Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Candin 08-14-07, 10:48 PM	So we explored some ruins last game and came in contact with a nightwing. Good news, nobody died. We couldn't hurt the damn thing, but I was able to piece together what it was based on what innate abilities it was using (owned on the knowledge: planes check). So here's the real question: Are nightwings invisible? The Monster Manual declares them "all but invisible" and that they can only be seen because they "obscure stars in their passing". Our major problem with the nightwing is it's deeper darkness. Well, that and the fact that it's a CR 14 and we're close to 10th level. We have a Radiant Servant in our party who was absent when we explored the ruins, but he should be around next time, which should negate the darkness spell. But, the ambiguous definition still remains. Can you see nightwings in combat? I figured if it was a problem I would just nail it with a glitterdust scroll. Our general party is a cleric, a sorcerer, a fighter, a ninja, and an orc playing a PrC out of a WoW book (fighter type). Every once in a while we have one or so people come by and play, too.
Talisman 08-15-07, 12:12 AM	Flavor text does not provide mechanical benefits. Nightwings are not naturally invisible. They can become invisible 3/day, but that's a SLA. If a nightwing was always invisible, that would be a special quality, and would be listed as such. I say blast that puppy with disintegrate and various mobility-denying spells such as web and black tentacles. Conjuration spells often ignore its SR. Conjured flying monsters, not needing to worry about staying alive, can possibly force it down to ground level so your brawlers can hack it to bits. I recommend the cleric focus on buffing all the other PCs, possibly nerfing evi nightwing SLAs when necessary. The sorcerer (you, I presume) should alternate between blasting the nightwing and nerfing its darkness, if possible. The melee guys should...well, you can probably figure that out.
Candin 08-15-07, 02:07 AM	I'm 11th level, so I can't nail it with a disintegrate, yet. It's my first spell that I'm picking up when I level, though. I planned on getting it with black tentacles, too. It has a habit of summoning bad guys, and already had a couple hanging out with it at the ruins. So I figured if we went back, I'd deal with the nightwing while it's cronies were held back by the group. Hold Monster to bring it down. It doesn't fly with spells or supernatural abilities, just it's giant wings, so presumably hold monster would send it plumetting. From there I can hit it with tentacles and be done, or one of the sword chopping kinds can CdG it. I probably can't get a dispel magic off successfully. It's casting darkness as a 17th level spellcaster, putting the DC at 28. My caster bonus is +10, since I haven't been able to afford Greater Dispel Magic yet. Of course, the radiant servant should be able to counter deeper darkness with a heightened daylight spell, or some such clericy goodness.
Slagger the Chuul 08-15-07, 06:29 AM	Hold Monster to bring it down. It doesn't fly with spells or supernatural abilities, just it's giant wings, so presumably hold monster would send it plumetting. From there I can hit it with tentacles and be done, or one of the sword chopping kinds can CdG it. Hold monster is mind-affecting and only affects living targets, so it won't be of any use against an undead like the nightwing. It's probably not trying too hard to work with Evard's black tentacles, either. The creature is too big and strong for them to have a good chance of grappling it. The other bad news is that nightshades tend to resist spells pretty well, and that's very bad news if you're attacking them as a lower-level group. Your best bet is to unload with spells that don't allow resistance or use your abilities to help the other party members. If you have fly, you can use it to put your fighting types up on the nightwing's level, or you can allow the rest of the party more freedom to attack directly by using your spells to blast away the undead it summons. While the nightshade has strong defenses, its strongest attack powers are limited in use so it mostly attacks with its bite. If you can counter a shot or two from its most serious firepower, your fighters should be able wear it down with some basic hacking and slashing. An appropriate Knowledge check should tell you what weapons will be best for injuring it, and solid healing support from your cleric is a must. In summary; fend off the dangerous spells, use your own magic to blast its summoned undead, and hack it to bits.
King-bargh 08-18-07, 11:27 AM	How about running like hell? If your DM is anything like me some creatures are better to avoid.
Slagger the Chuul 08-18-07, 12:36 PM	How about running like hell? If your DM is anything like me some creatures are better to avoid. The nightwing is pretty tough, but its offensive powers aren't all that dangerous for a creature of its Challenge Rating. It can fire off a grand total of two spells that are of real danger to the party and summon a small handful undead, after which it has to fall back on its other abilities, which are all kind of crappy for its CR. Even the group described in this case has access (through their cleric) to spells for protection against its most dangerous attacks. Their only real difficulty is making sure that the nightwing doesn't dispel their defenses before they use them (a danger that the right tactics can completely negate for its most deadly attack).