Creative Director
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Stone Spike: CR 2; Medium elemental (earth); HD 3d8+12; hp 25; Init –1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +2; Grp +6; Atk +6 melee (1d8+4, slam); Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+4, 2 slams); SA —; SQ darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 8, Con 19, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11; Monster Manual II 191.
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +4.
Feats: Alertness, Power Attack.
Languages: Dwarven, Terran.
Although I can think of plenty worse things to do with 30 bucks than spending it on the Monster Manual II...
There is no way to avoid combat with the Stone Spike in the Malachite Fortress and still finish the adventure properly...
If you run into this in the future, you could always find another creature / obstacle of a similar EL for the party to overcome. Feel free to substitute anything you like - it's pluck and chuck (or plug and play) DMing...
Just in case you haven't read ahead, the remainder of the Adventure Path is just bristling with beasties from both the MM2 and the Fiend Folio... some have stats, but some do not. While I appreciate your firm stance on "Let's Not Let WotC Walk All Over Us," you might have to bite the bullet on this one, especially if you plan on running the rest of the AP.
One solution that I came up with several years back is this: Ask your players to help you keep supplied as a Dungeon Master. Players usually are very proud of their DM's. They often think that despite the staggering numbers of DMs in the world, that they're DM just happens to be one of the best. Why not encourage them to help you be the best you can be? Those that have sat behind the screen know what a thankless task it often is being DM; the countless hours out of play in prep time, never getting to be a player yourself, arriving early for set-ups, dealing with tardiness and no-shows, and the never ending cost of books, dice, miniatures (plus paint n' brushes), printer ink, character sheets, paper, magazines, prepackaged adventures, and rules supplements. The cost is staggering!! Why not eyeball the market, and when you see a supplement that you really feel you should have to be a better DM, then take up a collection? Every couple of months, I usually see something else new from WotC that would help the group, so I collect about $5 per player to help me out. They know how much work I do for them and are more than happy to help. Especially since their money goes toward improving THEIR game!
One solution that I came up with several years back is this: Ask your players to help you keep supplied as a Dungeon Master. Players usually are very proud of their DM's. They often think that despite the staggering numbers of DMs in the world, that they're DM just happens to be one of the best. Why not encourage them to help you be the best you can be? Those that have sat behind the screen know what a thankless task it often is being DM; the countless hours out of play in prep time, never getting to be a player yourself, arriving early for set-ups, dealing with tardiness and no-shows, and the never ending cost of books, dice, miniatures (plus paint n' brushes), printer ink, character sheets, paper, magazines, prepackaged adventures, and rules supplements. The cost is staggering!! Why not eyeball the market, and when you see a supplement that you really feel you should have to be a better DM, then take up a collection? Every couple of months, I usually see something else new from WotC that would help the group, so I collect about $5 per player to help me out. They know how much work I do for them and are more than happy to help. Especially since their money goes toward improving THEIR game!
I don't know, that sounds a bit like charging for a game. What happens when a player can't or won't contribute to a product? And how do other players feel when they are effectively playing for that player. And what if the quality of your DMing slips? Do they get their money back?
As long as all your players are fine with this, you have a pretty nice setup. I would be carefull, though. collecting money to buy gaming aids can backfire on you.
Although asking for MM2 as a birthday present from your players... that's a pretty good idea there!
Although I can think of plenty worse things to do with 30 bucks than spending it on the Monster Manual II...
And I can think of Better things to do with 30$ than spending it on MM2 ;) It's true that when you work, own a car, don't live with your parents in a lovely house, and pay your own taxes, yes, sometimes you just can't buy everything you want from paizo or wotc. Especially when you live outside usa where books are far more expensive. Anyway, thanks for the stats!