Advancing a Brain in a Jar

[Mapleaxe]

Looking for some ideas--I'd like to insert a Brain in a Jar from Libris Mortis into an adventure that I'm working on, but my PCs are all level 11 and a Brain in a Jar is a CR 4 creature. How would you advance this monster?

 

[davidschwartznz]

Looking for some ideas--I'd like to insert a Brain in a Jar from Libris Mortis into an adventure that I'm working on, but my PCs are all level 11 and a Brain in a Jar is a CR 4 creature. How would you advance this monster?

7 or so levels of psion specializing in telekenisis or telepathy.

 

[LogicsFate]

Or more! The supreme overlord brain-in-a-jar. Dang now I have to use it

 

[shadow]

Anyone familiar with Ravenloft? There was a cool NPC - Rudolph von Aubrecker, the living brain -essentially a brain in a jar. He (it?) controlled a sizable portion of a city via psionic domination. It might be worthwhile checking out the old Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II for plot hooks and adventure ideas.

 

[Crothian]

you could give him a psionic golem body

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

A brain in a jar advanced as a psion would certainly be interesting.

However, the brain in a jar (at least the one from Call of Cthulu d20; I haven't seen the Libris Mortis version) needs no CR advancement to be a worthy foe. His real power is his ability to manipulate and act through minions.

A CR 4 brain in a jar isn't that challenging. A CR 4 brain in a jar hidden beneath a platform and using its abilities on the weakest Will save PC while the others fight 8 CR 7 flesh golems is quite challenging.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Having said that, I disagree with WotC not providing advancement. I'd give it class levels, either arcane spellcaster, or psionic, for sure.

 

[Psychotic Jim]

You might just use many Brains-in-Jars that represent multiple shards of some greater entity. Or you could apply the Evolved Undead template many times (it can be stacked with itself- see the description).

More psionic ideas: Invisibility + telepathic abilities (charm, domination) might make for a deadly opponent, especially if encountered with some dominated creature it uses as a puppet.

 

[Brain]

I give this thread my stamp of approval.

 

[Bront]

I give this thread my stamp of approval.

Quiet you, and get back in your jar!