Frost Troll (monster of the week #82) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Frost Troll (monster of the week #82) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cwslyclgh
02-09-04, 08:06 PM welcome to the 82nd edition of MotW. as always I am interetsed in your comments, questions, observations, critiques, and praise... especialy the praise :P

let me know what you think of this weeks creature.

Wes :)

Frost Troll
Huge Giant (cold)
Hit Dice: 12d8+84 (138 HP)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40ft.
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +1 dex, +9 natural) Touch 9 Flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+25
Attack: Claw +15 melee (1d10+8 plus 2d6 cold)
Full Attack: 2 claws +15 melee (1d10+8 plus 2d6 cold) and 1 bite +10 melee (2d6+4 plus 2d6 cold)
Space/Reach: 15ft./15ft.
Special Attacks: Freezing touch, Rend (2d10+12)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 90ft. Immunity to cold, low light vision, regeneration: 8, scent, vulnerability to fire
Saves: Fort +15, Ref +5, Will +6
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 12, Con 25, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7, Survival +5
Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Iron Will, Power Attack, Track
Environment: Any Cold Land
Organization: Solitary, pair, or band (3-5)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually Chaotic Evil
Advancement: By Character Class
Level Adjustment: +7

The creature before you resembles a troll only it is much larger, standing three times the height of a man. Its flesh is a pale blue-gray color, and dead white hair like growths fall from its head and face, looking much like a shaggy mane and beard that writhe of their own accord.

Found only in the remote regions of the bitter north, the dreaded frost troll is a much talked about but little seen monstrosity that strikes fear into the hearts of even great barbarian warriors with just a mention of its name.

Although frost trolls are rumored to be a creation of the mating of trolls with degenerate frost giant stock, they actually seem to be a true species unto themselves. They speak a bastardized form of giant that it is hard for even other trolls to understand.

COMBAT

Frost trolls throw them selves into combat with the same reckless abandon that their lesser kin do, showing no fear even where fire is involved. Life in their native terrain is harsh, and a frost troll will eat what ever it can catch. They are no more intelligent then any other troll however, and make little use of tactics or strategy.

Freezing Touch (Su): the body of a frost troll actually radiates cold the way a humans radiates heat, its natural attacks each deal an additional 2d6 points of cold damage per hit.

Rend (Ex): If a frost troll hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an additional 2d10+12 points of damage.

Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to a frost troll. If a frost troll loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes. The creature can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump.

Frost Troll Characters:

Most frost trolls that bother taking a character class take levels of barbarian, seeing the natural abilities of the class as an extension of their own ferocity. Frost troll leaders often have one or more levels of barbarian.
Megatron
02-09-04, 08:41 PM I like this nasty bugger very much.
Good job!

But the text about it radiating cold the same way humans radiate heat strikes me as odd - if I slap someone I deal "heat damage" (burn them or such)? Maybe a better metaphor would do there...
law
02-09-04, 11:55 PM yep there not nice things.:D
DM Zoc
02-10-04, 05:23 AM Seems a bit... weak. I mean, a level 9 party would be eating these things for lunch.

Unless they only live in caves that are no more than 55 feet from top to bottom, that is.
cwslyclgh
02-10-04, 05:10 PM Seems a bit... weak. I mean, a level 9 party would be eating these things for lunch. indeed, in a lot of circumstances a 6-8th level party wouldn;t have much problem taking one... leading me to not want to put the CR at much above 9... but hesitant to make it lower then 9 on the off chance that a frost troll does get to make a full attack. (on a full attack if the troll rolls halfway decent attack rolls... ie all the attacks hit, the average damage it inflicts is exactly equal to the HP of an average 9th level fighter with a +3 con modifier... if I drop the CR below 9 a successful full attack against any character will more likly be fatal then not. (note that my monsters are designed around the assumption of average characters, not super min/maxed ubermenches with godly scores in every ability, etc...) at CR 9 when fighting character of his CR level a fighter will be staggered, and barbarians will survive a successful full attack (again on average).
DM Zoc
02-11-04, 01:07 AM I suppose so. Maybe their challenge rating should change depending on the circumstance; CR 9 if it interrupts you in the middle of the night, CR 5 if you know it's coming and have time to prepare (ie: hide the fighters while you let the flying people deal with it).
Gandilas
02-11-04, 02:00 AM That cold damage seems a bit much.

