Beholderkin, Eyeball Swarm [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beholderkin, Eyeball Swarm [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
primemover003
05-01-07, 07:04 PM Has anyone ever put together a Swarm of Eyeballs? How would you handle their Eye Spell rays??? I'm trying to put together an adventure for nine 5th level PC's that will have to guard a caravan through Beholderkin infested hills. So far the Gauth is a for sure opponent and I'm thinking several lurking stranglers could make an interesting distraction... but a swarm of Eyeballs would be a nice opponent that my 9 PC's couldn't gang up on, especially the Fighter and Grappling monk.
primemover003
05-02-07, 10:21 PM What nobody digging the thought of 1,000 diminutive beholders swarming all over people??? I want to have them inhabit a sub-alpine forest of twisted dwarf pines (krummholz) where several Gas Spores (LoM) grow. If the PC's draw the Gas Spores and attack them the resulting BOOM will spook the mini-beholders into grouping up and then once they spot the PC's it's on! So it's kind of a Trap/Wandering monster planned encounter.

I just need some advice on how to adapt their eye beams to a swarm.
Return of the Flumph
05-02-07, 10:28 PM Its not that I'm uninterested so much as I have no idea how to do it.
OamuTheMonk
05-02-07, 11:12 PM Use normal swarm rules, where the swarm damage is based on their bite.

Then create an Extrordinary ability called "Storm of Rays." Have storm of rays affect everyone within the swarm, as well as everyone within, say, 20' of the swarm. Everyone so affected must make a Reflex save (Cha based, with a +4 racial bonus) or be hit by 1d6 rays, allowing further saves if applicable.
The Vorpal Tribble
05-03-07, 07:56 AM Haha, this looks like a cool idea. I'll get right on it :D
Rinian2
05-03-07, 10:38 AM I've always thought that the Rocket Punch was a really cool attack for giant robots even though they are literally throwing their hands away.

The first impression I had when I saw this post was that you were talking about a beholder that shot its eyes at people which seems a little less cool than a Rocket Punch.

The idea of a cloud a beholder eyes flying around is very nasty.

As far as the eyebeams go, I'd say that each of the individual eyeballs in an Eyeball Swarm would have to have the same power as the rest in that particular Swarm and the DC of the attack would go down as more of the eyeballs were destroyed. Anyone in the Swarm's area would be affected equally.

I would hate to see a Disintegration Eyeball Swarm.
primemover003
05-03-07, 12:44 PM I knew I could count on TVT...

Just as info for those who don't know... an Eyeball is a diminutive beholderkin that has 4 eye rays (mage hand, ray of frost, daze, and cause fear) but if it uses RoF or Daze it has to wait two rounds to use them again.
The Vorpal Tribble
05-03-07, 01:55 PM Beholderkin, Eyeball Swarm

Tiny Aberration (swarm)
Hit Dice: 13d8 HD (58 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square), fly 40 ft. (Good)
Armor Class: 18 (+3 dex, +1 natural, +4 size), touch 17, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/-
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, storm of rays
Special Qualities: All-around vision, flight, half damage from slashing and piercing, immunity to charm and command, swarm traits
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +8
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +17, Search +9, Spot +9
Feats: Ability Focus (cause fear), Ability focus (daze), Ability Focus (mage hand), Ability Focus (ray of frost), Lightening Reflexes
Environment: Underground
Organization: Swarm
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This appears as a great cloud of small, round objects that bounce and hover and squeak in a chaotic tumble. Chill breezes whip up from around them and dust and rocks and plants and other debris lift up and spin about them before flinging away.

Combat
Beholderkin consider all things that move both a threat and potential prey and come up to them quickly, using their storm of rays before they envelope the being.

Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a swarm’s damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 16) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check.

Storm of Rays (Su): Each round an eyeball swarm automatically strikes all within 35 feet with the effects below simultaneously 1d6 times. A new save must be made each round for each effect.
Those within the swarm's space take must make a save against these effects in addition to the swarm damage. Caster level 4th. Save DC's are Charisma-based.

Cause Fear: As the spell, will save DC 18.
Daze: As the spell, will save DC 18.
Mage Hand: As the spell.
Ray of Frost: As the spell.

Flight (Ex): An eyeball's body is naturally buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a free action, at a speed of 40 feet. This buoyancy also grants it a permanent feather fall effect with personal range.
Armoracia Rusticana
05-03-07, 02:52 PM I suppose that all rays hit automatically. Also, I'd suggest to give a kind of racial bonus to DC because effects are, well, numerous! that can easily raise CR by +1, but that doesn't seem to be a problem.
primemover003
05-03-07, 05:27 PM Storm of Rays (Su): Each round an eyeball swarm automatically strikes all within 35 feet with the effects below simultaneously 1d6 times. A new save must be made each round for each effect.
Those within the swarm's space take must make a save against these effects in addition to the swarm damage. Caster level 4th. Save DC's are Charisma-based.

Cause Fear: As the spell, will save DC 18.
Daze: As the spell, will save DC 18.
Mage Hand: As the spell.
Ray of Frost: As the spell.
I like the concept but we might need to simplify it a bit... that's a lot of dice rolling (esp since I have 6-9 PC's on a given night).

