As an aside, I love using random stuff because I enjoy IMPROVISING around it. I don't enjoy drawing maps anymore and I find a "blank canvas" a lot harder to run than one with "ideas" on it that I can use or not.-- when I discovered something that's kind of a bummer. For low-level adventures, in Swords & Wizardry, the monsters are exclusively skeletons and zombies.
That's all fine and good, but what about a little variety? So, I thought, why not make up a chart of little "enhancements" that can be tacked onto the beastie for a few extra XP?
I'm purposely NOT searching for this. Someone may have already had this idea. Hopefully I'm not subconsciously channeling your work. :)So, here's my chart and a "guesstimate" of how much more XP it should add to the creature. YMMV.
|
d20
|
Enhancement
|
XP Bonus
(Skeleton/Zombie)
|
|
1
|
Re-animates: It falls down and then gets back up at full
HP after 1d4 rounds. It must be hacked
apart and/or burned to stay down
|
Full XP each time it is killed
|
|
2
|
Shoots arcane energy (like magic missile) or finger bones
(like crossbow)
|
+15/+30
|
|
3
|
Barfs up … goo that is sticky like web
|
+15/+30
|
|
4
|
… that bursts into flame for 1d4 if it hits
|
+15/+30
|
|
5
|
… that is slippery, target must save
or fall down
|
+15/+30
|
|
6
|
Invisible
|
+15/+30
|
|
7
|
Explodes when killed, sending sharp
shards of bone nearby for 1d6 damage (save for none)
|
+15/+30
|
|
8
|
Uses two swords for an extra attack!
|
|
|
9
|
Has four arms and four attacks!
|
|
|
10
|
Has a gaze that works like charm person. Save or
fight with the undead rather than
against them
|
|
|
11
|
Can fly
|
+15/+30
|
|
12
|
Shrouded in darkness
|
+15/+30
|
|
13
|
Is covered in biting insects. If it hits in combat, one of these little
buggers climbs onto the defender. It
will do 1pt of damage each round.
Defender must lose her attack to squash it
|
+15/+30
|
|
14
|
Is not human, but is humanoid (dwarf, orc, elf,
etc.) Cosmetic change only for flavor
|
0
|
|
15
|
… but is an animal (wolf, bear,
lion, etc.) Gains additional attacks
|
+15/+30
|
|
16
|
… but is larger than human (ogre, troll, bugbear,
owlbear, etc.) Gaining 1d8 additional
HPs
|
+15/+30
|
|
17
|
Is protected … from magic of all
kinds
|
+15/+30
|
|
18
|
… from fire. It is
fireproof
|
+15/+30
|
|
19
|
… from attack due to enhanced
armor. +2 to AC
|
0
|
|
20
|
… from turning. It
cannot be turned due to evil glyphs tattooed onto its skin and/or carved onto
its bones
|
+15/+30
|
