Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Talisman 12-22-07, 11:18 PM	Something I've been working on over at Project Feybook (http://z11.invisionfree.com/Feybook/index.php?). Check it out; all the cool kids are! Dreamshaped Creature At certain places and times, the eldritch energies of the Otherworld bleed through into the land of mortals. This often occurs at places at times that hover on the border between one thing and another--twilight and dawn, the solstices, the seashore, the forest's edge. In rare instances, these fey energies are potent enough, or remain long enough, to have a profound impact on the local creatures. Animals, plants, and even humanoids find themselves developing fey characteristics, evolving into exaggerating versions of themselves. Such creatures are known as "dreamshaped," as they are fundamentally altered by the Otherworld, the land of dreams. Dreamshaped creatures tend to be much more exaggerated and dramatic than their mundane kin, and often possess striking and unusual coloration. A dreamshaped deer, for instance, may be a pure-white paragon of grace and speed, while a dreamshaped wolf may possess eerie, glowing green eyes and a bluish cast to its gray fur. These are cosmetic changes that do not impact on the creature's game statistics. Creating a Dreamshaped Creature "Dreamshaped" is an acquired template which can be applied to any animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid or vermin, hereafter referred to as the "base creature." Size/Type: Animals and vermin become magical beasts with the "augmented" subtype, and humanoids become fey with the "augmented" subtype, but other creatures' types are unchanged. Size is unchanged. Speed: All movement modes increase by +5'. If the base creature possesses a fly speed with a maneuverability class of less than Average, it improves by one step. Special Attacks: A dreamshaped creature retains all the special attacks of the base creature and also gains the following special attack: Scintillating Strike (Su): Once per day a dreamshaped creature can make a normal melee attack that explodes with multicolored light. If the attack hits, the target must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 dreamshaped creature's HD + dreamshaped creature's Charisma modifier) or be dazed for one round. This is a mind-affecting effect. Special Qualities: A dreamshaped creature retains all the special qualities of the base creature and also gains the following special qualities: ~Cold, fire and electricity resistance (see the table below) ~Damage reduction (see the table below) ~Low-light vision. If the base creature already possesses low-light vision, the multiplier increases by +1. For example, a dreamshaped elf could see three times as far as a human could in shadow illumination. ~Spell resistance equal to HD +5 (max. 25). Hit Damage Cold and Fire Electricity Dice Reduction Resistance Resistance 1-3 - - 5 4-7 5/magic 5 10 8-11 5/cold iron 10 15 12+ 10/cold iron 10 20 Abilities: +2 to Charisma Environment: As the base creature Organization: As the base creature Challenge Rating: HD 3 or less: as base creature; HD 4-7: as base creature +1; HD 8 or more: as base creature +2 Treasure: As the base creature Alignment: As the base creature (often chaotic) Advancement: As the base creature Level Adjustment: +2 Dreamshaped Giant Owl Large Magical Beast Hit Dice: 4d10+4 (26 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 15', fly 75' (average) AC: 15 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+12 Attack: Claw +7 melee Full Attack: 2 claws +7 melee and bite +2 melee Damage: Claw 1d6+4, bite 1d8+2 Space/Reach: 10'/5' Special Attacks: Scintillating strike Special Qualities: Cold and fire resistance 5, DR 5/magic, electricity resistance 10, SR 9, superior low-light vision, Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3 Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 12 Skills: Knolwedge (nature) +2, Listen +17, Move Silently +8*, Spot +10 Feats: Alertness, Wingover Environment: Temperate forests Organization: Solitary, pair or company (3-5) Challenge Rating: 4 Treasure: None Alignment: Usually neutral good (often chaotic good) Advancement: 5-8 HD (Large), 9-12 HD (Huge) Level Adjustment: +3 (cohort) In eerie silence, an owl the size of a horse plunges out of the night sky. It resembles a gigantic arctic owl, save that its coloration is pale silver with indigo flecks instead of black and white. Its enormous eyes, shimmering silver, regard you. Dreamshaped giant owls are found in the most ancient and magical of old growth forests, nesting among the redwoods and colossal oaks. In such places, the barriers between the Prime plane and the Otherworld grow thin, and the fey energies affect the mundane creatures that inhabit the land. Already slightly magical, giant owls are particularly susceptible to such energies. Scintillating Strike (Su): Will DC 13. The save DC is Charisma-based. Superior Low-Light Vision (Ex): A dreamshaped giant owl can see six times as far as a human can in dim light. Skills: Dreamshaped giant owls have a +8 racial bonus on Listen checks and a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks. *While in flight, dreamshaped giant owls gain a +8 bonus on Move Silently checks. Someone suggested I add two other options aside from Scintillating Strike: a range attack and a buff. Total use would be 1/day, but the dreamshaped creature could choose between 'em. Thoughts?
tryco 12-24-07, 06:26 PM	I like it. has that mystic touch. i'll probably use it in my campaign. do you also have Nightmareshaped Creatures (followed by Night Terror shaped creatures). just to fill the other end of the dreaming part.
Talisman 12-24-07, 08:03 PM	do you also have Nightmareshaped Creatures (followed by Night Terror shaped creatures). just to fill the other end of the dreaming part. No, but that's a good idea.
Dead_Weasel 12-25-07, 12:35 AM	Interesting idea. The abilities, as well as mechanics, seem appropriate. Personally, instead of a ranged attack or buff, I would give them hypnotism or color spray, but this is because I am having a little bit of difficulty visualizing any ranged attack or buff that is similar to the attack... perhaps blur or something similar? Anyway, good job.
jakelslang21 12-25-07, 12:50 AM	Nice template Talisman. I'd also like to see a Nightmare shaped. I was thinking of some special attacks and thought an immunity to fear (and possibly sleep spells) as a buff wouldn't be bad and a ranged attack could be something similar to the original special attack except it has a range. Overall nice work.
zook1shoe666 12-25-07, 10:33 PM	did you see the Dream Element template in the older Dragon Magazine?
sigma999 12-27-07, 07:08 AM	w00t Sorry pal, I really have nothing bad to say about this. Nothing. Other than the fact that I hate LAs.
xXOblivionXx 12-27-07, 09:05 AM	I really like it, and I can't wait to see the nightmareshaped Creature.