Cacodemon [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Cacodemon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ectoplasmoid
12-29-05, 02:12 PM Here's my first try at a DooM monster. Critiques welcomed.
Cacodemon
http://www.doomwadstation.com/bestiary/cacodemon.gif

Cacodemon
Medium Outsider(Chaos, Evil)
Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp)
Speed: fly/ 20 feet (perfect)
AC:16 (+1 Dex, +5 Natural armor)
Base Attack/Grapple: 8/12+str
Attack: Bite +8 (3d6+6)
Full Attack: Bite 8+str (3d6+6)
Saves: Fort +8, Ref+7. Will+6
Space/ Reach: 5ft./ 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Fireball.
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 5/good or cold iron, Buoyancy.
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills: Listen+13, Spot +13, Intimidate + 11, Craft(basketweaving)+7
Feats: Improved Natural Attack, Alertness, ???
Enviroment: Military Bases on Mars
Orginization: Single or Hiss(2-6)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: 8-12 HD(Medium), 12-20 HD(Large)

A creature product of a strange dimensional gateway, the Cacodemon is a fearsome foe, with the ability to deliver a crushing bite or a scorching orb of fire. Luckily, it has little more than animal intelligence- otherwise, with it's ability to fly. it could be a greivous foe.

Combat: in combat, the Cacodemon's objective is simply to scorch the opponent to death with it's potent fireball. Should it be engaged in melee, it lashes out with its sharp jaws.

Fireball(sp) As a standard action, the Cacodemon can launch a crackling ball of fire and lightning as a touch attack. This attack deals 1d8+2 lightning and 1d8+3 fire damage to the touched party.
Buoyancv(Ex) Suspended by an inner bladder, the Cacodemon has a perpetual feather fall as the spell. Death will usually empty this bladder however.
dok
12-29-05, 02:59 PM Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp)
Constitution is 15, which gives a +2 bonus. 8 * 2 = +16, not +24.
8*4.5 = 36, + 24 = 60, so you got the hp total correct, but you listed bonus hit points wrong.

Base Attack/Grapple: 8/12+str
BAB is correct at +8. Graple is BAB + strength + special size modifier.
BAB is 8, Strength is +3, and medium creatures recieve no size modifiers. 8 + 3 = +11.

Attack: Bite +8 (3d6+6)
Full Attack: Bite 8+str (3d6+6)

Attack bonus is BAB + Strength + size modifier. Again, BAB is +8, strength is +3, and medium creatures have no size modifiers, so atack should be +11.

Damage is wrong. Attacks recieve either strength bonus to damage, or 1.5 times strength bonus to damage (round down). Strength bonus is +3, so it should be Bite +11 (3d6+4).

Also, 3d6 seems like a lot of damage for a medium-sized creature. Based on the pictures I've seen of the creature, I really have to wonder why you made it Medium. A Beholder is described as "an 8 ft. wide orb with a central eye...", and it's large.

Skills: Listen+13, Spot +13, Intimidate + 11, Craft(basketweaving)+7

I know you meant Basketweaving as a joke, but why put a joke in your stat block? Why not something potentially useful, like Sense Motive or Search?

Feats: Improved Natural Attack, Alertness, ???

Obviously, you're a feat light. More to the point, since you are making the monster, there's really not much reason to have the Improved Natural Attack feat on the base monster. You decide what the bite damage is when you make the monster.

Fireball(sp) As a standard action, the Cacodemon can launch a crackling ball of fire and lightning as a touch attack. This attack deals 1d8+2 lightning and 1d8+3 fire damage to the touched party.

1.) This ability should be (Su), not (Sp). Spell-like abilities are based on existing spells; this isn't.
2.) It shouldn't be called "fireball"; that creates confusion because in every other monster in every other D&D game, the word fireball refers to a specific spell with specific effects that do not work even remotely like this ability. Rename it "plasma ball" or some other term that isn't the same as an existing D&D spell or effect.
3.) It's "electricity" damage, not "lightning".
4.) Why 1d8+2 electricty and 1d8+3 fire? Why the bonuses, and why at those values? Why not 1d12, or 3d4? The reason I ask is that in D&D, static bonuses usally come from somewhere; they is almost always a reason why it's +2 or +3.
5.) This should be listed as a ranged touch attack, rather than a touch attack. And since it can use this as an attack, it probably should be listed in the stat block:
Attack: Bite +11 melee (3d6+4) or Plasma Ball +9 ranged touch (1d8+2 electricity plus 1d8+2 fire)
6.) If it is a ranged attack, it needs a range listed. Typically such attacks have a maximum range, and suffer no range penalties.

Death will usually empty this bladder however.
... yeah, death will do that to most bladders...

