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Mystery_Man
Senior Scribe

USA
455 Posts

Posted - 06 Jan 2005 :  15:06:06  Show Profile  Visit Mystery_Man's Homepage Send Mystery_Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
When it comes to errata WoTC has nothing on John Cooper. If I was managing WoTC I would hire this guy and double whatever it is he's making now.

An overall good review.

http://www.enworld.org/reviews/index.php?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=John+Cooper&product=SK


Here's a snip of the monster stat errata. I've checked a handful, he's spot on correct so far.

quote:
Then there are the monster stats. I know that many people read my reviews specifically to grab up the "instant errata." I'll do them one better this time, since WotC has already posted Serpent Kingdoms errata on their website. Here's what they already found wrong with their book:

* p. 31, Terpenzi's Stat Block: Terpenzi, the Guardian of Najara, should have a Constitution score of -. This change affects Terpenzi's hit points (221 hp instead of 595 hp), Fortitude save modifier (+13 instead of +24), and Concentration check modifier (+27 instead of +38).
* p. 48, Chassan's Stat Block: Chassan, as written, has both immunity to cold and vulnerability to cold. Delete the reference to "vulnerability to cold" in Chassan's stat block.
* p. 141, The Serpent Sibyl's Stat Block: The Serpent Sibyl's stat block contains an error. Under Full Atk, the bite damage should be 2d6+4, not 1d8+4.
* p. 158, Venomfire Spell: The venomfire spell has two Saving Throw lines. Delete the second line that says "Saving Throw: None."
* p. 162, Fang of Sseth Prestige Class: The fang of Sseth prestige class should gain a number of skill points each level equal to 8 + Int modifier (not 2 + Int modifier, as indicated).

To this rather short, "official" errata list, I would like to add the following "unofficial" inputs of my own:

