tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32181458466998143952024-02-08T00:19:12.430-06:00The Art of the Near TPKMusings from behind the screenGregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-9630819082830847282010-02-05T14:00:00.001-06:002010-02-05T22:38:40.621-06:00Introducing.... Bryk Shythaus!I was inspired recently by the punny name <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Built%20like%20a%20Brick%20Shithouse">Bryk Shythaus</a> to create a half-orc fighter PC with no campaign to call home. After a discussion with another DM today I decided maybe Bryk would work just as well or better as an NPC, and it sounds like he'd actually see some table time that way. So, for the DM I was talking to and anyone else who could use a big dumb thug around 4th level in 4e, I present...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEI-y1WbQtiRfKWGFTZePadyveT5T8v_pgDpeQewcRV8-rCrrKKiCk7QD2bFhgpkxC8bLWh59yVTmDdQW2bpxXqj0BdDx4QZzd2jjmlOv9wtL0vTguIwRthGM1SMtX2I8BbdS3bX_vCjdX/s1600-h/Bryk.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEI-y1WbQtiRfKWGFTZePadyveT5T8v_pgDpeQewcRV8-rCrrKKiCk7QD2bFhgpkxC8bLWh59yVTmDdQW2bpxXqj0BdDx4QZzd2jjmlOv9wtL0vTguIwRthGM1SMtX2I8BbdS3bX_vCjdX/s320/Bryk.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434827408779793922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSjfCcjXGcVQbDWNgujW55X60ueFVm-Eez41_Vv5qMSZ__EDCPMjMwKEByt0aWKtkSBgs22rqL7uJc76LklSD10UyGws6NIMKKGp36u0Mk1YEiinHzLy_EgKrOrFg-nfBnjxjYfNQesef/s1600-h/CyclopsWoman.gif"><br /></a><blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Bryk Shythaus, Half-Orc Thug<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Bryk is, well, Bryk is </span>pretty much just a big dumb thug.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 4 Brute<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bryk Shythaus</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 175</div>Medium natural humanoid<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +5 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +2<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 66; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 33<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 16; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 17, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 17, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 14<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 6 (8 when charging)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Flail</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Weapon</span><br /></div>+7 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4 damage.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tide of Iron</span> (standard; at-will) </div>+7 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4 damage, and the target is pushed 1 square.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Brute Strike</span> (standard; encounter) </div>+7 vs. AC; 3d10 + 4 damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sweeping Blow</span> (standard; recharge 6) </div>Close burst 1, targets enemies; +9 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4 damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Furious Assault</span> (free, when the half-orc thug damages an enemy; encounter)</div>The thug's attack deals 1d10 extra damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> Common, Giant<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Athletics +11, Endurance+10, Intimidate +6<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 18 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 17 (+5) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 10 (+2)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 16 (+5) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 8 (+1) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 8 (+1)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Equipment</span> chain mail, flail, heavy shield<br /></div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Half-Orc Thug Tactics<br /></div>A half-orc thug wades into the thick of its enemies, using its <span style="font-style: italic;">sweeping blow</span> to strike as many as possible if it gets surrounded.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Half-orc thugs are often found allied with pirates, slavers, or other seedy types.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 3 Encounter (XP 737)</span><br />* 1 half-orc thug (level 4 brute)<br />* 3 human bandits (level 2 skirmisher)<br />* 6 human rabble (level 2 minion)<br /></blockquote>As an NPC, power-wise, he's still pretty much the fighter I was planning to have built by around 4th level.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-22318802723002931602009-09-17T17:00:00.002-05:002009-09-17T17:00:02.465-05:00Playtesting the Scorpire VampionDuring <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">hiatus</a> I'm revisiting the WWtH monsters and trying them out in actual 4e combat encounters. With the party at first level we tested out the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">beelion</a>, the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/testing-out-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a> and the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/playtesting-laughing-lambchop-lizard.html">laughing lambchop lizard</a>, then tweaked the latter two and <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-revision-playtest-success.html">ran them again</a>. After leveling the party up to level 2 and giving them appropriate gear, we completed a <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/09/playtesting-saber-tooth-lycotaur.html">couple</a> of <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/09/playtesting-ridgeback.html">level 2</a> encounters. It turns out the Weekly What the Heck is kinda shy on level 2 sample encounters, so this week we leveled 'em up again and moved on to level 3. The party is still:<br />A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />The girls decided the gimmicky <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/950510000">Teleport Temple</a> was no fun anymore, so they told me their characters were leaving. Fine. They stepped outside into the Dragon Graveyard map from <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953777400">Fantastic Locations: Dragondown Grotto</a>. The <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/08/shards-of-gate-of-darkness-part-4.html">last time they were here</a> they almost lost half the party. *evil laughter* My favorite frightened wizard ran by again, yelling 'It's the zombie apocalypse! Aaah!" A half-dozen zombies and guy who kinda looked like a vampire came shambling out of the shadows around them. This was almost the level 3 sample encounter from the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-scorpire-vampion.html">scorpire vampion entry</a>, but I replaced the gravehound with a scorpire scuttler.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0iVOnT_Scw5HqCBzpNFeg0uy5MsrAhBQhHxH9g3FfRmWaRBSL_NPOlD_aM7z4FemU96ZTbKW0aAhe00OPqakQz01hwsP3hp-U7pKhigm2vTV-s8P04TQsnSp_UdT7bDN-lufNt9v29Nf/s1600-h/HypnoticGaze.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0iVOnT_Scw5HqCBzpNFeg0uy5MsrAhBQhHxH9g3FfRmWaRBSL_NPOlD_aM7z4FemU96ZTbKW0aAhe00OPqakQz01hwsP3hp-U7pKhigm2vTV-s8P04TQsnSp_UdT7bDN-lufNt9v29Nf/s320/HypnoticGaze.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382408489860004898" border="0" /></a>The girls spotted the minion-ness of the zombie rotters pretty quickly and made short work of the lot of them. The zombie brute put up a little more of a fight but not much. One of the items they picked up for the ranger was a <span style="font-style: italic;">+1 sunblade scimitar</span>, and she was enjoying its radiant damage very much. In fact, a critical from the scimitar in the third or fourth round took the corruption corpse from full hit points to <span style="font-weight: bold;">two</span>.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the WWtH monsters weren't faring much better. The scorpire vampion missed the warden with his <span style="font-style: italic;">hypnotic gaze</span>, and only caught the warden in his <span style="font-style: italic;">confounding stare</span> blast. But the warden made her beginning-of-turn saving throw against the stare and was right back on him. The scuttler leaped out from a hiding place and attacked the bard, but missed with the bite part of its <span style="font-style: italic;">scorpilock</span> attack. The gnome faded away and got behind cover where she could blast the scuttler with impunity. The scuttler tried to daze the invoker but failed due to the bard's <span style="font-style: italic;">misdirected mark</span>, then couldn't hit with its bite either. With their recharge powers spent (and not recharging, despite what felt like a dozen rolls) the scorpires were easily defeated.<br /><br />The scorpires were obviously created before I read the design advice somewhere that a monster should have one recharge power at most. That advice is dead on. Tracking the multiple possible recharges on just two monsters was a pain. Also, it's a little weird how the hypnotic gaze works differently on the scuttler and the vampion (a minor action for one, standard for the other). A little rework and another playtest is in order, I think. My initial thought is that <span style="font-style: italic;">scorpilock </span>should be at-will, <span style="font-style: italic;">confounding stare</span> should be encounter, and <span style="font-style: italic;">hypnotic gaze</span> should be a standard action for both monsters (and possibly also at-will, at least for the vampion).Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-40477860708814877682009-09-11T17:00:00.000-05:002009-09-11T17:00:00.142-05:00Playtesting the RidgebackDuring <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">hiatus</a> I'm revisiting the WWtH monsters and trying them out in actual 4e combat encounters. With the party at first level we tested out the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">beelion</a>, the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/testing-out-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a> and the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/playtesting-laughing-lambchop-lizard.html">laughing lambchop lizard</a>, then tweaked the latter two and <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-revision-playtest-success.html">ran them again</a>. After leveling the party up to level 2 and giving them appropriate gear, we've started in on the level 2 monsters. The party is still:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOHBa9-TGW_vqJ3NI-bGW4kXFjRshfReSsCSYEDMx3Q1bIej1I7DCp6OUt0qFd4w1UVukdaCGXoyD1K8MIGxYu1TLwjXaU6n7r36Nw4UM8UHMIC__0kamqr8SzvgvriuO8Y76uX_pkY3W/s1600-h/teletemple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOHBa9-TGW_vqJ3NI-bGW4kXFjRshfReSsCSYEDMx3Q1bIej1I7DCp6OUt0qFd4w1UVukdaCGXoyD1K8MIGxYu1TLwjXaU6n7r36Nw4UM8UHMIC__0kamqr8SzvgvriuO8Y76uX_pkY3W/s320/teletemple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378076757701421890" border="0" /></a>A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />Last week we got through one encounter showcasing the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-saber-tooth-lycotaur.html">sabre-tooth lycotaur</a>. This week we tried out the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-ridgeback.html">ridgeback loper</a>. The map was still Teleport Temple from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/950510000">War Drums Starter Set</a>. The party started in the top center of the image to the left, hanging out outside the room after their encounter with the lycotaurs. Since I liked the frightened screaming wizard so much last week, he ran by again. "A wizard runs around the corner yelling 'Goblins on giant lizards are attacking! Aaah!' Roll for initiative."<br /><br />The encounter was two ridgeback lopers and four goblin warriors, with two goblins mounted on each loper in side baskets like in the picture on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-ridgeback.html">the monster entry</a>. Oops, looks like in trying to alter the encounter to put in evil enemies I missed the "rider nth level or higher" rule that mounts always have. Oh well, it's a weird rule anyway. The first loper was spotted in the opening just below the square wall/pillar/whatever. The party (except the invoker) won initiative and charged it. Then the second loper came around the corner at the top left of the map and its goblins started throwing things at the invoker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTJTrJriB7zvzmTdRPtpr3yQj2R7GwdepVlc0XpTqZvB4pJvYQajS0DVPPVbrZ3-0PeZpHwbMPmoMAdlYxATNuu646lWn5IbMnvXK6dX75ERaq-h-lcfU0nzJedfY5oj19XEEAkPs3CRM/s1600-h/HoppingGait.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTJTrJriB7zvzmTdRPtpr3yQj2R7GwdepVlc0XpTqZvB4pJvYQajS0DVPPVbrZ3-0PeZpHwbMPmoMAdlYxATNuu646lWn5IbMnvXK6dX75ERaq-h-lcfU0nzJedfY5oj19XEEAkPs3CRM/s320/HoppingGait.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380078737134227938" border="0" /></a>Surrounded, the bard and invoker ducked for cover and plugged away with their ranged attacks. The ranger and warden pretty quickly dispatched their loper and scattered the two goblins. The goblins moved next to the nearby teleporters and the ranger and warden obliged me by missing each of them, allowing them to use <span style="font-style: italic;">goblin tactics</span> to shift into the teleporter and blink away to the upper right corner where they could join in the harassment of the other two PCs.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the loper-and-two-riders arrangement was turning out to be quite vulnerable to the invoker's area attacks, but the invoker was pretty vulnerable to their highly mobile return fire. The loper fell first, however, and the deadly bard followed up by using an action point to viciously mock both riders to death in one round. After that the party easily chased down and mopped up the last two goblins.<br /><br />The lopers were probably too constrained by the tight hallways on the Teleport Temple map. They were pretty effective anyway, granting their two riders hefty attack and damage bonuses almost every round (especially the second one, which had more room to maneuver). If the battle had taken place on a wide open outdoor map, I'm sure the PCs would have taken a lot more damage from bonus-laden missile fire.<br /><br />The encounter composition raised one interesting question, though. The goblin warriors get +1d6 damage if they move more than 4 squares due to <span style="font-style: italic;">great position</span>, but the loper also grants +1d6 damage with <span style="font-style: italic;">hopping gait</span> if it moves more than 4 squares. I presume the warriors get the bonus even though they're not using their own move since it's just based on distance from starting square, but then do the two damage bonuses stack? I was ruling that they didn't since it seemed like an overwhelming amount of damage if they did, but I'm not sure that was right.