Need help creating a CR8 maimed beholder

Klaudius Rex

Explorer

• Sep 28, 2016

• #1

The Monster Manual only has a CR3 Spectator and CR13 and CR14 beholders. Such a shame that there isnt anything in between.

I have 4 players at level 8 who can easily defeat a CR3 Spectator, but apparently, a CR13 beholder was waaaay too tough for them, since they lost twice.

So im trying to homebrew a maimed beholder something in between. Thats such a large gap of dificulty between what is offereed in the Monster Manual.

I read the DMG which allows for a minimum of 175 hp, +7 to attack, DC16, and such. I just want to know what you guys envision....

how many eye rays? Perhaps a unique eye ray that isnt presented in the MM? What about reactions? I want to pimp a cool but worthy beholder, but he is maimed, so that is my rational for him not being as good as the CR13 ones available.

Put your best stats up!
Thanks in advance!

 

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iserith

Magic Wordsmith

• Sep 28, 2016

• #2

A beholder zombie is a CR 5. You could use that as the template and augment from there. I'm not sure what your plot calls for, but I like mixing up beholder zombies and gas spores. A beholder zombie and about 10 gas spores in a cool lair with terrain favorable to Team Monster might do the trick.

Edit: I posted a short-form scenario with this monster combination that might serve as inspiration.

 

P

phantomK9

Explorer

• Sep 28, 2016

• #3

Why not just take a standard beholder, lower the average hit points and then remove some of the rays? Basically that would all represent the beholder having had one or more of its eye stalks sliced off.

Another option could be to make the middle eye blind, possibly even punctured, so that it would no longer be able to use the middle eye and you might even give it disadvantage on some attacks.

 

CapnZapp

Legend

• Sep 28, 2016

• #4

There's a maimed beholder in Out of the Abyss.

 

Klaudius Rex

Explorer

• Sep 28, 2016

• #5

CapnZapp said:

There's a maimed beholder in Out of the Abyss.

Click to expand...

Thats exactly who i am trying to create! The maimed beholder is named Lorthuun and stationed at the Mantol-Derith outpost in chapter 9, though, there are no statistics on that beholder. The group tried to take on another beholder in the same chapter, Xazax the Eyemonger, and lost twice against him. At this point, they will be facing Lorthuun the maimed beholder instead, so i need to homebrew something a bit softer, but still kick ass.

 

Klaudius Rex

Explorer

• Sep 28, 2016

• #6

iserith said:

A beholder zombie is a CR 5. You could use that as the template and augment from there. I'm not sure what your plot calls for, but I like mixing up beholder zombies and gas spores. A beholder zombie and about 10 gas spores in a cool lair with terrain favorable to Team Monster might do the trick.

Edit: I posted a short-form scenario with this monster combination that might serve as inspiration.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Iserth.

You always have great ideas!

i totally overlooked the zombie beholder in the MM. I think ill start with that, and pinch your little lair scenario too!

 

CapnZapp

Legend

• Sep 28, 2016

• #7

Klaudius Rex said:

The maimed beholder is named Lorthuun and stationed at the Mantol-Derith outpost in chapter 9, though, there are no statistics on that beholder.

Click to expand...

Not quite so fast... read page 141 again.

You will find that my suggestion is for a statted up maimed beholder of CR 9, quite close to your group's level of 8

 

Jester David

Hero

• Sep 28, 2016

• #8

I put a level 10 party against a beholder and just knocked down the DCs of its eye rays and that worked.
Maybe reducing the damage a little as well. Knocking down the hit points a little wouldn't hurt either.

 

Klaudius Rex

Explorer

• Sep 29, 2016

• #9

CapnZapp said:

Not quite so fast... read page 141 again.

You will find that my suggestion is for a statted up maimed beholder of CR 9, quite close to your group's level of 8

Click to expand...

Good catch!

I read the chapter, but sometimes, things get overlooked.
I almost feel that i want to run Lorthuun as is from the book now, due to your suggestion, but the zombie beholder was a very cool idea.

Which would you do?

 

surfarcher

First Post

• Sep 29, 2016

• #10

Happy to put together an alternate CR8 Maimed Beholder if you like. Just post what you particularly want in it...