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Nightmare Lord Bogeyman (CR11)
NE Medium Fey
Init:+12
Senses: Low-Light Vision, Darkvision 120’, Perception +23
Aura: Deepest Fear Su. (30’, DC28), Fear Aura Su. (60’, DC28), Frightful Presence Su. (30’, DC28, 5D6/rnds)
Defense:
AC 26, Touch 26, Flat-Footed 17 (+7 Deflection, +8 DEX, +1 Dodge) (+2AC vs. Good not included)
HP: 136 (17D6+34), Terrible Rejuvenation Su. 5, Regeneration Ex. 5 (good/silver negates), Feign Death Ex. (DC28), Illusion resistance Ex.
Saves (+2 vs. Good not included):
Fort +9, Reflex +18, Will +13
DR: 15/cold iron SR: 21
Offense:
Speed 30’, Fly 10’ (perfect)
Melee: 2 claws +16 (1D8+8/19-20)
Special Attacks: Sneak Attack +6D6, Striking Fear Su. (DC 28), Night Terrors Su. (DC28)/Dream Slave Su.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10, concentration +20):
Saving Throw DC Modifiers (included): Nightmare Magic Su. +4 phantasm school, +4 shadow school
*Constant: detect thoughts, tongues, protection from good
*At Will: darkness, gaseous form, ghost sound (DC20), invisibility, suggestion (DC23)
*4/day: nightmare (DC29), shadow walk
*3/day: crushing despair (DC24), hold person (DC23), quickened phantasmal killer (DC28), deep slumber (DC23), plane shift (dimension of dreams)
*1/day: feeblemind (DC25), modify memory (DC24), shadow conjuration (DC28), shadow evocation (DC29)
Stats:
STR 12, DEX 27, CON 14, INT 19, WIS 16, CHA 31
BAB +8, CMB +9, CMD 35
Feats: Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (claws), Improved Initiative, Mobility, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Skill Focus (stealth), Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse
Skills: Bluff +30, Diplomacy +23, Disable Device +18, Escape Artist +21, Intimidate +31, Know (local) +18, Perception +23, Sense motive +23, Spellcraft +14, Stealth +38
Racial Modifiers (included): +4 Intimidate, +4 Stealth
Languages: Aklo, Common, tongues
Deepest Fear (Su)
A bogeyman is cloaked in a 30-foot aura of fear. This aura manifests as a shifting haze of images that reflect the viewer’s deepest fears. The first time it ends its turn within the aura, a creature must make a DC 25 Will save or become shaken for as long as it stays within the aura. If the creature succeeds at the saving throw, it cannot be affected again by the aura for another 24 hours. This is a fear effect. The DC is Charisma-based.
Striking Fear (Su)
If a bogeyman confirms a critical hit or a sneak attack with one of its claws on a target currently suffering a fear effect, that effect automatically becomes one step more severe (shaken creatures become frightened, frightened creatures become panicked, and panicked creatures cower in fear). A DC 25 Will save negates this increase. In addition, a critical hit from the bogeyman’s claw forces any target that has successfully saved against the creature’s fear aura to make another Will save against its effects, even if 24 hours have not yet passed. This is a fear effect. The DC is Charisma-based.
Terrible Rejuvenation (Su)
A bogeyman gains fast healing 5 while any creature within its deepest fear aura is suffering from a fear effect, including any fear effect created by the aura itself.
Feign Death (Ex)
Whenever a nightmare creature is unconscious, it appears dead. A conscious nightmare creature can also make itself appear dead as an immediate action. Any creature that physically interacts with a nightmare creature feigning death must succeed at a Heal check or Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the nightmare creature’s Hit Dice + the nightmare creature’s Intelligence or Charisma modifier, whichever is higher) to recognize it is actually alive.
Illusion Resistance (Ex)
A nightmare creature automatically disbelieves illusions (no saving throw required) and has a +4 bonus on saving throws to resist illusion effects.
Regeneration 5 (Ex)
Good-aligned weapons, silver weapons, and spells with the good descriptor cause a nightmare creature’s regeneration to stop functioning for 1 round.
Speed: Same as the base creature. If the base creature does not have a fly speed, the nightmare creature gains a fly speed of 10 (perfect maneuverability) as a supernatural ability.
Fear Aura (Su)
All creatures within a 60-foot radius that see or hear a nightmare creature must succeed at a Will save or be shaken for as long as they are within the aura. Whether or not the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected again by the same nightmare creature’s fear aura for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting fear affect.