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-40589906180274232142009-09-08T17:00:00.003-05:002009-09-08T17:00:02.766-05:00Playtesting the Saber-Tooth LycotaurDuring <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">hiatus</a> I'm revisiting the WWtH monsters and trying them out in actual 4e combat encounters. With the party at first level we tested out the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">beelion</a>, the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/testing-out-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a> and the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/playtesting-laughing-lambchop-lizard.html">laughing lambchop lizard</a>, then tweaked the latter two and <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-revision-playtest-success.html">ran them again</a>. Last Sunday we leveled the party up to level 2, gave out appropriate gear as level 1 parcels, and started in on the level 2 monsters. The party is still:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOHBa9-TGW_vqJ3NI-bGW4kXFjRshfReSsCSYEDMx3Q1bIej1I7DCp6OUt0qFd4w1UVukdaCGXoyD1K8MIGxYu1TLwjXaU6n7r36Nw4UM8UHMIC__0kamqr8SzvgvriuO8Y76uX_pkY3W/s1600-h/teletemple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOHBa9-TGW_vqJ3NI-bGW4kXFjRshfReSsCSYEDMx3Q1bIej1I7DCp6OUt0qFd4w1UVukdaCGXoyD1K8MIGxYu1TLwjXaU6n7r36Nw4UM8UHMIC__0kamqr8SzvgvriuO8Y76uX_pkY3W/s320/teletemple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378076757701421890" border="0" /></a>A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />We got through one encounter showcasing the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-saber-tooth-lycotaur.html">sabre-tooth lycotaur</a>. This time the map was Teleport Temple from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/950510000">War Drums Starter Set</a>. The party started in the room in the top center of the image to the left. The girls tried pulling some kind of story setup out of me. I wasn't in the mood, so I went with "A wizard runs past the doorway yelling 'Lycanthropes! Aaah!' Roll for initiative."<br /><br />I like the image of the frightened screaming wizard so much I might use it to start every session from now on.<br /><br />The encounter was similar to the level 3 lycotaur sample encounter, downgraded to level 2 with only two lycotaurs and one wererat instead of three and two. The monsters started near the teleporters in the upper right corner. They won initiative and charged the party, but only one rat got close enough to actually attack in the first round.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWz8OJdEJ2nqxps6Dgi7WMmeKvJLszoDMgwztKRgPpfONX9hzriLd5pZ76wM9LjMqxuR03uNFBfacHnbxHvjfUUFliggs55EfrBUc1XcTV7XpQqxavr7R4U9fihMQfROGbFD8sFHW9YOD/s1600-h/LycotaurAndWererat.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWz8OJdEJ2nqxps6Dgi7WMmeKvJLszoDMgwztKRgPpfONX9hzriLd5pZ76wM9LjMqxuR03uNFBfacHnbxHvjfUUFliggs55EfrBUc1XcTV7XpQqxavr7R4U9fihMQfROGbFD8sFHW9YOD/s320/LycotaurAndWererat.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378098964469257698" border="0" /></a>The rats were dropped pretty quickly, but bought the wererat some time to get in position. The lycotaurs stood back and threw invisible logs at the warden for most of the fight, setting her up to take sneak attack damage from the wererat. This synergy worked really well for a few rounds until the ranger and the warden managed to take out the wererat.<br /><br />While the wererat was being whittled down in melee the invoker was softening up the lycotaurs, so once the wererat fell they followed pretty quickly. The last monster tried the <span style="font-style: italic;">flash the bling</span>/<span style="font-style: italic;">confusing lick</span> combo as a desperation measure, but was foiled by the needed dual attack roll (the burst only affected the ranger and the lick didn't hit her Fortitude). When the lycotaurs fell I forgot about their <span style="font-style: italic;">ferocity</span> power, but it really wouldn't have made any difference.<br /><br />Everything went pretty well with this fight. I would have liked to see the flash/lick combo actually connect to see what chaos it unleashed, but the fact that three attack rolls against different defenses need to hit for any damage to be done (flash/Will, lick/Fortitude, charge (and maybe OAs)/AC) is really the factor that balances that attack anyway.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-82940625608908413752009-08-31T17:00:00.000-05:002009-08-31T17:00:03.956-05:00Post-Revision Playtest: Success!Last Sunday night I ran encounters with the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/testing-out-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a> and the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/playtesting-laughing-lambchop-lizard.html">updated laughing lambchop lizard</a>. The map was still Dwarven Outpost from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/215510000">Miniatures Game Starter Set</a>. The party started in the outpost building after their rest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IyLNYnAYaTcIgRgefyqC4qxqv0gMg-qygeWIckc1peDIpGEXjuvEbhxTyOpnMxdSSjIfF9WOVhKfxAIjoJH1cV0sS-bizOyOeNG6pyqaG52xnSMC1G-pFf5aLpiOB6LnudVsX3yhBPqU/s1600-h/DirectedShock.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IyLNYnAYaTcIgRgefyqC4qxqv0gMg-qygeWIckc1peDIpGEXjuvEbhxTyOpnMxdSSjIfF9WOVhKfxAIjoJH1cV0sS-bizOyOeNG6pyqaG52xnSMC1G-pFf5aLpiOB6LnudVsX3yhBPqU/s320/DirectedShock.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375546109571226002" border="0" /></a>To showcase the freak I used a simple wolf pack style encounter with two freaks and three goblin warriors (all skirmishers). The group of monsters tried to sneak up on the party but blew a stealth check. We rolled initiative with the monsters creeping up on the side of the outpost away from the water. The warden won initiative and got between the party and the monsters, then got swarmed.<br /><br />The two freaks spent pretty much all their time trying to get sneak attacks on the warden. Their <span style="font-style: italic;">confusing shift</span> power worked nicely, targeting the warden's weak Will. Once in melee, the combination of <span style="font-style: italic;">confusing shift</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">combat advantage</span> gave them sneak attack damage on most every hit, and they also used it to simply shift around into flanking positions. The last one almost managed to prolong his pitiful life by hitting the ranger with <span style="font-style: italic;">confusing shapeshift</span>, but the warden just dragged it to its doom when the ranger found herself unable to both move and attack. Overall the freaks felt interesting and threatening without being overwhelming.<br /><br />For the lizards I used the same sample encounter with the updated stats. They also didn't start the encounter all crammed in the outpost like last time (they started by crawling out of the water and over the bridge as the party came around the building again). Befitting their new status as soldiers, the regular lizards formed a wall around the party while the lightning lizards stood back and threw <span style="font-style: italic;">directed shocks</span>. With the updated stats, a pack of lizards now makes a good double line style encounter.<br /><br />The lightning lizards never got into a good position to use their <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span> bursts, but they managed to do a lot of damage one target at a time anyway. Again, I forgot to use <span style="font-style: italic;">cheshire fade </span>when I should have, but that's a minor issue. None of them used <span style="font-style: italic;">sideburn flare</span>, either, but the fight was pretty static once joined so immobilizing party members wouldn't have changed much. I'm not quite as happy with the lizards as I am with the freaks, but they're miles better than they were.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-26153301150982985212009-08-24T17:00:00.006-05:002009-08-24T17:00:01.951-05:00Playtesting the Laughing Lambchop LizardI want to say up front that if anyone has used the laughing lambchop lizard sample encounter as written on a low level 4e party, I'm really sorry if I wiped your party out (and I probably did).<br /><br />During <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">hiatus</a> I'm revisiting the WWtH monsters and trying them out in actual 4e combat encounters. So far I've done a <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-beelion.html">beelion</a> <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">test</a> and a <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a> <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/testing-out-doppelganger-freak.html">test</a>. I ran the sample encounter for the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-laughing-lambchop-lizard-of.html">laughing lambchop lizard</a> last week (this post is late because I've been dreading how much rework the monster was going to need). The party is still:<br />A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />The sample encounter for the laughing lambchop lizard is 4 regular lizards and 2 lizards of lightning. Again, the map was Dwarven Outpost from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/215510000">Miniatures Game Starter Set</a>. This time the monsters were inside the ruined outpost building and the PCs were coming across the bridge toward it. The party heard the lizards and the ranger managed to sneak up and get a look at them without alerting them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFrOkgpjis7sRAvriGQY7c-bzg_Q9AFYWm07U0m3XaAlRQwoSmmzY_eQ-QmN0c-PyfxchFtMm35geT75T5ykWXs-grW5sDN_stoep6VkiehpOGHt02X-quOY7dwLuxvjobj0HOuafU6A0/s1600-h/LethalShock.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFrOkgpjis7sRAvriGQY7c-bzg_Q9AFYWm07U0m3XaAlRQwoSmmzY_eQ-QmN0c-PyfxchFtMm35geT75T5ykWXs-grW5sDN_stoep6VkiehpOGHt02X-quOY7dwLuxvjobj0HOuafU6A0/s320/LethalShock.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373181642439000818" border="0" /></a>The ranger used her surprise round to fire arrows at the lizards, but then the lizards won initiative and swarmed her. Before I even rolled the first attack I realized that letting each of the six lizards catch her with a <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span> would result in instant nasty electrical death. So the first change to the lizards, before they rolled their first attack, was to remove the <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span> power from the plain laughing lambchop lizards. As a result, most of the lizards didn't attack this round, but moved into better positions. The party moved closer and got in a few hits.<br /><br />In round 2, one lizard of lightning had the ranger and warden in range for a <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span>, while the other moved into position to catch the entire party. I quickly realized that adding an attack bonus and damage for each lizard in the burst would spell instant TPK, so <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span> was toned back to only add bonuses for other lizards of lightning in the burst. Even with that nerf, since the ranger was hit by two bursts she was going to die instantly, so the 2d8 damage per lizard was nerfed to 1d8. The ranger went down anyway, but at least wasn't instantly dead.<br /><br />With <span style="font-style: italic;">lethal shock</span> nerfed and spent, the rest of the fight was pretty dull, mostly because I forgot to use the <span style="font-style: italic;">cheshire fade</span> power so my lizards never pulled back when damaged like they were supposed to. I think I'll make that one "when bloodied" so there's no question of when to use it. I'm also changing the plain lizards from lurkers to soldiers since they no longer have a big boom attack and their job will be to shield the artillery lightning lizards.<br /><br />Updated stat blocks:<br /><table style="position: relative; z-index: 1;" width="400"><tbody><tr><td><ul id="___START_LAUGHING_LAMBCHOP_LIZARD_CODE___" class="monstercard" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; width: 400px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><li><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: right; width: 180px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: right;">Level 1 Soldier</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 180px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Laughing Lambchop Lizard</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; height: 18px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 260px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Small natural magical beast</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 100px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: right;">XP 100</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 100px; display: inline;"><strong>Initiative</strong> +5</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 260px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Senses</strong> Perception +1</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>HP </strong> 29; <strong>Bloodied </strong> 14</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>AC </strong> 17; <strong>Fortitude </strong> 12, <strong>Reflex </strong> 14, <strong>Will </strong> 12</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Immunities </strong>Resist 10 lightning</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Speed </strong> 7, climb 5</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-basic-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Bite </strong> (standard; at-will)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">+6 vs. AC; 1d10 damage.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Sideburn Flare </strong> (move; at-will)<strong> • Fear</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">+4 vs. Will; the target is immobilized until the end of the laughing lambchop lizard's next turn.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;"><strong>Annoy the Weak </strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">The laughing lambchop lizard possesses the cat's abnormal talent for finding out who, in a group, will be most annoyed by its presence and targeting that person. The DM should feel free to use all available knowledge of the party members' weaknesses and defense numbers to decide who will be most vulnerable to its attacks, and attack that PC.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;"><strong>Cheshire Fade </strong> (free, when first bloodied; encounter)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">The laughing lambchop lizard disappears except for its grin, shifts 4 squares and turns invisible until it attacks or until the end of its next turn.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 130px; display: inline;"><strong>Align.</strong> Unaligned </li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 230px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Lang.