Where have all the Froghemoths gone... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Where have all the Froghemoths gone...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 02, 2004 0:17:40 Just curious once again...

For those of you who use varied sources (including those from the days of olde) what do you do to remedy the: 'monsters no longer existent in D&D' syndrome.

A small point I'll admit, but do you usually insert comparable ones from the new MM guides, or spend loads o' tyme tracking down new stats, or etc.

Not an Oerth-shattering post I know; I'm just interested.

"Vegepygmys unite!"
#2
Mortepierre
May 02, 2004 3:34:04 It's a very valid question given how often I find myself converting 1st and 2nd editions modules.

WotC updated many of the "oldies" in MMII and Fiend Folio. More yet were updated in various Forgotten Realms products (but that makes it hard to track them down).

Some were updated (mainly to v3.0) in the Living Greyhawk journals.

Usually, if I can't find one in my "usual" sources, I turn either to this accessory, or to the Creature Catalog website (link on ENWorld).

Of course, some GH oldies just aren't available anywhere but converting them isn't too hard once you know your way around the MM.

In fact, my main problem hasn't been converting their stats but keeping the same level of challenge. Some monsters become much weaker or stronger in v3.5 (the Banshee for one).
#3
pauln6
May 02, 2004 3:35:02 I look at similar monsters and try to convert them until official stats come out. I just gave xvarts the same stats as goblins with a chaotic alignment - an easy one.

I can't remember what vegepygmy HD were but converting a goblin to a plant type might do the trick. You will need to look at the monsters old AC and aim for a directly converted figure using all the new adjustments for size, dexterity, and natural armour. Most special abilities have been standardised so adding those is normally not a problem.

Froghemoths were huge - that's all I remember, you're on your own there!

I have more of a problem if I don't like the new 'official stats'. I mean who thought that converting a banshee from 7HD to 26HD was a good idea? Wasn't the death wail enough? Yikes.

I also converted giants back to their 1st Edition stats. They were given 4 extra HD each to make them a bit tougher in 2nd Edition but when you add on all the constitution bonuses in 3rd, I felt that they'd become a bit too powerful.

If you want a more powerful giant, you can add character levels anyway but hill giants leaping from average 40hp in 1st to average 102hp in 3rd just seemed a bit over the top.

Good luck!
#4
gray_richardson
May 02, 2004 12:12:41 Froghemoth has an entry in the Tome of Horrors book and even has a cool picture. The Tome of Horrors has most of the monsters from 1E & 2E that were never converted over in the WOTC books.
#5
cwslyclgh
May 02, 2004 16:43:12 indeed it does, and most of them are decent conversions at that. Tome of Horrors (by necromancer games) is a great book for anybody looking to add a more 1e feel to thier 3e games.
#6
wolf72
May 02, 2004 19:13:31 another good reccomendation for the Tome of Horrors ...

I was very pleased with it
#7
grodog
May 03, 2004 10:52:57 I too like ToH; anyone picked up ToH2 yet?

Going back to froghemoths for a moment, I've always felt that the various "unique" monsters introducted to D&D via S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (froghemoths, veggypygmies, aurmorxaxes, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, etc., etc.) should never have been mainstreamed via the Monster Manual II. I've always treated them as unique, alien creatures native to other planets vs. to Oerth. I always thought that by making them into "standard" monsters that it detracted from their unique, alien coolness in that module, making them in effect less special and more mundane.

Anyone else ever felt that way, about these beasties, or others introducted in modules (aspis in A1, firebats in C2, etc.)?
#8
cwslyclgh
May 03, 2004 11:26:41 truthfully I agree with that idea for most of the monsters from S3 especially (froghemoths being one of them)... although I do think that the aurumvorax is too cool just to be found sitting on some crashed flying suacer :P

for other modules, I am not sure that I think that the monsters should nessicarily be limited to them, but then again, alot of times I do not think the monsters should be all that frequently encountered either (I was actually a fan of the "frequency" rating in the monster stat blocks from 1e).
#9
grodog
May 03, 2004 21:00:24
Originally posted by cwslyclgh
(I was actually a fan of the "frequency" rating in the monster stat blocks from 1e).