Ability focus gives us higher DC's which is good. A single Eyeball focuses on using Ray of Frost and it's entry says when in large groups half use Daze and half frost burn it's prey. Now to me that says a Burst of Daze within 35ft. and then maybe some Frostburn action within the Swarm...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
primemover003 05-01-07, 07:04 PM	Has anyone ever put together a Swarm of Eyeballs? How would you handle their Eye Spell rays??? I'm trying to put together an adventure for nine 5th level PC's that will have to guard a caravan through Beholderkin infested hills. So far the Gauth is a for sure opponent and I'm thinking several lurking stranglers could make an interesting distraction... but a swarm of Eyeballs would be a nice opponent that my 9 PC's couldn't gang up on, especially the Fighter and Grappling monk.
primemover003 05-02-07, 10:21 PM	What nobody digging the thought of 1,000 diminutive beholders swarming all over people??? I want to have them inhabit a sub-alpine forest of twisted dwarf pines (krummholz) where several Gas Spores (LoM) grow. If the PC's draw the Gas Spores and attack them the resulting BOOM will spook the mini-beholders into grouping up and then once they spot the PC's it's on! So it's kind of a Trap/Wandering monster planned encounter. I just need some advice on how to adapt their eye beams to a swarm.
Return of the Flumph 05-02-07, 10:28 PM	Its not that I'm uninterested so much as I have no idea how to do it.
OamuTheMonk 05-02-07, 11:12 PM	Use normal swarm rules, where the swarm damage is based on their bite. Then create an Extrordinary ability called "Storm of Rays." Have storm of rays affect everyone within the swarm, as well as everyone within, say, 20' of the swarm. Everyone so affected must make a Reflex save (Cha based, with a +4 racial bonus) or be hit by 1d6 rays, allowing further saves if applicable.
The Vorpal Tribble 05-03-07, 07:56 AM	Haha, this looks like a cool idea. I'll get right on it :D
Rinian2 05-03-07, 10:38 AM	I've always thought that the Rocket Punch was a really cool attack for giant robots even though they are literally throwing their hands away. The first impression I had when I saw this post was that you were talking about a beholder that shot its eyes at people which seems a little less cool than a Rocket Punch. The idea of a cloud a beholder eyes flying around is very nasty. As far as the eyebeams go, I'd say that each of the individual eyeballs in an Eyeball Swarm would have to have the same power as the rest in that particular Swarm and the DC of the attack would go down as more of the eyeballs were destroyed. Anyone in the Swarm's area would be affected equally. I would hate to see a Disintegration Eyeball Swarm.
primemover003 05-03-07, 12:44 PM	I knew I could count on TVT... Just as info for those who don't know... an Eyeball is a diminutive beholderkin that has 4 eye rays (mage hand, ray of frost, daze, and cause fear) but if it uses RoF or Daze it has to wait two rounds to use them again.
The Vorpal Tribble 05-03-07, 01:55 PM	Beholderkin, Eyeball Swarm Tiny Aberration (swarm) Hit Dice: 13d8 HD (58 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 5 ft. (1 square), fly 40 ft. (Good) Armor Class: 18 (+3 dex, +1 natural, +4 size), touch 17, flat-footed 15 Base Attack/Grapple: +9/- Attack: Swarm (3d6) Full Attack: Swarm (3d6) Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Distraction, storm of rays Special Qualities: All-around vision, flight, half damage from slashing and piercing, immunity to charm and command, swarm traits Saves: Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +8 Abilities: Str 6, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 10 Skills: Hide +17, Search +9, Spot +9 Feats: Ability Focus (cause fear), Ability focus (daze), Ability Focus (mage hand), Ability Focus (ray of frost), Lightening Reflexes Environment: Underground Organization: Swarm Challenge Rating: 7 Treasure: None Alignment: Usually neutral evil Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This appears as a great cloud of small, round objects that bounce and hover and squeak in a chaotic tumble. Chill breezes whip up from around them and dust and rocks and plants and other debris lift up and spin about them before flinging away. Combat Beholderkin consider all things that move both a threat and potential prey and come up to them quickly, using their storm of rays before they envelope the being. Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a swarm’s damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 16) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check. Storm of Rays (Su): Each round an eyeball swarm automatically strikes all within 35 feet with the effects below simultaneously 1d6 times. A new save must be made each round for each effect. Those within the swarm's space take must make a save against these effects in addition to the swarm damage. Caster level 4th. Save DC's are Charisma-based. Cause Fear: As the spell, will save DC 18. Daze: As the spell, will save DC 18. Mage Hand: As the spell. Ray of Frost: As the spell. Flight (Ex): An eyeball's body is naturally buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a free action, at a speed of 40 feet. This buoyancy also grants it a permanent feather fall effect with personal range.
Armoracia Rusticana 05-03-07, 02:52 PM	I suppose that all rays hit automatically. Also, I'd suggest to give a kind of racial bonus to DC because effects are, well, numerous! that can easily raise CR by +1, but that doesn't seem to be a problem.
primemover003 05-03-07, 05:27 PM	Storm of Rays (Su): Each round an eyeball swarm automatically strikes all within 35 feet with the effects below simultaneously 1d6 times. A new save must be made each round for each effect. Those within the swarm's space take must make a save against these effects in addition to the swarm damage. Caster level 4th. Save DC's are Charisma-based. Cause Fear: As the spell, will save DC 18. Daze: As the spell, will save DC 18. Mage Hand: As the spell. Ray of Frost: As the spell. I like the concept but we might need to simplify it a bit... that's a lot of dice rolling (esp since I have 6-9 PC's on a given night). Ability focus gives us higher DC's which is good. A single Eyeball focuses on using Ray of Frost and it's entry says when in large groups half use Daze and half frost burn it's prey. Now to me that says a Burst of Daze within 35ft. and then maybe some Frostburn action within the Swarm...