* p. 29, Maharishi, Seer of Procalith, guardian naga sorcerer 6/loremaster 9: Base Attack Bonus should be +15, not +18 (+8 as a guardian naga, +3 as a Sorcerer 6, +4 as a Loremaster 9). Grapple attacks should be at +25, not +27 (+15 BAB, +4 size, +5 Str, +1 loremaster weapon trick). Bite attacks should be at +20 melee, not +23 (+15 BAB, -1 size, +5 Str, +1 loremaster weapon trick). Poison spit attacks should be at +16 ranged touch, not +19 (+15 BAB, -1 size, +2 Dex). Fortitude save modifier should be +14, not +17 (+7 as a guardian naga, +2 as a Sorcerer 6, +3 as a Loremaster 9, +2 from lore of true stamina). Reflex save modifier should be +16, not +17 (+7 as a guardian naga, +2 as a Sorcerer 6, +3 as a Loremaster 9, +2 from secret knowledge of avoidance, +2 from Lightning Reflexes). Will save modifier should be +22, not +25 (+11 as a guardian naga, +5 as a Sorcerer 6, +6 as a Loremaster 9). Finally, under "Spells," Maharishi should cast spells as a 15th-level sorcerer, not 9th (9th for being a guardian naga, plus 6 more levels as a sorcerer).
* p. 30, Ebarnaje, King of Najara, advanced dark naga sorcerer 3/naga overlord 5: Base Attack Bonus should be +22, not +28 (+18 as a 24-HD aberration, +1 for sorcerer 3, +3 for naga overlord 5). Grapple attacks should be at +36, not +32 (+22 BAB, +8 size, +6 Str). Bastard sword attacks should be at +29/+24/+19/+14 melee, not +25/+20/+15/+10 (+22 BAB, -2 size, +6 Str, +3 magic weapon bonus). Eschew Materials should be annotated as a bonus feat.
* p. 31, Terpenzi, the Guardian of Najara, bone Faerūnian ha-naga naga overlord 10:Base Attack Bonus should be +25, not +23 (+18 as a ha-naga, +7 as a naga overlord 10). Grapple attacks should be at +49, not +47 (+25 BAB, +16 size, +8 Str). Coil whip attacks should be at +36 melee, not +34 (+25 BAB, -8 size, +14 Dex due to Weapon Finesse, +5 from +5 amulet of mighty fists). Sting attacks should be at +34 melee, not +32 (same as previous, but with a -2 penalty due to being a secondary attack with Multiattack). Sting damage should not include poison (ha-nagas have poisonous stings, but the bone naga template removes sting poison and adds a poison bite). Bite attacks should be at +34 melee, not +32. There's no Full Atk entry; the Full Atk should be what's listed as the Atk (and the Atk should just be the coil whip attack). SQ shouldn't include chameleon ability, as that comes from a ha-naga's scales, and a bone naga has no scales.
* p. 53, K'rr'zaalt, male pterrafolk cleric 8 of Shekinester: With 12 HD, he should have 5 feats, not 6 - one should be annotated as a bonus feat.
* p. 53, Vassk, male ophidian barbarian 10: Flat-footed AC should be 22, not 18 (he keeps his Dex modifier even when flat-footed as a result of his uncanny dodge). With 13 HD, he should have 5 feats, not just 4.
* p. 61, Pil'it'ith, male sarrukh cleric 15 of Set: Base Attack Bonus should be +25, not +18 (+14 as a 14-HD monstrous humanoid, +11 as a 15th-level cleric). Grapple attacks should be at +30, not +23 (+25 BAB, +5 Str). Claw attacks should be at +30 melee, not +28 (+25 BAB, +5 Str). Longspear attacks should be at +34 melee, not +28 (+25 BAB, +5 Str, +4 magic weapon bonus). He shouldn't get a secondary bite attack under "Atk." However, under "Full Atk," bite attacks should be at +25 melee, not +23 (+25 BAB, +5 Str, -5 for secondary attack), and longspear attacks should be at +34/+29/+24/+19 melee, not +28/+23/+18/+13. Also, the illustration of Pil'it'ith on page 60 is inaccurate, as the creature should be depicted as an albino; those green scales definitely do not belong.
* p. 65, Pteranodon: It has 3 HD, yet Advancement is "6-10 HD (Large)." What happened to 4-5 HD?
* p. 66, Stegosaurus: Hit Dice should be 18d8+183, not 18d10+183 (Animals have d8s as Hit Dice; oddly enough, the average hit points are correct as listed at 264, though). No Level Adjustment given; should be "-"
* p. 66, Jaculi: Under "Speed," 30 ft. does not equal 4 squares; it should either be "30 ft. (6 squares)" or "20 ft. (4 squares)" - take your pick. (I'd recommend 20 ft., the same as a Medium viper as listed in the Monster Manual.) Flat-footed AC should be 13, not 16 (+3 natural - it doesn't get the +3 Dex modifier when flat-footed). Finally, if the animal trance special ability keeps prey motionless (as described), how can it be used to "lure small birds or furred forest creatures into a nest or den" as listed in the "Combat" section?