Frightful Presence (Su)
This ability activates when the nightmare creature charges, attacks during a surprise round, or succeeds at a DC 15 Intimidate or Perform check. Its frightful presence has a range of 30 feet.
Night Terrors (Su)
Once a nightmare creature enters a target’s mind with its dream or nightmare spell-like ability, it can attempt to control the target’s dream. If the target fails a Will saving throw, it remains asleep and trapped in the dream world with the nightmare creature. Thereafter, the nightmare creature controls all aspects of the dream. Each hour that passes, the target can attempt another saving throw to try to awaken (it automatically awakens after 8 hours or if the nightmare creature releases it). The target takes 1d4 points of Charisma damage each hour it is trapped in the dream; if it takes any Charisma damage, it is fatigued and unable to regain arcane spells for the next 24 hours. The target dies if this Charisma damage equals or exceeds its actual Charisma score.
Dream Slave (Su)
Instead of killing a target with its night terror ability, a nightmare lord may instead enslave it with a permanent dominate monster effect. The enslaved creature is healed of all Charisma damage taken from night terrors.
You're looking for an encounter, not a series of encounters or an adventure or a chapter in a story, right?
I'd need a little more info. What sort of game would this encounter be included in? Is this guy central to the plot or just one of many various things that go bump in the night?
He isn't the BBEG, just something to give the party a little scare. They have made it to level 12 without too much trouble, I'm hoping to add a challenging encounter to put the fear back in them.
I introduced him a few levels ago, but he hasn't been used since. Plus, only one person in the party actually seen him, as he was invisible and they were the only one with access to see invisibility.
There was rumors of people in the local villages not being able to sleep. And some people are unaccounted for, but no foul play is yet suspected in their disappearances. People come and go all the time.
The party investigated but soon became sidetracked with other obligations. I think it's about time to reacquaint him with the party.
I'm thinking of putting him in a tower on an island. Some frightened hostages kept in strategic places to constantly fuel his fast healing, and also to mitigate the party's ability to use spells with area damage. Probably some Will-O-Wisps as minions because they feed on fear, too.
I might have to wait until they have another level or two, though. Those save or suck DC's are pretty steep. And that's kinda all he has... his two claws just aren't what's scary about him.
Should I have him stalk/harass the party a few times, maybe start haunting the one person that actually seen him? Give them a chance to catch him outside of his lair?
If they go into his dungeon, they are going to have an exceedingly difficult time. Maybe. They constantly surprise me, and that's why I'm asking for help with how to make this guy scary.
How do I use this villain "correctly"?
Played to the full potential, this could easily be a TPK. The bogeyman would track the party from a distance and attack whilst the party are sleeping. Cast any spells to neutralise the arcane casters then divine casters. Take out the lookout when necessary. Then proceed to introduce night terrors and make them dream slaves.
If it's done really well the party won't notice beyond being fatigued and unable to gain spells.
Any hint of physical or magical attack would see the bogeyman retreat and come back again later.
When the party is sufficiently weakened one or more of the dream slaves executes the other party members.
@Meirril
Nice. That works pretty well as-is. Thank you.
During the party's rather minor investigation, they did use a couple friendly Fae as a radar of sorts, but they stopped before they had anything concrete to pursue. So that works really well with what has already transpired in the campaign.
@Hugo
I'm trying to avoid the TPK scenario, but still provide a challenge.
I've been avoiding using him to grab party members one by one because nobody wants to play that game.
BUT, I already introduced him. And already gave him the template. So now the party has to deal him. He is there. This is what he is.
I don't want him to be the BBEG, this campaign already has one of those and she doesn't need his help. She sent him to be his own threat, I don't want him as her minion during the final battle. So I need the party to deal with him before they get to her.
I already planned on having him bounce any time combat gets thick... he's not built for that, but can easily survive if he flees with even the smallest amount of health.
If you're looking for him to give a scare and go away. Why don't you do just that. Start him off as suggested and then the BBEG sends him off on another higher priority mission before things go too far. That leaves your options open for later. He will remain a perceived threat and could always be killed off screen if you choose not to reintroduce him.
If you're looking for him to give a scare and go away. Why don't you do just that. Start him off as suggested and then the BBEG sends him off on another higher priority mission before things go too far. That leaves your options open for later. He will remain a perceived threat and could always be killed off screen if you choose not to reintroduce him.
