Phoenix*
Armor Class: -3………….No. Appearing: 0 (1)
Hit Dice: 9+9****………….Save As: Cleric 17
Move: 360’ (120’)………….Morale: 12
Attacks: 2 talons, beak………….Treasure Type: Nil
Damage: 2-5/2-5/2-5 + see below….........Alignment: Lawful
The phoenix is similar in shape and magnificence to a peacock, though they are twice as large (wingspan of 8-9’) and colored a spectacular red, orange, and gold. They give off a palpable heat, and attacks from a phoenix do an additional 2-8 points of damage per hit to anyone not protected against magical fire. The phoenix itself is immune to heat and cold, as well as poison and disease, is immune to mind affecting magic or polymorph, and automatically sees through illusions.
Renowned for their great healing ability, the phoenix will generously share its curing gifts with any individual in need. Their mere touch can cure disease or serious wounds, neutralize poison, or raise dead. A phoenix may also use restoration and rejuvenation, but will only do so for the most Lawful and deserving creatures as doing so greatly drains them; after performing one of these latter spells the phoenix may not use any healing power for 24 hours.
A phoenix lives 1000 years but is truly immortal; at the end of its life cycle it bursts into a white-hot flame from whose ashes the phoenix will be reborn in a fortnight. The same occurs if the beast is slain (they are only harmed by +3 or better weapons). Those standing within 10’ of a burning phoenix suffer 10-80 points of damage, and any weapon used to strike a death blow will be burned to a cinder if less than +5 in value.
But, yeah...even though I like mine better I don't want to stray TOO far from the stuff already in the books (both AD&D and BECMI when such is available). After all, some of this was puzzled out to be consistent with other monsters already in the game, right? Can't be giving a phoenix a claw attack of 3-18 or something when a red dragon only does 1D8, after all. At least that's MY thinking.
Of the last 9 monsters on my list, 5 have absolutely GOT to be in the game. The other four I really like, and of those 3 already have stats in AD&D. Kind of. Well, really only one (the Marid) but the other two are partly based on creatures already in AD&D...and for that reason (and since they're not REALLY mythological/legendary), I might just drop 'em.
Can I fit seven more monsters and still have space for stuff? Hmmm...it's gonna' be tight, though editing and clean-up might help. I'm tempted to stay up later...no, NO! Must sleep!
Okay, going to bed...the beagles are already snoozing.
; )
Hrmf! Completely forgot there was already a phoenix entry in the BECMI master set. Strangely enough, my version is closer to the "lesser phoenix" and the AD&D version is more similar to the "greater phoenix."
ReplyDelete'Course the master rules use 18 pages for less than 60 monsters....
I think you could make that entry half as long without losing anything (and I say, realzing that I write too much in my own monster entries).
ReplyDelete@ Matt: I totally hear you on that one...all entries are going to be edited (in addition to being proofread) once I finish.
ReplyDeleteI've got 8 or 9 left to do tonight, and then tomorrow I'll start the REAL grind.
; )