We just ran through this last night, and found to our immense amusement that Moreto, the true ghoul sorc/fighter, has NO ranks of concentration, and being undead, no con score, giving him a net concentration mod of 0.
The party mage cast slapping hand (Spell Compendium: DC 20 concentration check or provoke attacks of op) and the paladin and ranger just tore him apart.
My question to the designers: Was Moreto supposed to be so easily distractable, or was this a big-time oversight? Granted he seemed like a buff then melee sorc/fighter, but still?
Anyone else have entertaining encounters with the True Ghoul from the Underdark?
Hazzah for your players! They combined melee fighters and a well choosen spell to whip one encounter. I wouldn't worry about it, there are lots of ways for the PCs to get beat in AoW so you gotta let'em win easy sometimes.
This was an oversight/error that the Paizo people already know about (from another thread) and will probably fix for the hardcover. Of course, that doesn't help your current campaign.
defeated by slapping hand...oh the humanity!
I'm DEFINITELY changing this.
I'll also be giving the Harbinger of Worms a few more ranks in Concentration. +9 just doesn't cut it.
defeated by slapping hand...oh the humanity!
I'm DEFINITELY changing this.
I'll also be giving the Harbinger of Worms a few more ranks in Concentration. +9 just doesn't cut it.
Yeah, what's with that? Of course, not all spellcaster's must have high ranks in Concentration. Of course, if they don't they should have a lot of minions standing between themselves and the PCs.
Actually, my party handled both the stalkers (they saw that one coming and retreated quickly when the stalkers first appeared, then came back in loaded for bear) and the advanced octopin (they're a good combat group), but I nearly got a TPK when they ran into the mindflayer/sorcerer at the end.
After fighting their way through the dungeon and expending a lot of their magic and healing, they rashly charged right into this one with no prep. Between the mindblasts and a couple of empowered lightning bolts, and with no way to get to the levitating baddie, most of the party was down and out quickly, and they had to flee for their lives. I could have had them all if the mindflayer had wanted to throw one more lightning bolt after them, but I was merciful and had him just mock them as they fled. They still lost one character, a dwarven fighter who couldn't make a reflex save to, well, save his life.
|
We just ran through this last night, and found to our immense amusement that Moreto, the true ghoul sorc/fighter, has NO ranks of concentration, and being undead, no con score, giving him a net concentration mod of 0.
As undead, he would use Charisma to modify Concentration checks instead of Constitution, but still. No ranks is bad.
I don't know of any module in existence that I don't automatically augment. I saw the +9 Concentration while examining the Harbinger. Regardless of the stats of the spellweaver (MM II... NO Concentration modifier is listed in the stat block), it didn't look right. I'd say +20 sounds about right. Heck, one could go as high as 27 (15 HD means 18 ranks, +9 Cha modifier = 27). Swap in combat casting and it jumps to 31. Such a foe shouldn't have any problems casting spells while distracted.
Wolfgang: Just have to tell you how much I love your adventures, especially any concerning true ghouls!
Ever since #70 with your Kingdom of the Ghouls article I've been eagerly searching each issue for your entries.
You write up beautifully professional descriptions of cunning, loathesome, terrifying foes that make adventurer's days very uncomfortable, if not short lived. Well done!
I'm also going to modify Moreto as per the other posts & then throw him at the unsuspecting meals, er, heroes (insert fiendish laugh).
I look forward to your next sadistic entires with relish...
Zyrxog levitates and has octopins, so he probably doesn't need concentration, although a flying fighter could be a bit of a problem, if he managed to avoid getting stunned by the old mind blast. Zyrxog is obviously putting his money on this unlikely event not happening.
Moreto has his morgs, which (IIRC) are pretty hard for a 12th level cleric to turn, but if the cleric succeeded it could be a problem. However, he also has fair melee capability and probably goes with sword, fangs, and teeth in the event of his minions fleeing.
Harbinger doesn't have any minions in the room with him, but can use limited wish to resurrect the overworm in the sea of worms to prevent the party from focusing on him. He can also cast multiple spells per round, and his CR is 2-4 levels above the party's, so he can afford to lose a spell or two. Effective use of slow, displacement, mirror image, prot. from good, fire shield, confusion, hold monster, wall of force, repulsion, maze, and power word spells should ensure that he has many ways of limiting the numbers of attacks of opportunity against him. He also has invisibility at will, which he should use between magical attacks if he's threatened--that should prevent most attacks of opportunity right there.
In general, I think combat casting is quite useful for certain types of low-level spellcasters, but has diminishing returns at higher level. (Kind of like taking toughness--it helps you survive, but you always wish you had taken an extra metamagic feat instead when you get to 12th level or so).
I noticed the Harbinger's bad Concentration check when I rolled it for the first time, and made the mistake of commenting on it to the party (it was veeeery late). They laughed, and later told me they wouldn't have minded if I had arbitrarily changed it to whatever I thought it should have been. This will make things much easier on me later, when I need to make certain encounters more, shall we say, epicly deadly.
Another question about Moreto; the text, from the tactics section, mentions summoned undead besides the morghs. Is this something that was left from Moreto's earlier incarnation (a vampire I think)? I see nothing regarding any ability that allows Moreto to summon undead or summon anything for that matter.