strangepork |
The old game hack, which was ASCIi text graphics so a monster was represented by a letter on the screen (orc was an 'o' for example) hada powerful scroll you could find - type in a letter, and that monster would be removed from the game haha!
Which monster would you eradicate from PFS in this fantasy scenario?
Im going with Harpy
Jiggy RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
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Iron Cobras. They're usually not all that threatening for their CR, so there's no tension or excitement, but their un-bypassable DR means you're going to be fighting them all afternoon. You can't even just walk away, because they have 40ft move speed. They're nothing but an incredibly boring time sink.
WalterGM RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8 |
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Shadows.
Shadows are one of the least fun monsters in Pathfinder. Flavor-wise, they're great, but mechanically, they end up making the worst encounters at tables. They are so swingy that they can kill PCs in one or two hits, or instantly kill some PCs on a crit. The fun doesn't stop there, as they get to create spawn from the slain PCs, which just leads to more overpowered undead to fight.
Obviously it's a bummer for the players that get ganked by these creatures, but I honestly think it can be even worse for the GM. I know I always feel terrible attacking non-Strength based characters with shadows when I GM. And I know others that feel the same way. Like the GM I had when we did a module that had eight shadows in a single fight. It's always super fun for players when they take over 20 STR damage in a surprise round. /sarcasm
I've never heard a GM apologize more for killing a PC than when they killed them with a crit from a shadow.
Flaming Duck Venture-Agent, Idaho—Moscow |
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Shadow Demons (I dislike them from both sides of the screen)
You don't like creatures that can waste two hours of your time? And can't see in their own darkness? How strange...
That being said, I'm glad there are no Mind Flayers in pathfinder. My ongoing 3.5 game keeps running into them and there are so many shenanigans and other stupid variations with those monsters it goes way past tedious.
Codanous |
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I can agree with banning Shadows, a terrible creature whose damage doesn't lend well to creating a fun environment.
C-Caryatid columns for a similar reason of iron cobras. Just annoying "monsters" that slow things down for no particular reason. I've never encountered a Column in an adventure and thought "that made sense for the story".
godsDMit |
Iron Cobras. They're usually not all that threatening for their CR, so there's no tension or excitement, but their un-bypassable DR means you're going to be fighting them all afternoon. You can't even just walk away, because they have 40ft move speed. They're nothing but an incredibly boring time sink.
This monster is why Grapple exists.
GM: "Now that you have it, what do you want to do with it?"
Player: "I throw it off the cliff."
I actually TPKed a party with one of these once. It was amazing. And I dont mean in a 'HAHA, I killed ALL teh players. I win!' kinda way. More like a 'I cant believe this actually happened' kind of way.
On topic, I'd probably go with Ghoul. Those things are used far too much. A little variety would be nice now and again. Why cant we see more Allips or something?
Iammars |
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Why cant we see more Allips or something?
Funny you should say that - Allips would be my creature to get rid of. I'm really tired of running them, especially since they never really seem to be a threat by themselves. It takes throwing additional abilities on them to make them anywhere near a challenge. On top of that, there's a significant amount of allips in PFS now - we could use a break.
Rogue Eidolon |
I agree with (S)hadows. It's a CR 3, but if these guys come out of the wall, they could easily be hitting against flat-footed touch AC, which is generally between 10 and 18 or so even for Seekers (barring uncanny dodge) and their no-save ability damage makes them equally dangerous at all levels. 4 of them on average do 14 Strength damage. Unless you are primary Strength, that's going to be the end of you.
Finlanderboy |
I agree with (S)hadows. It's a CR 3, but if these guys come out of the wall, they could easily be hitting against flat-footed touch AC, which is generally between 10 and 18 or so even for Seekers (barring uncanny dodge) and their no-save ability damage makes them equally dangerous at all levels. 4 of them on average do 14 Strength damage. Unless you are primary Strength, that's going to be the end of you.
I can definately understand the issue with shadows. I know two modules that places them against level 1s. This could make them unkillable.
Honestly though I feel it is poor writing to have them be such a threat.
grandpoobah |
Seugathi can be devastating, especially if there is more than one.
(they cast Confusion, have an AURA of confusion, and an Immediate action power to CHOOSE what confusion result you get).