</strong> Common</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Skills</strong> Stealth +8</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Str</strong> 10 (0)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Dex</strong> 16 (+3)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Wis</strong> 13 (+1)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Con</strong> 13 (+1)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Int</strong> 7 (--2)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Cha</strong> 12 (+1)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Equipment </strong>---</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Tactics </strong>A laughing lambchop lizard will seek out enemies with low Will defenses and exploit their vulnerability to <i>sideburn flare</i>.<br /><strong>Source </strong><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-laughing-lambchop-lizard-of.html">Weekly What the Heck</a></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: right; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 12px;"><li style="padding: 3px 2px 2px 0pt;">Created with DungeonMastering.com's <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/?dmta=1928" title="Dungeons and Dragons DM Tools">DM Tools</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="position: relative; z-index: 1;" width="400"><tbody><tr><td><ul id="___START_LAUGHING_LAMBCHOP_LIZARD_..._OF_LIGHTNING_CODE___" class="monstercard" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; width: 400px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><li><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: right; width: 180px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: right;">Level 2 Artillery</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 180px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Laughing Lambchop Lizard ... of Lightning</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; height: 18px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 260px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Small natural magical beast</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 100px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: right;">XP 125</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 100px; display: inline;"><strong>Initiative</strong> +4</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 260px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Senses</strong> Perception +3</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>HP </strong> 32; <strong>Bloodied </strong> 16</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>AC </strong> 14; <strong>Fortitude </strong> 14, <strong>Reflex </strong> 15, <strong>Will </strong> 14</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Immunities </strong>Resist 10 lightning</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Speed </strong> 7, climb 5</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-basic-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Bite </strong> (standard; at-will)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">+9 vs. AC; 1d10 damage.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Sideburn Flare </strong> (move; at-will)<strong> • Fear</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">+6 vs. Will; the target is immobilized (save ends).</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-ranged.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Directed Shock </strong> (standard; at-will)<strong> • Lightning</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">Ranged 10; +8 vs. Fortitude; 2d6 + 3 lightning damage.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-close.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Lethal Shock </strong> (standard; recharge 6)<strong> • Lightning</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">Close burst 5; laughing lambchop lizards are immune; +1 (+1 for each other laughing lambchop lizard ... of lightning in the burst) vs. Reflex; 1d8 lightning damage (+1d8 for each other laughing lambchop lizard ... of lightning in the burst).</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;"><strong>Annoy the Weak </strong> (standard; at-will)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">The laughing lambchop lizard possesses the cat's abnormal talent for finding out who, in a group, will be most annoyed by its presence and targeting that person. The DM should feel free to use all available knowledge of the party members' weaknesses and defense numbers to decide who will be most vulnerable to its attacks, and attack that PC.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;"><strong>Cheshire Fade </strong> (free, when first bloodied; encounter)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">The laughing lambchop lizard disappears except for its grin, shifts 4 squares and turns invisible until it attacks or until the end of its next turn.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 130px; display: inline;"><strong>Align.</strong> Unaligned </li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 230px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Lang.</strong> Common</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Skills</strong> Stealth +8</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Str</strong> 10 (+1)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Dex</strong> 17 (+4)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Wis</strong> 14 (+3)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Con</strong> 14 (+3)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Int</strong> 7 (--1)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Cha</strong> 12 (+2)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Equipment </strong>---</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Tactics </strong>A laughing lambchop lizard ... of lightning will target enemies with low Fortitude defenses with <i>directed shock</i>. If forced into close combat it uses the same tactics as a laughing lambchop lizard.<br /><strong>Source </strong><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-laughing-lambchop-lizard-of.html">Weekly What the Heck</a></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: right; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 12px;"><li style="padding: 3px 2px 2px 0pt;">Created with DungeonMastering.com's <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/?dmta=1928" title="Dungeons and Dragons DM Tools">DM Tools</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-8652316056609920112009-08-14T17:00:00.004-05:002009-08-14T17:00:01.210-05:00Testing Out the Doppelganger FreakDuring <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">hiatus</a> I'm revisiting the WWtH monsters and trying them out in actual 4e combat encounters. We tested out the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-beelion.html">beelion</a> <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">earlier in the week</a>. I ran another encounter Wednesday evening. The party is still:<br />A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />We got through one encounter again: this time the sample encounter for the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-doppelganger-freak.html">doppelganger freak</a>. Again, the map was Dwarven Outpost from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/215510000">Miniatures Game Starter Set</a>. This time the monsters were scattered around on the far side of the water from the PCs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AVyMJr-bG6lLi2catqJd6OCZoSo7yFRqPiBi_PP5SMvZ4xt9vuxTgCp6Pe3K5LW4Zxj1SQcVAkO8vtqPvcQv2vDelPCjpmETsZI5MAP1KrM5l3tEe13qBYPyF9w9Hb-JW9U-qlmhp-kR/s1600-h/ConfusingShift.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AVyMJr-bG6lLi2catqJd6OCZoSo7yFRqPiBi_PP5SMvZ4xt9vuxTgCp6Pe3K5LW4Zxj1SQcVAkO8vtqPvcQv2vDelPCjpmETsZI5MAP1KrM5l3tEe13qBYPyF9w9Hb-JW9U-qlmhp-kR/s320/ConfusingShift.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369583761938771634" border="0" /></a>This starting position was an abject tactical fail for the monsters. Even though they won initiative, only two of the monsters had any ranged attacks, and they started too far away for even those guys to get a good shot without moving closer. The only advantage the monsters had was that since they were spread out the invoker couldn't mow down all the minions in one blast, but that really didn't matter since the minions came trickling in one or two at a time anyway as their initial position allowed.<br /><br />The goblins managed to nickel and dime the ranger down by concentrating their ranged attacks on her, but the bard got her right back up. By the time the doppelganger even got near the fight it was basically over. The doppelganger tried to daze the ranger with <span style="font-style: italic;">confusing shapeshift</span> but only got its minion ally and spoiled his ability to flank. The doppelganger also missed its sole good shot at a sneak attack due to a well-timed <span style="font-style: italic;">blades of astral fire</span> from the invoker. After that it got pulled into a flank by the warden and beaten like a red-headed stepchild.<br /><br />As a fight, this gave the party a chance to kick some ass and take some names, and after the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekly-what-heck-monsters-now-with.html">tough beelion battle</a> I think they appreciated that. As a playtest for the doppelganger, it wasn't worth much. I'll probably have to throw another doppelganger encounter at them in closer quarters and with more freaks to get a good test.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-39212746416487618052009-08-13T17:00:00.004-05:002009-08-13T17:00:04.220-05:00Weekly What the Heck Monsters - Now With Playtesting!I thought during hiatus would be a good time to revisit the WWtH monsters and try them out in actual 4e combat encounters. I've used a few of them before, but probably less than half a dozen out of the over 40 the feature has generated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHwdPRBU8Ln_rOMqbl8YIHWs-Eyij6vSdqbqmFoRUEADGYQD7PlM_Psg1smwrt5sEjWy3j4u81HWd9dYMTU5aD3wGba16PEm0hiOMAQCwhbKsPbmE77RFj_tGfTasVBrXFSwv26LlvdSv/s1600-h/AlluringGaze.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHwdPRBU8Ln_rOMqbl8YIHWs-Eyij6vSdqbqmFoRUEADGYQD7PlM_Psg1smwrt5sEjWy3j4u81HWd9dYMTU5aD3wGba16PEm0hiOMAQCwhbKsPbmE77RFj_tGfTasVBrXFSwv26LlvdSv/s320/AlluringGaze.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369205407131252434" border="0" /></a>So Monday evening the girls whipped up a four-PC party covering the four 4e roles and all four power sources. They brought to the table:<br />A goliath warden<br />A gnome bard<br />A longtooth shifter ranger<br />A deva invoker<br /><br />We got through one encounter: the sample encounter I whipped up for the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-beelion.html">beelion</a> (3 kobold skirmishers and a beelion). The map was Dwarven Outpost from the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/215510000">Miniatures Game Starter Set</a>, with the fight concentrated around one of the corner start areas as the bad guys came at them from ambush. The bad guys won initiative and used all their shifting abilities (the kobolds' <span style="font-style: italic;">shifty</span> and the mounted beelion's <span style="font-style: italic;">guided frenzy</span>) to surround the party and get some hits in on the softer targets (the bard and the ranger).<br /><br />The gnome used <span style="font-style: italic;">fade away</span> to get clear and the invoker slowly backed off as the warden marked almost all the enemies on the field and pulled the mounted kobold off the beelion. The beelion used <span style="font-style: italic;">lion's frenzy</span> to get another hit on the ranger even while marked. The warden soon managed to mark all four enemies at once and got hit by all four for lots of sneak attack damage for her trouble. Impressively, she was still standing. After that round the PCs' attacks started taking a toll and kobolds started to drop. Unfortunately, the beelion's <span style="font-style: italic;">alluring gaze</span> dazed the warden, leaving her unable to get out of the blast area of the invoker's next attack, and that coupled with more hits from the kobolds managed to take the warden down. After the warden had failed one death save, the last kobold (4 hp left) mounted the beelion (11 hp) and they flew away.<br /><br />I need to make two small tweaks to the beelion. The <span style="font-style: italic;">alluring gaze</span> is way too powerful to be at-will. I'll make it recharge 5 or 6 and drop the attack bonus by 1. Since I don't want two recharge powers on one monster, and <span style="font-style: italic;">lion's frenzy</span> is only useful in specific circumstances anyway (next to 3 or more foes) I'll make that one at-will. The updated stat block is below:<br /><br /><table style="position: relative; z-index: 1;" width="400"><tbody><tr><td><ul id="___START_BEELION_CODE___" class="monstercard" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; width: 400px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><li><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: right; width: 180px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: right;">Level 1 Elite Skirmisher</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 180px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Beelion</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(0, 51, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; height: 18px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 260px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Medium natural magical beast (mount)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 100px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: right;">XP 200</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 100px; display: inline;"><strong>Initiative</strong> +5</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 260px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Senses</strong> Perception +1</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>HP </strong> 62; <strong>Bloodied </strong> 31</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>AC </strong> 17; <strong>Fortitude </strong> 16, <strong>Reflex </strong> 16, <strong>Will </strong> 13</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Saving throws</strong>+2</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Speed </strong> 6, fly 8</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Action points</strong>1</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-basic-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Bite </strong> (standard; at-will) </li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">+6 vs. AC; 2d6 + 1 damage.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-melee.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Bee's Frenzy </strong> (standard; at-will) </li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">The beelion makes two bite attacks.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-close.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Alluring Gaze </strong> (minor 1/round; recharge 5 6) <strong> • Gaze, Psychic</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">Close blast 3; targets enemies; +1 vs. Will; the target is pulled 1 square and dazed until the end of the beelion’s next turn.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; background: transparent url(http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/img/attack-close.png) no-repeat scroll 10px top; width: 360px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><strong>Lion's Frenzy </strong> (standard; at-will) </li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">Close burst 1; targets enemies; +6 vs. AC; 2d6 + 1 damage.