[FF] Hullathoin Hijinx! [EL question] [Archive] - Wizards Community

[FF] Hullathoin Hijinx! [EL question] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
(Psi)SeveredHead
10-07-03, 09:24 PM Anyone familiar with the hullathoin from the Fiend Folio?

It's a CR 15 monster, and very weak for it's CR. Low hp, low AC, low attack bonus, low save DCs... the works. However, it can create a bloodfiend locust swarm as a standard action every round. The swarm is CR 8 ... if you're willing to just swallow the figure. It's actually higher, much higher.

As a result, the players have to kill the hullathoin very quickly before it produces too many locust swarms. (That should be easy, since the hullathoin is a wuss.)

How many locust swarms can it produce? There appears to be no limit. There's no reason why a hullathoin wouldn't always be accompanied by locust swarms. In fact, there's no reason why a hullathoin couldn't engulf the planet in these swarms ... as far as I can tell.

If I were to use a hullathoin in an encounter, how many locust swarms should I use? How many locust swarms does it take to boost the EL past 15? I have no idea.

Thanks in advance.
eonblueapocalypse
10-07-03, 09:28 PM I dont have an answer for you, but dont forget that these critters almost always have undead critters following em.
the_heart
10-08-03, 06:23 AM approximately and using 3.0 guidelines:
5-6 locust swarms = CR13(EL 16) 7-9 = CR14(EL 16-17)

not including undead accompanying them.

adding in undead less than CR6(ish) won't affect the EL unless used with amazing tactics, and don't garner XP as they are deemed too easy to kill.
The Abominable Darkling
10-08-03, 06:36 AM I'd say (fairly arbitrarily, mind you) limit it to three swarms total. As of 3.5, swarms take up a 10 ft. square, but presumably can be compressed into a smaller volume if need be. In any case, I don't think there's necessarily anything over powered about it being able to produce an unlimited number (other than the bizarre implications for the campaign world). Finally, if the Hullathoin starts an encounter with a number of swarms already exuded, the players should get full XP for each of those swarms (though they won't get any XP for swarms created during the fight).
(Psi)SeveredHead
10-08-03, 01:23 PM Originally posted by The Abominable Darkling
I'd say (fairly arbitrarily, mind you) limit it to three swarms total. As of 3.5, swarms take up a 10 ft. square, but presumably can be compressed into a smaller volume if need be. In any case, I don't think there's necessarily anything over powered about it being able to produce an unlimited number (other than the bizarre implications for the campaign world). Finally, if the Hullathoin starts an encounter with a number of swarms already exuded, the players should get full XP for each of those swarms (though they won't get any XP for swarms created during the fight).

This is the sort of answer I was looking for. So, no swarms at start without boosting EL. Sounds good.
the_heart
10-09-03, 04:14 AM probably no longer relevant, but technically, you could have 3-4 swarms at the start without boosting ECL.
(Psi)SeveredHead
10-09-03, 05:30 PM Originally posted by the_heart
probably no longer relevant, but technically, you could have 3-4 swarms at the start without boosting ECL.

Thanks, although it's more like 1-2 (the swarm's real CR is more like a 10).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
(Psi)SeveredHead 10-07-03, 09:24 PM	Anyone familiar with the hullathoin from the Fiend Folio? It's a CR 15 monster, and very weak for it's CR. Low hp, low AC, low attack bonus, low save DCs... the works. However, it can create a bloodfiend locust swarm as a standard action every round. The swarm is CR 8 ... if you're willing to just swallow the figure. It's actually higher, much higher. As a result, the players have to kill the hullathoin very quickly before it produces too many locust swarms. (That should be easy, since the hullathoin is a wuss.) How many locust swarms can it produce? There appears to be no limit. There's no reason why a hullathoin wouldn't always be accompanied by locust swarms. In fact, there's no reason why a hullathoin couldn't engulf the planet in these swarms ... as far as I can tell. If I were to use a hullathoin in an encounter, how many locust swarms should I use? How many locust swarms does it take to boost the EL past 15? I have no idea. Thanks in advance.
eonblueapocalypse 10-07-03, 09:28 PM	I dont have an answer for you, but dont forget that these critters almost always have undead critters following em.
the_heart 10-08-03, 06:23 AM	approximately and using 3.0 guidelines: 5-6 locust swarms = CR13(EL 16) 7-9 = CR14(EL 16-17) not including undead accompanying them. adding in undead less than CR6(ish) won't affect the EL unless used with amazing tactics, and don't garner XP as they are deemed too easy to kill.
The Abominable Darkling 10-08-03, 06:36 AM	I'd say (fairly arbitrarily, mind you) limit it to three swarms total. As of 3.5, swarms take up a 10 ft. square, but presumably can be compressed into a smaller volume if need be. In any case, I don't think there's necessarily anything over powered about it being able to produce an unlimited number (other than the bizarre implications for the campaign world). Finally, if the Hullathoin starts an encounter with a number of swarms already exuded, the players should get full XP for each of those swarms (though they won't get any XP for swarms created during the fight).
(Psi)SeveredHead 10-08-03, 01:23 PM	Originally posted by The Abominable Darkling I'd say (fairly arbitrarily, mind you) limit it to three swarms total. As of 3.5, swarms take up a 10 ft. square, but presumably can be compressed into a smaller volume if need be. In any case, I don't think there's necessarily anything over powered about it being able to produce an unlimited number (other than the bizarre implications for the campaign world). Finally, if the Hullathoin starts an encounter with a number of swarms already exuded, the players should get full XP for each of those swarms (though they won't get any XP for swarms created during the fight). This is the sort of answer I was looking for. So, no swarms at start without boosting EL. Sounds good.
the_heart 10-09-03, 04:14 AM	probably no longer relevant, but technically, you could have 3-4 swarms at the start without boosting ECL.
(Psi)SeveredHead 10-09-03, 05:30 PM	Originally posted by the_heart probably no longer relevant, but technically, you could have 3-4 swarms at the start without boosting ECL. Thanks, although it's more like 1-2 (the swarm's real CR is more like a 10).