Bloodhulks (MMIV), Overpowered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bloodhulks (MMIV), Overpowered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tetujin
03-11-07, 01:06 AM As an actual encounter I might be inclined to up the CR a bit, but the real issue I fear is having once as a PC. I'm playing a necromancer right now (Age of Worms, playing Filge as a Death Master 13, it's complicated). Hypothetically a 10th level cleric in a Desecrated area could raise Bloodhulk Crushers (Huge), which leads me to believe that even a 20HD undead who counts has having twice as many HD isn't enough. The Corpsecrafter feat brings his STR up to 47, exactly the same as a Great Wyrm Gold Dragon, and two points higher than the Big T, it would also bring his HP up to 320 (About half of the two previous examples). All this a CR 8. Thoughts?

EDIT: Just did the math. Crushers have a Light Load of 12.8 Tons.
hreslingozer
03-11-07, 01:52 AM Our 9th level party just fought 2 bloodhulk giants (CR6) and a necromancer (CR9) -- should have been tough but something we could handle.

They pulverized us. If it wasn't for Deux ex Machina by the DM, it would have been a TPK.

Needless to say, considering we are a party designed to kill undead, things would have went worse if we were a regular party.

Yes, bloodhulk looks a little out of balance from where I stand.
Rjo
03-11-07, 05:19 AM I've never ran an encounter with Bloodhulks, nor been a player in one, but I don't see them being too far off their CR. They are so front loaded, once a group knows their gimmick they shouldn't be tough to handle; unless you're in a tight area a slow spell makes them almost useless. I can see maybe bumping up the Crusher to CR 9 since I would say it's comparable to a Triceratops (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dinosaur.htm#triceratops). But again, this is without any in game experience with Bllodhulks.

Hypothetically a 10th level cleric in a Desecrated area could raise Bloodhulk Crushers (Huge)

Certainly there's a lot of easy abuse of clerics raising dead, but like in other cases DM planning can keep things in check. Creating Bloodhulks requires the corpse of the proper size, and the blood of three recently slain creatures of the same size. Not many encounters will leave a cleric with access to four huge corpses.
Tetujin
03-12-07, 09:02 PM Not many encounters will leave a cleric with access to four huge corpses.

Munchkiny example, sure, but what about Lesser Planar Binding for three Fiendish Giant Sharks? Just stand pretty far back and wait for them to suffocate. And you can use the blood from bodies of smaller creatures at the usual exchange rate (4 Medium = 2 Large = 1 Huge), so a few normal encounters and a bag of holding would work too.
Angelflesh
03-12-07, 09:22 PM Munchkiny example, sure, but what about Lesser Planar Binding for three Fiendish Giant Sharks? Just stand pretty far back and wait for them to suffocate. And you can use the blood from bodies of smaller creatures at the usual exchange rate (4 Medium = 2 Large = 1 Huge), so a few normal encounters and a bag of holding would work too.

You need to read the entry because it doesn't work like that. It states "Three recently slain creatures the same size as the potential Bloodhulk."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tetujin 03-11-07, 01:06 AM	As an actual encounter I might be inclined to up the CR a bit, but the real issue I fear is having once as a PC. I'm playing a necromancer right now (Age of Worms, playing Filge as a Death Master 13, it's complicated). Hypothetically a 10th level cleric in a Desecrated area could raise Bloodhulk Crushers (Huge), which leads me to believe that even a 20HD undead who counts has having twice as many HD isn't enough. The Corpsecrafter feat brings his STR up to 47, exactly the same as a Great Wyrm Gold Dragon, and two points higher than the Big T, it would also bring his HP up to 320 (About half of the two previous examples). All this a CR 8. Thoughts? EDIT: Just did the math. Crushers have a Light Load of 12.8 Tons.
hreslingozer 03-11-07, 01:52 AM	Our 9th level party just fought 2 bloodhulk giants (CR6) and a necromancer (CR9) -- should have been tough but something we could handle. They pulverized us. If it wasn't for Deux ex Machina by the DM, it would have been a TPK. Needless to say, considering we are a party designed to kill undead, things would have went worse if we were a regular party. Yes, bloodhulk looks a little out of balance from where I stand.
Rjo 03-11-07, 05:19 AM	I've never ran an encounter with Bloodhulks, nor been a player in one, but I don't see them being too far off their CR. They are so front loaded, once a group knows their gimmick they shouldn't be tough to handle; unless you're in a tight area a slow spell makes them almost useless. I can see maybe bumping up the Crusher to CR 9 since I would say it's comparable to a Triceratops (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dinosaur.htm#triceratops). But again, this is without any in game experience with Bllodhulks. Hypothetically a 10th level cleric in a Desecrated area could raise Bloodhulk Crushers (Huge) Certainly there's a lot of easy abuse of clerics raising dead, but like in other cases DM planning can keep things in check. Creating Bloodhulks requires the corpse of the proper size, and the blood of three recently slain creatures of the same size. Not many encounters will leave a cleric with access to four huge corpses.
Tetujin 03-12-07, 09:02 PM	Not many encounters will leave a cleric with access to four huge corpses. Munchkiny example, sure, but what about Lesser Planar Binding for three Fiendish Giant Sharks? Just stand pretty far back and wait for them to suffocate. And you can use the blood from bodies of smaller creatures at the usual exchange rate (4 Medium = 2 Large = 1 Huge), so a few normal encounters and a bag of holding would work too.
Angelflesh 03-12-07, 09:22 PM	Munchkiny example, sure, but what about Lesser Planar Binding for three Fiendish Giant Sharks? Just stand pretty far back and wait for them to suffocate. And you can use the blood from bodies of smaller creatures at the usual exchange rate (4 Medium = 2 Large = 1 Huge), so a few normal encounters and a bag of holding would work too. You need to read the entry because it doesn't work like that. It states "Three recently slain creatures the same size as the potential Bloodhulk."