* p. 74, 6th-level Dark Naga Sorcerer Bone Naga: With HD 9d12+6d12, average hit points should be 90, not 58. Sting attacks should be at +10 melee, not +12 (+9 BAB, -1 size, +2 Str). Bite attacks should be at +5 melee, not +7 (+9 BAB, -1 size, +2 Str, -5 for secondary attack). Poison Fortitude save should be DC 18 (using only racial HD) or DC 21 (using both racial and class level), not DC 17. Spell Resistance should be 26, not 25 (CR+11, or in this case 15+11).
* p. 77, Nagahydra: Hit Dice should be 18d8+93, not 18d8+90 (+3 hp from the Toughness feat). Full Atk should list 5 bites, not 7 - one for each of the creature's five heads.
* p. 79, Nifern: With HD 2d8+4, average hit points should be 13, not 10. Also, the illustration shows the creature with eyes, even though the description of the nifern says it's eyeless.
* p. 81, Serpentflesh Golem: Hit Dice should be 11d10+30, not just 11d10 (Large constructs get 30 bonus hit points).
* p. 84, Glacier Snake: Grapple attacks should be at +4, not +0 (+1 BAB, +3 Str).
* p. 86, Tree Python: Flat-footed AC should be 13, not 16 (+3 natural - it doesn't get the +3 Dex bonus when flat-footed).
* pp. 88-89, Yuan-ti Holy Guardian: Masterwork scimitar attacks should be at +13 melee (+13/+8 melee under "Full Atk"), not +12 (or +12/+7) (+8 BAB, +4 Str, +1 masterwork bonus). Masterwork scimitar damage should be 1d6+4, not 1d6+2 (+4 Str bonus). Masterwork composite bow attacks should be at +10 melee (or +10/+5 under "Full Atk"), not +9 (or +9/+4) (+8 BAB, +1 Dex, +1 masterwork bonus).
* p. 90, Yuan-ti Mageslayer: With HD 8d8+16, average hit points should be 52, not 40. Bite attacks should be at +7 melee, not +5 (+8 BAB, +4 Str, -5 for secondary attack).
* p. 143, Nhyris D'Hothek, male pureblood yuan-ti fighter 3/horned harbinger 1: Scimitar attacks should be at +14 melee, not +12 (+9 BAB, +2 Str, +2 magic weapon bonus, +1 Weapon Focus). Longbow attacks should be at +13/+8 ranged, not +11/+6 (+9 BAB, +2 Dex, +2 magic weapon bonus). Longbow damage should be 1d8+4/x3, not 1d8+2/x3 (+2 Str bonus, +2 magic longbow).
* p. 152, Scourge of Fangs Serpent Lash: Serpent lash damage should be 1d2, not 1d2-2 (-2 Str, +2 magic weapon bonus).
* p. 172, Duskar Flamehaern, male human adept 7: Initiative should be +2, not +4 (+2 Dex).
* p. 172, Esvele, Lhareene, and Rowan Flamehaern, female human tainted one Rogue 5: Short sword attacks should be at +6 melee, not +3 (+3 BAB, +1 magic weapon bonus, +2 Dex due to Weapon Finesse). Alertness should be annotated as a bonus feat (as per the "tainted one" template).
* p. 174, Hendar "Swordshatter" Lhorghin, male Vaasan human fighter 5: As a 5th-level human fighter, Hendar should have 6 feats, not just 4 (one as a human, 2 more as a 5th-level character, and 3 bonus fighter feats).
* p. 183, Prisoners, human Commoner 5: As 5th-level human commoners, these guys should have 3 feats, not 4 (one for being a human, and 2 more for being a 5th-level character).
* pp. 184-185, Kha'ghassta, male lizard king barbarian 2: AC should be 27, not 25 (+5 Dex, +6 natural, +6 +1 breastplate). The same goes for flat-footed AC, since he gets to keep his Dex modifier when flat-footed thanks to his uncanny dodge. Touch AC should be 15, not 13 (+5 Dex). When raging, his normal and flat-footed AC should be 25, not 23, and his touch AC should be 13, not 11.


Again, I'm surprised that so many mistakes like these were made by Wizards of the Coast, the industry leader. And this despite the fact that there were three authors (neither of which is a newcomer to 3.5), an editor, a managing editor, a design manager, a development manager, two production managers, and a director of RPG R&D. Maybe everybody thought it was the other guy's job to double-check the stats.

warlockco
Master of Realmslore

USA
1695 Posts

Posted - 06 Jan 2005 :  16:22:18  Show Profile  Visit warlockco's Homepage Send warlockco a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It looks like it is a bit incorrect. Looks like he didn't apply Epic rules for BAB and Saves for some of the bigger NPCs, instead looks like he did standard BAB and Saves. Will have to look into this further.

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