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Author
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Comment
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RathOfLanderdrachen
Pie
(11/24/02 5:30:57 am)
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Big U tactics after dark
My party was rather banged up when the entered Hommlet, (they had spent the night fleeing from the horde of hobgoblins that wrecked the caravan they were guarding as well as a large contingent of the walking dead when they stumbled across Nulb while fleeing the hobgoblins, needless to say they were in dire need of sleep and rest when they made it to Hommlet).
I used the "rescue Spugnoir because little Renne is worried about him" hook and the group opted to rest during the daylight hours and take up the quest at dusk.
Chatrilon infiltrated the group and manged to assasinate the group's rogue before the party got wise to him. See the rogue went into the moathouse to scout while the others stayed outside, of course Chat went with him. Moving to the ruins of the tower located in the southwest corner of the courtyard the rogue began to climb the inside of the tower to try and get a better look around, Chat used this as a chance to launch a death attack as he had studied the rogue for the five rounds it took them to creep in there.
With the rogue dead, Chat removed an arrow from the rogue and stuck it in the rapier wound. (not a perfect disguise I know but one that would do the trick I thought). Thinking that he would creep outside with a story about an archer firing on them through the arrow slits and how he had dragged the rogue (Jabari) into the tower but it was too late, he snuck out with the intentions of getting a healer to come in with him, rinse, lather, repeat, and then I figured he would have tried to sneak off into the dungeon to warn his compadres.
When Chat went out with his story, the paladin didn't buy it and the party hit him with a Charm Person.
Now a shackled Chatrilon has lead the group to the body of Jabari. I have given them the benefit of the doubt so far, but I am thinking that ruckus would have awoken Big U (the shackles being drug across the courtyard floor).
Jabari has been raised now and the group will certainly be looking to set out across the courtyard towards the lair of Big U.
Would you change his tactics at all since it is dark now? I have already stated that it is a fairly clear night with a full moon.
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Killiak
Pie
(11/24/02 7:47:34 am)
Reply
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Re: Big U tactics after dark
Well, he has the advantage clearly. He can "sense" things far further away then any PC can see, so it stands to reason that he flies in and lets loose a breath weapon as a surprise round. after that; throw initiative and maybe Big U gets lucky *hint hint*
The characters will all be flat footed and they will have to make a saving throw without their dex 
after that just go with the hoovering
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RathOfLanderdrachen
Pie
(11/24/02 10:42:27 am)
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I can see that
I can see that as being pretty believable, anyone else got any evil ideas?? :>
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Trithereon
Pie
(11/24/02 1:36:42 pm)
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Elf-sight vs. Dragon breath
Utreshimon does possess an impressive 300 ft. blindsight ability, however his breath weapon is only 60 ft. long. Any character with low-light vision combined with a Daylight spell means that Utreshimon COULD be spotted at 120 ft.such that automatic suprise based solely on blindsight is not guarenteed.
Because of Utreshimon's blindsight it is unlikely that he'll change his strategy just because it is dark outside. His greatest defense and offense is his Hover ability. The debris cloud gives him concealment but because of his blindsight the cloud does not adversely affect Utreshimon. In addition, Utreshimon's fly manueverability is poor but because of his Hover ability he CAN hover which allows him the use of the full attack action while maintaining this debris cloud.
As long as you give Utreshimon all the benefits of his Hover ability, there is no reason to change his tactics.
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RathOfLanderdrachen
Pie
(11/24/02 3:56:09 pm)
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Good point
Good point, however one fact never ceases to amaze me, for some reason players rarely ever think to look up....
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 Infiniti2000
Pie
(11/24/02 3:57:52 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter
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Re: Elf-sight vs. Dragon breath
Remember that Utreshimon is overconfident. I'm not sure how you would like to play it, but I had Big U land frequently to take some full attack actions and hit more than one person with the breath weapon (which he pretty much needs to be on the ground to shoot it along the ground). This gives a low level party a chance. Hovering all the time should result in a TPK IMO, especially if he uses power attack (up to +12!). Imagine a PC with no dex bonus, no dodge, and Big U getting +2 on attacks because he is "invisible". That makes it pretty easy to hit.
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ZansForCans
Pie
(11/24/02 10:28:15 pm)
Reply
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FF Ref saves...
Quote:
The characters will all be flat footed and they will have to make a saving throw without their dex
Since I just finished reading the newest Sage-flavored FAQ cover-to-cover on my vacation, I'd feel remiss if I didn't point out that flat-footed Reflex saves aren't really supposed to lose their Dex bonus. I'm sure our group has played this wrong occationally, so it was a surprise to me. The answer appears after a slightly different question about opposed roles made on a flat-footed opponent are on page 29 in the v10152002 edition. Here's the relavent paragraph...
Quote:
Being flat-footed negates your Dexterity bonus to Armor
Class, but it does not affect your ability to make opposed rolls.
Your ability to react to danger is somewhat compromised when
flat-footed, but only slightly. For example, you become subject
to sneak attacks, but you make saving throws (even Reflex
saving throws) normally.