Overall, three major issues stand out for me:
1.) The creature's size seems wrong for the pictures/descriptions. It really seems like it should be Large. Certainly it's bite damage seems more appropriate for a Large creature.
2.) The 'plasma ball' damage seems very low for a CR 8 monster. I would suggest increasing the damage. Something like [color=red]Plasma Ball +9 ranged touch (3d6 fire plus 3d6 electricity)
3.) Even then, the creature seems too weak for CR 8. AC 16 and 60 hit points for a creature with a slow speed (20 ft.) and extremely limited combat options.

If you change nothing else, correct the stat block errors, make the 'plasma ball' a ranged touch attack, and then give the creature the Point-Blank shot feat, and possibly Precise Shot as well. Drop Improved Natural Attack, and either lower the bite damage back down to 2d6, or increase the creature's size to Large. Weapon Focus (bite) or Improved Critical (Bite) are both good choices for what to use that feat for.
CryoSilver
12-29-05, 08:46 PM For comparative purposes, this is my interpretation of the cacodemon.

Cacodemon
Large Outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (hp: 60)
Initiative: +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Intiative)
Speed: Fly 30 ft (clumsy)
AC: 17 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+14
Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+3) or Flame +9 ranged (1d8 fire)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+3) or Flame +9/+4 ranged (1d8 fire)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/10 ft
Special Attacks: Flame
Special Qualities: 60 ft darkvision, Fire Resistance 20
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +5
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 6
Skills: Balance +13, Listen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +10
Feats: Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Power Attack
Environment: any land or underground
Organization: Solitary, Pair or Pack (3-6)
CR: 4?
Treasure: None
Alignment: always chaotic evil
Advancement: 9-18 HD (large)
Cacodemons resemble massive floating demonic heads with huge teeth. They are vicious predators with a tenacity and durability not immediately evident in their ungainly appearance.
Combat
Cacodemons will spit several flames at their prey before charging in to bite. Being rather stupid, several will crowd around a creature biting even if it is clear they would be better off firing flames or retreating.
Flame: a cacodemon can create flames in its mouth and spit them at its foes. These flames have a range of 60 feet (no range increment) and deal 1d8 damage on a successful hit.

