bodak template [Archive] - Wizards Community

bodak template [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kinem
08-14-04, 05:15 PM All undead must be templates. For anyone who still thinks this unstoppable movement is based on a desire for more powerful undead, prepare to have your mind blown away by the sample creature.

Bodak Template

Bodaks are the undead remnants of creatures who have been destroyed by the touch of absolute evil.
A bodak retains fleeting memories of its past life and can usually speak Common (or some other language).

This template can be applied to any corporeal living creature of int 5+ that possesses a head and limbs.

Type: Change to undead

Lose all class levels. A bodak cannot gain class levels. A base creature that normally has 1 racial HD is considered to have that.

Hit dice: As base creature +8, after loss of any class levels, and change all HD to d12

The bodak loses all weapon and armor proficiencies.

Reassign BAB, saves, skills and feats based on the new undead HD. (BAB = HD/2, good Will save (2+HD/2), bad Fort and Reflex saves (HD/3), (4 + Int modifier, or minimum 1) x HD + 4 skill points, 1 + HD/3 feats.)

Abilities: Str +2, Dex +4, Con --, Int -4, Wis +2, Cha +2

Natural Armor +8

Move: As base creature -10' (minimum 10' or as base creature)

Slam (ex): A medium-size bodak inflicts a base slam damage of 1d8 with its fist. Modify this as usual for differently sized base creatures.

Death Gaze (Su): Death, range 30 feet, Fortitude (DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha bonus) negates.

Vulnerability to Sunlight (Ex): Bodaks loathe sunlight, for its merest touch burns their impure flesh. Each round of exposure to the direct rays of the sun deals 1 point of damage to the creature.

Create Spawn (Su): Creatures killed by the death gaze are transformed into zombies 24 hours later.

Damage reduction 10/cold iron, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to electricity, resistance to acid 10 and fire 10

CR: 5 + HD/3

Alignment: Always chaotic evil

Sample Bodak: The MM bodak is the same as a sample templated human bodak, except for the change to the create spawn ability.
Sarig the Genie
08-14-04, 06:52 PM What? Why? Huh?
NexH
08-14-04, 07:08 PM Originally posted by kinem
All undead must be templates.

I concur they should be.

The template looks good, however I'm curious why the CR improves by 1 per 3 HD instead of 1 per 4 as normal when improving undead increasing their HD.
A minor detail is that the slam attack is not an (Ex) ability, is a natural one and should be under an "attacks" entry.
kinem
08-14-04, 09:43 PM Sarig: Ah, I see one mind blown already :devil:

Nex: Thanks. I'm not too sure about the CR. The death gaze is the main reason for the high CR. Don't forget, this is a bit different from merely adding HD - a tough base creature, for example, probably has high natural armor which stacks with the natural armor increase from the template.

If the base creature has a lot of special abilities though, the CR should probably be as base creature +2. Maybe use whichever gives the higher CR.
Laszlo Koller
08-14-04, 10:23 PM In case anyone is interested, there is a bodak template in Dragon Magazine #307. There's also a ghoul template, ghast template, and one (maybe two) others.
NexH
08-14-04, 10:39 PM Originally posted by kinem
Don't forget, this is a bit different from merely adding HD - a tough base creature, for example, probably has high natural armor which stacks with the natural armor increase from the template.

True, I didn't realize that.

Originally posted by kinem
If the base creature has a lot of special abilities though, the CR should probably be as base creature +2.

Maybe use whichever gives the higher CR.

That seems to be the best approach.

A search revealed that you have already done the wight template. Are you planning to create the templates for all undeads in the MMI?
kinem
08-16-04, 09:24 PM Nex: Not all, but many. Nightshades are a special case (and probably should be outsiders), and incorporeal undead aren't a priority as they are not very dependent on the base creature. I may do a ghoul/ghast but Monte's is well known and freely available, unlike templates in Savage Species or Dragon.

I did the mohrg (http://boards.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177944) and naturally I have several homebrew undead as well.

Lazlo: Looks like everything's coming up bodaks lately. What's the CR/LA?
Laszlo Koller
08-17-04, 12:10 AM The bodak template is listed with a CR of "Same as base creature + 4". No LA is listed, since this template was published during 3.0 before Level Adjustment became more common (in 3.5).