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;"><strong>Guided Frenzy </strong> (while mounted by a friendly rider of 1st level or higher; at-will) <strong> • Mount</strong></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 20px 0pt 35px; width: 360px;">A beelion with a rider may shift 2 squares between bite attacks when using <i>bee's frenzy</i>.</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 130px; display: inline;"><strong>Align.</strong> Evil</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 230px; display: inline; text-align: right;"><strong>Lang.</strong> Common</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Skills</strong> </li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Str</strong> 13 (+1)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Dex</strong> 16 (+3)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Wis</strong> 13 (+1)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(185, 195, 156) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; float: left; width: 110px;"><strong>Con</strong> 15 (+2)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; float: left;"><strong>Int</strong> 6 (--2)</li><li style="padding: 0pt 10px; width: 110px; display: inline;"><strong>Cha</strong> 8 (--1)</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Equipment </strong>---</li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="padding: 0pt 10px;"><strong>Tactics </strong>A beelion prefers to begin a fight in the air, choosing a landing spot that gives it a positional advantage. It tries to stay in a flanking position with its allies while surrounding itself with enemies to target with its <i>lion's frenzy</i>.<br /><strong>Source </strong><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-beelion.html">Weekly What the Heck</a></li></ul><ul style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; background: rgb(215, 225, 186) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 400px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: right; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 12px;"><li style="padding: 3px 2px 2px 0pt;">Created with DungeonMastering.com's <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/?dmta=1928" title="Dungeons and Dragons DM Tools">DM Tools</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Two other things I took away from this fight:<br />1) Goliath wardens can soak sick amounts of damage.<br />2) Maxed-Cha bards make clerics and warlords look like healing amateurs.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-83768704041558589772009-08-12T14:50:00.004-05:002009-08-12T14:58:28.089-05:00Jeffs Phrase of the DayThis is a response to <a href="http://jrients.blogspot.com/2009/08/phrase-of-day.html">Jeff Rients phrase of the day on Jeffs Gameblog on August 6</a>. Here are some "supplementary amounts of wild ass"...<br />- ChaoticBlackSheep<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_6z_z3yKAz4KdYH8-MaYOKAThodYYW3bY2iq-UvJ2EgVFH827rls_sQyQR5wHcpF39b70u4vwbiiz_IPEOSqcTiX2c5UsvlAJXDklCnTJrGF1QFC-za1g1xYUA0OPYt3r1NUi_42LPY/s1600-h/WildAss.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_6z_z3yKAz4KdYH8-MaYOKAThodYYW3bY2iq-UvJ2EgVFH827rls_sQyQR5wHcpF39b70u4vwbiiz_IPEOSqcTiX2c5UsvlAJXDklCnTJrGF1QFC-za1g1xYUA0OPYt3r1NUi_42LPY/s320/WildAss.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369167782100351922" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-22157856458087286642009-07-26T17:00:00.005-05:002009-08-01T07:20:47.505-05:00The Weekly What the Heck: An Updated OverviewSince <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck-hiatus.html">I'm on hiatus</a>, this seems like a good time to update the <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-what-heck-overview.html">master Weekly What the Heck monster list</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWaN0Tp98IVTgiUeQEP1Yco7T0icD_giTB-4mjkoalCFSB8QnPrSFF8TLX4XLACwF9KXx32PGiCmjLcX6X-rNlQpfjn9mhzaOYJ-qWy7lAEEXFum9-s-Ni4vAoxqaFlv0RCA0zgOd26tN/s1600-h/HungryMermaid.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWaN0Tp98IVTgiUeQEP1Yco7T0icD_giTB-4mjkoalCFSB8QnPrSFF8TLX4XLACwF9KXx32PGiCmjLcX6X-rNlQpfjn9mhzaOYJ-qWy7lAEEXFum9-s-Ni4vAoxqaFlv0RCA0zgOd26tN/s320/HungryMermaid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362816312578347650" border="0" /></a>Here's the updated level/role breakdown of all the monsters. The names that are links link to the original post on this site. The level/role links link to the reformatted stat card at <a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/?dmta=1928">tools.dungeonmastering.com</a> (free login required) for easy printing. My plan is to update this post as often as I can until all the monsters have been put in Yax's database and all the names and levels/roles are links:<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="70%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-laughing-lambchop-lizard-of.html">Laughing Lambchop Lizard</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/5213/?dmta=1928">Level 1 Lurker</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-eye-mite.html">Eye Mite Midge</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 1 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-saeggan.html">Saeggan Genesis</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 1 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-beelion.html">Beelion</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/5219/?dmta=1928">Level 1 Elite Skirmisher</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-doppelganger-freak.html">Doppelganger Freak</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/5411/?dmta=1928">Level 1 Skirmisher</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-laughing-lambchop-lizard-of.html">Laughing Lambchop Lizard ... of Lightning</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/5215/?dmta=1928">Level 2 Artillery</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/wwth-bonus-material-pixies-of-styx.html">Pixie of the Styx</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Elite Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-emo-monkey.html">Emo Monkey</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-saber-tooth-lycotaur.html">Saber-Tooth Lycotaur</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/wwth-bonus-material-pixies-of-styx.html">Pixie Trickster</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-ridgeback.html">Ridgeback Loper</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-shellsong-siren.html">Archaic Gastropod</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 2 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-trimandibular-praying.html">Trimandibular Praying Mantelope</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 3 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-saeggan.html">Saeggan Dreamcaster</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 3 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-scorpire-vampion.html">Scorpire Vampion</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 3 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-scorpire-vampion.html">Scorpire Scuttler</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 3 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-sapient-sloth.html">Sapient Sloth Commoner</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/2185/?dmta=1928">Level 3 Minion</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-nutrition-bulb.html">Nutrition Bulb</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 3 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-xenomoeba.html">Xenomoeba Larva</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 4 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-emo-monkey.html">Goth Emo Monkey</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 4 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-thats-pyrosphynx.html">Pyrosphynx Cub</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/1669/?dmta=1928">Level 4 Lurker</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-nutrition-bulb.html">Spore Bulb</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 4 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-thats-sapient-sloth.html">Student of the Path</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/monstercards/view/2321/?dmta=1928">Level 4 Skirmisher</a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-turkatrice.html">Undead Chicken</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 4 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-turkatrice.html">Turkatrice</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 5 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-merhog.html">Wallowing Merhog</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 5 Elite Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-wraithpunzel.html">Wraithpunzel</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 5 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-orcish-knucklewalker.html">Dire Orcish Knucklewalker</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-emo-monkey.html">Emo Ghoul</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-ridgeback.html">Ridgeback War Machine</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-greholdusa.html">Greholdusa</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-orcish-knucklewalker.html">Orcish Knucklewalker Swarm</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-mer-drag-goblin-born-folk.html">Merdragoblinborn Ecclesiastic</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 6 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-xenomoeba.html">Necrotic Xenomoeba</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 7 Elite Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-pelicgizard.html">Ravenous Pelicgizard</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 7 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-monkicore.html">Monkicore</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 7 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-scorpire-vampion.html">Scorpire Viscount</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 7 Lurker (L)<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-speed-demon.html">Jamuzavdu (Speed Demon)</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 7 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-thats-pyrosphynx.html">Pyrosphynx Sun Lion</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 8 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-stumper.html">Stumper</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 8 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-sextuple-finned-scintillating.html">Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 8 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-mer-drag-goblin-born-folk.html">Merdragoblinborn Follower</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 8 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-saber-tooth-lycotaur.html">Were Saber-Tooth Lycotaur</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 8 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-monkicore.html">Fireblooded Monkicore</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 9 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-mer-drag-goblin-born-folk.html">Merdragoblinborn Schoolmaster</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 9 Controller (L)<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-snake-mahjicocl.html">Snake Mahjicocl Soloist</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 9 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-christmas-treant.html">Christmas Treant Shrub</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 9 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-cycloptic-elephantaur.html">Cycloptic Elephantaur Gawker</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 10 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-treefling.html">Treefling Leafwielder</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 10 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-pelicgizard.html">Conflagrating Pelicgizard</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 10 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-wraithpunzel.html">Aquatic Wraithpunzel</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 10 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-shellsong-siren.html">Shellsong Siren</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 10 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-toothnip.html">Green Toothnip</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 11 Lurker<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-embryomace.html">Embryomace</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-cycloptic-elephantaur.html">Cycloptic Elephantaur Trumpeter</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-piscean.html">Piscean Tempest</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-quizacoatl.html">Quizacoatl Contestant</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-thats-greholdusa.html">Greholdusa Scourge</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-merhog.html">Merhog Steed</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 12 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-christmas-treant.html">Christmas Treant Bush</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 13 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-yuan-ti-rampant.html">Snaketongue Rampant</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 13 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-still-yuan-ti-rampant-kind-of.html">Snaketongue Restrainer</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 13 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-thats-pyrosphynx.html">Firebred Pyrosphynx</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-chanavan-serpent.html">Chanavan Serpent</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Solo Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-piscean.html">Piscean Evolutionary</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-snake-mahjicocl.html">Snake Mahjicocl Principal</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-yuan-ti-rampant.html">Yuan-ti Rampant</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-still-yuan-ti-rampant-kind-of.html">Yuan-ti Restrainer</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 14 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-demodracosauralisk.html">Demodracosauralisk</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 15 Elite Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-demodracosauralisk.html">Hemi-Demodracosauralisk</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 15 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-abolderithicus.html">Abolderithicus Starme</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 15 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-thats-quizacoatl.html">Quizacoatl Host</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 15 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-treefling.html">Treefling Leafmaster</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 15 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-eye-mite.html">Eye Mite Berserker</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 16 Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-frieghboranean.html">Frieghboranean Slimemaster</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 16 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-thats-frieghboranean.html">Frieghboranean Tempest</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 16 Elite Skirmisher<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-squiglet.html">Squiglet Caretaker</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 16 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-sextuple-finned-scintillating.html">Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 17 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-thats-toothnip.html">Ripe Toothnip</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 17 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-thats-squiglet.html">Kruthiguid</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 18 Elite Brute<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-thats-eye-mite.html">Eye Mite Mindraper</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 18 Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-abolderithicus.html">Abolderithicus Staryu</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 18 Minion<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-thats-abolderithicus.html">Abolderithicus Wistar</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 19 Artillery<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-ultimate-dungeon-master.html">Triclops Manipulator</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 20 Soldier<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-ultimate-dungeon-master.html">Aspect of the Ultimate Dungeon Master</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 26 Elite Controller<br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-thats-ultimate-dungeon-master.html">Ultimate Dungeon Master</a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td>Level 35 Solo Brute<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And here's the updated list of all the commenters and how many times each has contributed.