You're a gamer after my own heart Wes---I too stridently miss the Frequency ratings....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 02, 2004 0:17:40	Just curious once again... For those of you who use varied sources (including those from the days of olde) what do you do to remedy the: 'monsters no longer existent in D&D' syndrome. A small point I'll admit, but do you usually insert comparable ones from the new MM guides, or spend loads o' tyme tracking down new stats, or etc. Not an Oerth-shattering post I know; I'm just interested. "Vegepygmys unite!"
#2 Mortepierre May 02, 2004 3:34:04	It's a very valid question given how often I find myself converting 1st and 2nd editions modules. WotC updated many of the "oldies" in MMII and Fiend Folio. More yet were updated in various Forgotten Realms products (but that makes it hard to track them down). Some were updated (mainly to v3.0) in the Living Greyhawk journals. Usually, if I can't find one in my "usual" sources, I turn either to this accessory, or to the Creature Catalog website (link on ENWorld). Of course, some GH oldies just aren't available anywhere but converting them isn't too hard once you know your way around the MM. In fact, my main problem hasn't been converting their stats but keeping the same level of challenge. Some monsters become much weaker or stronger in v3.5 (the Banshee for one).
#3 pauln6 May 02, 2004 3:35:02	I look at similar monsters and try to convert them until official stats come out. I just gave xvarts the same stats as goblins with a chaotic alignment - an easy one. I can't remember what vegepygmy HD were but converting a goblin to a plant type might do the trick. You will need to look at the monsters old AC and aim for a directly converted figure using all the new adjustments for size, dexterity, and natural armour. Most special abilities have been standardised so adding those is normally not a problem. Froghemoths were huge - that's all I remember, you're on your own there! I have more of a problem if I don't like the new 'official stats'. I mean who thought that converting a banshee from 7HD to 26HD was a good idea? Wasn't the death wail enough? Yikes. I also converted giants back to their 1st Edition stats. They were given 4 extra HD each to make them a bit tougher in 2nd Edition but when you add on all the constitution bonuses in 3rd, I felt that they'd become a bit too powerful. If you want a more powerful giant, you can add character levels anyway but hill giants leaping from average 40hp in 1st to average 102hp in 3rd just seemed a bit over the top. Good luck!
#4 gray_richardson May 02, 2004 12:12:41	Froghemoth has an entry in the Tome of Horrors book and even has a cool picture. The Tome of Horrors has most of the monsters from 1E & 2E that were never converted over in the WOTC books.
#5 cwslyclgh May 02, 2004 16:43:12	indeed it does, and most of them are decent conversions at that. Tome of Horrors (by necromancer games) is a great book for anybody looking to add a more 1e feel to thier 3e games.
#6 wolf72 May 02, 2004 19:13:31	another good reccomendation for the Tome of Horrors ... I was very pleased with it
#7 grodog May 03, 2004 10:52:57	I too like ToH; anyone picked up ToH2 yet? Going back to froghemoths for a moment, I've always felt that the various "unique" monsters introducted to D&D via S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (froghemoths, veggypygmies, aurmorxaxes, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, etc., etc.) should never have been mainstreamed via the Monster Manual II. I've always treated them as unique, alien creatures native to other planets vs. to Oerth. I always thought that by making them into "standard" monsters that it detracted from their unique, alien coolness in that module, making them in effect less special and more mundane. Anyone else ever felt that way, about these beasties, or others introducted in modules (aspis in A1, firebats in C2, etc.)?
#8 cwslyclgh May 03, 2004 11:26:41	truthfully I agree with that idea for most of the monsters from S3 especially (froghemoths being one of them)... although I do think that the aurumvorax is too cool just to be found sitting on some crashed flying suacer :P for other modules, I am not sure that I think that the monsters should nessicarily be limited to them, but then again, alot of times I do not think the monsters should be all that frequently encountered either (I was actually a fan of the "frequency" rating in the monster stat blocks from 1e).
#9 grodog May 03, 2004 21:00:24	Originally posted by cwslyclgh (I was actually a fan of the "frequency" rating in the monster stat blocks from 1e). You're a gamer after my own heart Wes---I too stridently miss the Frequency ratings....