Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jindl 03-11-04, 11:09 AM	Monster Fights Okay, so monster fights are becoming more common. I think this is good for the Collosseum. But I have a question to pose, regarding how monster fights are handled. Under our current system, a character challenges the monster, defeats it, and then uses an established method to control it (animate it through animate dead, tame it through handle animal, etc.) But, if you look at the fights, the monsters are at a disadvantage due to one main reason ... lack of treasure. Take Bruno's recent fight against the Storm Giant. Now, I don't know how many of you have played in high level campaigns, but my DM would never let us encounter a Storm Giant who had no equipment. Indeed, his treasure listing would have likely included several potions, gold enough to have nicer weapons, and possible some woundrous items. Having these items can make the challenge more appropriate for the creature. I think the potential to have treasure it can use is part of the CR which is assigned to a creature. So, my question to you, is should we have the Pitlord randomly roll treasure appropriate to its MM entry (using the online roller and the DMG tables) and then allow the monster to use whatever treasure it can? If the answer is yes, then the Pitlord would do this ASAP after pairings, and provide that information to the player, so that the player will know the monster's equipment while writing his own tactics (to make it the same as a PvP match). Barring any major disagreement, I plan to test this out in the Harvester #2 vs the Very Young Red Dragon fight this week. This will make a good test, as the Harvester #2 is Level 8 and the Dragon is CR 6. What are everyone's opinions on this? -Jindl
sshuit 03-11-04, 12:01 PM	Does the Monster keep this equipment after it is "domesticated?" sshuit
Jindl 03-11-04, 12:07 PM	No, and neither would the player. The equipment only exists to make the monster the appropriate level of challenge. The players wealth is already set to increase as he/she levels, so adding the monster's treasure to the player if he/she wins would be unbalancing. Again, the monster's treasure would be for the monsters use only, and only during the monster fight. -Jindl
kattattack22 03-11-04, 01:13 PM	As long as that treasure is for the monster fight only I say go for it. Might want to think about just rolling gold on the treasure table and letting the pitlord buy appropiate equipment. More work for the pitlord, but may save some headache in trying decide if something randomly rolled is worth using.
Jindl 03-11-04, 01:23 PM	I thought about letting the Pitlord buy equipment with any gold that was rolled randomly. The problem is that it allows the Pitlord to tailor the monster too much. We don't want the monster to be specialized to face a specific gladiator. Thats why just using the randomly rolled items and magic stuff is better. Its pretty easy to determine if a creature can use something in its treasure hoard. -Jindl
Tellish_of_Ket 03-11-04, 11:54 PM	I believe this is very fair. In fact, i've stated this twice in the old board, that monsters should have their hoarde represent as well. I say go for it. And Pssst! Jindl, dragons have three times the listed treasure for their CR. heheh. ;) -ToK
Moherajikuyx 03-12-04, 11:00 AM	Me likes this! :D