Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 WanderingBard Apr 02, 2015 14:54:28	So I basically read up on a few articles a while ago on how to create intresting solo battles/ boss battles. And I was wondering if this was an intresting concept for a boss battle. Furthermore, any other intresting mechanics/ organization of boss battles would be intresting, i.e how you guys handle it yourselves. For the next session I am holding tommorrow I have a boss named Arachnia the Demon Spider Queen as the enemy they are facing. Basically the priestess that served her was trying to channel the energy of the Wizards Library of Oom to rejuvenate Arachnia and break the seal preserving the Chalice of Eternity (basically a artifact item that would fully revive Arachnia to her near god-like power state). The players (if they don't die) will beat the priestess, and due to having met special conditions beforehand, be able to harness the 4 elemental orbs floating in the library, they basically imbues them with a temporary Investiture of Flame, Ice, Stone and Wind, depending on which they qualify for. With this power they have the ability to remove the seal to the chalice temporarily. However, Arachnia tries to trick the players into believing that she actually is the goddess Yunan (all my deities and other demonic or celestial beings are homebrewn) who had some of her power stolen by Arachnia, hench why the priestess mistook her for Arachnia. The players can tell she is lying with a sufficient insight check. Or not telling the whole truth with a decently high one. So say they finally fight her. I plan to use a tiered fight system. Her first "form" is her un"bloodied" form as in literally bloody over mechanically, and she will fight with a more precise and deadly moveset, i.e leaping onto her webs above, and firing web shots or poison. The 2nd form, she will start to tire and reset the battle by knocknig back the players and entering her "bloodied" form, where hte players see visible damage to the boss. Here she will play more defensively and call upon her spider swarm to attack in waves. Her third form, is mostly her almost dead form, where she will use desperate attacks and charging attacks. etc. Then dropping dead. The unique mechanic I'm planning on adding is that at each form transitions they gain the benefits of a short rest (too op?), my reasoning for this is based on the AngryDM article and its worked decently the one other time I used it I'm also planning on adding unique flavor as in she has gained the power of the elements as well due to her priestess using the elemental orbs to siphon energy back into Arachnia. So she can at the start of her turn change the element she is resistant too. I.E Fire Mode (Her body is covered in magical flames, shes a giant spider btw) and resistant to fire damage, Stone Mode (Her body exoskeleton hardens and takes a stony texture and is resistant to non-magical physical damage, Wind Mode (Air starts spinning around her and ranged attacks have a disadvantage, and her speed increases, Ice Mode (Her body becomes resistant to cold damage etc etc) How is this idea? And what other intresting things have you guys done in your boss battles?
#2 transcendantviewer Apr 02, 2015 19:04:48	There's a funny little rules combination I found for Conjuration Wizards that's very entertaining. You know how they get the free teleportation as an action after casting a Conjuration Spell? Well, have them Hold their Action until an attack comes at them (The teleportation would be that held action) and then have them use that free teleportation to switch places with another PC (Most likely the one with the pointiest hat and prettiest robes). And there wouldn't be a way for the attacker to stop their attack because the wizard would wait until just before the swing hit home. Depending on the situation, it can be very devastating.
#3 iserith Apr 02, 2015 19:23:08	The easiest way to set it up is to just have separate monsters for her forms. When the PCs drop one form to 0, swap it out for the next stat block. Then throw in some "adds" like the swarms and whatnot at particular times plus some changes to the terrain and you're golden.
(Reply to #3) WanderingBard	iserith wrote:
#5 iserith Apr 02, 2015 19:45:18	A burning library with domino-toppling bookshelves and flaming books sounds pretty cinematic.
(Reply to #5) WanderingBard	iserith wrote:
(Reply to #2) tubadancross	transcendantviewer wrote:
(Reply to #7) transcendantviewer	tubadancross wrote:
#9 Barky Apr 04, 2015 4:32:49	iserith wrote:
#10 Greenstone.Walker Apr 04, 2015 4:42:38	transcendantviewer wrote:
(Reply to #10) tubadancross	Greenstone.Walker wrote:
#12 PSusac Apr 04, 2015 9:53:33	I don't know how "epic" you consider this BBEG to be, but you might consider giving her lair actions and/or legendary actions.  These mechanics go a long way toward balancing the action economy in boss fights.  Maybe she could:   Web somone into place (entangling them), spit poison, or take the dash action as a free action once per legendary action or something like that.
#13 BRJN Apr 04, 2015 13:14:23	Greenstone - Depending on exactly how the Teleport works, try putting the Paladin or Fighter in the square next to BBEG, he just skipped completely over the Web-covered web she uses to, well, keep Paladins and Fighters at a healthy (pardon the pun) distance.  If you can only Teleport yourself, then learn Vampiric Embrace and give her the surprise of her life.  Another possibility would be if the Ranger is shooting arrows anyways and has a better AC than you do.   to the DM: You want to set up a scenario where the PCs are involved with burning a library ?!
#14 Greenstone.Walker Apr 04, 2015 19:41:58	PSusac wrote: