Nim Rocs, from the city of Cuculan

[molten prawn]

I ported over the Nim rocs from the first issue of Horizons Magazine by Wildmage Press. The article I pulled them from was written by none other than Willy Abeel!

I wrote up my thought process here (It's very ramble-y, sorry.): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QWWnot1ei2-qB59GBSS6I46tqSTnjXhKMkka_Y8zBgo/edit?usp=sharing

There's two other versions of the Nim roc in there where I tried to accomplish the task using the Animal point-buy rules. The results were passable, but I wanted to beef the roc up a little more than I could with just what was available. The image attached to this post is the stat block I made from scratch after that.

Here's a Bluesky post where the artist for the original article Veronica posted the artwork of the roc: https://bsky.app/profile/zookie.bsky.social/post/3ldl72cvwus2a

Let me know what you think! Some of my math could be way off, so I'd like to know if that's the case.

Veronica (@zookie.bsky.social)

(repost because I mistitled the piece) Here's the last of my artworks for Horizons issue 1 by
@wildmagepress.bsky.social - A Nim Roc!! 🪶

ADs: Clara Daly and Hannah Rose

(As a bird nerd this piece I was so excited to paint this piece!!)

Bluesky · Dec 18, 2024, 10:55 AM

And already I've noticed I have the tiers on the Wingbeat ability backwards. Lol

[molten prawn]

Fixed.

[short lynx]

I really like this, and I very much appreciate that you've documented your thought process. I think you've balanced it out fairly well, though I haven't played or run DS at a level where I'm very familiar with level 7 monsters so my feedback comes with many pinches of salt. The malice abilities in particular feel very appropriate and fun!

I won't share any level 7 monster stuff in this channel, but looking at the numbers alone it feels like Zephyr Beak and Talons might be a little too strong.

I think Dexterous might be gilding the lily a little; you've already got a fun and thematic maneuver to use, and while it makes sense for the creature as a whole, is it really worth the space in the main stat block? I would think about whether it could just be an extra rider on Grasping Talons rather than a core part of the roc's kit. I can imagine an alternative version that is more clearly built around grabbing enemies and dragging them away for various peckings and clawings, but this version seems much more like a true harrier: get in, hit, get out!

[molten prawn]

For Zephyr Beak, would you say that the damage numbers are high in general, or specifically for a 3 target attack. Either way, I think I agree your assessment.

For Dexterous, I also agree. I'm not sure why I second guessed myself, but originally I had it rolled into Grasping Talons following the example of similar abilities I saw in the packet.

And as far as grabbing as a whole being a bit vestigial, my aim was to translate the roc as 1-to-1 as I could. (So all those great design decisions truly are the work of Willy! I am but a humble parrot.🦜) And I'm kinda repeating myself from the write up, but having grab AND push both as riders on the Signature Ability wouldn't make sense functionally. I didn't want to get super fiddly with who is targeted by which effects specifically. It could be the case that in Draw Steel, you get more mileage leaning into a monster's play-style, and unless it does something specific with the grabbed creatures, I could replace Grasping Claws with something else.

Thanks for taking a look!