This article also has a ghoulish creature template, a ghastly creature template, as well as a Scion of Kyuss template.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[For the complete templates, read Dungeon Magazine Issue #307 (May 2003), pp. 38-45.]
kinem
08-20-04, 11:20 PM Thanks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kinem 08-14-04, 05:15 PM	All undead must be templates. For anyone who still thinks this unstoppable movement is based on a desire for more powerful undead, prepare to have your mind blown away by the sample creature. Bodak Template Bodaks are the undead remnants of creatures who have been destroyed by the touch of absolute evil. A bodak retains fleeting memories of its past life and can usually speak Common (or some other language). This template can be applied to any corporeal living creature of int 5+ that possesses a head and limbs. Type: Change to undead Lose all class levels. A bodak cannot gain class levels. A base creature that normally has 1 racial HD is considered to have that. Hit dice: As base creature +8, after loss of any class levels, and change all HD to d12 The bodak loses all weapon and armor proficiencies. Reassign BAB, saves, skills and feats based on the new undead HD. (BAB = HD/2, good Will save (2+HD/2), bad Fort and Reflex saves (HD/3), (4 + Int modifier, or minimum 1) x HD + 4 skill points, 1 + HD/3 feats.) Abilities: Str +2, Dex +4, Con --, Int -4, Wis +2, Cha +2 Natural Armor +8 Move: As base creature -10' (minimum 10' or as base creature) Slam (ex): A medium-size bodak inflicts a base slam damage of 1d8 with its fist. Modify this as usual for differently sized base creatures. Death Gaze (Su): Death, range 30 feet, Fortitude (DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha bonus) negates. Vulnerability to Sunlight (Ex): Bodaks loathe sunlight, for its merest touch burns their impure flesh. Each round of exposure to the direct rays of the sun deals 1 point of damage to the creature. Create Spawn (Su): Creatures killed by the death gaze are transformed into zombies 24 hours later. Damage reduction 10/cold iron, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to electricity, resistance to acid 10 and fire 10 CR: 5 + HD/3 Alignment: Always chaotic evil Sample Bodak: The MM bodak is the same as a sample templated human bodak, except for the change to the create spawn ability.
Sarig the Genie 08-14-04, 06:52 PM	What? Why? Huh?
NexH 08-14-04, 07:08 PM	Originally posted by kinem All undead must be templates. I concur they should be. The template looks good, however I'm curious why the CR improves by 1 per 3 HD instead of 1 per 4 as normal when improving undead increasing their HD. A minor detail is that the slam attack is not an (Ex) ability, is a natural one and should be under an "attacks" entry.
kinem 08-14-04, 09:43 PM	Sarig: Ah, I see one mind blown already :devil: Nex: Thanks. I'm not too sure about the CR. The death gaze is the main reason for the high CR. Don't forget, this is a bit different from merely adding HD - a tough base creature, for example, probably has high natural armor which stacks with the natural armor increase from the template. If the base creature has a lot of special abilities though, the CR should probably be as base creature +2. Maybe use whichever gives the higher CR.
Laszlo Koller 08-14-04, 10:23 PM	In case anyone is interested, there is a bodak template in Dragon Magazine #307. There's also a ghoul template, ghast template, and one (maybe two) others.
NexH 08-14-04, 10:39 PM	Originally posted by kinem Don't forget, this is a bit different from merely adding HD - a tough base creature, for example, probably has high natural armor which stacks with the natural armor increase from the template. True, I didn't realize that. Originally posted by kinem If the base creature has a lot of special abilities though, the CR should probably be as base creature +2. Maybe use whichever gives the higher CR. That seems to be the best approach. A search revealed that you have already done the wight template. Are you planning to create the templates for all undeads in the MMI?
kinem 08-16-04, 09:24 PM	Nex: Not all, but many. Nightshades are a special case (and probably should be outsiders), and incorporeal undead aren't a priority as they are not very dependent on the base creature. I may do a ghoul/ghast but Monte's is well known and freely available, unlike templates in Savage Species or Dragon. I did the mohrg (http://boards.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177944) and naturally I have several homebrew undead as well. Lazlo: Looks like everything's coming up bodaks lately. What's the CR/LA?
Laszlo Koller 08-17-04, 12:10 AM	The bodak template is listed with a CR of "Same as base creature + 4". No LA is listed, since this template was published during 3.0 before Level Adjustment became more common (in 3.5). This article also has a ghoulish creature template, a ghastly creature template, as well as a Scion of Kyuss template. Hope this helps. Good luck. [For the complete templates, read Dungeon Magazine Issue #307 (May 2003), pp. 38-45.]
kinem 08-20-04, 11:20 PM	Thanks.