[Dungeon Fantasy] My attempt at a "standard demonic footsoldier" template

[Michael Thayne]

Magic has a default demon template, but it doesn't follow patterns for demons found in the Dungeon Fantasy series, eventually codified in Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 5: Demons. So I decided to try my hand at created my own version. I had a few goals here—I wanted it to be dangerous enough that having one show up due to a critical failure on a spellcasting roll is pretty bad, but still manageable for a 250-point demon-slaying specialist to fight. As a secondary goal, I wanted to build it with points and make the point total manageable and ideally a nice round number, so that it can also be used as an Ally of a demon-summoning PC. For disadvantages (especially mental disadvantages), I decided to take my cues from the demons in Monster Hunters 3: The Enemy. Here's the result:

Warrior Demon
150 Points

This is a typical demonic footsoldier—a member of Hell's rank-and-file.

Attributes: ST 13 [30]; DX 12 [40]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 12 [20].
Secondary Characteristics: Will 14 [20]; Per 12 [10].
Advantages: Combat Reflexes [15]; Doesn't Breathe [20]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; Doesn't Sleep [20]; DR 5 [25]; Hooves [3]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Night Vision 9 [10]; Sharp Claws [5]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Striker (Horns; Impaling; Limited Arc, Straight Ahead, -40%; Long, +1 SM, +100%) [13]; Striking ST 4 [20]; Terror (Hearing-Based) [30].
Disadvantages: Appearance (Monstrous) [-20]; Bloodlust (12) [-10] Bully (9) [-15]; Callous [-5]; Dread (Holy Ground; 1 yard) [-11]; Fragile (Unnatural) [-50]; Frightens Animals [-10]; Sadism (12) [-15]; Social Stigma (Demon*) [-20]; Selfish (9) [-7].
Skills: Brawling (E) DX+4 [12]-16; Hidden Lore (Demons) (A) IQ [2]-10; Intimidation (A) Will-1 [1]-13; Stealth (A) DX [2]-12; Wrestling (A) DX+3 [12]-15.

* Like Social Stigma (Infernal) but the penalty to reaction rolls and skill checks is -3.

Change log:

• Replaced Social Stigma (Monster) with Social Stigma (Infernal). Increased DR by 1. Changed Weakness (Holy attacks) to Dread (Holy Ground). Added Sharp Teeth.
• Raised Wrestling by 1. Added Terror, Intimidation, and Stealth.

[Anthony]

It should probably have some interaction with sanctity levels (possibly a weakness or dependency)

[ericthered]

I'd expect a DF demon to be summoned with it's weapon

[Balor Patch]

Shouldn't the Social Stigma be Infernal? DF3:11

[Michael Thayne]

Originally Posted by Anthony

It should probably have some interaction with sanctity levels (possibly a weakness or dependency)

The Infernal from The Next Level has the weakness, and the Servitor from from Allies has the dependency, but it mostly doesn't seem to get used otherwise. I've always thought the Infernal's broad-spectrum weakness rather odd, honestly, and have always preferred "Weakness (Holy attacks)" or something like that as a "standard" Weakness for demons.

Originally Posted by ericthered

I'd expect a DF demon to be summoned with it's weapon

I tend to assume most demons don't need weapons. Sure one might have a whip or a pitchfork... but if they don't, their natural weapons should work just as well.

Speaking of which: I should probably give this thing Sharp Teeth. Not that it needs a fourth natural weapon but demons aren't particularly known for having normal-looking teeth.

Originally Posted by Balor Patch

Shouldn't the Social Stigma be Infernal? DF3:11

Maybe? I actually thought about inventing a Social Stigma (Demon) for Dungeon Fantasy. It would be worth -20 points and similar to Infernal except with -3 to reactions and skill rolls instead of just -2, since a demon only getting -2 to reactions seems wrong.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

The Infernal from The Next Level has the weakness, and the Servitor from from Allies has the dependency, but it mostly doesn't seem to get used otherwise. I've always thought the Infernal's broad-spectrum weakness rather odd, honestly, and have always preferred "Weakness (Holy attacks)" or something like that as a "standard" Weakness for demons.
g.