I was thinking about this very same thing...
The BBEG is capable of killing him regardless of any trick he tries, she could even execute him for failing to be a big enough inconvenience to the party...
The cost of failure is absolute.
However, playing him in this pretense would make him go for the sneaky TPK, to ensure that he doesn't disappoint the BBEG.
She has "helped" others, with designed to backfire schemes already, it would be no surprise that he is disposable, as well. But he is smart enough to see he is being played for a suicide mission, and would behave accordingly...
He doesn't have to be killed. The BBEG has reassigned him to some other plot. E.g. rendering a duke/king/other pivotal person in her grand scheme under their control. The party won't know why the assault has stopped and will forever wary of his return.
From your perspective you don't need to flesh out the details, some high level idea would be enough that could be revealed in the aftermath of the BBEGs defeat. Either for a subsequent adventure or a narration of the bogeyman's defeat. One narrative idea though - the Duke had a secret magister/spymaster who the bogeyman was unaware of. This magister recognised the assault on the Duke, trapped and defeated the bogeyman.
I would crank up the heat on this a little bit if you want to give them a real scare. Make this encounter kinda like a Nightmare spell, where the Bogeyman assaults all the players in their dreams with a 30 second window of attack (so that all players can participate in the encounter), so 5 rounds of combat max before the bogeyman fades out of the dream and the players can wake up.
Beef him up to be a CR14 or CR15, and then pull the gloves off and start going for actual kills on the PC's. When they wake up after 30 seconds, anyone still alive wakes with their missing HP, but anyone dead is dead (they're lvl 12, they can resurrect).
He returns every 1d4 days, and the day after any attack, all players are fatigued from the Nightmare.
That's a pretty scary encounter if you ask me ;) Mind if I borrow this actually? :D haha
@Ryze
I was thinking about having him put whoever is standing guard to sleep with deep slumber, and then putting the whole party into a nightmare so everyone can participate.
I like the super quick combat idea. Just reoccurring flashes of terror.
And you're right, they can resurrect. Lol.
@Mark
The steamy warehouse would be pretty scary to people who don't understand the technology. I don't think steam powered machines exist in this timeline yet. The spring is a relatively new invention.
So the Elm street type nightmare would be so alien and terrifying to people in this timeline.
Nightmare has unlimited range. The bogeyman can attack from literally anywhere.
You could start with one nightmare attack per night until the party start taking steps to defend themselves and hunt down the bogeyman. Then one visitation per day staying at medium spell range. Drop a feeblemind and a phantasmal killer and retreat. As the party get closer continue to ramp up the hit and run. Maybe 2-3 rounds of attack using shadow conjuration and/or evocation. Modify a memory that one of the party betrayed another. Add suggestions to not memorise useful spells - eg the cleric chooses not to pick dispel evil.
The players should be terrified of an enemy that can attack them anywhere and that they cannot even engage and get more and more desperate as the attacks ramp up and the cumulative effects take their toll.
Well, well, well, what have we here?
Sandy Claws, huh?
Ooh, I'm really scared!
So you're the one everybody's talkin' about, ha ha ha!
You're jokin', you're jokin'
I can't believe my eyes
You're jokin' me, you gotta be
This can't be the right guy
He's ancient, he's ugly
I don't know which is worse
I might just split a seam now
If I don't die laughing first
When Mr. Oogie Boogie says
There's trouble close at hand
You'd better pay attention now
'Cause I'm the Boogie Man
And if you aren't shakin'
There's something very wrong
'Cause this may be the last time
You hear the boogie song
Woah (Woah)
Woah (Woah)
Woah (Woah)
Oh, (he's the) Oogie Boogie Man
Well, if I'm feelin' antsy
And I've nothin' much to do
I might just cook a special batch
Of snake and spider stew
And don't you know the one thing
That would make it work so nice?
A roly-poly Sandy Claws to add a little spice
Woah (Woah)
Woah (Oh)
Woah (Yeah)
I'm (he's) the Oogie Boogie Man
Release me now
Or you must face the dire consequences
The children are expecting me
So please, come to your senses
Ha! You're jokin', you're jokin'
I can't believe my ears
Would someone shut this fella up
I'm drownin' in my tears
It's funny, I'm laughing
You really are too much
And now, with your permission
I'm going to do my stuff
What are you going to do?
