Old Man Winter 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Medium Fey, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 18
Initiative +2
Hit Points 210
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +5

Saving Throws Con +11, Wis +9, Cha +11
Skills Intimidation +11, Nature +7, Perception +9, Survival +9
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities cold
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Additional Immunity exhaustion caused by cold weather
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages Aquan, Auran, Sylvan, Terran, local regional tongue
Challenge 14

Traits

Cold-Born Fey. Old Man Winter ignores difficult terrain caused by ice, snow, sleet, natural winter mud, or deep winter undergrowth.

Cruel Season. A creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of Old Man Winter must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 10 cold damage, and its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the start of its next turn. A creature wearing proper cold-weather gear has advantage on this saving throw. If Old Man Winter takes fire damage, this trait is suppressed until the start of his next turn.

Fey Weather Authority. Natural and magical snow, sleet, wind, and fog within 1 mile of Old Man Winter subtly answer him. While he is in winter terrain, mundane flames within 60 feet of him burn low and give only dim light unless protected by magic, ritual, or deliberate shelter.

Hearth-Hater. Old Man Winter has disadvantage on saving throws against effects created by a consecrated hearth, sacred fire, or ritually protected shelter. This is a campaign-facing rule for stories where hospitality, fire, and shelter matter.

Winter Hunter. Old Man Winter has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made to track creatures in snow, sleet, frozen mud, winter forest, or mountain passes.

Fire Vulnerability. Fire damage wounds Old Man Winter’s body and authority. When he takes fire damage, he cannot use Blizzard Step until the end of his next turn, and Cruel Season is suppressed until the start of his next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. Old Man Winter makes two Grim Greataxe attacks.

Grim Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 slashing damage plus 18 cold damage. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn. If the target fails this saving throw by 5 or more, it also cannot regain hit points until the end of its next turn.

Frost Wind. Recharge 5–6. Old Man Winter calls a killing wind in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 54 cold damage and is pushed 20 feet away from Old Man Winter. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and is not pushed. Nonmagical flames in the cone are extinguished, and the ground in the cone becomes difficult terrain until the end of Old Man Winter’s next turn.

Axe of the White Road. Old Man Winter strikes the ground with his grim greataxe. Each creature of his choice within 20 feet must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 cold damage and fall prone as ice splits underfoot. A creature that succeeds takes half damage and does not fall prone.

Bonus Actions

Blizzard Step. While standing in snow, sleet, fog, falling ice, or magical winter weather, Old Man Winter teleports up to 40 feet to an unoccupied space he can see that is also in snow, sleet, fog, falling ice, or magical winter weather.

Reactions

Cold Answer. When a creature within 5 feet hits Old Man Winter with a melee attack, Old Man Winter forces that creature to make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 13 cold damage and cannot take reactions until the start of its next turn.

Innate Winter Magic

Old Man Winter’s spellcasting ability is Charisma. He does not use wizardry, priestly prayer, or prepared spellcasting; the storm obeys him because he is part of its fey law.

At will: fog cloud, gust of wind
3/day each: cone of cold, ice storm, sleet storm, wall of ice
1/day each: control weather, Otiluke’s freezing sphere

Regional Weather Effects

When Old Man Winter settles into a region for more than one night, the following effects may appear within 1 mile of his chosen road, wood, lodge, shrine, or pass:

These effects fade over several days if Old Man Winter is defeated, banished, appeased by old winter law, or forced to retreat beyond the snowline.

Encounter Building Notes

Old Man Winter should not be run as a fair-room melee brute. His fight begins before initiative.

Use bad visibility, deep snow, frozen ropes, panicking mounts, lost tracks, exhausted hirelings, and failing fires. He is strongest when the party must decide whether to chase him, protect the weak, preserve the fire, or keep moving before exposure wins.

He is unique, but the encounter does not need to be empty. Good supporting threats include winter wolves, hostile ravens, ice mephits, cursed woodsmen, frost-touched bandits, animated snowdrifts, frightened locals forced to serve him, or one desperate guide who knows more than he admits.

Old Man Winter Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

NE Medium Fey (Cold)

Hit Dice 20d6+120
Hit Points 190
Initiative +2
Speed 30 ft.
Armor Class 29, touch 18, flat-footed 27
AC Notes +2 Dex, +5 natural, +6 frost armor, +6 deflection from Winter Ward
Base Attack / Grapple +10 / +16
Pathfinder CMB / CMD +16 / 34
Space / Reach 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Challenge Rating 14

Saves Fort +16, Ref +16, Will +18
Save Notes includes Great Fortitude and Winter Ward
Skills Intimidate +29, Knowledge (geography) +25, Knowledge (nature) +25, Listen +27, Search +25, Spot +27, Survival +27
Pathfinder Skill Note use Perception for Listen/Search/Spot if running in Pathfinder 1e
Feats Diehard, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (greataxe)
Damage Reduction DR 15/cold iron and magic
Immunities cold
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire
Spell Resistance 27
Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Languages Aquan, Auran, Sylvan, Terran, local regional tongue
Treasure none
Organisation solitary

Defensive Abilities

Winter Ward. While Old Man Winter stands in snow, sleet, fog, falling ice, magical winter weather, or a region affected by his Frost Wind, he gains a +6 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saving throws. These bonuses are already included in the stat block above. If Old Man Winter takes fire damage, Winter Ward is suppressed until the start of his next turn.