My choice would be to stab the thing with a weapon with the Holy quality from DF and there's no indication it takes special damage from Holy.

Instead it only takes minor damage from "holy attacks" that are sustained for a minute. Weaknesses should be to environmental conditions and Vulnerabilities should be for directed attacks.

[sjmdw45]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

Magic has a default demon template, but it doesn't follow patterns for demons found in the Dungeon Fantasy series, eventually codified in Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 5: Demons. So I decided to try my hand at created my own version. I had a few goals here—I wanted it to be dangerous enough that having one show up due to a critical failure on a spellcasting roll is pretty bad, but still manageable for a 250-point demon-slaying specialist to fight.

It's not strong enough to meet these goals. Skill 16 and 1d+2 impaling damage is a joke to a party of 250 point delvers, and barely a speed bump even to a lone delver. Maybe give it Terror so there's at least some chance it could get lucky and tear you to shreds while you're stunned, or give it abilities like mind control that target HT or Will instead of active defenses.

[Varyon]

Charging full price for both sharp claws and hooves feels wrong to me, but then so does the fact Claws doesn't give any discount* for only having it affect your hands or feet rather than both. Personally, my inclination would be to just let the character pay full price for the more expensive, then designate it's actually the cheaper version for some limbs. If you have to charge, maybe a further [1] for having a bit more variety.

*Except for Hooves, where limiting your Blunt Claws to only be on your feet gives you enough points to buy DR 1 for said feet. Of course, that's not even a limitation if you lack hands.

You accidentally labeled "Skills" as a second instance of "Disadvantages."

I'll second the note that these aren't going to be much threat to most combat-focused [250] DF PC's in a one-on-one fight. It might be a bit of a challenge for one of the junior delvers from Delvers to Grow, but honestly I suspect most of those could beat it in a one-on-one fight (the Smart Delvers would be in trouble, given their low combat skills and the demon's high Will, but the Strong and Fast ones would likely emerge victorious)... and they're built on only [62].

[Michael Thayne]

Originally Posted by Varyon

You accidentally labeled "Skills" as a second instance of "Disadvantages."

Good catch, fixed.

Originally Posted by sjmdw45

It's not strong enough to meet these goals. Skill 16 and 1d+2 impaling damage is a joke to a party of 250 point delvers, and barely a speed bump even to a lone delver. Maybe give it Terror so there's at least some chance it could get lucky and tear you to shreds while you're stunned, or give it abilities like mind control that target HT or Will instead of active defenses.

Originally Posted by Varyon

I'll second the note that these aren't going to be much threat to most combat-focused [250] DF PC's in a one-on-one fight. It might be a bit of a challenge for one of the junior delvers from Delvers to Grow, but honestly I suspect most of those could beat it in a one-on-one fight (the Smart Delvers would be in trouble, given their low combat skills and the demon's high Will, but the Strong and Fast ones would likely emerge victorious)... and they're built on only [62].

Actually 1d+4 impaling with Striking ST. When I said I intended summoning one accidentally to be "pretty bad", I didn't intend it to TPK a party, and I used Samar Alqatil's character sheet from the DFRPG Delver's to Go book as a benchmark. I have no idea how Varyon figures a 62-point character could kill one one-on-one.

That said, using Samar as a baseline may have been a mistake, as arguably there are characters who don't specialize in demons who make better demon-slayers than the alleged specialist. And I do like the idea of adding Terror—it lets the holy warrior shine when they pass the Fright Check and the knight doesn't. Maybe make it hearing-based to represent a blood-curdling battle cry? Add a few points in skills and it double as 187-point Ally.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

I have no idea how Varyon figures a 62-point character could kill one one-on-one.

Mostly, because I overlooked that it has DR 5, which Novice Delvers are going to struggle with overcoming.