Dark Sun 5th edition Monsters and the Way

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Across the tablelands, from the city walls of Tyr to the Silt Sea, from the Dead Lands to the Forest Ridge, and from the Jagged Cliffs to the Road of Fire, many different creatures battle for survival under the dark sun. Here they are, converted to 5th Edition, along with Psionic Powers that almost every living thing on Athas Possesses.

I'm DMing a game of Dark Sun, and I've decided to convert the monsters to 5e. Because Athas just ain't the same without something that will melt your players brains and the monsters that give the game so much of its flavour.

Spoiler: Belgoi

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Belgoi



Image by Brom

Medium Monstrous Humanoid, Lawful Evil

AC – 13
Hit Dice – 5d8
Speed – 30ft

Str = 11 (0)
Dex = 16 (+3)
Con = 10 (0)
Int = 12 (+1)
Wis = 8 (-1)
Cha = 14 (+2)

Saving Throws – Dex +7, Wis +5, Con +1
Skills – Stealth +7, Perception +4
Senses – Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 9
Language – Belgoi, Common
Challenge – 3

Bell Ringing – The bells that the Belgoi carry are used as a focus of their domination power. Upon hearing the bell, a domination target receives disadvantage on will saves as per Dominate Person spell. On a successful save, the target cannot be affected by the bell for 12 hours.
For the use of the bell, the holder must be within 500ft and looking at the victim.
Psionic Abilities – 3/day – Ego Whip (2d4 temporary Cha damage, DC16 Cha based), Dominate, Catfall
Claws – Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft, one target
Hit: 1d4 Slashing Damage + 1d6 temporary strength damage

Living in the most desolate areas of Athas, few other living creatures will tolerate the Belgoi, and for good reason – they are second only to the foulest defilers in the destruction of life, leaving the land they dwell on barren and lifeless, before moving onwards. Though the Belgoi will eat anything that they can get their puckered hands on, they desire to feed on the flesh of other sentient races, using their stealth and ringing bells to lure out victims, then draining them of strength and feasting.
Belgoi form raiding parties consisting of 10-20 individuals, and a tribe of Belgoi can have over 100 members. In a raiding party, there are usually defilers and psions. After they have stripped an area of life, they move on to a new patch of terrain and start the cycle of destruction all over again.

Much more to come.....

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The Will and the Way.

Across the Tablelands, Psionic academies teach their students "The Way" - the mastery of the mind. When Athas was green, Psionics raised armies, built vast citadels and civilization was dependent on the minds of those that had mastered The Will and The Way as much the bodies of the subjects of the Kingdoms that flourished. Athas may have changed beyond almost all recognition, but the mastery of Psionics is still vital for the one thing that matters more than anything else - survival.

I'm using the 5e Psion that Wartex came up with as the base.

Spoiler: Domination

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Dominate
4th level Telepathy

Manifesting Time – 1 Round
Range – 100ft+10ft per level
Duration – 10 minutes concentration
Saving Throw – Wisdom negates

You can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a link established with the mind of the subject. If the Subject has a common language with the dominator, then the subject can be forced to perform as desired within the limits of the creature’s abilities. If there is no shared common language, then only the basic commands, such as “Come here”, “go there”, “fight” and “Stand Still” can be communicated.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Belgoi

Show

Belgoi



Image by Brom

Medium Monstrous Humanoid, Lawful Evil

AC – 13
Hit Dice – 5d8
Speed – 30ft

Str = 11 (0)
Dex = 16 (+3)
Con = 10 (0)
Int = 12 (+1)
Wis = 8 (-1)
Cha = 14 (+2)

Saving Throws – Reflex +7, Will +5, Fort +1
Skills – Hide +7, Move Silently +8, Search +4, Spot +3
Senses – Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 9
Language – Belgoi, Common
Challenge – 3

Bell Ringing – The bells that the Belgoi carry are used as a focus of their domination power. Upon hearing the bell, a domination target receives disadvantage on will saves as per Dominate Person spell. On a successful save, the target cannot be affected by the bell for 12 hours.
For the use of the bell, the holder must be within 500ft and looking at the victim.
Psionic Abilities – 3/day – Ego Whip (2d4 Cha damage, DC16 Cha based), Dominate, Catfall
Claws – Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft, one target
Hit: 1d4 Slashing Damage + 1d6 Strength Damage

Living in the most desolate areas of Athas, few other living creatures will tolerate the Belgoi, and for good reason – they are second only to the foulest defilers in the destruction of life, leaving the land they dwell on barren and lifeless, before moving onwards. Though the Belgoi will eat anything that they can get their puckered hands on, they desire to feed on the flesh of other sentient races, using their stealth and ringing bells to lure out victims, then draining them of strength and feasting.
Belgoi form raiding parties consisting of 10-20 individuals, and a tribe of Belgoi can have over 100 members. In a raiding party, there are usually defilers and psions. After they have stripped an area of life, they move on to a new patch of terrain and start the cycle of destruction all over again.

That's, uh... Not really a conversion. It's not for 5E, it's for 3.P.

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That's, uh... Not really a conversion. It's not for 5E, it's for 3.P.

It is now. Just overlooked the Saving Throws. Fixed that.

[JNAProductions]

Ego Whip needs a range. Catfall isn't a spell anymore.

Also, ability damage on a CR 3 monster is cruel. That is not something low level parties in 5E can handle.

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Ego Whip needs a range. Catfall isn't a spell anymore.

Also, ability damage on a CR 3 monster is cruel. That is not something low level parties in 5E can handle.

Ego Whip and Catfall are both on the talents for the 5e Psion I linked. As for the ability damage, its Athas, so ability damage on a CR 3 monster is fine in the Dark Sun setting.

[Flashy]

As for the ability damage, its Athas, so ability damage on a CR 3 monster is fine in the Dark Sun setting.

As far as I'm aware the only option in the PHB for recovering ability damage is Greater Restoration, a 5th level spell. Ability score damage on a 2nd-4th level character is utterly devastating. They will literally never be able to recover unless they can find an appropriate caster of 9th level or higher.