4E Devils

I was thinking I’d give it a shot and convert some missing baatezu to 4E, particularly two missing classics: the hamatula (barbed devil) and cornugon (horned devil). My first attempt, however, is the falxugon – my favorite devil from Fiendish Codex 2. To start off with, I set up a table to compare levels between editions to help me decide where to put the missing fiends:

Devil (4E level / 3E CR)

Imp (3/2)

Spinagon (spined devil) (6/4)

Falxugon (harvester devil) (8?/7)

Succubus (9/7)

Kyton (chain devil) (11/6)

Barbazu (bearded devil) (13/5)

Osyluth (bone devil) (17/9)

Hamatula (barbed devil) (18?/11)

Gelugon (ice devil) (20/13)

Malebranche (war devil) (22/14)

Cornugon (horned devil) (24?/16)

Pit Fiend (26 Elite / 20)

Harvester Devil (Falxugon) Level 8 Controller

Medium immortal humanoid (devil) XP 350

Initiative +7 Senses Perception +6; darkvision

HP 88; Bloodied 44

AC 22; Fortitude 17, Reflex 20; Will 22

Resist 20 fire

Speed 6

Tail Sting (standard; at-will) [basic melee]

+13 vs. AC; 1d8+2 damage.

Corrupt Soul (standard; at-will) * Necrotic

Ranged 10; +12 vs. Will; the target takes 1d8+5 necrotic damage and is weakened (save ends).

Infernal Contract (standard; each contract once per encounter) * Charm, Psychic

Close burst 5, one creature within burst; +12 vs. Will; the target is fooled into believing it has signed a contract with the devil. The target may choose not to follow the terms of the contract, in which case it believes its soul is damned and takes 3d8+5 psychic damage. The devil selects one of the following contracts, each useable once per encounter:

Contract of Treachery: The terms require the target to immediately shift 1 and make a basic attack against an ally, if possible, with a +1d8 bonus to damage.

Contract of Submission: The terms require the target to drop and remain prone until end of the devil’s next turn.

Contract of Cowardice: The terms require the target not to make an attack that includes the devil until end of the devil's next turn.

Soul Harvest (immediate reaction, when a creature within 10 squares of the harvester devil dies; encounter)

The harvester devil regains 22 hit points and gains +2 to attacks until the end of its next turn.

Change Shape (minor; at-will) * Polymorph

The harvester devil can alter its physical form to take on the appearance of any Medium humanoid, including a unique individual (see Change Shape, page 280).

Alignment Evil Languages Common, Supernal

Skills Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14, Insight +11

Str 11 (+4) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 14 (+6)

Con 14 (+6) Int 14 (+6) Cha 21 (+9)

Harvester Devil Tactics

Harvester devils generally avoid battle – they are manipulators and schemers, not warriors. They typically travel with capable bodyguards and aid them when combat is forced upon them. The harvester devil uses change shape to take on the guise of its foes or bodyguards if such a con seems viable and uses one of its infernal contracts. When all contracts are exhausted the devil relies on corrupt soul.

Design Notes

I followed the guide on p184-185 of the DMG pretty closely, I think, with the supplementary Damage by Level tables.

Ability scores were tricky – I looked mostly at differences between a 3E and 4E succubus to guide me, since that’s a fiend close to the falxugon in focus, role, and power.

Tail Sting and Corrupt Soul should be on par with the Quarterstaff and Poison Ray, respectively, of the Troglodyte Curse Chanter (also a level 8 controller). Necrotice energy is described as wounding the soul (PHB p55), so I thougt that was fitting for Corrupt Soul.

The Infernal Contracts are meant to capture the basic theme of the falxugon – a devil that tricks mortals into signing a contract that damns their souls. Having this literally happen as a combat power would have consequences well beyond what I think a creature of his level should be able to, so I thought the next best thing would be an imagined contract with harsh punishment for those who break it.

I thought Soul Harvest was fitting within the concept – the falxugon “harvests” the soul of a dead being and becomes stronger for it. Change Shape seemed a no-brainer, when compared to the succubus.