Let’s Convert the Fiend Folio: Caterwaul and CIFAL

Early this afternoon, I paid the shipping invoice for all of the Weird Frontiers goodies that are coming my way. It is appropriate, then, that the monsters from the Fiend Folio in this post would work particularly well in a Weird Frontiers game. The Caterwaul practically screams “American West!” while the CIFAL would be at home in almost any setting.

The CIFAL is actually an unusual creature, in that it was called out by earlier reviewers for its science fiction name, but it is a creature one could see in almost any fantasy setting. The CIFAL is at home in Mutant Crawl Classics, Umerica, Crawljammer, or lurking around the town of Portsmouth. It is as close to a universally usable monster as there ever was.

My versions of each of these monsters vary somewhat from the source material. I have eliminated the need for a table to determine the Caterwaul’s uncanny Agility, hopefully making the creature easier to include in random encounter tables. Back in the day, I didn’t want to transcribe the table into my notes, and I didn’t want to have to carry more books with me than I had to. Here, there is a die roll involved, but it is hopefully not to onerous to cut and paste into your adventure.

The CIFAL I made both easier to deal with in the short term (reduced its Hit Dice by half), but more potentially dangerous in the long term (it might collapse into insect swarms). I prefer published adventures to have all the stats in their text, but understand why some adventures refer you back to the core rulebook. I am still traveling away from home to run games, and still prefer to carry as little as possible. I would recommend including insect swarm stats in any adventure where you use a CIFAL…possibly because there are insect swarm encounters leading up to it.

And this seems to be a good time to address the elephant in the room: Most of the Fiend Folio creatures are OGC, but I am working here directly from the Fiend Folio. That means that, if I wanted to publish this content, I would first have to revise to remove any text coming directly from the Fiend Folio. It also means that, should you ask and receive permission to use my conversions in a published adventure, you would be well advised to do the same. It shouldn’t be too difficult, but protect yourselves out there!

Likewise, if you are a publisher, and you are thinking “Raven Crowking Monster Book!”,  yes, I have already done enough material to fill it, and yes, I would be interested.  Just make sure you have talked to Goodman Games first, because I believe a monster book kickstarter is coming out soon, and I am not sure how open they would be to the idea.

 

 

 

Caterwaul

Caterwaul: Init +2 (or better); Atk Claw +3 melee (1d4) or bite +1 melee (1d6) or screech; AC 14 (or better); HD 4d8; MV 30’ or sprint 90’ or climb 20’; Act 2d20; SP: Screech, sprint, uncanny Agility, stealth +8, keen senses; SV Fort +2; Ref +2 (or better); Will +3; AL C.

The caterwaul is an unusual bipedal feline, similar to an evil mountain lion, which can drop to all fours to sprint for up to 2 rounds each turn. Their fur is midnight blue, and their eyes yellow. They have an uncanny Agility, which is variable by specimen, and which potentially adds a bonus to Initiative, Armor Class, and Reflex Saves. When encountered (or when preparing an encounter), roll 1d7: (1-2) No additional bonus, (3) +1 bonus, (4) +1d3 bonus, (5) +1d4 bonus, (6) +1d5 bonus, or (7) +1d6 bonus, and the creature gains an extra Action Die.

It can screech once per combat, and is usually part of its initial attack. This does 1d8 damage to all that can hear it within 60’ (Fort DC 10 for half). Deaf creatures are immune. Its keen senses mean that it is seldom surprised, while its stealth allows it to often surprise others.

A caterwaul pelt in good condition can fetch 50 gp or more from those with the means to pay.

 

 

CIFAL

CIFAL: Init +0; Atk contact +4 melee (1d12); AC 14; HD 5d12; MV 20’ or fly 20’; Act 1d20; SP Damaging touch, break apart at 0 hp; SV Fort +8; Ref +4; Will +2; AL N.

A CIFAL is a Colonial Insect-Formed Artificial Lifeform, comprised of several insect swarms that have come together as a single amorphous creature. Its contact attack does damage through thousands of tiny bites and stings; and this damage is sustained by any creature touching the CIFAL through a natural attack, attempt to grapple, and so on.

When a CIFAL is reduced to 0 hp, the insects which form it lose cohesion. The individual who caused the final damage must make a Luck check. If this succeeds, the insect components simply flee, crawling or flying as their nature dictates. If the Luck check is failed, they instead form 1d3 insect swarms (see the core rulebook, page 419, which then attack.