I have a 6 person party and rather than throw more vine horrors at the party each encounter, I thought I'd just up the CR +1. Have any of you guys thought of any cool abilities to give the vine horrors...like a breath weapon...spells...fast healing...etc? Just looking for opinions on what a good way to up them would be.
Thanks guys...
Hmm...well one way would be to use the advancement options given in the Monster manual.
Vine Horror is a plant and they go up by 1 CR per 4 added HD - so we'll add 4 HD to the Vine Horror.
Advanced Vine Horror CR 5
NE, huge plant (aquatic)
Fiend Folio p 185 (modifed)
Init -2; low light vision; Listen +7, Spot +7
Languages Sylvan
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AC 19 (+13 natural, =2 Dex, -2 Size), touch 6, flat-footed 19
hp 100 (8d8+64 HD)
Immune Plant Traits
Fort +14, Ref +1, Will +4
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Spd 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee weapon Slam +17/+12 (2d6+12)
Space 15; Reach 15;
Base Atk +6/+1, Grp +26
Atk Options
Full Attack: 2 Slams +17/+12 (2d6+12)
Special actions Animate Vines
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Abilities Str 34, Dex 6, Con 27, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 10
SQ Half Damage from Piercing and Slashing, Malleability, Plant Traits.
Feats Alertness, Blind Fight**, Weapon Focus (Slam)
Skills Hide +16*, Swim +15
Special Abilities
Go look them up.
** The base feats really don't take advantage of this advanced plants abilities very well. I'd probably replace with Power Attack and Weapon Specialization (Slam) for the shear damage dealing potential. Another interesting option would be improved grapple - considering this creatures abilities in the water and were the PCs are likely to face down such a creature I suspect that grappling could be very nasty.
if you adjust the EL of encounters to compensate for higher level characters or more characters, you'll have to do it through the entire AP. If you keep to the same levels and same numbers, the characters will get less experience and advance slower. Eventually they will have to be fighting pretty tough encounters to get the same XP as a "same level encounter".
If you want to have to adjust every encounter throughout the AP for the party, enjoy. I'll just let the system self-adjust for my 7 players.
if you adjust the EL of encounters to compensate for higher level characters or more characters, you'll have to do it through the entire AP. If you keep to the same levels and same numbers, the characters will get less experience and advance slower. Eventually they will have to be fighting pretty tough encounters to get the same XP as a "same level encounter".
If you want to have to adjust every encounter throughout the AP for the party, enjoy. I'll just let the system self-adjust for my 7 players.
In my opinion this is actually better advice then using my advanced Vine Horror above.
In my opinion this is actually better advice then using my advanced Vine Horror above.if you adjust the EL of encounters to compensate for higher level characters or more characters, you'll have to do it through the entire AP. If you keep to the same levels and same numbers, the characters will get less experience and advance slower. Eventually they will have to be fighting pretty tough encounters to get the same XP as a "same level encounter".
If you want to have to adjust every encounter throughout the AP for the party, enjoy. I'll just let the system self-adjust for my 7 players.
Unfortunatly, my players have complained that they breeze through combat too easily. This is becasue there is 6 of them instead of 4. Also, I don't mind adjusting the big encounters...the set pieces...but every encounnter doesnt need to be increased IMO.
I agree with the feat selection...and I'll probably change that. And I also agree that the simplest way to increase CR +1 is to add 4 HD's. All sound advice. I was thinking of giving them some kind of cool/interesting ability.... something that goes well with them and the sargasso thematically.