Shattered Star Chapter 3 has what amounts to a random encounter with three of them. I re-wrote it as something else, because it was such an obvious TPK scenario.
As a player, in Tier 1-2, nothing has brought me closer to death than REEFCLAWS. I realize they are probably a balanced tough monster - but to this day they scare the heck out of me.
Shadows scare me way more than Spectres, as Spectres (as a CR7) do one negative level a hit. So doing basic EL calculations, they'd have to hit you 5-6 times to kill you (and if an encounter has more than one of them, then you should be higher level). Shadows can one-shot you if they crit, and can easily kill a "normal" (i.e. STR 8-12 non melee) in two hits.
Since PCs get more levels (but non STR based PCs rarely get more STR), Shadows are always scary (and then they get to be Greater Shadows).
feytharn |
Trolls?
Seriously, I wouldn't eliminate any monster from the game - Even if I have never used a monster or had it used in a story I played, there is no knowing if it could be the exact thing I need for some future adventure (and if the stats don't add up imho, I can always try to adjust them to my needs).
The Morphling |
Iron Cobras. They're usually not all that threatening for their CR, so there's no tension or excitement, but their un-bypassable DR means you're going to be fighting them all afternoon. You can't even just walk away, because they have 40ft move speed. They're nothing but an incredibly boring time sink.
My group got to throw one into a bottomless pit the other day. There was much cheering.
Under A Bleeding Sun |
Fighting Shadows underwater is awesome! Take 1/4 damage and their not effected! What more awesome than that!
I really dislike ghouls/ghasts for their CR. I feel its wrong and I've got bodies (cheaply) with both of those before. Ghasts TPK'd my party in an AP I ran too.
Shadows are kind of crappy too. One guy I GM for regularly is a shadow dancer and his shadow gets a stoneskin on it and they just send it ahead with an order to retreat if something actually does damage to it. Its can literally wipe out entire 10-11 scenarios single handily.
godsDMit |
I agree with (S)hadows. It's a CR 3, but if these guys come out of the wall, they could easily be hitting against flat-footed touch AC, which is generally between 10 and 18 or so even for Seekers (barring uncanny dodge) and their no-save ability damage makes them equally dangerous at all levels. 4 of them on average do 14 Strength damage. Unless you are primary Strength, that's going to be the end of you.
How are you getting flat-footed touch AC to be any higher than like 11 (10 + 1 size)?
Iammars |
Deflection, insight, luck, monk, etc. Also since shadows are incorporeal, mage armor and shield will count towards flat-footed touch.
My lvl 8 Champion of Irori has a flat-footed touch AC of 24 vs. shadows if I smite them (or 20 if not smiting).
Dhjika |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The old game hack, which was ASCIi text graphics so a monster was represented by a letter on the screen (orc was an 'o' for example) hada powerful scroll you could find - type in a letter, and that monster would be removed from the game haha!
Which monster would you eradicate from PFS in this fantasy scenario?
Im going with Harpy
Elves
Red-Assassin |
Shadows are kind of crappy too. One guy I GM for regularly is a shadow dancer and his shadow gets a stoneskin on it and they just send it ahead with an order to retreat if something actually does damage to it. Its can literally wipe out entire 10-11 scenarios single handily.
This sounds like it shouldn't work. I understand that mechanically it would...
I think I would remove.
Vargouille
Keep the shadow.
Codanous |
I'll admit, on the shadow discussion, there is a 7,500 gold item in UE that is "Bottle of Shadow" and it has 4 charges that renew every sunset. Pouring it out as a standard action summons a controllable Shadow that lasts for 1 round and every round you wish it to persist burns a charge. If it kills a creature, at least 4HD, it adds one charge to the bottle. That little bastard has certainly turned the tides of some battles that's for sure.
High levels, get that haste going, not much he can't take down.
Rei Venture-Lieutenant, Finland—Tampere |
Under A Bleeding Sun |
I gotta admit, I get the most colorful curses out of GMs when I bring my Shadowdancer multiclass to the table. Not because of the character, but because of the shadow.
Yup, shadows are pretty game breaking in pfs. Like i said, entire dungeons.....
I'm at the point now where it's kind of like, look I'll just take out all the combats you shadow can solo, how about that so we can speed this painful episode along. Now for the boss fight...