<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Comments<br /></th></tr><tr><td>Ripper</td><td align="center">21<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Scott</td><td align="center">15<br /></td></tr><tr><td>ReverendMike</td><td align="center">12<br /></td></tr><tr><td>greywulf</td><td align="center">10<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Gomez</td><td align="center">8<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Jeff</td><td align="center">7<br /></td></tr><tr><td>wyattsalazar</td><td align="center">7<br /></td></tr><tr><td>benpop</td><td align="center">5<br /></td></tr><tr><td>ChaoticBlackSheep</td><td align="center">3<br /></td></tr><tr><td>jermwar</td><td align="center">3<br /></td></tr><tr><td>dicemonkey</td><td align="center">2<br /></td></tr><tr><td>DoctorCheckmate</td><td align="center">2<br /></td></tr><tr><td>joeskythedungeonbrawler</td><td align="center">2<br /></td></tr><tr><td>mthomas768</td><td align="center">2<br /></td></tr><tr><td>RPGIke</td><td align="center">2<br /></td></tr><tr><td>AlexSchroeder</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Ameron</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Anonymous</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Bartoneus</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>BenPop</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>d7</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>DawnRaven</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Donny_the_Dm</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>FatAlibert</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>icosahedron</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>JeffRients</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Jerm</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Ravyn</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>rcarbol</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Rekres</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>TheRecursionKing</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>thievescant</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Viriatha</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Will</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Wyatt</td><td align="center">1<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I only had to add one new name for the past two months, which doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-48201382750354126872009-07-25T10:00:00.002-05:002009-07-25T10:00:03.023-05:00Weekly What the Heck - HiatusI got no comments on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck_18.html">last week's What the Heck</a>, and it's been over a month since I got more than two (but props to Scott and Ripper for hanging in there with me). I'm going on hiatus for a while. If everything goes according to plan there will still be WWtH-related content popping up on the blog from time to time, and I might finally get around to updating <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-what-heck-overview.html">the master list of WWtH monsters </a>and <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/wwth-format-migration.html">moving/converting all</a> <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/sapient-sloth-repeat-testing-dm-tools.html">the stat blocks</a> to <a href="http://tools.dungeonmastering.com/?dmta=1928">the dungeonmastering tools site/format</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqdt91S9ipRwu4Jz5DmtOS9WHq2cTDpf9nOz-XZN0Efvn4vN-yDXW0J2N8zEXMaJnEjbj1_UrOGBoD6gcr8kTz67ue2tcNkpLS2adpAojEfVQbo4wuTyVEgjfxY88FVLoUtvCQ0SqKMGh/s1600-h/BigHonkinAxe.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqdt91S9ipRwu4Jz5DmtOS9WHq2cTDpf9nOz-XZN0Efvn4vN-yDXW0J2N8zEXMaJnEjbj1_UrOGBoD6gcr8kTz67ue2tcNkpLS2adpAojEfVQbo4wuTyVEgjfxY88FVLoUtvCQ0SqKMGh/s320/BigHonkinAxe.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362375517366664562" border="0" /></a>I've felt like a fraud keeping it going as long as I have, actually. I haven't DMed a game in almost six months and have played once in the past four months. The good news is, that might change today. We'll see.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-72367917522105197782009-07-18T19:00:00.001-05:002009-07-18T19:00:01.400-05:00Why, that's a Doppelganger Freak!There was only one comment on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck_11.html">last week's What the Heck</a>, but I really didn't expect a barefoot dude in a wig and miniskirt to really generate much interest anyway. Now <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck_18.html">an angry plant, on the other hand...</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSjfCcjXGcVQbDWNgujW55X60ueFVm-Eez41_Vv5qMSZ__EDCPMjMwKEByt0aWKtkSBgs22rqL7uJc76LklSD10UyGws6NIMKKGp36u0Mk1YEiinHzLy_EgKrOrFg-nfBnjxjYfNQesef/s1600-h/CyclopsWoman.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSjfCcjXGcVQbDWNgujW55X60ueFVm-Eez41_Vv5qMSZ__EDCPMjMwKEByt0aWKtkSBgs22rqL7uJc76LklSD10UyGws6NIMKKGp36u0Mk1YEiinHzLy_EgKrOrFg-nfBnjxjYfNQesef/s320/CyclopsWoman.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354626132578749058" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper for his ideas, which have been mashed together with some brainstorming by me and the missus to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Doppelganger Freak<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Sometimes a doppelganger</span> just.... fails.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 1 Skirmisher<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doppelganger Freak</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 100</div>Medium natural humanoid (shapechanger)<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +5 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +0<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 29; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 14<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 15; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 13, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 15, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 13<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 6<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Short Sword</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Weapon</span><br /></div>+6 vs. AC; 1d6 + 3 damage.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Confusing Shift</span> (move; at-will) </div>The doppelganger freak shifts 2 squares then makes a melee attack; +4 vs. Will; the doppelganger freak gains combat advantage against the target until the end of the doppelganger’s next turn.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Confusing Shapeshift</span> (minor; recharge 6) </div>Close burst 2; +1 vs. Will; the target is dazed until the end of the doppelganger’s next turn.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Combat Advantage</span><br /></div>The doppelganger freak deals an extra 1d6 damage against any target it has combat advantage against.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> Common<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Insight +8<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 11 (+0) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 16 (+3) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 11 (+0)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 13 (+1) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 10 (+0) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 13 (+1)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Doppelganger Freak Tactics<br /></div>A doppelganger freak moves among its enemies, using its <span style="font-style: italic;">confusing shapeshift</span> to daze as many as possible if it gets surrounded.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Doppelganger Freak Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 17:</span> Occasionally a doppelganger will lose control over its shapeshifting abilities, like a human with a degenerative disease losing motor skills. These doppelganger freaks change shape constantly and randomly.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Doppelganger freaks are often found aiding lower humanoids like goblins that will hang out with anybody.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 1 Encounter (XP 500)</span><br />* 1 doppelganger freak (level 1 skirmisher)<br />* 2 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher)<br />* 1 goblin blackblade (level 1 lurker)<br />* 4 goblin cutters (level 1 minion)<br /></blockquote>Creative DMs can probably have a lot of fun with this one describing its random changes in shape from round to round...Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-18370929269384602652009-07-18T10:00:00.001-05:002009-07-18T10:00:02.768-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-eighth installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizam6Ka21TJHZQIbMo-VaCMfPk6UG-tp6gmvsfojpiRLocXRpCm2DhAmsCmfbVDAlH15-kAEZKFeFFA8VNiu2fbxvdc6z6Qzf0tPVkrfi3h7rs1IznFgnKM29wf8P8Z8cdSW_fi9aEYcIB/s1600-h/SourpussPlant.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizam6Ka21TJHZQIbMo-VaCMfPk6UG-tp6gmvsfojpiRLocXRpCm2DhAmsCmfbVDAlH15-kAEZKFeFFA8VNiu2fbxvdc6z6Qzf0tPVkrfi3h7rs1IznFgnKM29wf8P8Z8cdSW_fi9aEYcIB/s320/SourpussPlant.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336430198930902466" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? Why does it look so irritated?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-82471129206547994552009-07-11T19:00:00.003-05:002009-07-11T19:33:19.717-05:00Why, that's an Embryomace!The final comments are in from <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>. The result is the embryomace, a sentry/guardian sort of critter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUihQ6otKFm5Acn9TwSMDL1jq0WyKuxTabDaTQQlGbqdfsY1w-Fp2-4brqiiUX-avr_aKFVhhdUr0fFjijFH0EZVm-PZeEl2Bu00C9cQ7AXr-vtZ0-IoeF7L13ZHgrS6YwF4h8KVVJ1Wm/s1600-h/Embryomace.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUihQ6otKFm5Acn9TwSMDL1jq0WyKuxTabDaTQQlGbqdfsY1w-Fp2-4brqiiUX-avr_aKFVhhdUr0fFjijFH0EZVm-PZeEl2Bu00C9cQ7AXr-vtZ0-IoeF7L13ZHgrS6YwF4h8KVVJ1Wm/s320/Embryomace.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357365198437735474" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper and Scott (with special thanks to Ripper for the inspiration for the name) for their ideas, all of which have been mashed together to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Embryomace<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">An embryomace looks like a combination of a bee and a lobster,</span> with a vaguely human face. Its innocent face lures enemies into range of its deadly bite.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 12 Artillery<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Embryomace</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 700<br /></div>Medium elemental beast<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +12 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +8<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 97; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 48<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 24; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 24, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 27, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 23<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 4, fly 8<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bite</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div>+19 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">R<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye Ray</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Necrotic, plus see text</span></div>Requires orb. The embryomace possesses one of the <span style="font-style: italic;">eye ray</span> powers in the list below as long as it is holding one of its orbs. An embryomace adjacent to its nest can swap orbs as a move action, thus changing which power it has. Getting an embryomace to drop its orb requires a melee Str attack against its Reflex.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1-Fire Ray (Fire)</span>: Ranged 10; +17 vs. Reflex; 1d6 + 6 fire damage, 1d6 necrotic damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-Cold Ray (Cold)</span>: Ranged 10; +17 vs. Reflex; 2d6 + 6 cold damage, 1d6 necrotic damage, and the target is slowed (save ends).