[Elder Evils] Is Zargon too powerful for CR16? [Archive] - Wizards Community

[Elder Evils] Is Zargon too powerful for CR16? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
WombleHunter
03-13-08, 07:36 AM My 13th level PCs will soon be facing Zargon (though I am not using the published path). An ECL 16 encounter should be a very challenging fight, but very do-able; and my PCs are no slouches.

However, looking at Zargon's stats makes me think that he might wipe the floor with them. Over 300hp, 14 melee attacks at more than +30 and a Str score of 50, along with hefty SR and DR along with his slew of immunities and resistances makes him pretty hard going.

Does anyone have experience with using Zargon as written? Or does anyone else think he's a bit powerful for "only" CR 16?
M-bark
03-13-08, 12:44 PM Well, if you think he's too powerful for a CR 16, you could always wait until the PCs are level 16, or at least close(r) to it.
runestar
03-13-08, 07:35 PM I suppose your party might want to try playing hit and run with him, so he cannot get in full attacks readily....
WombleHunter
03-14-08, 07:00 AM Well, I ran it. The party's only hope were the wizard and cleric who were flying and Zargon couldn't reach to attack. We're actually going to have to finish the combat next session; DR 15/epic and Regen 50 (cold/fire) makes him pretty resilient (he was effectively immune to the Dervish - who got completely splattered by a full attack - and wasn't being dealt enough nonlethal damage to keep the pressure up; he's taken about 90 points of real damage so far...).

Kind of an awkward fight, and I still think he'd consume more than 20% of an average 16th-level party's resources.
runestar
03-14-08, 07:30 AM Well...there is the cheapskate way of trapping him in a forcecage...gives you 26 hours to plan your next move...:P
Derren S.
03-14-08, 09:13 AM Can Zargon fly or has a ranged weapon? If not (common flaw for high level monsters) than Zargon is not a threat at all at this level.
runestar
03-14-08, 09:56 AM It can't fly, and only has a few weak ranged SLAs usable limited times/day. However, the adventure has the party facing it in an enclosed area, which may limit the PCs' mobility somewhat if they plan on using flight to stay out of its way.
WombleHunter
03-14-08, 10:13 AM Mmm, he's quite like the Tarrasque really - if he gets close to you then he'll just tear you apart, but he doesn't have the ranged attacks or mobility to deal with flying harriers. His SLAs are useful, but insufficient.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WombleHunter 03-13-08, 07:36 AM	My 13th level PCs will soon be facing Zargon (though I am not using the published path). An ECL 16 encounter should be a very challenging fight, but very do-able; and my PCs are no slouches. However, looking at Zargon's stats makes me think that he might wipe the floor with them. Over 300hp, 14 melee attacks at more than +30 and a Str score of 50, along with hefty SR and DR along with his slew of immunities and resistances makes him pretty hard going. Does anyone have experience with using Zargon as written? Or does anyone else think he's a bit powerful for "only" CR 16?
M-bark 03-13-08, 12:44 PM	Well, if you think he's too powerful for a CR 16, you could always wait until the PCs are level 16, or at least close(r) to it.
runestar 03-13-08, 07:35 PM	I suppose your party might want to try playing hit and run with him, so he cannot get in full attacks readily....
WombleHunter 03-14-08, 07:00 AM	Well, I ran it. The party's only hope were the wizard and cleric who were flying and Zargon couldn't reach to attack. We're actually going to have to finish the combat next session; DR 15/epic and Regen 50 (cold/fire) makes him pretty resilient (he was effectively immune to the Dervish - who got completely splattered by a full attack - and wasn't being dealt enough nonlethal damage to keep the pressure up; he's taken about 90 points of real damage so far...). Kind of an awkward fight, and I still think he'd consume more than 20% of an average 16th-level party's resources.
runestar 03-14-08, 07:30 AM	Well...there is the cheapskate way of trapping him in a forcecage...gives you 26 hours to plan your next move...:P
Derren S. 03-14-08, 09:13 AM	Can Zargon fly or has a ranged weapon? If not (common flaw for high level monsters) than Zargon is not a threat at all at this level.
runestar 03-14-08, 09:56 AM	It can't fly, and only has a few weak ranged SLAs usable limited times/day. However, the adventure has the party facing it in an enclosed area, which may limit the PCs' mobility somewhat if they plan on using flight to stay out of its way.
WombleHunter 03-14-08, 10:13 AM	Mmm, he's quite like the Tarrasque really - if he gets close to you then he'll just tear you apart, but he doesn't have the ranged attacks or mobility to deal with flying harriers. His SLAs are useful, but insufficient.