I have statted out most of the other monsters in Doom 3 on my website, at http://www.geocities.com/absolutecryogenic/dnd/monsters.html if you want to check them out.
syntaxerror37
12-30-05, 01:38 AM Enviroment: Military Bases on Mars
I have to admit, that made me laugh. The energy attack is the major isue I had, but that has been adressed by dok.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ectoplasmoid 12-29-05, 02:12 PM	Here's my first try at a DooM monster. Critiques welcomed. Cacodemon http://www.doomwadstation.com/bestiary/cacodemon.gif Cacodemon Medium Outsider(Chaos, Evil) Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp) Speed: fly/ 20 feet (perfect) AC:16 (+1 Dex, +5 Natural armor) Base Attack/Grapple: 8/12+str Attack: Bite +8 (3d6+6) Full Attack: Bite 8+str (3d6+6) Saves: Fort +8, Ref+7. Will+6 Space/ Reach: 5ft./ 5 ft. Special Attacks: Fireball. Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 5/good or cold iron, Buoyancy. Abilities: Str 16, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 10 Skills: Listen+13, Spot +13, Intimidate + 11, Craft(basketweaving)+7 Feats: Improved Natural Attack, Alertness, ??? Enviroment: Military Bases on Mars Orginization: Single or Hiss(2-6) Challenge Rating: 6 Treasure: None Alignment: Chaotic Evil Advancement: 8-12 HD(Medium), 12-20 HD(Large) A creature product of a strange dimensional gateway, the Cacodemon is a fearsome foe, with the ability to deliver a crushing bite or a scorching orb of fire. Luckily, it has little more than animal intelligence- otherwise, with it's ability to fly. it could be a greivous foe. Combat: in combat, the Cacodemon's objective is simply to scorch the opponent to death with it's potent fireball. Should it be engaged in melee, it lashes out with its sharp jaws. Fireball(sp) As a standard action, the Cacodemon can launch a crackling ball of fire and lightning as a touch attack. This attack deals 1d8+2 lightning and 1d8+3 fire damage to the touched party. Buoyancv(Ex) Suspended by an inner bladder, the Cacodemon has a perpetual feather fall as the spell. Death will usually empty this bladder however.
dok 12-29-05, 02:59 PM	Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp) Constitution is 15, which gives a +2 bonus. 8 * 2 = +16, not +24. 8*4.5 = 36, + 24 = 60, so you got the hp total correct, but you listed bonus hit points wrong. Base Attack/Grapple: 8/12+str BAB is correct at +8. Graple is BAB + strength + special size modifier. BAB is 8, Strength is +3, and medium creatures recieve no size modifiers. 8 + 3 = +11. Attack: Bite +8 (3d6+6) Full Attack: Bite 8+str (3d6+6) Attack bonus is BAB + Strength + size modifier. Again, BAB is +8, strength is +3, and medium creatures have no size modifiers, so atack should be +11. Damage is wrong. Attacks recieve either strength bonus to damage, or 1.5 times strength bonus to damage (round down). Strength bonus is +3, so it should be Bite +11 (3d6+4). Also, 3d6 seems like a lot of damage for a medium-sized creature. Based on the pictures I've seen of the creature, I really have to wonder why you made it Medium. A Beholder is described as "an 8 ft. wide orb with a central eye...", and it's large. Skills: Listen+13, Spot +13, Intimidate + 11, Craft(basketweaving)+7 I know you meant Basketweaving as a joke, but why put a joke in your stat block? Why not something potentially useful, like Sense Motive or Search? Feats: Improved Natural Attack, Alertness, ??? Obviously, you're a feat light. More to the point, since you are making the monster, there's really not much reason to have the Improved Natural Attack feat on the base monster. You decide what the bite damage is when you make the monster. Fireball(sp) As a standard action, the Cacodemon can launch a crackling ball of fire and lightning as a touch attack. This attack deals 1d8+2 lightning and 1d8+3 fire damage to the touched party. 1.) This ability should be (Su), not (Sp). Spell-like abilities are based on existing spells; this isn't. 2.) It shouldn't be called "fireball"; that creates confusion because in every other monster in every other D&D game, the word fireball refers to a specific spell with specific effects that do not work even remotely like this ability. Rename it "plasma ball" or some other term that isn't the same as an existing D&D spell or effect. 3.) It's "electricity" damage, not "lightning". 4.) Why 1d8+2 electricty and 1d8+3 fire? Why the bonuses, and why at those values? Why not 1d12, or 3d4? The reason I ask is that in D&D, static bonuses usally come from somewhere; they is almost always a reason why it's +2 or +3. 5.) This should be listed as a ranged touch attack, rather than a touch attack. And since it can use this as an attack, it probably should be listed in the stat block: Attack: Bite +11 melee (3d6+4) or Plasma Ball +9 ranged touch (1d8+2 electricity plus 1d8+2 fire) 6.) If it is a ranged attack, it needs a range listed. Typically such attacks have a maximum range, and suffer no range penalties. Death will usually empty this bladder however. ... yeah, death will do that to most bladders... Overall, three major issues stand out for me: 1.) The creature's size seems wrong for the pictures/descriptions. It really seems like it should be Large. Certainly it's bite damage seems more appropriate for a Large creature. 2.) The 'plasma ball' damage seems very low for a CR 8 monster. I would suggest increasing the damage. Something like [color=red]Plasma Ball +9 ranged touch (3d6 fire plus 3d6 electricity) 3.) Even then, the creature seems too weak for CR 8. AC 16 and 60 hit points for a creature with a slow speed (20 ft.) and extremely limited combat options. If you change nothing else, correct the stat block errors, make the 'plasma ball' a ranged touch attack, and then give the creature the Point-Blank shot feat, and possibly Precise Shot as well. Drop Improved Natural Attack, and either lower the bite damage back down to 2d6, or increase the creature's size to Large. Weapon Focus (bite) or Improved Critical (Bite) are both good choices for what to use that feat for.
CryoSilver 12-29-05, 08:46 PM	For comparative purposes, this is my interpretation of the cacodemon. Cacodemon Large Outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar) Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (hp: 60) Initiative: +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Intiative) Speed: Fly 30 ft (clumsy) AC: 17 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size) Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+14 Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+3) or Flame +9 ranged (1d8 fire) Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+3) or Flame +9/+4 ranged (1d8 fire) Space/Reach: 5 ft/10 ft Special Attacks: Flame Special Qualities: 60 ft darkvision, Fire Resistance 20 Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +5 Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 6 Skills: Balance +13, Listen +10, Move Silently +13, Search +2, Spot +10 Feats: Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Power Attack Environment: any land or underground Organization: Solitary, Pair or Pack (3-6) CR: 4? Treasure: None Alignment: always chaotic evil Advancement: 9-18 HD (large) Cacodemons resemble massive floating demonic heads with huge teeth. They are vicious predators with a tenacity and durability not immediately evident in their ungainly appearance. Combat Cacodemons will spit several flames at their prey before charging in to bite. Being rather stupid, several will crowd around a creature biting even if it is clear they would be better off firing flames or retreating. Flame: a cacodemon can create flames in its mouth and spit them at its foes. These flames have a range of 60 feet (no range increment) and deal 1d8 damage on a successful hit. I have statted out most of the other monsters in Doom 3 on my website, at http://www.geocities.com/absolutecryogenic/dnd/monsters.html if you want to check them out.
syntaxerror37 12-30-05, 01:38 AM	Enviroment: Military Bases on Mars I have to admit, that made me laugh. The energy attack is the major isue I had, but that has been adressed by dok.