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3-Electric Ray (Lightning)</span>: Ranged 10; +17 vs. Reflex; 1d6 + 6 lightning damage, 1d6 necrotic damage, and the embryomace makes a secondary attack against two targets within 5 squares of the target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack</span>: +15 vs. Reflex; 1d6 + 6 lightning damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye Blast</span> (standard, usable only while bloodied; recharge 6) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fire, Cold, Lightning, Necrotic</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>Close blast 5; +12 vs. Reflex; 1d10 each of fire, cold, lightning and necrotic damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 19 (+10) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 22 (+12) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 14 (+8)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 19 (+10) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 2 (+2) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 19 (+10)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Embryomace Tactics<br /></div>An embryomace prefers to stay by its nest. It switches orbs randomly after hitting once or twice with its <span style="font-style: italic;">eye blast</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">eye rays</span>.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Embryomace Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 15:</span> Embryomaces are generally harmless unless encountered guarding a nest of their orbs.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 20:</span> A nest of orbs will typically have a variety of elemental types - the embryomace can switch between orbs. Its attacks pull some of the victim's life force into the orb, and the creature tends to switch orbs often to pull some life force into each of them.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Powerful wizards sometimes abduct embryomaces and their nests. They then place the nests where they want something guarded, surrounded by constructs and/or undead that the beast will ignore.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 12 Encounter (XP 3,500)</span><br />* 1 embryomace (level 12 artillery)<br />* 1 shield guardian (level 14 soldier)<br />* 2 skeletal tomb guardians (level 10 brute)<br />* 1 helmed horror (level 13 soldier)</blockquote>The idea, in case it's not clear, is that the orbs are eggs and once enough life force has been pulled into them they hatch into baby embryomaces...Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-70040307884582968252009-07-11T10:00:00.001-05:002009-07-11T10:00:03.534-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-seventh installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEM9ZQ6RxC83rLYVmHMhDKhY_Cx2UU42eNckw-ur4EV-sR6BtIOeCjdr8zkeXZ0b5CqgiinrjuhBFu8Tt4jkGgEf3TgWbQz84imBH0SSq_kMQQhs4w2wVczq1KnQV5M5mQPUn7vzOSFh1/s1600-h/ItsPat.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEM9ZQ6RxC83rLYVmHMhDKhY_Cx2UU42eNckw-ur4EV-sR6BtIOeCjdr8zkeXZ0b5CqgiinrjuhBFu8Tt4jkGgEf3TgWbQz84imBH0SSq_kMQQhs4w2wVczq1KnQV5M5mQPUn7vzOSFh1/s320/ItsPat.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336429582166007970" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? Can anything wearing a cheerleader skirt really be that fearsome?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-46081880571910100912009-07-07T17:00:00.004-05:002009-07-09T00:35:46.196-05:00A Real Life "Dungeon"Last week I happened to take a trip to an old lead mine an hour south of St. Louis. I've been in a few natural tourist caverns and used them for D&D inspiration, but the mine was a whole different ballgame. I would encourage any midwestern DMs to find the time to take a trip to the <a href="http://www.2dive.com/bandwtours.htm">Bonne Terre Mine</a>. At least take the walking tour. If you're planning on running any adventures involving aboleths, kuo-toa or other underground aquatic horrors, take the boat tour (which includes the walking tour). Picture a giant aquatic monstrosity bursting out of the waters at the bottom of this deep, dark, dank pit and get a feeling for just how doomed you'd be.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWRGqEK_I7UUzQVF-ge1yR9z1Y51CT67OO01m8UNZcpjT8mcpDaNYYg2gWFa9LeNgn43PD_ITSVGDPJSn8XFQNnQ1k6RhBks1S25IsRWufDmHos7PCnLvMoytW5QxudCxqLLos8lcL3zK/s1600-h/DragonInMine.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWRGqEK_I7UUzQVF-ge1yR9z1Y51CT67OO01m8UNZcpjT8mcpDaNYYg2gWFa9LeNgn43PD_ITSVGDPJSn8XFQNnQ1k6RhBks1S25IsRWufDmHos7PCnLvMoytW5QxudCxqLLos8lcL3zK/s320/DragonInMine.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354615692698389362" border="0" /></a>This was the closest thing I've ever seen to a standard D&D dungeon. Granted, there were no 10' x 10' rooms with red dragons in them, but what surprised me was the opposite extreme. All the rooms were <span style="font-weight: bold;">huge</span>, and there were no natural caverns. Everything had been dug out over nearly a century by men, mules and machines. The tour guide said this was a "room and pillar" style mine dug completely from solid rock. It was astounding how much space had been carved out. Any dragon would have felt right at home in this place. It even had distinct levels (five of 'em). They have a <a href="http://www.2dive.com/pictures/archive/?detectflash=false&">slide show</a>. The second image will give you a sense of the scale.<br /><br />According to the guides, the mine extends out over about a 3 mile by 3 mile area. Suddenly the huge cities of the D&D underdark don't seem so far fetched. And the whole structure of the place, with gigantic stone pillars holding up the ceilings of these gargantuan rooms, reminded me of the mines of Moria in the Fellowship of the Ring movie. I'd always thought that place looked way too big to be true, but there I was standing somewhere that looked awfully similar.<br /><br />Highly recommended as a field trip. Take your whole group and let them get a feel for crawling the underdark in real life. If you and/or your group are exceedingly crazy, you can sign up to go <a href="http://www.iidscuba.com/localdives.bonneterre.html">scuba diving in the mine</a>.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-18871591926470445162009-07-04T19:00:00.006-05:002009-07-04T21:15:09.338-05:00Why, that's a Greholdusa!I only got one comment on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-what-heck_16.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>, but it inspired me so I'm going to run with it. The result is the greholdusa, the offspring of... well, probably best not to think about it too hard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistH3Ggt7qupRcIAQzdFylHMxm1goeyb4jRGxpKm8yyRGmKTvbOsGkCWzRQY_kA5hHMaYSH2lnyMZTefo1HpcedAyp8WMzhQkAFj85vawT6Rvpaade_vOTNXkGfCfzGNZNV6kuellP966t/s1600-h/Greholdusa.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistH3Ggt7qupRcIAQzdFylHMxm1goeyb4jRGxpKm8yyRGmKTvbOsGkCWzRQY_kA5hHMaYSH2lnyMZTefo1HpcedAyp8WMzhQkAFj85vawT6Rvpaade_vOTNXkGfCfzGNZNV6kuellP966t/s320/Greholdusa.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354615335207659362" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Scott for his ideas (and the name), which have been mashed together with a couple of my own to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Greholdusa<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">A greholdusa looks like the offspring of a grell, a beholder, and a medusa.</span> It's probably as confused as you are.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 6 Controller<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greholdusa</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 250</div>Medium aberrant magical beast<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +7 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +6; darkvision<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 72; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 36<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 20; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 18, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 19, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 19<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immune</span> petrification<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 1 (clumsy), fly 6 (hover)<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tentacle Bite</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span><br /></div>+11 vs. AC; 1d6 + 2 damage, and the greholdusa makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack</span>: +8 vs. Fortitude; the target is slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">First Failed Save</span>: The target is immobilized instead of slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">Second Failed Save</span>: The target is petrified (no save).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tentacle Grab</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div>+10 vs. Fortitude; 1d6 + 2 damage, and the target is grabbed. The greholdusa can grab only one creature at a time.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Vicious Bite</span> (minor 1/round; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span></div>Grabbed target only; +11 vs. AC; 1d10 + 2 damage, and the greholdusa makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack</span>: +10 vs. Fortitude; the target is slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">First Failed Save</span>: The target is immobilized instead of slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">Second Failed Save</span>: The target is petrified (no save).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">R<span style="font-weight: bold;">Central Eye</span> (minor; at-will)<br /></div>Ranged 5; +10 vs. Will; the target is dazed until the end of the greholdusa’s next turn.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> Deep Speech<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Stealth +12<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 14 (+5) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 18 (+7) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 16 (+6)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 16 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 14 (+5) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 19 (+7)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Greholdusa Tactics<br /></div>A greholdusa grabs one target at a time, releasing them once it uses <span style="font-style: italic;">vicious bite</span> on them, and then repeats on a different target.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 12 Soldier</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greholdusa Scourge</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 700<br /></div>Medium aberrant magical beast</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +13 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +10; darkvision<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 123; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 61<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 28; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 24, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 25, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 26<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immune</span> petrification<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 1 (clumsy), fly 6 (hover)<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tentacle Bite</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span><br /></div>+19 vs. AC; 1d8 + 3 damage, and the greholdusa makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack</span>: +15 vs. Fortitude; the target is slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">First Failed Save</span>: The target is immobilized instead of slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">Second Failed Save</span>: The target is petrified (no save). <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tentacle Grab</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div> +17 vs. Fortitude; 1d8 + 3 damage, and the target is grabbed. The greholdusa can grab only one creature at a time. <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Vicious Bite</span> (minor 1/round; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span></div> Grabbed target only; +19 vs. AC; 2d6 + 3 damage, and the greholdusa makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack</span>: +17 vs. Fortitude; the target is slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">First Failed Save</span>: The target is immobilized instead of slowed (save ends). <span style="font-style: italic;">Second Failed Save</span>: The target is petrified (no save).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">R<span style="font-weight: bold;">Central Eye</span> (minor; at-will)<br /></div>Ranged 5; +17 vs. Will; the target is slowed until the end of the greholdusa’s next turn. If the target is hit by the secondary attack of either of the greholdusa scourge’s bite attacks while slowed, it is immobilized instead of slowed and considered to have failed its first save.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> Deep Speech<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Stealth +16<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 21 (+11) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 18 (+10)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 19 (+10) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 22 (+12)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Greholdusa Scourge Tactics<br /></div>A greholdusa scourge uses <span style="font-style: italic;">central eye</span> and then <span style="font-style: italic;">tentacle grab</span> on one target at a time, releasing them once it uses <span style="font-style: italic;">vicious bite</span>, and then repeats on a different target.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Greholdusa Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Dungeoneering check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 15:</span> Greholdusae are horrific creatures that combine the eye rays of a beholder, the grasping tentacles of a grell and the petrifying power of a medusa.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 20:</span> The eye ray of a greholdusa scourge begins the petrification process and the poisonous bite finishes the job.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Greholdusae bring together the three creature types they're related to, spawning horrifically evil plots.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 7 Encounter (XP 1,500)</span><br />* 2 greholdusae (level 6 controller)<br />* 1 grell (level 7 elite soldier)<br />* 1 beholder gauth (level 5 elite artillery)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 13 Encounter (XP 4,200)</span><br />* 2 greholdusa scourges (level 12 soldier)<br />* 1 medusa warrior (level 13 elite soldier)<br />* 1 grell philosopher (level 11 elite controller)<br /></blockquote>It would sure be nice to get more than one comment on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-what-heck.html">this week's What the Heck</a> (hint hint).Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-21029505366725687452009-07-04T10:00:00.002-05:002009-07-04T10:06:05.561-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-sixth installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaABBLiiW7obfMPPy7JizWQfNEfDLGaxnga1E9agU2FFCXY4rcsYOSttUK5J2jx11SmGEjqCUaNizKkmh5b_lseVBeNB72G2haWDBq-BT6Z5roiEuy5Tjot41qNA2E8-jSl-w_5UGg5jKp/s1600-h/OneLegBird.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaABBLiiW7obfMPPy7JizWQfNEfDLGaxnga1E9agU2FFCXY4rcsYOSttUK5J2jx11SmGEjqCUaNizKkmh5b_lseVBeNB72G2haWDBq-BT6Z5roiEuy5Tjot41qNA2E8-jSl-w_5UGg5jKp/s320/OneLegBird.