Ravenloft Monster Conversions - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Ravenloft Monster Conversions

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kev777
Oct 04, 2010 12:22:02 Does anyone know of a site or thread where I can find 4e conversions of ravenloft monsters? I've searched around but I haven't found anything yet.
#2
XavTango
Oct 05, 2010 10:18:13 I wish I did. I have tried to find something to assist with this as well. I love Ravenloft and would love to run a campaign with sdome of the old modules I have. But since 4e has come out my group has moved and doesn't want to go back. All I can do then is retrofit 4e with ravenloft as best I can.

I hope you find something.
#3
The_Jester
Oct 05, 2010 21:28:40 Check out:
www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html

Scroll down to the "4th Edition Manual of Monsters"

#4
XavTango
Oct 06, 2010 8:33:31 Damn Jester! Thats awesome. Now to pull out the mods and get this thing up and running. Thanks!
#5
kev777
Oct 07, 2010 15:29:04 oh well.. I was looking for a conversion of the Doom Guard.

It is still helpful though !
#6
The_Jester
Oct 10, 2010 11:39:40
oh well.. I was looking for a conversion of the Doom Guard.

It is still helpful though !

I think I dismissed the idea of a doom guard because it never appeared in any Ravenloft monster books. It may have fit but was more Core so I expected it to see print sooner rather than later. And really, a doomguard is one of those 2e monsters that is just an existing monster with slightly different abilities. It's a golem with a new power. I'd just level up or down and iron golem and power-swap in something more doom guard-ish.
#7
kev777
Oct 15, 2010 10:54:59 The doom guard appeared in the original 2e Ravenloft monster compendium (the one with the lose paper that you can make a 3 ring binder out of)

Well I created my own Doom Guard by modifying a Golem and adding a fear aura. I'll have to post it sometime.

I really like the monster conversions you made and I was glad to see some of the vampire entries. My only concern is that the demi-human vampires are are not very close to their 2e counterparts. For example the Elf Vampire should have several more powers that are missing.
#8
The_Jester
Oct 15, 2010 18:04:56
The doom guard appeared in the original 2e Ravenloft monster compendium (the one with the lose paper that you can make a 3 ring binder out of)

*double checks* Hrm, you're totally right.
Looking back - which is hard given the year and a half since I revised and two plus since I began updating - I imagine I omitted the Doom Guard because it overlapped so much with the iron golem and the animator and lacked an interesting "hook" power. Resisting fire and and cold is, well, lame. And because it was written-up in the 3rd Edition MM2 (as the dread guard IIRC) and even had a mini, so I assumed we'd see a 4e version quickly.
You could also refluff an iron defender homunculus very nicely into a doom guard, as it overlaps with that monster type as well.
Well I created my own Doom Guard by modifying a Golem and adding a fear aura. I'll have to post it sometime.

More the merrier.
I really like the monster conversions you made and I was glad to see some of the vampire entries. My only concern is that the demi-human vampires are are not very close to their 2e counterparts. For example the Elf Vampire should have several more powers that are missing.

It was a toss-up.
I could have either written them each as a unique vampire monster or used power-swap feats ala the Draconomicon. I opted for the latter because it seemed less likely to clash with future vampires and potentially allowed most future vampires to be replaced with a racial variant. But, with power-swapping there was a limited number of powers that could be used without limiting them to a single source vampire. And I didn't want to just add powers (although, having seen monster themes, I realize I could have) and risk creating a too powerful monstrosity.
I tried to add the most interesting powers rather than tacking-on a stack of useless or strictly flavour powers, akin to updating existing monsters from 2e to 4e. Adding warp wood or giant insect to the elf vampire doesn't necessarily make for an interesting monster.
#9
kev777
Oct 15, 2010 20:21:15 The problem I had with just using the Iron Golem for the doom guard is that I really don't want the players to be fighting a solo monster. In many modules and even in some older dragon mags doom guards appear in groups perhaps even 6 at a time. Often a room will simply appear to have ornamental suits of armor in them and then when the moment of horror arrives the armor will attack. What I did is opt for a 6th level skirmisher and added the shard Golem's Mind-searing strike power (renaming it to Fearful strike). You are correct that the iron defender would also work well.

I agree that some powers like warp wood or giant insect wouldn't be that great for the Elf vampire, but I do like the wall of thorns power and the gaze attack. The power to turn into a giant eagle is also of great use since I view this vampire as a ranged attacker.

