dark.sun.druid
2011-03-01, 08:58 PM
In the Libris Mortis, there is a 0LA template called Umbral Creature which turns the base creature into an incorporeal undead. They get an incorporeal touch attack to do STR damage, the ability to create spawn, and an inescapable craving for strength that must be satisfied every day or they start losing WIS, and at 0 WIS the character is temporarily surrendered to the DM (until the craving is satisfied). BAB, Fort, Will, and Ref are based on HD*.
In Savage Species, there is a 5LA template called Umbral Creature which turns the bace creature into an incorporeal undead. They get an incorporeal touch attack that does STR damage, and a limit on the number of spawn they can control (2*HD). They do not gain an inescapable craving. BAB, Fort, Will, and Ref are by class level.
Is the difference in inescapable craving enough to justify the 5LA difference between these two templates, especially with the limit on the number of spawn that can be controlled by the SS version (there are other slight differences, but they are mostly minor)?
ALSO, it is probably important to note that the LM version can create spawn only from humanoids, and creates shadows, whereas the SS version can create spawn from humanoids, monsterous humanoids, aberrations, animals, magical beasts, giants, and dragons, and creates other umbral creatures (as opposed to shadows). In both cases the spawn are under the control of their creator.
* BAB = 1/2 HD; Fort and Ref = 1/3 HD; Will = 1/2 HD+2. My other question is would this progression continue if the creature takes class levels, or would the new progression be based off of the base saves for the class levels?
In Savage Species, there is a 5LA template called Umbral Creature which turns the bace creature into an incorporeal undead. They get an incorporeal touch attack that does STR damage, and a limit on the number of spawn they can control (2*HD). They do not gain an inescapable craving. BAB, Fort, Will, and Ref are by class level.
Is the difference in inescapable craving enough to justify the 5LA difference between these two templates, especially with the limit on the number of spawn that can be controlled by the SS version (there are other slight differences, but they are mostly minor)?
ALSO, it is probably important to note that the LM version can create spawn only from humanoids, and creates shadows, whereas the SS version can create spawn from humanoids, monsterous humanoids, aberrations, animals, magical beasts, giants, and dragons, and creates other umbral creatures (as opposed to shadows). In both cases the spawn are under the control of their creator.
* BAB = 1/2 HD; Fort and Ref = 1/3 HD; Will = 1/2 HD+2. My other question is would this progression continue if the creature takes class levels, or would the new progression be based off of the base saves for the class levels?