If all attacks hit at +15/+15/+10, thats anywhere from 44-110 damage per round.
cwslyclgh
02-11-04, 04:37 PM indeed the frost troll is a horror in toe-to-toe melee combat, but as DM Zoc has noted abovbe, in many cases that is not going to even be a factor as depending on the circumstances a party even lower then 9th level could defeat one with realivly little danger.
CinturonMickCyrus14
02-11-04, 10:39 PM Based on the riches most other frost creatures possess I think it would make sense to have the treasure 'double standard'... just a small detail I would change.
cwslyclgh
02-12-04, 04:44 PM I don;t know... they tend to live in secluded out of the way places... how would they get all that extra treasure?
DudeMan101
02-13-04, 02:45 AM Simple. Adventuers somehow get the idea that all frost creatures have mroe loot than normal, and go after them. And die. The constant stream of weak adventuer's gives them a lot of treasure for when one able to accauly kill it comes along.
cwslyclgh
02-13-04, 03:29 PM an intrigueing theory.
CinturonMickCyrus14
02-13-04, 04:32 PM In FR Frost Giants are some of the richest most prestigous ccharacter races out there and they are great traders so they do get what they need. And treasure isn't just currency its goods and gems and such too. How much would you pay for a giant sized club? Or a giant sized torch? Or other giant sized stuff? It does add up. Myself however, I'm in the area of searching for a giant sized catapult.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cwslyclgh 02-09-04, 08:06 PM	welcome to the 82nd edition of MotW. as always I am interetsed in your comments, questions, observations, critiques, and praise... especialy the praise :P let me know what you think of this weeks creature. Wes :) Frost Troll Huge Giant (cold) Hit Dice: 12d8+84 (138 HP) Initiative: +1 Speed: 40ft. Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +1 dex, +9 natural) Touch 9 Flat-footed 17 Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+25 Attack: Claw +15 melee (1d10+8 plus 2d6 cold) Full Attack: 2 claws +15 melee (1d10+8 plus 2d6 cold) and 1 bite +10 melee (2d6+4 plus 2d6 cold) Space/Reach: 15ft./15ft. Special Attacks: Freezing touch, Rend (2d10+12) Special Qualities: Darkvision 90ft. Immunity to cold, low light vision, regeneration: 8, scent, vulnerability to fire Saves: Fort +15, Ref +5, Will +6 Abilities: Str 27, Dex 12, Con 25, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 6 Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7, Survival +5 Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Iron Will, Power Attack, Track Environment: Any Cold Land Organization: Solitary, pair, or band (3-5) Challenge Rating: 9 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Usually Chaotic Evil Advancement: By Character Class Level Adjustment: +7 The creature before you resembles a troll only it is much larger, standing three times the height of a man. Its flesh is a pale blue-gray color, and dead white hair like growths fall from its head and face, looking much like a shaggy mane and beard that writhe of their own accord. Found only in the remote regions of the bitter north, the dreaded frost troll is a much talked about but little seen monstrosity that strikes fear into the hearts of even great barbarian warriors with just a mention of its name. Although frost trolls are rumored to be a creation of the mating of trolls with degenerate frost giant stock, they actually seem to be a true species unto themselves. They speak a bastardized form of giant that it is hard for even other trolls to understand. COMBAT Frost trolls throw them selves into combat with the same reckless abandon that their lesser kin do, showing no fear even where fire is involved. Life in their native terrain is harsh, and a frost troll will eat what ever it can catch. They are no more intelligent then any other troll however, and make little use of tactics or strategy. Freezing Touch (Su): the body of a frost troll actually radiates cold the way a humans radiates heat, its natural attacks each deal an additional 2d6 points of cold damage per hit. Rend (Ex): If a frost troll hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an additional 2d10+12 points of damage. Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to a frost troll. If a frost troll loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes. The creature can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump. Frost Troll Characters: Most frost trolls that bother taking a character class take levels of barbarian, seeing the natural abilities of the class as an extension of their own ferocity. Frost troll leaders often have one or more levels of barbarian.
Megatron 02-09-04, 08:41 PM	I like this nasty bugger very much. Good job! But the text about it radiating cold the same way humans radiate heat strikes me as odd - if I slap someone I deal "heat damage" (burn them or such)? Maybe a better metaphor would do there...
law 02-09-04, 11:55 PM	yep there not nice things.:D
DM Zoc 02-10-04, 05:23 AM	Seems a bit... weak. I mean, a level 9 party would be eating these things for lunch. Unless they only live in caves that are no more than 55 feet from top to bottom, that is.
cwslyclgh 02-10-04, 05:10 PM	Seems a bit... weak. I mean, a level 9 party would be eating these things for lunch. indeed, in a lot of circumstances a 6-8th level party wouldn;t have much problem taking one... leading me to not want to put the CR at much above 9... but hesitant to make it lower then 9 on the off chance that a frost troll does get to make a full attack. (on a full attack if the troll rolls halfway decent attack rolls... ie all the attacks hit, the average damage it inflicts is exactly equal to the HP of an average 9th level fighter with a +3 con modifier... if I drop the CR below 9 a successful full attack against any character will more likly be fatal then not. (note that my monsters are designed around the assumption of average characters, not super min/maxed ubermenches with godly scores in every ability, etc...) at CR 9 when fighting character of his CR level a fighter will be staggered, and barbarians will survive a successful full attack (again on average).
DM Zoc 02-11-04, 01:07 AM	I suppose so. Maybe their challenge rating should change depending on the circumstance; CR 9 if it interrupts you in the middle of the night, CR 5 if you know it's coming and have time to prepare (ie: hide the fighters while you let the flying people deal with it).
Gandilas 02-11-04, 02:00 AM	That cold damage seems a bit much. If all attacks hit at +15/+15/+10, thats anywhere from 44-110 damage per round.
cwslyclgh 02-11-04, 04:37 PM	indeed the frost troll is a horror in toe-to-toe melee combat, but as DM Zoc has noted abovbe, in many cases that is not going to even be a factor as depending on the circumstances a party even lower then 9th level could defeat one with realivly little danger.
CinturonMickCyrus14 02-11-04, 10:39 PM	Based on the riches most other frost creatures possess I think it would make sense to have the treasure 'double standard'... just a small detail I would change.
cwslyclgh 02-12-04, 04:44 PM	I don;t know... they tend to live in secluded out of the way places... how would they get all that extra treasure?
DudeMan101 02-13-04, 02:45 AM	Simple. Adventuers somehow get the idea that all frost creatures have mroe loot than normal, and go after them. And die. The constant stream of weak adventuer's gives them a lot of treasure for when one able to accauly kill it comes along.
cwslyclgh 02-13-04, 03:29 PM	an intrigueing theory.
CinturonMickCyrus14 02-13-04, 04:32 PM	In FR Frost Giants are some of the richest most prestigous ccharacter races out there and they are great traders so they do get what they need. And treasure isn't just currency its goods and gems and such too. How much would you pay for a giant sized club? Or a giant sized torch? Or other giant sized stuff? It does add up. Myself however, I'm in the area of searching for a giant sized catapult.