Dracolich

[MrMyth]

Yeah, I don't object to Stun as a condition. It just should be rare, not something a monster can be dishing out, to multiple enemies, several times in a single turn!

 

[Delgar]

Here is a quick edit I did of the Dracolich, is this version any better? Should I add something else? take something away?

Eberron Dracolich Level 16 Solo Controller
Huge natural magical beast XP 7,000
Initiative +13 Senses Perception +16; darkvision
Stench of Death aura 3; Any enemy that begins its turn within the aura takes 10 necrotic damage
HP 799; Bloodied 399
AC 32; Fortitude 32; Reflex 30; Will 28
Immune disease; fear; poison; Resist 30 necrotic; Vulnerable 10 radiant
Saving Throws +5
Speed 8 , Fly 10 (clumsy)
Action Points 2
m Bite (standard; at-will) • Necrotic
Reach 3; +21 vs AC; 4d8 + 15 necrotic damage.
M Tail Slap (minor 1/round; at-will)
Reach 3; +21 vs AC; 1d8 + 6 necrotic damage, and target is dazed (save ends)
M Claw (minor 1/round; at-will)
Reach 3; +21 vs AC; 2d6 + 6 necrotic damage, and ongoing 5 necrotic damage (save ends)
C Mesmerizing Glare (immediate interrupt, when an enemy makes a melee attack against the dracolich; at-will) • Fear
Close blast 3; +18 vs Will; the target is weakened until the end of the dracolich’s next turn. Miss: The target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls against the dracolich until the end of the dracolich’s next turn
C Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5 6) • Necrotic
The dracolich breathes a coruscating blast of necrotic energy: close blast 9; +19 vs Reflex; 3d8 + 14 necrotic damage. Miss: Half damage. Hit or Miss: The target loses any necrotic resistance it has (save ends)
C Bloodied Breath (free, when first bloodied; encounter)
The dracolich’s breath weapon recharges automatically, and the dracolich uses it immediately.
C Frightful Presence (standard; encounter) • Fear
Close burst 10; targets enemies; +18 vs Will; the target is stunned until the end of the dracolich’s next turn. Aftereffect: The target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of the encounter
Alignment Evil Languages Draconic
Skills Arcana +16, Endurance +20, History +16, Insight +16, Intimidate +15, Religion +16
Str 25 (+15) Dex 21 (+13) Wis 17 (+11)
Con 24 (+15) Int 16 (+11) Cha 15 (+10)
© 2009 Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved. This monster statistics block has been generated using the D&D Adventure Tools.

 

[the Jester]

Yeah stun is retarded and shouldn't have been included in this game.

I never get this comment, and I see it a lot. I know the objection is that stun is "not fun"- but damn, it sometimes sounds like "not fun" means "effective".

While we're at it, let's remove petrification, sleep, immobilizing, dazing and blinding effects and make it so that the player has to agree for his character to die.

 

[Festivus]

I never get this comment, and I see it a lot. I know the objection is that stun is "not fun"- but damn, it sometimes sounds like "not fun" means "effective".

While we're at it, let's remove petrification, sleep, immobilizing, dazing and blinding effects and make it so that the player has to agree for his character to die.

I think Stun - At Will is retarded and stupid, but with a recharge mechanic or encounter type power it's pretty freaking scary (and should be!)

 

[the Jester]

I think Stun - At Will is retarded and stupid, but with a recharge mechanic or encounter type power it's pretty freaking scary (and should be!)

I have no problem with a paragon or epic at-will stun power... as long as it's not an area or close power that can lock down the whole party until they die.

 

[Verision]

I'm running P3: Assault on Nightwyrm Fortress for my PCs, which has a Dracolich encounter part way through. My PCs were destroying most of the encounters in the module (mostly due to Radiant weapons and Necrotic resistance) right up until they faced the Dracolich. This is the FIRST encounter that my PCs have actually run away from since we started playing 4e, and the only encounter the PCs have ever run away from in a published adventure.

The Dracolich is horrible. It's stuns way too often and way too easily; I think it only needed to roll a 4 to hit most of the PCs with the stun power. It's also really hard to hit; my PCs needed to roll 17s or 18s to hit the stupid thing.

Now, I don't think that the problem is the Dracolich is poorly designed; I think the problem is that it is miss-leveled. In other words, it's more like a level 23-24 solo than a level 21.
(That's how it seems anyway. I know there is a big power jump for PCs from level 20 to 21, so maybe the problem is that the PCs are only level 19? Maybe the Dracolich wouldn't seem miss-leveled to a party of level 21 PCs?)

 

[Obryn]

I'm running P3: Assault on Nightwyrm Fortress for my PCs, which has a Dracolich encounter part way through. My PCs were destroying most of the encounters in the module (mostly due to Radiant weapons and Necrotic resistance) right up until they faced the Dracolich. This is the FIRST encounter that my PCs have actually run away from since we started playing 4e, and the only encounter the PCs have ever run away from in a published adventure.

I'm so very glad I've modified the module as heavily as I have. I'm challenging my party with the new monsters and new monster rules, but everything's staying quite fast and light. My party also has a lot of Radiant damage, but I've removed most of the undead from Sartine's Tomb - so it hasn't much mattered.

Now, they will certainly rip through most of Porapherah's Haunt, but I've shortened that by one encounter, and have added a large, RP- and skill-challenge-centric section comprising both the City of Gloomwrought and travel across the Shadowfell.

I'm wondering what they'll do with that dracolich. I've modified him considerably, but I'm honestly hoping they'll choose to negotiate instead of fight.

-O

 

[keterys]

We negotiated. At least in large part because two of us didn't want to deal with the _boredom_ of a dracolich fight. Not that we thought we couldn't take it.

Just yaaaaaaaaaawn.

Probably one of the only monsters that I would consider "I ready my melee attack for his turn" to avoid immediates a valid option.

 

[doctorhook]

Just outta curiosity, how do the dracoliches from Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons compare? In fact, how's that book overall in terms of monster suckitude?

 

[keterys]

Good question that, let's see...

Stoneborn looks much better. Immobilizes and damages, instead.
Icewrought... eh, less stun, tons of immobilize, but doesn't look very threatening. Not enough happening outside of its standard action.
Dreambreath looks decent unless the DM recharges the breath too much - it does have some Unconscious, which could turn bad, basically.

So, none of them are good, but each are possibly better. Maybe. Eh.