Vhalantru Enhanced

[Andorax]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone looked at ways to improve on our favorite Beholder?

In specific, I was perusing the Beholder-enhancing article in Dragon 313, and thinking there's a lot of interesting material there. The Versitile Tyrant feat? A level of three of Occular Master? And definately a bit of equipment such as a ring or two, a fitted Tyrant's Lens, an Ocular Gem, or even a suit of Orb Armor?

[Chef's Slaad]

Andorax wrote:

Just out of curiosity, has anyone looked at ways to improve on our favorite Beholder?

In specific, I was perusing the Beholder-enhancing article in Dragon 313, and thinking there's a lot of interesting material there. The Versitile Tyrant feat? A level of three of Occular Master? And definately a bit of equipment such as a ring or two, a fitted Tyrant's Lens, an Ocular Gem, or even a suit of Orb Armor?

He's pretty deadly as written. You know, carcerian template and all. I'm worried enough with my killer-gm reputation as is. But I'm interested in what other people did nonetheless. <evilgrin>

[Andorax]

Ok....I need to read ahead again. I don't recall him having the Carcerian template initially...I thought that was only the second time 'round when the PCs go up against him.

..............

I see. That's what I get for not reading far enough ahead. Oh well. I still think perhaps an item or two, here and there, might not hurt. One thing I've always hated about Beholders is how fragile they tend to be, hp-wise. Once you get close to them, if you can land a couple of solid hits, it's all over. A suit of Orb Armor (even if just Masterwork Chain Shirt), an Amulet of Health +2...or perhaps even just an Occular Gem of Stone to Flesh to provide Vhalantru the option of returning victims to flesh, and back again, with a fairly free hand.

[Zechi]

I advanced Vhalanthru by 4 HD and Thifirane Rhiavadi was with him in the final confrontation (she buffed Vhalanthru with mage armor).

I did this because the player characters cleared nearly all of Oblivion then they rested (in the temple of St.Cuthbert) before the final confrotation. The party was too strong fully rested and buffed up and would have killed Vhalanthru if he was alone relatively easily. Personally I think Vhalanthru is a little weak without some support. His saves are all very low his challenge rating and I think it is good to give him some boost.

Here ist my version of Vhalanthru:

Lord Orbius Vhalanthru, Shator Tarterian Beholder
Str:16(+3), Dex:14(+2), Con:18(+4), Int:17(+3), Wis:15(+2), Cha:21(+5)
Size:L, Type:Abberation, AL:LE, HD:15d8+60, HP:144, Init:+6, Spd:5ft. (1square) Fly:20ft. (4 squares/good), AC:26/30 with Mage Armor T:11 FF:28, Att:Bite+14(BAB+11), Grapple:+19, Eye Rays+13, Dmg:2d4+3
Face/Reach:10/5, Saves:F+11, R+7, W+13
Special Qualities: All-around vision (Ex, can’t be flanked, +4 Spot/Search), Flight (Ex), Darkvision 120ft., Freedom of Movement (Su, CL:10 as spell), Immunity to acid, mind-influencing attacks and poison, Cold and Fire Resistance:20, See Invisibility (Su, as spell), Scent
Special Attacks: Antimagic Cone (Su, 150ft. Cone as Antimagic Field/CL:13, must choose once each round in which direction and if active), 9 Eye Rays (Su, R:150ft., DC:22/CL:13, Charm Monster/Charm Person/Disintegrate/Fear/Finger of Death/Flesh to Stone/Sleep/Slow/Telekinesis), Paralyzing Slime (Ex, with bite F:19 or 3d6 rounds paralyzed, can spit in 30ft. with same effect as ranged touch attack)
Spell-Like Abilities(CL:15/DC:15+): At will – detect magic, clairaudience/clairvoyance, fear, invisibility, spider climb, tongues; 3/Day – cloudkill, fog cloud, ray of enfeeblement, stinking cloud; 2/Day – dispel magic; 1/Day – mass charm monster
Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon, Infernal
Skills: Hide+16, Knowledge “Arcana”+21, Listen+22, Search+25, Spot+26, Survival+2/+4 following tracks
Feats: Flyby Attack, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Weapon Focus “Eye Ray”, Improved Initiative
Bonus Feats: Alertness
Challenge Rating: 17

Zechi

[Squid]

I really didn't enhance him... I think I gave him max hit points, and that was about it. His capability to turn invisible at will turned the fight into a long one... he would float silently by the party, keeping his central eye shut, into a room with an open door, then attack the party with his eyestalks and use the appropriate eye ray to shut the door. The next round, he would turn invisible and then reopen the door. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

The battle ended when the party managed to come up with an antimagic field of their own, and then the half ogre monk grappled Vhalantru. The half ogre monk then jumped down one of the shafts, and used Vhalantru as a whoopie cushion.

Squid