Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kensan_Oni 07-25-07, 08:25 PM	Hi all! I'm making a monster for my game, and I was hoping to make it a challenging encounter. Right now, my plan is to have a CR 5 encounter in the Eberron setting. I plan on using this construct below for an exciting encounter. I just would like a critique, and ask what CR you would have put this monster at as written, and what changes you would have made. Boarding Ball Type: Large Construct Hit Dice: 8d10+30 (74 hps) Initiative +3 Speed 30ft Climb 30ft AC 21 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +9 Armor) touch 12, flatfooted 18 Base Attack/Grapple +6/+16 Attack Scissor +11 (1d8+6 crit 19-20)) Full Attack 2 Scissors +11 (1d8+6) Space/Reach 10/5 Special Attacks: Flame Breath (3d6 Ref 14), Bombard, Destructive Special Qualities: Construct Traits, SR 16, DR 5/Byeshk Saves Fort +2 Ref +5 Will +3 Abilities: Str 22, Dex +17 Con – Int – Wis 13 Chr 6 Skills: None Feats Power Attack, Improved Sunder Environment: Any Ship Organization: Solitary, Pair, Party (3-8) CR 5 Treasure: None Alignment: Always Neutral Advancement 9-12 (Large) 13-20 (Huge) Created as weapons during the last war, the Boarding Ball was designed to attack ship rigging and crew to allow slower ships to catch up with smaller, faster ships. When compact, it appears to be a rather large black ball about 6' in diameter. When it unfolds itself, it rather resembles a large black beetle with four legs and two arms with longsword length scissors attached. It's sense from a head pulled back inside it's chest cavity. Combat The Boarding Ball attempts to move towards rigging on board ships, attacking opponents and attempting to break weapons as it attempts to conquer the ship. Flame Breath (SU) The Boarding Ball has a Flame Breath, dealing 3d6 of fire damage in a 15’ cone (Reflex for Half DC 14), 2x a day. Bombard (Ex) The Boarding Ball may fold up to be launched from siege weapons such as a trebuchet or bombard. When compact, it takes no damage from falling. Objects under the Bombard effect take 4d6 of Crushing Damage. Destructive (Ex) Nonmetal objects that are attacked by the Scissors are dealt 2x damage. Non-Eberron Notes: When not using the Eberron setting, replace for the DR type Byeshk with Adamantine, or other setting appropriate heavy metal.
sensestaker 07-25-07, 11:48 PM	I've got a couple nitpicks for you. :D Grapple should be +16 (+6 BAB, +6 STR, +4 size) Attack should be +11 (+6 BAB, +6 STR, -1 size) Scissors damage should be 1d8+6 (and you left out the "c" the second time :P ) Is DR/bashing the same as DR/bludgeoning? And isn't it a little wierd to have that overcome the DR of something that can fall out of the sky with impunity? What's the reflex DC for the Flame Breath? SR 12 seems low to me (of course, I hate PC's and like to watch them die) How small does it collapse for Bombard? (Or how large a trebuchet do you need to launch one?) Does Destructive stack with a Critical Hit? CR 5 looks good to me.
Kensan_Oni 07-26-07, 03:17 AM	Thank you for the feedback! You're right, there were a couple of sloppy mistakes made. The Grapple should be +16 The Attack should be +11 Shouldn't the scissors attack actually be 1d8+3, because it's two attacks, not one? (My mind escapes me this rule.) DR Bludgeoning, yes... My mind is conflicting 2e rules for some reason. And no, it's not completely unreasonable. The idea is that it's still a machine, and that it's folded up form, a ball, is just enchanted to withstand the first impact. Once it lands, you can just bash it out of shape so it stops working. Reflex Save for breath = 15 Well SR = 10+1/2 HD + Modifier (Cha). So it is low, but it's designed to be. It doesn't decrees in size really all that much. It's still a large creature. Folded up, it's about a 6 foot ball, so it still takes a substantial machine to launch the item. Destructive would stack, but I didn't think critical damage applied to attacking objects. If it does, then it would add like a multiplier (Or 3x damage if it crits) I am glad you like the CR. I'm just going to wait for a little more feedback before updating the layout.
Talisman 07-27-07, 12:21 AM	Shouldn't the scissors attack actually be 1d8+3, because it's two attacks, not one? (My mind escapes me this rule.) Scissors attack (there's no scissors mentioned in the description, BTW) should be 1d8+6. Only weapon-wielders have to take 1/2 Strength mod on the off-hand. Monsters tak 1/2 Strength mod for secondary weapons, but two identical natural weapons are both considered primary (unless there's a third which is primary) DR Bludgeoning, yes... My mind is conflicting 2e rules for some reason. And no, it's not completely unreasonable. The idea is that it's still a machine, and that it's folded up form, a ball, is just enchanted to withstand the first impact. Once it lands, you can just bash it out of shape so it stops working. I'd go with DR/adamantine. It's more construct-y, and as sensestaker pointed out, it's weird to have a monster that's designed to be hurled, have DR bypassed by bludgeoning. Reflex Save for breath = 15 Nope. Should be 14 (10 + 1/2 HD + Con mod). * HD and no Con make it 10 + 4. Well SR = 10+1/2 HD + Modifier (Cha). So it is low, but it's designed to be. SR is usually 11 + CR, or 16 in this case. It doesn't decrees in size really all that much. It's still a large creature. Folded up, it's about a 6 foot ball, so it still takes a substantial machine to launch the item. FYI, a real-world trebuchet can launch a ball about twice as big as a bowling ball. That's a heck of a lot smaller than 6'. Fantasy world physics, I know; I just had to point it out. Destructive would stack, but I didn't think critical damage applied to attacking objects. If it does, then it would add like a multiplier (Or 3x damage if it crits) Objects cannot be critted unless a special power says otherwise.
Kensan_Oni 07-27-07, 12:36 AM	Thank you, I'll get these monster creation rules yet! Okay, changing DR from Bludgeon to Byeshk (ECS), Most Byeshk weapons tend to be Bludgeons anyway, and it gives more flavor towards Eberron. When not using the Eberron rules, then use Adamantine. I'll be updating the first post. Thank you for your input.