Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Will Brandiman 08-21-03, 06:29 AM	I'm running a campaign and the party consists of: Human Sor2 Elf Rgr3 Elf Clr3 Elf Mnk3 Elf Ftr3 None of the characters have exceptional stats (we rolled straight 3d6 but with a minimum score of 10), and there are no magic weapons and very few other magic items, certainly nothing more than potions and scrolls. A Banelar is a CR5 monster and I'm thinking of using it as the leader of the local Zhentarim. By the time the party reaches the Banelar they will have gone through all its minions so I expect they will have advanced another level each and may have some minor magic items. But I was looking at the Banelar stats and abilities and I simply cannot see how the party could even survive, let alone win. It's got the spells of a Clr6 and a Wiz6, it's got decent saves, fast healing, poison etc. AC isn't brilliant but that can easily be bumped with Shield, Mage Armour etc. Most of the party use longbows so a simple Protection From Arrows will negate most of their offensive abilities. A fly spell and a couple of fireballs and it would seem that I will have an almost certain TPK on my hands. Before I throw this thing at my players can I ask if anyone else has used this monster and whether they think it is too hard for its CR? Am I missing something? Thanks!
the_heart 08-21-03, 07:27 AM	played properly a banelar will kick a** over that party without even pausing for breath. i put one against my party of 5th level chars, average+ magic and high stats(standard array and then add four +2 boosts)and it trounced them six ways from sunday...twice. even knowing what it was like they still got caned...although to be honest they deserved to get trounced the second time as they didn't learn a thing... naturally i loved every minute of it...
Will Brandiman 08-21-03, 07:30 AM	Really? Damn! I'm thinking I should probably save the Banelar for later and maybe come up with something a little less dangerous for this encounter. So what do you think a Banelar's CR should really be?
the_heart 08-21-03, 07:59 AM	not sure, i keep meaning to playtest it at about CR7 but haven't got round to it...also bear in mind that the group i play with aren't the brightest of players...they really did make all the same mistakes the second time around....including not realising the fact that he was using illusions of himself whilst hiding invisibly!!! not quite as stupid as i make it sound. they are just fairly forthright and don't handle subtlety well...