I'm gonna do the best I can
Woah! The sound of rollin' dice
To me is music in the air
'Cause I'm a gamblin' Boogie Man
Although I don't play fair
It's much more fun, I must confess
When lives are on the line
Not mine, of course, but yours, old boy
Now that'd be just fine
Release me fast or you will have to
Answer for this heinous act
Oh, brother, you're something
You put me in a spin!
You aren't comprehending
The position that you're in
It's hopeless, you're finished
You haven't got a prayer!
'Cause I'm Mr. Oogie Boogie
And you ain't going nowhere
I'm bringing this back...
Here is Oogie Boogie fully stat'ed out at 25HD... I need to pick 4 more feats to top him off, but everything else is done as correctly as I know how. I am not sure where to place him on the Challenge Rating scale, but I'm thinking 19-ish... Implacable Stalker Nightmare Lord Bogeyman with 25HD:
Oogie Boogie
HP = CR 16
AC = CR 21
High Atk = CR 12
Avg Dmg = CR 8?
High DC = CR 28
Good Save = CR 22
NE Medium fey
Init +13; Senses darkvision (120'), low-light vision; Perception +31
Aura deepest fear (60 ft., DC 33)
DEFENSE
AC 37, touch 31, flat-footed 27 (+11 deflection, +9 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
hp 237 (25d6+125+25); regeneration 5, terrible rejuvenation 5
Fort +15, Ref +23, Will +17
Defensive Abilities feign death, illusion resistance, regeneration, terrifying inevitability
DR 15/cold iron or silver, and good; SR 21
Resist acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10, sonic 10;
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 10 ft. (perfect maneuverability)
Melee 2 claws +21 (1d8+3/19–20)
Special Attacks deepest fear, dream slave, frightful presence, gory display, night terrors, nightmare magic, sneak attack +6d6, striking fear
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th; concentration +27)
Constant—detect thoughts, protection from good, tongues
At will—darkness, gaseous form, ghost sound (DC 21), invisibility, suggestion (DC 24)
3/day—crushing despair (DC 25), deep slumber (DC 24), dream (DC 30), hold person (DC 24), nightmare (DC 30), plane shift (from the Material Plane to the Dimension of Dreams or back again) (DC 28), quickened phantasmal killer (DC 29), shadow walk (DC 31)
1/day—feeblemind (DC 26), modify memory (DC 25), shadow conjuration (DC 29), shadow evocation (DC 30)
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 28, Con 20, Int 19, Wis 16, Cha 32
Base Atk +12; CMB +15; CMD 34
Feats Diehard, Dodge, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Intimidating Prowess, Mobility, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (phantasmal killer), Skill Focus (Stealth), Spring Attack, Toughness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +20, Bluff +39, Diplomacy +29, Disable Device +24, Escape Artist +28, Fly +28, Intimidate +47, Knowledge (geography) +15, Knowledge (local) +23, Knowledge (nature) +15, Perception +31, Sense Motive +31, Spellcraft +19, Stealth +49, Survival +11 (+17 to track), Use Magic Device +22; Racial Modifiers +8 Intimidate, +6 Stealth, +6 Survival (to track)
Languages Aklo, Common; tongues
SQ nightmare resurrection, right behind you
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure double
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Deepest Fear (Su)
Oogie Boogie is cloaked in a 60-foot aura of fear. This aura manifests as a shifting haze of images that reflect the viewer's deepest fears. The first time it ends its turn within the aura, a creature that has at least 5 fewer Hit Dice than Oogie Boogie must succeed at a Will save or become frightened for 1 minute if they come within 60 feet of Oogie Boogie. Even if they succeed at their saves, they gain the shaken condition for as long as they remain within 60 feet of Oogie Boogie, and for 1 round thereafter. All other creatures within this radius must succeed at a Will save or become shaken for as long as they remain within 60 feet of Oogie Boogie, and for 1 round thereafter. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by Oogie Boogie’s aura until the creature has left the aura and reentered it. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The DC is Charisma-based.
Dream Slave (Su)
Instead of killing a target with its night terror ability, Oogie Boogie may instead enslave it with a permanent dominate monster effect. The enslaved creature is healed of all Charisma damage taken from night terrors.
Feign Death (Ex)
Whenever Oogie Boogie is unconscious, it appears dead. Oogie Boogie can also make itself appear dead as an immediate action. Any creature that physically interacts with Oogie Boogie feigning death must succeed at a Heal check or Will saving throw (DC 33) to recognize it is actually alive.
