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rferries
2019-02-24, 04:59 AM
"Gorgon" referring to "medusae" in this case ;)

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8b/eb/64/8beb64142e1423e391d5fa1f2f9cb4ef.png
GORGONLARGE OUTSIDER ([Native])
Hit Dice: 12d8+36 (90 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 20 ft., swim 60 ft.
Armor Class: 27 (+6 deflection, +6 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size), touch 21, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+19
Attack: +3 composite longbow (+3 Str bonus) +20 ranged (1d8+6 plus poison) or +3 dagger (1d4+6 plus poison) +17 melee or bite +14 melee (1d6+3 plus poison)
Full Attack: +3 composite longbow (+3 Str bonus) +20/+15/+10 ranged (1d8+6 plus poison); or +3 dagger (1d4+6 plus poison) +17/+12/+7 melee and bite +14 melee (1d6+1 plus poison) and tail slap +9 melee (1d8+1)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Constrict 1d8+1, distraction, improved grab, petrifying gaze, poison, spit venom
Special Qualities: All-around vision, darkvision 60 ft, immunity to poison, outsider traits, serpent empathy, undersized weapons, unearthly grace
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +20, Will +17
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 22, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 22
Skills: Climb +14*, Hide +25, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (any three) +18, Listen +22, Move Silently +21, Search +22, Spot +26, Survival +3 (+5 following tracks), Swim +14*
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Shot On The Run
Environment: Temperate islands
Organization: Solitary plus serpents (see serpent empathy)
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +2

From the shadows, you stealthily regard the gorgon's reflection in your enchanted shield as he patrols his lair unawares. Golden scales and ruby-red eyes glittering in the flickering torchlight; a handsome (albeit fanged) face...you weren't prepared for the creature to be so beautiful.

Gorgons are the descendants of nymphs cursed by the gods to be too hideous - or too wondrous - for mortal to look upon. They are generally lonely and bitter creatures, making their lairs in ancient temples on forgotten islands.

A gorgon has a humanoid upper body (which may be either scaled or not) and a great serpent's tail instead of legs. Its most striking feature is the mass of hissing, writhing serpents it has instead instead of hair. Although the three winged sisters Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale are by far the most famous of their kind, gorgons can be either male or female.

A gorgon speaks Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Infernal, and Sylvan.

Combat
Gorgons strike with great speed, slithering amongst foes and firing poisoned arrows. They prefer to stay close enough to enemies to bring their deadly gazes to bear, to say nothing of their constriction and swarm attacks. After a battle, a gorgon collects any petrified foes to adorn its lair.

A gorgon's serpentine tresses continually apply their venom to the creature's manufactured weapons.

All-Around Vision (Ex)
A gorgon’s serpentine tresses allow it to look in any direction, providing a +8 racial bonus on Spot checks and a +4 racial bonus on Search checks. A gorgon can’t be flanked.

Constrict (Ex)
A gorgon deals double tail slap damage on a successful grapple check. A gorgon can constrict multiple creatures simultaneously, provided they are all at least two sizes smaller than it.

Distraction (Ex)
Any living creature that is damaged by a gorgon's swarm attack must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, the gorgon must hit with a tail slap attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Petrifying Gaze (Su)
As flesh to stone (caster level 12th), 30 feet, Will DC 22 negates. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Poison (Ex)
Injury or contact, Fortitude DC 19, initial and secondary damage 1d10 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Serpent Empathy (Ex)
This ability functions as a druid's wild empathy, save that a gorgon has a +6 racial bonus on the check and may only use it to influence serpentine creatures. It typically accompanied by giant constrictor snakes or huge vipers.

Spit Venom (Ex)
A gorgon can spit its venom up to 30 feet as a standard action. This is a ranged touch attack with no range increment. Opponents hit by this attack must make successful saves (see above) to avoid the effect.

Swarm Attack (Ex)
Each round, a gorgon's serpentine tresses deal damage as a swarm attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#swarmSubtype) (3d6 damage for the sample gorgon) to all enemies in the creature's space or within its natural reach. Creatures damaged by this attack are subject to the gorgon's distraction and poison special attacks (see above).

Undersized Weapons (Ex)
Although it is a Large creature, a gorgon's humanoid upper body deals damage with its bite and manufactured weapons as though it were Medium.

Unearthly Grace (Su)
A gorgon adds its Charisma modifier as a resistance bonus to all its saving throws and as a deflection bonus to its Armour Class. (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses).

Skills
A gorgon has a +8 racial bonus on Climb and Swim checks and may always take 10 on such checks. It may use either its Dexterity modifier or its Strength modifier (whichever is higher) on Climb checks.

A gorgon has a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Listen checks.

Bonus: Gorgon Race
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonsdogmaquest/images/c/c3/Medusa.png/revision/latest?cb=20140715030332

These creatures are more suitable for play beginning at low levels. They are scaled humanoids with serpentine hair and a terrible, unearthly beauty. (n.b. At the DM's option, this version has humanoid legs.)

Gorgon Racial Traits
+2 Charisma, +2 Dexterity: A gorgon is as charming and graceful as a serpent.

Humanoid ([Reptilian]): Gorgons are humanoids with the [Reptilian] subtype.

Medium: Gorgons have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Normal Speed: Gorgons have a base speed of 30 feet.

All-Around Vision (Ex): A gorgon's serpentine tresses grant it a +4 racial bonus on Search and Spot checks. A gorgon cannot be flanked.

Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that is damaged by a gorgon's swarm attack must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 gorgon's Hit Dice + gorgon's Constitution modifier) or be nauseated for 1 round.

Gorgon's Armour (Ex): A gorgon adds its Constitution modifier as a natural armour bonus to its armour class.