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336428791866602930" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? Can it fly or just hop really well?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-80562908705396369262009-06-27T19:00:00.001-05:002009-06-27T23:34:06.587-05:00Why, that's a Stumper!There was only one comment on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-what-heck_13.html">the "Weekly What the Heck" from two weeks ago</a>, even after I extended it. I'm going to call it done and write something up. Hopefully <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-what-heck_27.html">this morning's illustration</a> will fire more imaginations than the poor mustached squirrel guy did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgj0H8PGc_UY0PafIpYm4YgodAnUdG9tzPLw-yj8uOMuMqjCXr-wiEYyNSC3LHfyW-UQ81di9ou4n_QbNYm1wW0-8NMWvtJdhvEinvBUzOFilGrZatnX2_gkPNfkbDfH95vauqT4kSrrPe/s1600-h/Stumper.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgj0H8PGc_UY0PafIpYm4YgodAnUdG9tzPLw-yj8uOMuMqjCXr-wiEYyNSC3LHfyW-UQ81di9ou4n_QbNYm1wW0-8NMWvtJdhvEinvBUzOFilGrZatnX2_gkPNfkbDfH95vauqT4kSrrPe/s320/Stumper.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351459689790529282" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper for his ideas, which have been mashed together with some brainstorming by me and the missus to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Stumper<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">These curious fey creatures befuddle travelers with their strange ramblings</span> and enjoy watching their confusion.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 8 Controller<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stumper</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 350</div>Small fey magical beast<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +9 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +5; low-light vision<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 89; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 44<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 22; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 19, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 21, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 19<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 6, climb 6<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Spur Kick</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div>+13 vs. AC; 2d6 + 2 damage.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Kick to the Jimmy</span> (standard; encounter) </div>+12 vs. Fortitude; 3d10 + 5 damage and the target is dazed (save ends). Male humanoid targets are stunned instead of dazed.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Stumping Drawl</span> (free, once on its turn before it takes other actions; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Psychic</span><br /></div>Close burst 3; deafened creatures are immune; +9 vs. Will; the target is dazed until the end of the stumper’s next turn.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> Elven<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Athletics +11, Arcana +14, Stealth +14<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 15 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 20 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 13 (+5)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 17 (+7) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 20 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 17 (+7)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Stumper Tactics<br /></div>A stumper moves among its enemies, hoping to daze as many as possible with its <span style="font-style: italic;">stumping drawl</span>.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Stumper Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Arcana check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 15:</span> Stumpers enjoy sowing confusion in mortals unfortunate enough to cross their paths.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Stumpers are often found near other fey beasts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 9 Encounter (XP 1,900)</span><br />* 2 stumpers (level 8 controller)<br />* 3 displacer beasts (level 9 skirmisher)</blockquote>No really, Ripper's comment is in there - Wild West and cowboy boots became the drawl and the spurs.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-66483547223936233432009-06-27T10:00:00.002-05:002009-06-27T23:33:46.172-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-fifth installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPjxfxJ1qDQ_-XcG62jKPufj-vaT2YWFjExOHh4Pa-RnN0QMrUmL9S5jv0mF811zGet7XK5K7ZGlF-jlfw96UfASEc6gJHzMkRLwgUMCnlzXh_g88eSI3HdsWbxUqYZxn3JSlFQrlCZgG/s1600-h/TentacleChicken.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPjxfxJ1qDQ_-XcG62jKPufj-vaT2YWFjExOHh4Pa-RnN0QMrUmL9S5jv0mF811zGet7XK5K7ZGlF-jlfw96UfASEc6gJHzMkRLwgUMCnlzXh_g88eSI3HdsWbxUqYZxn3JSlFQrlCZgG/s320/TentacleChicken.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336427583119613826" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? How does it decide whether to grab you with pincers or tentacles?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-46778355599083200982009-06-20T10:00:00.004-05:002009-06-20T10:00:28.379-05:00Why, that's still a Yuan-ti Rampant! Kind of...There's only one comment so far on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-what-heck_13.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>, so I'm leaving it up for another week to see if I can get any more. Since <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-thats-yuan-ti-rampant.html">last week's monster</a> seemed pretty popular, and I got a great suggestion for a variant, I'm going to stat that up instead for this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GNdhCkk1I4-3DyKNOyOAWZdHBRPtH4HRX9i2Vn9SFndoJn1C_CxuJHRmL2_37mkVY7vSwyQIj1yJA-169MwhTAinm2gT-hKpkVrszDg_nlVoG6IIESIrPsgZ8F4YBF3MFBuxvcw11-Tl/s1600-h/YuanTiRestrainer.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GNdhCkk1I4-3DyKNOyOAWZdHBRPtH4HRX9i2Vn9SFndoJn1C_CxuJHRmL2_37mkVY7vSwyQIj1yJA-169MwhTAinm2gT-hKpkVrszDg_nlVoG6IIESIrPsgZ8F4YBF3MFBuxvcw11-Tl/s320/YuanTiRestrainer.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349419300119510530" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper and ChaoticBlackSheep for the idea:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Restrainer<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">A yuan-ti restrainer is created by a ritual</span> known to the yuan-ti malisons. It is usually performed on snaketongue cultists, implanting the restrainer seed in them which gestates and eventually hatches into a completely snakelike creature.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 13 Minion<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snaketongue Restrainer</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 200<br /></div>Medium natural humanoid<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +9 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +8<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 29; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 25, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 24, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 23<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 6<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bite</span> (standard; at-will)</div>+19 vs. AC; 6 damage, and the target is grabbed (until escape). The snaketongue restrainer can grab only one creature at a time.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Constrict</span> (standard; at-will)</div>Affects a target the snaketongue restrainer has grabbed; +17 vs. Fortitude; 12 damage. <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid Blood </span>(when reduced to 0 hit points) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid</span></div>Close burst 1; automatic hit; 6 acid damage, and ongoing 3 acid damage (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Chaotic Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 19 (+10) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 15 (+8)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 10 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 11 (+6)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Snaketongue Restrainer Tactics<br /></div>Snaketongue restrainers are usually crazed with the pain of the transformation and attack mindlessly.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 14 Soldier</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yuan-ti Restrainer</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 1,000<br /></div>Medium natural magical beast (blind, reptile)<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +14 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +12; blindsight 10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 140; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 70; see also <span style="font-style: italic;">acid blood</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 30; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 27, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 26, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 26<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 7, climb 7<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bite</span> (standard; at-will)</div>+21 vs. AC; 2d6 + 6 damage, and the target is grabbed (until escape). The yuan-ti restrainer can grab only one creature at a time. <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Constrict</span> (standard; at-will)</div> Affects a target the yuan-ti restrainer has grabbed; +19 vs. Fortitude; 2d8 + 12 damage, and the target is dazed until the end of the yuan-ti restrainer’s next turn. <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid Blood </span>(when first bloodied; encounter) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid</span></div>Close burst 1; automatic hit; 3d8 acid damage, and ongoing 10 acid damage (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Chaotic Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 23 (+13) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 20 (+12) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 20 (+12)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 20 (+12) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 8 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 8 (+6)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Restrainer Tactics<br /></div>A yuan-ti restrainer singles out prey even in the middle of large groups. The restrainer bites its chosen victim, grabs him, and then tries to squeeze him to death in subsequent rounds.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Restrainer Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 20:</span> A yuan-ti restrainer gestates inside a humanoid, gradually transforming it into a fully reptilian creature. In the final stage of gestation the few remaining vestiges of mammalian tissue are shed violently.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 25</span>: The yuan-ti restrainer has acidic blood that burns those who dare to harm it.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Yuan-ti encounters usually consist of a mixed group of yuanti malisons, yuan-ti rampants, yuan-ti restrainers, and snaketongue cultists.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 12 Encounter (XP 3,500)</span><br />* 2 snaketongue restrainers (level 13 minion)<br />* 2 snaketongue rampants (level 13 minion)<br />* 1 yuan-ti abomination (level 14 soldier)<br />* 1 snaketongue celebrant (level 11 controller)<br />* 4 snaketongue zealots (level 12 minion)<br />* 1 snaketongue assassin (level 9 lurker)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 14 Encounter (XP 5,000)</span><br />* 2 yuan-ti restrainers (level 14 soldier)<br />* 1 yuan-ti rampant (level 14 skirmisher)<br />* 1 yuan-ti malison sharp-eye (level 13 artillery)<br />* 3 snaketongue restrainers (level 13 minion)<br />* 3 snaketongue rampants (level 13 minion)<br /></blockquote>Yes, I'm being kinda lazy this week. Sue me (or, better, go leave lots of comments on <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-what-heck_13.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>).Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-80193924531937886972009-06-13T19:00:00.002-05:002009-06-13T19:00:06.388-05:00Why, that's a Yuan-Ti Rampant!The final comments are in from <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-what-heck.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>. The result is the yuan-ti rampant, a fairly disgusting reptilian thing that gestates inside a humanoid host before bursting out in a whirlwind of acid and nasty pointy teeth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEY_G7KeKJTEDkXWzhpY0xFEn6Qjk0zSR2jOfIIDnMjNb2Lj30j_En00RdhbUEmyTx8y-5Gh8nVq-Ml1sCseRQD-4s7oJ0DH23jxpNFC8uS9GVkV26sg9aTBhAuh0teI4BGEREdraTcop/s1600-h/YuanTiRampant.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEY_G7KeKJTEDkXWzhpY0xFEn6Qjk0zSR2jOfIIDnMjNb2Lj30j_En00RdhbUEmyTx8y-5Gh8nVq-Ml1sCseRQD-4s7oJ0DH23jxpNFC8uS9GVkV26sg9aTBhAuh0teI4BGEREdraTcop/s320/YuanTiRampant.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346818359995942210" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper, d7, joeskythedungeonbrawler and Scott (with special thanks to Ripper for the name) for their ideas, all of which have been mashed together to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Rampant<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">A yuan-ti rampant is created by a ritual</span> known to the yuan-ti malisons. It is usually performed on snaketongue cultists, implanting the rampant seed in them which gestates and eventually hatches into a completely snakelike creature.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 13 Minion<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snaketongue Rampant</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 200<br /></div>Medium natural humanoid<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +9 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +8<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 27; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 25, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 24, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 23<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 6<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bite</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>+18 vs. AC; 6 damage, and the snaketongue rampant makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack:</span> +16 vs. Fortitude; ongoing 3 poison damage (save ends). <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid Blood </span>(when reduced to 0 hit points) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid</span></div>Close burst 1; automatic hit; 6 acid damage, and ongoing 3 acid damage (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Chaotic Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 19 (+10) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 15 (+8)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 16 (+9) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 10 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 11 (+6)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Snaketongue Rampant Tactics<br /></div>Snaketongue rampants are usually crazed with the pain of the transformation and attack mindlessly.