Frost Armor. Old Man Winter’s body and clothing are sheathed in killing rime, granting him a +6 armor bonus to AC. This is not manufactured armor and does not impose an armor check penalty.

Cold-Born Fey. Old Man Winter moves through snow, ice, sleet, and frozen undergrowth without penalty. He never suffers nonlethal damage or fatigue from cold weather.

Attacks

Melee +3 grim greataxe +20/+15 melee, 1d12+12 slashing plus killing cold, ×3 critical.

Special Attacks

Killing Cold. Any creature damaged by Old Man Winter’s grim greataxe must succeed at a DC 26 Fortitude save or take 1d4 Constitution damage as the weapon’s cold sinks into blood, breath, and bone. A creature that fails this save by 5 or more is also staggered for 1 round. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Frost Wind. At will, as a full-round action, Old Man Winter may cause a frost wind to blow in a one-mile radius. This increases the wind force within the area to strong, imposes a –2 penalty on ranged attacks, and causes Tiny or smaller creatures to succeed at a DC 10 Fortitude save or fall prone. Tiny or smaller flying creatures that fail are blown back 1d6 × 10 feet.

In addition, the climate in the area becomes bitter cold. Creatures exposed to the weather must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save each hour or suffer 1d6 points of nonlethal cold damage and become fatigued. The fatigued condition lasts until the nonlethal damage is healed.

Focused Frost Wind. Once every 1d4 rounds, while Frost Wind is active, Old Man Winter may focus the storm into a 60-foot cone. Creatures in the cone take 12d6 cold damage and are pushed 20 feet away from Old Man Winter. A successful DC 26 Fortitude save halves the damage and prevents the push. Nonmagical flames in the cone are extinguished. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Axe of the White Road. As a standard action, Old Man Winter may strike the ground with his grim greataxe, causing ice to split in a 20-foot radius. Creatures in the area take 6d6 cold damage and fall prone. A successful DC 26 Reflex save halves the damage and prevents the fall. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Spell-Like Abilities

Caster level 16th. Save DCs are Charisma-based.

At will: fog cloud, gust of wind
3/day: cone of cold, ice storm, sleet storm, wall of ice
1/day: control weather, Otiluke’s freezing sphere

Old Man Winter 3.0e

You see a powerfully built old man, with a generous white mane and beard; he dresses in red leather and hides, and carries a large hand axe. His eyes are cold and hard as ice and his breath has the chill of a blizzard.

Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
Author J. C. Alvarez
Series Monster Encyclopaedia
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

‘Old man winter’ is the colloquial term used in reference to a mysterious, powerful fey spirit inhabiting cold forests during the snow season. It is a terrible and vengeful spirit, bringing down the cold forces of nature on anyone crossing its path. Old man winter appears as a human grandfather, with long silvery hair and beard. It carries a large axe and wears hide clothes and armour. Both its weapon and its attire are tinted red with the blood of its victims.

Old man winter speaks Aquan, Auran, Common, Sylvan and Terran.

Combat

Old man winter attacks by chopping opponents to pieces with its axe; it has a number of offensive magical abilities, though it far prefers to spill the blood of mortals personally.

Frost Wind (Su): At will, as a full-round action, old man winter may cause a frost wind to blow in a one-mile radius, increasing the wind force within the area to Strong and imposing a -2 penalty on ranged attacks and causing Tiny or smaller creatures to succeed at a Fort save (DC 10) or fall prone (or be thrown back 1d6x10 feet if they are flying). In addition, the climate in the area becomes bitter cold, causing creatures in the area to succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 15) each hour or suffer 1d6 points of nonlethal damage and become fatigued. The fatigued state lasts until the nonlethal damage is healed.

Grim Greataxe: Old man winter’s weapon is a +2 Greataxe with the ability to freeze creatures to death. Any creature successfully damaged by old man winter’s grim Greataxe must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 16, Charisma based) or suffer an additional 1d6 points of Constitution damage, as its body becomes numb and dead from the weapon’s murderous cold.

Spell-Like Abilities:

• At will – Gust of wind (DC 18), sleet storm;
• 3/day – cone of cold (20), ice storm;
• 1/day – control weather, freezing sphere (21). Caster level 13th. Save DCs are Charisma based.