#10
Rupert_ADnD
Jul 23, 2012 13:23:37
Check out:
www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html

Scroll down to the "4th Edition Manual of Monsters"

Beautiful updates, Jester! I was just looking at my 2E Ravenloft campaign setting and thinking about running a new campaign right now. Your updates are a great help. Thanks a lot. Two thumbs up!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kev777 Oct 04, 2010 12:22:02	Does anyone know of a site or thread where I can find 4e conversions of ravenloft monsters? I've searched around but I haven't found anything yet.
#2 XavTango Oct 05, 2010 10:18:13	I wish I did. I have tried to find something to assist with this as well. I love Ravenloft and would love to run a campaign with sdome of the old modules I have. But since 4e has come out my group has moved and doesn't want to go back. All I can do then is retrofit 4e with ravenloft as best I can. I hope you find something.
#3 The_Jester Oct 05, 2010 21:28:40	Check out: www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html Scroll down to the "4th Edition Manual of Monsters"
#4 XavTango Oct 06, 2010 8:33:31	Damn Jester! Thats awesome. Now to pull out the mods and get this thing up and running. Thanks!
#5 kev777 Oct 07, 2010 15:29:04	oh well.. I was looking for a conversion of the Doom Guard. It is still helpful though !
#6 The_Jester Oct 10, 2010 11:39:40	oh well.. I was looking for a conversion of the Doom Guard. It is still helpful though ! I think I dismissed the idea of a doom guard because it never appeared in any Ravenloft monster books. It may have fit but was more Core so I expected it to see print sooner rather than later. And really, a doomguard is one of those 2e monsters that is just an existing monster with slightly different abilities. It's a golem with a new power. I'd just level up or down and iron golem and power-swap in something more doom guard-ish.
#7 kev777 Oct 15, 2010 10:54:59	The doom guard appeared in the original 2e Ravenloft monster compendium (the one with the lose paper that you can make a 3 ring binder out of) Well I created my own Doom Guard by modifying a Golem and adding a fear aura. I'll have to post it sometime. I really like the monster conversions you made and I was glad to see some of the vampire entries. My only concern is that the demi-human vampires are are not very close to their 2e counterparts. For example the Elf Vampire should have several more powers that are missing.
#8 The_Jester Oct 15, 2010 18:04:56	The doom guard appeared in the original 2e Ravenloft monster compendium (the one with the lose paper that you can make a 3 ring binder out of) double checks Hrm, you're totally right. Looking back - which is hard given the year and a half since I revised and two plus since I began updating - I imagine I omitted the Doom Guard because it overlapped so much with the iron golem and the animator and lacked an interesting "hook" power. Resisting fire and and cold is, well, lame. And because it was written-up in the 3rd Edition MM2 (as the dread guard IIRC) and even had a mini, so I assumed we'd see a 4e version quickly. You could also refluff an iron defender homunculus very nicely into a doom guard, as it overlaps with that monster type as well. Well I created my own Doom Guard by modifying a Golem and adding a fear aura. I'll have to post it sometime. More the merrier. I really like the monster conversions you made and I was glad to see some of the vampire entries. My only concern is that the demi-human vampires are are not very close to their 2e counterparts. For example the Elf Vampire should have several more powers that are missing. It was a toss-up. I could have either written them each as a unique vampire monster or used power-swap feats ala the Draconomicon. I opted for the latter because it seemed less likely to clash with future vampires and potentially allowed most future vampires to be replaced with a racial variant. But, with power-swapping there was a limited number of powers that could be used without limiting them to a single source vampire. And I didn't want to just add powers (although, having seen monster themes, I realize I could have) and risk creating a too powerful monstrosity. I tried to add the most interesting powers rather than tacking-on a stack of useless or strictly flavour powers, akin to updating existing monsters from 2e to 4e. Adding warp wood or giant insect to the elf vampire doesn't necessarily make for an interesting monster.
#9 kev777 Oct 15, 2010 20:21:15	The problem I had with just using the Iron Golem for the doom guard is that I really don't want the players to be fighting a solo monster. In many modules and even in some older dragon mags doom guards appear in groups perhaps even 6 at a time. Often a room will simply appear to have ornamental suits of armor in them and then when the moment of horror arrives the armor will attack. What I did is opt for a 6th level skirmisher and added the shard Golem's Mind-searing strike power (renaming it to Fearful strike). You are correct that the iron defender would also work well. I agree that some powers like warp wood or giant insect wouldn't be that great for the Elf vampire, but I do like the wall of thorns power and the gaze attack. The power to turn into a giant eagle is also of great use since I view this vampire as a ranged attacker.
#10 Rupert_ADnD Jul 23, 2012 13:23:37	Check out: www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html Scroll down to the "4th Edition Manual of Monsters" Beautiful updates, Jester! I was just looking at my 2E Ravenloft campaign setting and thinking about running a new campaign right now. Your updates are a great help. Thanks a lot. Two thumbs up!