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 14 Skirmisher</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yuan-ti Rampant</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 1,000<br /></div>Medium natural magical beast (blind, reptile)<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +14 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +12; blindsight 10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 140; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 70; see also <span style="font-style: italic;">acid blood</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 28; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 27, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 26, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 26<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 7, climb 7<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bite</span> (standard; at-will) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Poison</span></div>+19 vs. AC; 1d8 + 6 damage, and the yuan-ti rampant makes a secondary attack against the same target. <span style="font-style: italic;">Secondary Attack:</span> +18 vs. Fortitude; 1d10 poison damage, and ongoing 10 poison damage (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Spinning Frenzy</span> (standard; at-will)</div>The yuan-ti rampant shifts up to 4 squares and makes two basic melee attacks. <div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid Blood </span>(when first bloodied; encounter) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acid</span></div>Close burst 1; automatic hit; 3d8 acid damage, and ongoing 10 acid damage (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Chaotic Evil <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 23 (+13) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 20 (+12) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 20 (+12)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 20 (+12) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 8 (+6) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 8 (+6)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Rampant Tactics<br /></div>A yuan-ti rampant whirls around the battlefield with <span style="font-style: italic;">spinning frenzy</span>, changing targets as often as possible to spread its poison damage around. It tries to stay adjacent to multiple enemies at all times so its acid blood will catch as many targets as possible.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Yuan-ti Rampant Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 20:</span> A yuan-ti rampant gestates inside a humanoid, gradually transforming it into a fully reptilian creature. In the final stage of gestation the few remaining vestiges of mammalian tissue are shed violently.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 25</span>: The yuan-ti rampant has acidic blood that burns those who dare to harm it.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Yuan-ti encounters usually consist of a mixed group of yuanti malisons, yuan-ti rampants, and snaketongue cultists.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 12 Encounter (XP 3,500)</span><br />* 4 snaketongue rampants (level 13 minion)<br />* 1 yuan-ti abomination (level 14 soldier)<br />* 1 snaketongue celebrant (level 11 controller)<br />* 4 snaketongue zealots (level 12 minion)<br />* 1 snaketongue assassin (level 9 lurker)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 14 Encounter (XP 5,025)</span><br />* 2 yuan-ti rampants (level 14 skirmisher)<br />* 1 yuan-ti abomination (level 14 soldier)<br />* 1 yuan-ti malison sharp-eye (level 13 artillery)<br />* 7 snaketongue zealots (level 12 minion)<br /></blockquote>Is the rampant ritual a blessing or a curse? Depends on the recipient's point of view, I guess...Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-56043323672746943052009-06-13T10:00:00.002-05:002009-06-13T10:00:06.309-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-fourth installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMmaxQtrROFP06vC-cgct8X5m2boiQlPEKSuJCtThaSK-6-Hf5gJzpP0xBSMfqYSk5eDLH-Akc9QnPnXEgybVQ2rAqCDqhrGFae1eElkIErqbZ6_qOv0FvfnEAz_vvKu4z3I1evAAtnpP/s1600-h/SquirrelDude.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMmaxQtrROFP06vC-cgct8X5m2boiQlPEKSuJCtThaSK-6-Hf5gJzpP0xBSMfqYSk5eDLH-Akc9QnPnXEgybVQ2rAqCDqhrGFae1eElkIErqbZ6_qOv0FvfnEAz_vvKu4z3I1evAAtnpP/s320/SquirrelDude.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336427119258595490" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? Which is deadlier, the eyebrows or the moustache?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-84026765404203989362009-06-06T19:00:00.003-05:002009-06-06T19:00:05.957-05:00Why, that's a Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish!The final comments are in from <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-what-heck_30.html">last week's "Weekly What the Heck"</a>. The result is the sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish, a creature that swims through the earth and is considered a tasty snack by the bulette.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMqPpf2XwYhkW6P2BgU3yBYwjuP6OO1r8vSOXrxHrA0wl-Cyn703inaoauOgWMfYVad7BtwDW0VPBh6s7q3o44rf6iok8xhOZPdOlNaEmPg9O6W_wOsPpduDtGu-U4pa6vm5Pue0DjmCv/s1600-h/ScintillatingHammerheadFish.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMqPpf2XwYhkW6P2BgU3yBYwjuP6OO1r8vSOXrxHrA0wl-Cyn703inaoauOgWMfYVad7BtwDW0VPBh6s7q3o44rf6iok8xhOZPdOlNaEmPg9O6W_wOsPpduDtGu-U4pa6vm5Pue0DjmCv/s320/ScintillatingHammerheadFish.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344214240513678162" border="0" /></a>I'd like to thank Ripper and Scott (with special thanks to Ripper for the name) for their ideas, all of which have been mashed together to create:<blockquote><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish<br /></div><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Generally harmless, these elemental earth creatures</span> can become dangerous when frightened by predators, lashing out at anything nearby.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 8 Lurker<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 350</div>Medium elemental beast (earth)<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +11 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +9; tremorsense 10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 71; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 35<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 22; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 19, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 19, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 21<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 2, burrow 8<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Slam</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div>+13 vs. AC; 2d6 + 3 damage.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Earthcrest Charge</span> (standard; at-will) </div>Before it attacks, the sextuple-finned hammerhead fish can burrow up to its speed and make a running long jump (as a free action) without provoking opportunity attacks; +14 vs. AC; 2d6 + 6 damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Earthshock</span> (standard; recharge 6)</div>Close burst 2; +11 vs. Fortitude; 1d8 + 5 damage, and the target is pushed 1 square and knocked prone.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Athletics +12, Stealth +12<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 17 (+7) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 17 (+7) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 20 (+9)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 17 (+7) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 2 (+0) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 16 (+7)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish Tactics<br /></div>A sextuple-finned hammerhead fish goaded into battle will flail about madly, using <span style="font-style: italic;">earthshock</span> as often as possible but otherwise leaping from target to target with <span style="font-style: italic;">earthcrest charge</span>.<br /><br /><div style="width: 400px;"><div style="background-color: green; color: white;"><div style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">Level 17 Controller</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish</span><br /><div style="float: right; text-align: right;">XP 1,600<br /></div>Medium elemental beast (earth)</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Initiative</span> +13 <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 20px;">Senses</span> Perception +15; tremorsense 10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HP</span> 165; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloodied</span> 82<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AC</span> 31; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortitude</span> 28, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflex</span> 28, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will</span> 30<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Speed</span> 2, burrow 8<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">m<span style="font-weight: bold;">Slam</span> (standard; at-will)<br /></div>+22 vs. AC; 2d8 + 5 damage.<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">Earthcrest Charge</span> (standard; at-will) </div>Before it attacks, the sextuple-finned hammerhead fish can burrow up to its speed and make a running long jump (as a free action) without provoking opportunity attacks; +23 vs. AC; 2d8 + 8 damage.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Earthshock</span> (standard; recharge 6)</div>Close burst 2; +20 vs. Fortitude; 1d10 + 7 damage, and the target is pushed 2 squares and knocked prone.<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);">C<span style="font-weight: bold;">Scintillating Burst</span> (standard; recharge 5 6) * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiant</span></div>Close burst 3; sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish are immune; +19 vs. Fortitude; 3d8 radiant damage, and the target is dazed (save ends).<div style="background-color: rgb(218, 217, 198);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alignment</span> Unaligned <span style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 50px;">Languages</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span> Athletics +18, Stealth +18<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Str</span> 21 (+13) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dex</span> 21 (+13) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wis</span> 24 (+15)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Con</span> 21 (+13) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Int</span> 2 (+4) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cha</span> 18 (+12)</div></div><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish Tactics<br /></div>A sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish uses the same tactics as a sextuple-finned hammerhead fish, with the addition of preferring <span style="font-style: italic;">scintillating burst</span> over <span style="font-style: italic;">earthshock</span> when both are available.<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish Lore<br /></div>A character knows the following information with a successful Arcana check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC 15:</span> The sextuple-finned hammerhead fish "swims" through earth, leaving no tunnel behind, and congregates in schools. Its greatest natural predator is of course the bulette, or "land shark".<br /><br /><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: x-large;">Encounter Groups<br /></div>Sextuple-finned hammerhead fishs are often found in small schools. They are usually only dangerous when fleeing a predator.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 9 Encounter (XP 2,200)</span><br />* 4 sextuple-finned hammerhead fish (level 8 lurker)<br />* 1 bulette (level 9 elite skirmisher)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Level 18 Encounter (XP 10,400)</span><br />* 4 sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish (level 17 controller)<br />* 1 dire bulette (level 18 elite skirmisher)</blockquote>I feel like I should write some kind of "Ecology of the Bulette" post where these guys play a prominent part. Some Steve Irwin-style D&D naturalist is out in the field...<br />"That rumbling is the approach of the bulette, or land shark. Sounds like a big one, must be quite a beauty. Here she comes, let's see WAIT, WHAT ARE THESE THINGS? AGH, THE LIGHT, IT BURNS!"<br />Nature check - success. Arcana check - FAIL.Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3218145846699814395.post-50305049378473622812009-06-06T10:00:00.002-05:002009-06-06T10:00:08.781-05:00Weekly What the HeckWelcome to the thirty-third installment of my regular feature here at the Near TPK. With continuing apologies to one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.thedailywtf.com/">the Daily WTF</a>, I present... The Weekly What The Heck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MJk3VdT-BRHl82LKdR2n43ItwTP2a0F09N5rOUNcjyJAKHYta92rOshKEG59YMzl1SSlC7Prg3OWPzTrxgWHigwcQ16sNvRoSgMkd70D9RL9LfdsbN_P-XhSoI27MUYO5xcRTF227OJC/s1600-h/EyelessSnake.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MJk3VdT-BRHl82LKdR2n43ItwTP2a0F09N5rOUNcjyJAKHYta92rOshKEG59YMzl1SSlC7Prg3OWPzTrxgWHigwcQ16sNvRoSgMkd70D9RL9LfdsbN_P-XhSoI27MUYO5xcRTF227OJC/s320/EyelessSnake.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336426559705393746" border="0" /></a>Each Saturday at 10 AM Central Time I'll post one of Jen's drawings of some kind of whacked-out creature, and ask my readers: "What the heck IS that?"<br /><br />I hope my readers will approach the challenge in the spirit of <a href="http://improvlifestyle.com/2007/09/10/the-power-of-yes-and/">"Yes, and ..."</a> - building on previous responses so everyone's ideas can be used in the final writeup. Comments are now closed on last week's entry, and I hope to have the final writeup posted tonight. Comments will be accepted on this week's entry until I post next week's entry.<br /><br />So... What the heck is that? What should it do? How does it see?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">Charles G. Wilbur (the "Proprietor") does not claim ownership of information, data, text, comments, graphics, messages or other materials ("Content") you submit or make available for inclusion on The Art of the Near TPK (the "Service"). However, with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on the Service, including without limitation comments you post to the Service, you grant the Proprietor world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive, fully sub-licensable license(s) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed.</span>Gregor LeBlaquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620241814697141868noreply@blogger.com5