The Wendigo Template
Anybody remember the old fiend folio from 3.5? or the mini module "Frozen Whispers"?
What was great about both of these was how they introduced the "wendigo template": It was, at heart, atmospherically engaging, and -when played right- downright terrifying for players to encounter. The unfortunate part was that aside from their meager resistances, they were relatively squishy. What was cool about it being a template, however, was the fact you could introduce it anywhere from low to high levels.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Pathfinder version of the wendigo - it's just different, and at a base CR of 17, its downright impossible to introduce to low level parties for some good ol' fashioned horror... Unless the party in question has really pissed you off.
Thus, I have endeavored to recreate a "Wendigo Template", updated for Pathfinder while keeping in faith with the versatility of the 3.5 template and the potential for Phenominal Cosmic Power TM inherent to Pathfinder's take on the winter nasty. Thus, I introduce the alternate "wendigo template" for your use and critique:
So, what do you think?
Particular issues I wish to improve upon include its capstone spell like ability and the sole dependance on charisma for the wendigo's "maddening" abilities. "Wail of The Banshee" kind of fits the flavor of the Pathfinder Wendigo's "Howl" ability, but I'd prefer to replace it with a spell that continues with the "madness/divide and conquer" theme that I had in mind while selecting abilities. Does anyone know of any 9th level spells focusing on confusion or fear effects that don't outright kill their targets? Would adding an equivalent of the Pathfinder wendigo's "windwalk" ability increase the CR?
I have also given thought to creating a "Wendigo alpha", which would serve as the "vampire" to the wendigo's "vampire spawn". My idea is that they are bigger, badder wendigos who were originally mortals who purposefully consigned themselves to dark winter spirits or gods of cannibalism in exchange for the power to create a host of followers. These badasses have all the spell like abilities and flight of a wendigo, including the maddening whispers and dream haunting abilities, except that they gain more significant bonuses to their ability scores, and (mostly) retain their original forms. The wendigo alpha, while it cannot directly control its lesser brethren, does command their respect, and will follow the alpha as a pack.
What was great about both of these was how they introduced the "wendigo template": It was, at heart, atmospherically engaging, and -when played right- downright terrifying for players to encounter. The unfortunate part was that aside from their meager resistances, they were relatively squishy. What was cool about it being a template, however, was the fact you could introduce it anywhere from low to high levels.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Pathfinder version of the wendigo - it's just different, and at a base CR of 17, its downright impossible to introduce to low level parties for some good ol' fashioned horror... Unless the party in question has really pissed you off.
Thus, I have endeavored to recreate a "Wendigo Template", updated for Pathfinder while keeping in faith with the versatility of the 3.5 template and the potential for Phenominal Cosmic Power TM inherent to Pathfinder's take on the winter nasty. Thus, I introduce the alternate "wendigo template" for your use and critique:
So, what do you think?
Particular issues I wish to improve upon include its capstone spell like ability and the sole dependance on charisma for the wendigo's "maddening" abilities. "Wail of The Banshee" kind of fits the flavor of the Pathfinder Wendigo's "Howl" ability, but I'd prefer to replace it with a spell that continues with the "madness/divide and conquer" theme that I had in mind while selecting abilities. Does anyone know of any 9th level spells focusing on confusion or fear effects that don't outright kill their targets? Would adding an equivalent of the Pathfinder wendigo's "windwalk" ability increase the CR?
I have also given thought to creating a "Wendigo alpha", which would serve as the "vampire" to the wendigo's "vampire spawn". My idea is that they are bigger, badder wendigos who were originally mortals who purposefully consigned themselves to dark winter spirits or gods of cannibalism in exchange for the power to create a host of followers. These badasses have all the spell like abilities and flight of a wendigo, including the maddening whispers and dream haunting abilities, except that they gain more significant bonuses to their ability scores, and (mostly) retain their original forms. The wendigo alpha, while it cannot directly control its lesser brethren, does command their respect, and will follow the alpha as a pack.