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<blockquote data-quote="inthegreylight" data-source="post: 8533167" data-attributes="member: 6887466"><p>Thanks for the feedback! I also calculated a CR of 7 initially, but I figured the anti-magic cone and ability to shoot eye rays from way up in the air would bump it up to 8.</p><p></p><p>Less saves and more HP it is, then. I didn't realize how much the save proficiencies were propping up the CR.</p><p></p><p>That is the intent, yes. There were a few reasons for this, whether or not they're good reasons:</p><p> - Since this is a lesser beholder, I wanted it to mainly blast damaging laser beams with a few special eye rays, highlighting the contrast with a true beholder if one is encountered later on.</p><p> - Beholder zombies fire only one ray per round, and if <em>they </em>can survive long enough to fire all their special rays in an encounter, I figure so can this beholder. Especially with the lesser beholder's range and various defensive abilities.</p><p> - The 4e beholder eye of flame was a big inspiration for this monster, and it used one fire ray and one special ray each round. </p><p> - I was concerned that with a 1 in 4 chance of using its disintegration ray, using its normal eye rays several times a round would soon reduce a lower-level party to powder.</p><p></p><p>To ensure the encounter stays interesting, I could make each normal eye ray a 1/rest ability and say something like "The beholder shoots a random available magical eye ray at a creature within 150 feet. Once all four of its eye rays have been used, they all refresh." But I think that might negate the fun of a beholder's eye rays being unpredictable.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="inthegreylight, post: 8533167, member: 6887466"] Thanks for the feedback! I also calculated a CR of 7 initially, but I figured the anti-magic cone and ability to shoot eye rays from way up in the air would bump it up to 8. Less saves and more HP it is, then. I didn't realize how much the save proficiencies were propping up the CR. That is the intent, yes. There were a few reasons for this, whether or not they're good reasons: - Since this is a lesser beholder, I wanted it to mainly blast damaging laser beams with a few special eye rays, highlighting the contrast with a true beholder if one is encountered later on. - Beholder zombies fire only one ray per round, and if [I]they [/I]can survive long enough to fire all their special rays in an encounter, I figure so can this beholder. Especially with the lesser beholder's range and various defensive abilities. - The 4e beholder eye of flame was a big inspiration for this monster, and it used one fire ray and one special ray each round. - I was concerned that with a 1 in 4 chance of using its disintegration ray, using its normal eye rays several times a round would soon reduce a lower-level party to powder. To ensure the encounter stays interesting, I could make each normal eye ray a 1/rest ability and say something like "The beholder shoots a random available magical eye ray at a creature within 150 feet. Once all four of its eye rays have been used, they all refresh." But I think that might negate the fun of a beholder's eye rays being unpredictable. [/QUOTE]
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