Gorgon's Glare (Ex): A gorgon has a +4 racial bonus on Intimidate checks and always treats Intimidate as a class skill.

Additionally, a gorgon may make an Intimidate check once per round in combat as a free action against any number of enemies within 30 feet (in addition to making an Intimidate check as a move action in combat). This is a [Fear] gaze attack, and has additional effects based on a particular enemy's CR if the gorgon wins the check (see below).



Enemy CR
Effect


Greater than or equal to gorgon's CR
Shaken for 1 round


Up to gorgon's CR -1
Frightened for 1 round


Up to gorgon's CR -5
Panicked for 1 round


Up to gorgon's CR -10
Permanently petrified or insane (chosen at character creation)



Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 gorgon's Hit Dice + gorgon's Constitution modifier, initial and secondary damage 1d4 Strength.

Serpent Empathy (Ex): This ability functions as a druid's wild empathy, save that a gorgon has a +6 racial bonus on the check and may only use it to influence serpentine creatures.

A gorgon with a serpentine familiar, animal companion, or special mount gains a +2 bonus to their class level for the purpose of determining that familiar's, animal companion's, or special mount's statistics.

Swarm Attack (Ex): Each round, a gorgon's serpentine tresses deal damage as a swarm attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#swarmSubtype) (1d6 damage at first level) to all enemies in the creature's space. Creatures damaged by this attack are subject to the gorgon's distraction and poison special attacks (see above).

Languages: Gorgon adventurers begin play speaking Common. Gorgons with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, Sylvan, and Undercommon.

Level Adjustment: +1.

Favoured Class: Cleric.

New Feats
Envenom Weapons
Your serpentine tresses apply their venom to your manufactured weapons.

Prerequisites
Gorgon, character level 3rd

Benefits
Any creature struck by a weapon you wield must save against your poison.

Special
A fighter may select Envenomed Weapon as a bonus fighter feat.

Improved Swarm Attack
Your swarm attack reaches out to nearby foes.

Prerequisites
Gorgon or [Swarm], character level 3rd.

Benefits
Any creature within your natural reach is subject to your swarm attack (including associated distraction and poison special attacks, if any).

Special
If you have a reach of 0 feet, you gain a reach of 5 feet for the purpose of this feat.

A fighter may select Improved Swarm Attack as a bonus fighter feat.

Debihuman
2019-03-02, 01:38 AM
Monsters that aren’t constructs should not have hardness. Hardness is used for objects generally. Just give them damage reduction as normal monsters. I’d say damage reduction 10/magic and bludgeoning.

I like that you made them native outsiders but you might want to tie their history to Olympus. The original gorgons were three sisitsrs, two were immoral but only Medusa was mortal. Are these supposed to represent Euryale and Stethnno?

Edit: you should probably have made the snakes a venomous viper swarm with a 10-foot attack with poison.

Debby

ShiningStarling
2019-03-03, 04:01 PM
Well... it doesn't fit with the OG mythology, but its certainly better than that purple... dinosaur... bull... thing that the MM calls a Gorgon. 2nd on the hardness thing, only non-construct i would give that to is the Nemian Lion. Otherwise, solid work, much more intimidating than base Medusa at any rate.

ngilop
2019-03-03, 04:33 PM
Well... it doesn't fit with the OG mythology, but its certainly better than that purple... dinosaur... bull... thing that the MM calls a Gorgon. 2nd on the hardness thing, only non-construct i would give that to is the Nemian Lion. Otherwise, solid work, much more intimidating than base Medusa at any rate.

The gorgon being a metal bull comes from the

The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes by Edward Topsell where he described a metal bull that eats poisonous plants and his diet thus giving it deadly breath.

Anyways, nice job. concur with Debi about giving them damage reduction instead of hardness.

rferries
2019-03-06, 01:46 AM
Thanks everyone for the replies!


Monsters that aren’t constructs should not have hardness. Hardness is used for objects generally. Just give them damage reduction as normal monsters. I’d say damage reduction 10/magic and bludgeoning.

I like that you made them native outsiders but you might want to tie their history to Olympus. The original gorgons were three sisitsrs, two were immoral but only Medusa was mortal. Are these supposed to represent Euryale and Stethnno?

Edit: you should probably have made the snakes a venomous viper swarm with a 10-foot attack with poison.

Debby

Ha yes I recall we've debated hardness before. There's precedent (Animated Objects), and I admit I'm quite fond of it as a creature ability, especially for constructs and metallic creatures. The gorgons were described as having scales/hands/feathers of brass/bronze etc, hence giving them hardness. However, as this version was primarily inspired by Clash of the Titans, I've removed the hardness entirely.

I mentioned Medusa and her sisters in the description - these creatures are simply generic gorgons meant to be descendants of the originals. (I always felt weird referring to the DnD monsters as Medusae when there was already the non-unique Gorgon term - we don't call vampires "Draculae" for example).

Making the snakes into a separate swarm would be a bit too complex, I think - would require tracking their hitpoints etc separately. I suppose there's precedent for composite creatures though (hydras, krakens, etc).


Well... it doesn't fit with the OG mythology, but its certainly better than that purple... dinosaur... bull... thing that the MM calls a Gorgon. 2nd on the hardness thing, only non-construct i would give that to is the Nemian Lion. Otherwise, solid work, much more intimidating than base Medusa at any rate.

Or the Stymphalian Birds haha! Thanks.


The gorgon being a metal bull comes from the

The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes by Edward Topsell where he described a metal bull that eats poisonous plants and his diet thus giving it deadly breath.

Anyways, nice job. concur with Debi about giving them damage reduction instead of hardness.

Yes, an archaic Easter egg. Still, the Greek myths had gorgons before they were cool ;D.