, two mounted on each side of the snout and the other two on each side of the cranial bulge. Down the back from the bulge runs a spine that becomes a long, thin, whip-like tail that ends in an appendage known as a zip. The zip is comprised of razor-sharp, barbed ridges that grow at the tip of the spine. The interior mouth or maw is lined with row upon row of razor-sharp cartilage ridges. The zip is also used in a complex signaling system that is only understood by other cloud rays.
The ray has no true stomach, preferring to swallow prey whole and grind the victim to liquid on its interior jaw ridges to help aid with digestion.
Alignment: Cloud rays have a very basic intelligence and are incapable of moral decisions. Hence, they are always neutral.
Typical Treasure
Cloud rays do not collect treasure.
Athasian Cloud Ray Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about Athasian cloud rays. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.
Knowledge (Nature)
DC Result
23 This is a cloud ray, a massive predator of the skies. This result reveals all magical beast traits.
28 A cloud ray glides using its psionic powers. Its potent tail produces a booming sound that deafens those hit by it.
33 Cloud rays go into a frenzy whenever someone uses mental powers against them.

I'm not sure about the HD and DC, since by reading the original material it mentions that they are afraid only of the Dragon...
Thoughts? Comments?
#2
cnahumck
Jun 25, 2007 16:15:38 I might up the CR and the HD some, maybe make it 16HD and CR 15 or 16.
#3
Zardnaar
Jun 25, 2007 17:43:24
I might up the CR and the HD some, maybe make it 16HD and CR 15 or 16.

I thought its CR was to low. It only has 15 AC its hit points are a bit meh for CR 13 and its attack bonus was quite low.
#4
brun01
Jun 26, 2007 7:26:28
I thought its CR was to low. It only has 15 AC its hit points are a bit meh for CR 13 and its attack bonus was quite low.

The AC is a straight conversion from the 2e version, but I agree with the rest. I'll bump them up a bit.
#5
Zardnaar
Jun 26, 2007 14:28:17
The AC is a straight conversion from the 2e version, but I agree with the rest. I'll bump them up a bit.

In general relativly dumb brutes in D&D often have low CRs for the amount of damage they can do. Giants for example. Just wondering that was all. You could also drop the damage down slightly and lower the CR to around 9-10 methinks.
#6
brun01
Jun 29, 2007 8:00:19 I have increased its HD and CR a bit...
#7
Zardnaar
Jun 29, 2007 8:13:50 Wow thats a big beastie.

In converting 2nd ed to 3rd ed they made alot of monsters physically smaller. 200-300 long Dragons etc are now about 60'. Was its AC in 2ne ed about 4 or 5? Thats one thing I have noticed alot on these boards and in Athas.org product is really low AC relative to the CR as I suspect people just converted it over from 2nd ed exactly despite there being alot more bonuses to hit in 3rd ed.
#8
brun01
Jun 29, 2007 8:18:22
Was its AC in 2ne ed about 4 or 5?