Frightful Presence (Su)
This ability activates when the Oogie Boogie charges, attacks during a surprise round, or succeeds at a DC 15 Intimidate or Perform check. Oogie Boogie's frightful presence has a range of 30 feet.
Gory Display (Ex)
Whenever Oogie Boogie kills a sentient living creature, as a swift action, it can revel in the kill, shredding its victim’s corpse in a gruesome display of power. If it does, it chooses one of the following benefits: gain a +4 morale bonus to Strength and Dexterity for 1 minute, regain a single use of a spell-like ability that it can normally use three or more times per day, or immediately heal a number of hit points equal to its Hit Dice.
Alternatively, instead of any of these benefits, Oogie Boogie can cause a single creature within 60 feet to become more vulnerable to fear. Creatures affected in this way lose any immunity to fear they may have. If the creature did not possess immunity to fear, it takes a –4 penalty on saving throws to resist fear effects, and all Intimidate checks attempted against it receive a +4 circumstance bonus. These effects last for 10 minutes. Finally, if the creature is currently immune to Oogie Boogie’s deepest fear aura because it succeeded at a previous saving throw, it loses that immunity.
Illusion Resistance (Ex)
Oogie Boogie automatically disbelieves illusions (no saving throw required) and has a +4 bonus on saving throws to resist illusion effects.
Night Terrors (Su)
Once a Oogie Boogie enters a target’s mind with its dream or nightmare spell-like ability, it can attempt to control the target’s dream. If the target fails a Will saving throw, it remains asleep and trapped in the dream world with Oogie Boogie. Thereafter, Oogie Boogie controls all aspects of the dream. Each hour that passes, the target can attempt another saving throw to try to awaken (it automatically awakens after 8 hours or if Oogie Boogie releases it). The target takes 1d4 points of Charisma damage each hour it is trapped in the dream; if it takes any Charisma damage, it is fatigued and unable to regain arcane spells for the next 24 hours. The target dies if this Charisma damage equals or exceeds its actual Charisma score.
Nightmare Magic (Su)
Oogie Boogie gains a +4 bonus to the DCs of its spells and spell-like abilities of the phantasm and shadow subschools.
Nightmare Resurrection (Su)
When Oogie Boogie dies, it creates a psychic imprint on the mind of each intelligent creature within 60 feet that witnessed its death. Each week, such creatures are subject to a nightmare effect (DC 33). In this nightmare, the creature is hunted and slain by Oogie Boogie (for GMs using the nightmare dreamscape rules, these nightmares always have the “being chased” nightmare feature). A creature that succeeds at three consecutive saving throws to resist the effect is freed from it. If any creature fails at three consecutive saving throws to resist the nightmare, Oogie Boogie returns to life, as per true resurrection. If its corpse has been completely destroyed, it returns to life in a random location within 5 miles of the creature that failed to resist the nightmare effects. Once Oogie Boogie is returned to life, the psychic imprint fades from all creatures still affected by it.
Regeneration 5 (Ex)
Good-aligned weapons, cold iron or silver weapons, and spells with the good descriptor cause Oogie Boogie's regeneration to stop functioning for 1 round.
Right Behind You (Sp)
As a swift action, Oogie Boogie can teleport to an unoccupied space, which must be adjacent to a creature Oogie Boogie is aware of that has the shaken, frightened, or panicked condition. Oogie Boogie can travel a maximum distance of 480 feet with each use of this ability, and must wait 1d6 rounds between each use. Additionally, if Oogie Boogie travels at least 40 feet, any shaken, frightened, or panicked creature it arrives adjacent to is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC against the Oogie Boogie’s attacks until the beginning of Oogie Boogie’s next turn.
Sense Fear (Su)
Oogie Boogie is able to sense the fear of nearby living creatures. This functions similarly to blindsight, with a range of 120 feet, except it only allows Oogie Boogie to detect creatures that are currently experiencing any level of fear ranging from spooked to horrified. Additionally, this ability allows Oogie Boogie to detect such creatures even through solid barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.
Striking Fear (Su)
If Oogie Boogie confirms a critical hit or a sneak attack with one of its claws on a target currently suffering a fear effect, that effect automatically becomes one step more severe (shaken creatures become frightened, frightened creatures become panicked, and panicked creatures cower in fear). A DC 33 Will save negates this increase. In addition, a critical hit from Oogie Boogie's claw forces any target that has successfully saved against the Oogie Boogie's deepest fear aura to make another Will save against its effects, even if 24 hours have not yet passed. This is a fear effect. The DC is Charisma-based.