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Edited by: ZansForCans at: 11/24/02 10:31:51 pm
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Killiak
Pie
(11/25/02 4:01:05 am)
Reply
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Re: Elf-sight vs. Dragon breath
Quote:
Any character with low-light vision combined with a Daylight spell
The players are NOT expecting a dragon! Therefor, they will not use this. The point here is that once Big U flies out of his "nest" at NIGHT, they won't see him. In daylight he kinda gets noticed huh?
So his breathweapon is 60ft? Who cares? His fly movement is enough to get a good line and the darkvision won't see him untill it's way too late.
Go forth and kick ass
Ok Zans, didn't know that
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Trithereon
Pie
(11/25/02 7:17:56 am)
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Huh?
Who cares!?! I'd suspect the players care when they are cheated out of ANY chance to not be suprised! But, YPMV (you players may vary).
I apologize for not being consice enough, but I was talking low-light vision here ... not darkvision. If you'll notice in the original post that he mentions that it there is a FULL MOON. According to the DMG, pg. 79, a character with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlight night as well as they can during the day.
Who cares? The elf on watch, that who (if there is one). Sure, it still comes down to a Spot Check but at least its a chance. Otherwise, you may have put the smack down on some hapless adventurers who are suppose to be "on guard".
P.S. If you do suprise your players and straff them with a lightning bolt then remember that a medium sized blue dragon's breath weapon is only 5 feet wide ... hopefully, the PCs didn't all go to sleep in a straight line.
Edited by: Trithereon at: 11/25/02 9:19:26 am
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Thrommel
The DM
(11/25/02 7:29:50 am)
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Re: Huh?
I woldn't change his tactics one bit. If anything, Big U is probably MORE overconfident since it's night time and he has blindsight.
(Although, to reiterate, is IS a clear night with a full moon. It's bright out!)
If you want Big U to strafe, then as a player I would expect:
1) A Listen check to hear him take off. The flapping of big leathery wings just a hundred feet away can't be very quiet. (And it may prove MORE disturbing when you describe the slow, strong wingbeats.)
2) A Spot check to avoid the surprise attack.
I think that's only fair.
But why change tactics at all? Big U is a very challenging encounter as written. IMO, there's no need to amp this one up with better tactics.
-Thrommel, who flies off, flapping his big leathery wings.
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Andorax
Orc
(11/25/02 9:08:50 am)
Reply
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Re: Big U tactics after dark
Encounter's quite nasty enough as-is without optimizing U's abilities. Skip the surprise, skip the flat-footed. Just come roaring in (you're a dragon, you're supremely confident of your abilities) and lay about destroying them. U is not subtle, especially not with his first encounter.
However, I've another question.
Quote:
When Chat went out with his story, the paladin didn't buy it and the party hit him with a Charm Person.
Now a shackled Chatrilon has lead the group to the body of Jabari.
Friends don't put friends in shackles. Did I miss something here?
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
Trithereon
Pie
(11/25/02 9:30:38 am)
Reply
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Shackled friends
Friends don't shakle friends? Well, maybe really GOOD friends might. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. You know what I mean?
I suppose if it was well roleplayed then I might let this happen. Imagine a really angry and beligerant paladin who has detected Chat's evil aura and now suspects that Chat has murdered his friend. Now, imagine an charismatic wizard successfully charming Chat and then convincing him to surrender peacefully vowing to not let the paladin kill him immediately - that Chat will get a fair chance to prove his innocence.
Of course, it all comes down to some key Charisma Checks but Chat might decide that a chance to escape from shackles at some later time is better then being struck down by an angry paladin's sword immediately.
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RathOfLanderdrachen
Pie
(11/25/02 12:03:01 pm)
Reply
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Actually
Actually the group's fighter readied an arrow and aimed it at Chat's head shortly after he was charmed. Unbeknownst to the players I have ruled that this action constitutes a threat thus ending the spell. Chat doesn't like his odds against a prepared party, especially when a fighter has a readied attack from point blank range.
He keeps his wits about him (I gave him a will save DC 15 to stay calm and gracefully come from under the spell's effects), and chooses to go along with the shackling and such thinking that there are superior numbers downstairs. I plan on playing Chat (since he doesn't know about the dragon) as leading the group across the courtyard and into the dungeon complex. The party feels that if Chat says they are ok then they are, this is where the "friends don't put friends in shackles part will come into play.
Another interesting thought: the paladin shackled him, the dragon attacks, does the paladin stand aside and watch as a man that he shackled is left unable to adequately defend himself against the dragon? or does he waste a precious action in freeing Chat. I figure if he does then Chat will fight along side them vs Big U, I will then make a judgement call based on circumstances as to whether or not he will try to escape or stick with the group until they enter the dungeon and of course turn on them at the most opportune time.
The party is for the moment staying in the old tower to regroup, if they attempt to make camp or similar I may use Big U's burrowing ability to good use.....insert evil laugh here.
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