5, IIRC

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 brun01 Jun 25, 2007 13:51:17	I was never satisifed with the cloud ray on MM2, so I finally decided to make a conversion of the Athasian version. Cloud Ray, Athasian You step on an outcropping of rock, when suddenly it transforms into a huge creature with a broad, flattened speckled-brown body on top and drab olive and white underneath. Four jet-black eyes stares at you, its 20-feet maw lined with razor-sharp teeth open. Cloud Ray, Athasian CR 16 Always N Colossal magical beast (psionic) Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +8, Spot +14 Languages ― ------------------------------------------------------------ AC 15, touch 3, flat-footed 14 (-8 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural) hp 207 (18 HD) Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +4 Speed fly 40 ft. (average) (8 squares); Flyby Attack, Hover, Wingover Melee bite +21 (3d10+12) and tail slap +18 (2d8+6 plus thunderclap) Space 30 ft.; Reach 20 ft. (40 ft. with tail slap) Base Atk +18; Grp +34 Atk Options Cleave, improved grab, Snatch, thunderclap Psi-like Abilities (ML 12th): At will—control air (60 mph alteration), inertial barrier, psionic levitate* 3/day—dream travel, telekinetic force (425 pounds) Includes augmentation for the cloud ray’s manifester level. ------------------------------------------------------------ Abilities Str 33, Dex 13, Con 22, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 12 Feats Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Grab, SnatchB, Wingover Skills Hide -13, Listen +8, Spot +14 Cloud rays receive a +16 racial bonus on Hide checks while in rocky or sandy terrain. Advancement 19–32 HD (Colossal) ------------------------------------------------------------ Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, a cloud ray 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 swallow whole that round. Swallow Whole (Ex) A cloud ray can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Huge or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 4d10+14 points of crushing damage per round from the cloud ray’s digestive system. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by dealing 20 points of damage to the cloud ray’s digestive tract (AC 16). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. The cloud ray’s gullet can hold 2 Huge, 8 Large, 32 Medium, 128 Small or smaller creatures. Thunderclap (Ex) Any creature hit by a cloud ray’s tail slap must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude save or be deafened for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. Through the skies and clouds of Athas slowly fly these deadly giants. Cloud rays can sometimes be seen crossing the evening sky flapping their huge pectoral fins. Strategies and Tactics The preferred attack of the cloud ray is to simply swallow its victim whole. Failing that, the cloud ray will employ its tail slap. The cloud ray will move in as close as possible on a silent glide and then strike the target with its tail, using a whip-like motion. The tail whip lashes out so quickly that it produces noise, like a thunder clap. Although innately psionic, cloud rays become infuriated when someone uses a telepathic power on them. It drives them into a tremendous rage, and they will do anything they can, barring landing, to capture and devour the offending psionic creature. Sample Encounter Cloud rays might be encountered alone or in mated pairs, gliding over the Athasian skies. Individual (EL 13): A hungry cloud ray is looking for prey. After detecting a suitable one, it dives quickly, trying to swallow its prey whole. Ecology Cloud rays wander aimlessly through the Athasian skies always searching for their next meal. On rare occasions they land on the ground and may be mistaken for an outcropping of rock. Those hapless enough to be standing on a ray when it decides to become airborne may become its next meal. A cloud ray’s preferred diet consists of devouring other flying creatures. They have a special fondness for rocs, pterrax, and flying humanoids, such as aarakocra and kenku. Their only natural predators are airborne drakes. After a good meal, cloud rays will sometimes psionically dream travel while their meal digests. Cloud rays have territorial respect for others of their species and, with very few exceptions, do not intrude into another ray’s air space. Cloud rays can live up to 50 years, with a life span between 20 and 30 being more typical. They are solitary creatures except when they seek a mate. Females have a gestation period which lasts over 3 years. They bear living young while airborne. The male catches and supports the young ray on his back for the first year of its life while the female forages. After the young cloud ray learns to fly and becomes self-sufficient, the three go their separate ways. Environment: Cloud rays can be found anywhere on Athas, but they prefer to live around rocky or sandy terrain, since their coloration matches those areas. Typical Physical Characteristics: A typical cloud ray stands around 100 feet wide and weighs around 18,000 pounds. Cloud rays have a broad, flattened body and flap their huge pectoral fins to aid their psionic levitation. They are speckled-brown on top and drab olive and white underneath. Sets of ridges protect the creatures’ eyes. They have four jet-black eyes, two mounted on each side of the snout and the other two on each side of the cranial bulge. Down the back from the bulge runs a spine that becomes a long, thin, whip-like tail that ends in an appendage known as a zip. The zip is comprised of razor-sharp, barbed ridges that grow at the tip of the spine. The interior mouth or maw is lined with row upon row of razor-sharp cartilage ridges. The zip is also used in a complex signaling system that is only understood by other cloud rays. The ray has no true stomach, preferring to swallow prey whole and grind the victim to liquid on its interior jaw ridges to help aid with digestion. Alignment: Cloud rays have a very basic intelligence and are incapable of moral decisions. Hence, they are always neutral. Typical Treasure Cloud rays do not collect treasure. Athasian Cloud Ray Lore Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about Athasian cloud rays. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs. Knowledge (Nature) DC Result 23 This is a cloud ray, a massive predator of the skies. This result reveals all magical beast traits. 28 A cloud ray glides using its psionic powers. Its potent tail produces a booming sound that deafens those hit by it. 33 Cloud rays go into a frenzy whenever someone uses mental powers against them. I'm not sure about the HD and DC, since by reading the original material it mentions that they are afraid only of the Dragon... Thoughts? Comments?
#2 cnahumck Jun 25, 2007 16:15:38	I might up the CR and the HD some, maybe make it 16HD and CR 15 or 16.
#3 Zardnaar Jun 25, 2007 17:43:24	I might up the CR and the HD some, maybe make it 16HD and CR 15 or 16. I thought its CR was to low. It only has 15 AC its hit points are a bit meh for CR 13 and its attack bonus was quite low.
#4 brun01 Jun 26, 2007 7:26:28	I thought its CR was to low. It only has 15 AC its hit points are a bit meh for CR 13 and its attack bonus was quite low. The AC is a straight conversion from the 2e version, but I agree with the rest. I'll bump them up a bit.
#5 Zardnaar Jun 26, 2007 14:28:17	The AC is a straight conversion from the 2e version, but I agree with the rest. I'll bump them up a bit. In general relativly dumb brutes in D&D often have low CRs for the amount of damage they can do. Giants for example. Just wondering that was all. You could also drop the damage down slightly and lower the CR to around 9-10 methinks.
#6 brun01 Jun 29, 2007 8:00:19	I have increased its HD and CR a bit...
#7 Zardnaar Jun 29, 2007 8:13:50	Wow thats a big beastie. In converting 2nd ed to 3rd ed they made alot of monsters physically smaller. 200-300 long Dragons etc are now about 60'. Was its AC in 2ne ed about 4 or 5? Thats one thing I have noticed alot on these boards and in Athas.org product is really low AC relative to the CR as I suspect people just converted it over from 2nd ed exactly despite there being alot more bonuses to hit in 3rd ed.
#8 brun01 Jun 29, 2007 8:18:22	Was its AC in 2ne ed about 4 or 5? 5, IIRC