Terrible Rejuvenation (Su)
Oogie Boogie gains fast healing 5 while any creature within its deepest fear aura is suffering from a fear effect, including any fear effect created by the aura itself.
Terrifying Inevitability (Su)
Oogie Boogie is even more difficult to kill when in the presence of fear. As long as Oogie Boogie is able to see or hear a creature currently experiencing any level of fear ranging from spooked to horrified, it gains fast healing equal to its Hit Dice, its damage reduction increases to 15/—, and it gains spell resistance equal to 16 + its CR.
Oogie Boogie's outside appearance is very simple. He is covered from head to toe in a grey burlap sack, and an obvious seam is visible along the sides. Oogie Boogie is quite rotund, with stumpy legs and featureless arms that end in frayed burlap strands and countless claws. The "eyes" in Oogie's head are featureless black holes, as is the inside of his mouth. The tip of his head extends outward and flops down, vaguely resembling a Santa hat. On the inside of the sack, Oogie Boogie is a huge mass of a variety of different colored bugs and nightmares.
Many believe that Oogie Boogie exists as a punishment, or even reward, for their actions. Others see Oogie Boogie as a supernatural manifestation of society's willingness to do itself harm.
Oogie Boogie uses its powers to haunt houses or secluded natural places where they can hunt prey unobserved. Oogie Boogie relishes using its ghost sound ability to hint at its presence long before it fully reveals itself. It is not uncommon for Oogie Boogie to hide under a bed, or in a closet left slightly ajar, for days or even weeks, all the while feeding on its victims' growing realization that they are not alone.
Oogie Boogie will sometimes abandon the tactic of feeding on one person's fears at a time and take up the role of mass murderer or serial killer, or other pursuits designed to drive fear into the hearts of an entire city of victims.
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It has a lot of swift action abilities like "Right behind you", "Gory Display", "Feign Death" (immediate action) and constant effects like, "detect thoughts", "protection from good", "tongues" and "Deepest fear aura".
That should make the CR higher.
By the way you missed Fey as language.
For feats I would advice "improved initiativ"
Dazzling display and gory display feats seems more fitting than its inate "Gory display".
If I missed Fey as a Language, so did AoN... I started with a direct cut'n'paste. Had to use AoN's Bogeyman, because D20PFSRD has the Bogeyman's CL at 10... AoN has it at 16, which I like better.
I was thinking of changing his feats up to include Dastardly Finish, Dreadful Carnage, and Signature Skill Intimidate... make people Cower, causually Coup de Grace someone, Intimidate everyone around to make them all Cower... it's a vicious cycle. Lol.
I do think that all the formulae in the game demand Oogie Boogie be treated as a higher Challenge Rating, but I don't think even a Coup de Grace from him is going to kill a high level PC... he is scary, but not especially deadly. The party will likely heal before he strikes again with Oogie Boogie's slow and methodical hit'n'run tactics. It would literally take forever to wear down a high level party.
I did straight murder someone in the party with his Quickened Phantasmal Killer when I had show up again. Lol. It wasn't necessarily intended to be so cruel, and I didn't even have him all turned up to 11 at the time. Just wanted to reintroduce him and whoops. Probably could have TPK'ed the party if I had wanted to.
Maybe Oogie Boogie is perfectly deadly, and needs to be much higher on the Challenge Rating scale... maybe I am just a neanderthal and do not know to properly utilize such a monster... too concerned with physical damage. I might be chicken$#!+ and do like save-or-suck villains... it just seems to invite someone to go sit in the corner.
People dedicated real life time to participate in this game session... sometimes paying well over $50 in round trip Uber fares... and exactly 67 seconds into tonight's game, you do not pass GO, you do not collect $200, you go directly to jail... what a great way to spend a Thursday night. I don't like it, it makes me feel like I am wasting their time.
That is probably something I will have to get over as a GM...
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How I missed it already had improved initiative is a Mystery to me.
Some other comments:
A monster like this works hidden in the shadows between scary reality and horrifying nightmares.
It would pick off the players 1 by 1 in their dreams dominating the low cha players first. When it has half the players under its control it will start the slaughter of the remaining players.
It is a TPK monster if it is played to its strengths.
What it lacks is some sort of nondetection item.
Some longterm goals for the oogie boogie monster would help make it more cunning and planning.