Fiend Factory 5E. White Dwarf Issue 12: Iron Pig

 Issue 12: Iron Pig

This issue sees quite a few entries from Ian Livingstone, the Big Boss, as well as a lot of entries that not only made it into the Fiend Folio, but also have lasted all the way into 5^th Edition. At the end of this column, Don Turnbull officially announces the creation of the Fiend Folio, so perhaps that’s why there are so many FF monsters this issue. Note, also, that all of the ones that went into the FF kept the same illustrations. Don also rather contritely, and with perhaps a little hint of passive-aggression, that he’s been asked to trim down his musings to allow for more room for the monster stats.

While I can see the wisdom in this, I must admit, I rather enjoy his “trite prattle”, as he terms it.

First up is Ian Livingstones Assassin Bug. I was going to use these guys for the conversion of the month, as they’re slightly more complex than the usual Ian Livingstone creature. But there are three reasons why I changed my mind. I decided to use one of the three creatures that aren’t in the Fiend Folio, whereas this one is; there are already egg-implanting creatures, including the Slaad Chaos Frog Men (product identity), the Xill (which I’ve include in the Book of Lost Monsters) and the Spider Eater (which is a Savage Creatures freebie). 

Finally I couldn’t figure out how paralysing one area of the body would work, mechanically. I think for ease I’d go for full body paralysis, but maybe one could work with the area damage effects from the DMG. So, close, but not today

Another Ian Livingstone creation, the Grell, probably needs no introduction, and they’re already in the 5^th Edition Monster Manual. Like many Livingstone monsters, they’re simple yet evocative, which is why I think they remain popular. Ten paralysing attacks, though, is very tough. Mechanically similar to the C*rrion Cr*wler (product identity…)

And another Livingstone monster, the Hook Horror, is again a simple yet evocative concept, hence its longevity. I think that the white-eyed bristly horror that the 5^th Edition artist painted is a little more scary and a little less goofy compared to Alan Hunter’s version. Again, in terms of mechanics, there’s little between these and an existing monster, in this case the owlbear – a large creature with two attacks with its forearms.

The Githyanki are a very popular extraplanar race, and this is where they start with C (Charles) Stross’ submission to White Dwarf. No Githzerai at this present time; I wonder if he sent them in as well but they went straight to the Fiend Folio?

Seriously though, people are often very hard on the 1^st Edition Fiend Folio, but it’s got some solid gold in it, and more content that survived to 5^th Edition than you might think.

Obviously, there’s no point doing 5^th Edition conversions for any of these, as they’re already there.

The Giant Bloodworm is another straightforward monster from Ian Livingstone. I’ve got a feeling one of these even featured in a Fighting Fantasy Gamebook, possibly even The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. It’s basically a smaller blood-sucking purple worm kind of creature – easy to stat up, but I wanted one that didn’t go into the Fiend Folio for this issue.

With the Desert Raider, Cricky “Svarts” Hitchcock basically stats up the Fremen from Dune for us, which is all fine and good but also gives us issues with originality and intellectual property.

Bob Montgomery’s Three-Headed Skrat is is a bit of an odd creature. Basically it’s like the cave moray, in that it is largely sessile inside a cleft or fissure, attacking via a prehensile neck. It also projects an illusion of having three heads, where in reality it has just the one. Creatures believing in the three heads can take damage from them, and get constricted. There are some rather complicated rules for who can and can’t get a saving throw to disbelieve – I’d get rid of those for simplicity. 

Otherwise, it’s actually an okay monster, better than I remember.

And so, my goodness, I’m converting a Roger Musson creation! The Iron Pig. Because, it’s actually pretty good. A pun in the name, obviously, but it works rather well as a lower level construct.

There’s no size given, other than “hulky”. I think Medium, the same kind of size of a regular pig. I’ll replace its immunity to all but Magical weapons of +3 or better with the same immunities as an iron golem – magic and adamantine. The puffs of chlorine gas are a simple 1d6 poison damage, I’d say, perhaps an addition to every bit since “20 rounds per day” is effectively limitless – few combats would go on over 20 rounds with this thing, surely?

Finally, I like the idea that it will “always breath if it has been damaged”, and I think I’ll translate that into something like 4^th Edition’s “bloodied” status to give a “special move” kind of effect.

Iron Pig

Medium construct, unaligned

Armour Class 16 (natural armour) Hit Points 22 (5d8) Speed 40 ft.,

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 15 (+2) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 1 (-5)

Proficiency Bonus +2 Damage Immunities fire, poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralysed, petrified, poisoned Senses passive Perception 10

Languages understands the language of its creator but can’t speak

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

ACTIONS

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) poison damage. If the iron pig is reduced to half its hit starting it points or less, this increases to 7 (2d6) poison damage.