Back in the day, White Dwarf magazine was the British answer to the Dragon, and its regular "Fiend Factory" column was a source of many monsters for early D&D games. In fact, the first edition Fiend Folio (1981) was largely a collection of monsters submitted to WD. This 3e conversion is part of an ongoing project to resurrect some interesting WD monsters that, for one reason or another, fell by the wayside.

The man-scorpion was a submission of Phil Masters and appeared in White Dwarf 16 (December 1979/January 1980), in a special Fiend Factory installment that detailed monsters that very nearly made it into the Fiend Folio -- complete with line art by some of the iconic Fiend Folio artists.

This curious creature looks somewhat like a centaur, but instead of a horse its lower half is like a giant scorpion. It wears scale mail and carries a shield and short sword.

Man-Scorpion CR 5

A Man-scorpion

Always N Large monstrous humanoid (extraplanar)

Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft; Listen +8, Spot +8

Languages Abyssal, Infernal, Celestial

AC 20, touch 8, flat-footed 20
(-1 size, -1 Dex, +4 natural, +5 armor, +3 shield)

hp 32 (5 HD)

Immune charm, fear, sleep effects

Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4

Spd 20 ft (4 squares)

Melee +1 short sword +10 (1d8+5/19-20) and tail +3 (1d6+2 and poison)

Space 10 ft; Reach 5 ft (10 ft with tail)

Base Atk +5; Grp +13

Special Atk poison (DC 16, 1d4 Con/1d4 Con)

Abilities Str 19, Dex 9, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 12

SQ man-scorpion arms and armor

Feats Ability Focus (poison), Weapon Focus (short sword)

Skills Intimidate +7, Listen +8, Sense Motive +4, Spot +8, Survival +2

Environment a neutral aligned plane

Organization solitary or squad (1-11 man-scorpions plus 1 1st level sorcerer man-scorpion)

Treasure none

Advancement by character class; Favored Class fighter

Level Adjustment +3

Poison (Ex) A man-scorpion has a poisonous sting (DC 16, initial and secondary damage 1d4 Con). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Man-Scorpion Arms and Armor (Su) Each man-scorpion is equipped with scale mail, a shield, and a short sword, all masterwork items and made of bronze. Their divine creator has granted the man-scorpions the ability to infuse their equipment with magical energies. These energies transform the bronze sword into a +1 short sword. The man-scorpion's energies also transform the bronze armor and shield into +1 scale mail and a +1 heavy shield. These enhancement bonuses are a supernatural ability of the man-scorpion, not the equipment.

The creation of one of the most powerful Gods of Neutrality, no encounter with a man-scorpion will be truly random as their creator or their other masters place them specifically to carry out certain tasks. So long as their mission is not threatened and they are granted reasonable courtesy and respect, they will help adventurers with advice and information, particularly those of neutral alignment.

A man-scorpion's favored class is fighter, though many also become sorcerers.

Combat

Man-scorpions can never be bribed or coerced. They will take prisoners if necessary but will not kill them unless ordered to do so by their masters.