firstly there are a lot of solo's. ok this may be appropriate but these fights could well drag on for ages and just be boring.
secondly tiamat is really hard, is there a good chance of tpk here?
my lot have only just breached paragon tier so these concerns are a long way off, but still.
anyone completed the fight with tiamat?
two things:
firstly there are a lot of solo's. ok this may be appropriate but these fights could well drag on for ages and just be boring.
secondly tiamat is really hard, is there a good chance of tpk here?
my lot have only just breached paragon tier so these concerns are a long way off, but still.
anyone completed the fight with tiamat?
Haven't heard of anyone fighting her yet. You might try asking in the general boards if anyone has fought her as part of the campaign, yet.
If you think the fights will be boring for your group, you could try modifying them to something your group will enjoy? Knock down the solo's HP and damage a tad, add some other mobs?
You're far better off tweaking them to be more dynamic opponents by say, giving them an attack if an enemy starts within reach, removing the limitation on interrupt powers for them, and giving them . Alternately, drop them to elite status and add in additional monsters & minions. Dragons, especially epic-level planar dwellers, are powerful, wealthy, feared and respected. They have people.
The increase in 'awesome-ness' from heroic to paragon level has been quite noticeable, so I fully expect to see that increase further as the player's hit epic. With all that incredible epic magical gear (including the use of three daily items each in an encounter), the massive strength increase of powers and feats, more utility powers etc. should really tip the balance.
It's taken us a year to get to paragon level though, so I fully expect another two years before we reach this module! (I'm really hoping we do
)My guys just started paragon so I have awhile until this becomes an issue but I looked at this fight as well. Tiamat has the same stat block in the SoW conclusion as it was printed in Draconomicon-Chromatic Dragons and I don't believe that it was statted under the new revised rules for Solo Brutes??
Just a quick note - mechanical spoilers ahead - had to put that in.
One major change was the drop in HP. Right now, she's in at 46 HP per level overall. I don't know that I would mess around with her HP until I get a feel for what kind of damage output my players will be putting down at epic. One thing that last module does well (as written) will give you a GREAT idea of how fast level 30 characters can burn through a solo monster's hit points, so you'll know what to expect.
Other things I noticed on closer inspection - the stat block doesn't make clear how Tiamat moves. She obviously has movement speeds, but her Quintuple Actions doesn't say when she can move; just that each head has a standard and minor action. I'd assume WOtC intended that she can move once in the round and she picks when, but that isn't clear. It also took me a minute to figure out that she doesn't need a sixth initiative count for the actions that are NOT head-specific; she can use them on any of her head's turns. (That could just be me, though).
A few other things I noted - each head gets a minor action every round, but she has exactly one minor action (fearful presence), and it's an encounter. Granted, she is getting 5 standards so she doesn't really need the extra attacks, but they could have come up with SOMETHING for her to do with all of those extra actions. Also, she gets her immediate actions back after each head's initiative, but she has no immediate actions, and she can't ready an action either.
If anything, I think I will probably add an at-will minor action, maybe a nondamaging effect or 1 square slide (if they're next to the edge, they DESERVE to go over), and an immediate interrupt lifted from one of the chromatics. Or even all the interrupts from the chromatics, but she's limited to using the one from the next head in the initative order, or something like that.
Nah, I'm not worried about the players. Course, I could just be mean...:-)
One thing that last module does well (as written) will give you a GREAT idea of how fast level 30 characters can burn through a solo monster's hit points, so you'll know what to expect.
Good point. I see now that only a few of the encounters aren't a solo fight of some kind. Should prepare for Tiamat pretty well by then.
the stat block doesn't make clear how Tiamat moves.
She has to spend one of her standard actions (1 per head) to move. She could move 5 times if she wanted to, using each of her 5 heads standards to move. That would mean no attacks though. Under tactics they recommend using the white head to move since the bite and breath are underwhelming.
each head gets a minor action every round, but she has exactly one minor action...If anything, I think I will probably add an at-will minor action, maybe a nondamaging effect or 1 square slide (if they're next to the edge, they DESERVE to go over), and an immediate interrupt lifted from one of the chromatics.
I really like this idea, maybe a choice between three, a fortitude, reflex, or will minor. This lets her target a little better.
I like the HeroSlayer from slyflourish.com/powerhouse-dragons/ as well
One of the things that concerns me with the pre MM2 stat change is the defences. It's way too soon for me to tell if I will have to lower her defences a little.
The heroslayer ability, btw, is just pure awesomesauce. My party's defender is a dwarven fighter, and the player takes great glee in beating the tar out of my monsters on opp attacks/combat challenge while I try to keep combats fluid.
As for the defenses, let's make a couple of ballpark assumptions and say that the 30th level PC will have started with a 20 in their to-hit stat, kept it on the treadmill all the way up to end up with a 30 and has a +6 magic item, so +10 ability, +15 1/2 level, and +6 weapon for a +31. They would already hit AC on a crit, and that is without weapon proficiency bonuses (usually +2 or +3), weapon/implement expertise, or other pluses to hit. I think she should have a less than 50% chance to be hit, but not by that much; they should probably be hitting on 11's or 12's without circumstantial bonuses like CA. You can even tailor her defenses to your specific PCs and how hard you think it should be to hit.