Advancing a Brain in a Jar
- Thread starter Mapleaxe
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Infernal Teddy
Explorer
By putting the word "Advanced" in front of the name - it worked for ADVANCED D&D, didn't it? 
Sollir Furryfoot
Explorer
Hrm, I recall advancing one for my campaign, although it's considerably tougher than what you need, it might provide a guideline for what you can do. I tinkered with the monster after applying the template and didn't bother with the other spell-likes as they seemed to arcane for me, instead upping the mind thrust damage. I would suggest taking away the chad mod to con that I added to it, reducing its AC to somewhere around 24, reduce fast healing to around 5 or 10, dropping that turn resistance to +4 or 6, and dropping mind thrust to 6d10-ish for somewhere closer to what you're looking for.
The one I used:
Brain in a Jar, Evolved Undead (x10): CR 18ish; Tiny Undead; HD 9d12+72; hp 120; Init +7; Spd Fly 30 ft (good); AC 37 (+2 size, +7 Dex, +18 deflection); SA Mind thrust, picnics, rebuke undead 11/day (9th level cleric); SQ Blindsight 60’, darkvision 60’, DR 5/-, fast healing 30, madness, telepathy, undead traits, +14 turn resistance, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +10, Will +7; Str --, Dex 24, Con --, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 26.
Skills and Feats: X; Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Dodge, Greater Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Iron Will.
Mind Thrust (Su), 9d10 damage, Will DC 27 negates
Spell-like Abilities: 3/day-Suggestion, Telekinesis, 1/day-Dominate Person (DC 17+spell level), Manifester level 14th.
Example of a tweaked critter:
Brain in a Jar, Evolved Undead (x?): CR 12ish; Tiny Undead; HD 9d12; hp 76; Init +7; Spd Fly 30 ft (good); AC 27 (+2 size, +7 Dex, +8 deflection); SA Mind thrust, picnics, rebuke undead 11/day (9th level cleric); SQ Blindsight 60’, darkvision 60’, DR 5/-, fast healing 5, madness, telepathy, undead traits, +6 turn resistance, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +10, Will +7; Str --, Dex 24, Con --, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 26.
Skills and Feats: X; Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Dodge, Greater Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Iron Will.
Mind Thrust (Su), 6d10 damage, Will DC 24 negates
Spell-like Abilities: 3/day-Suggestion, Telekinesis, 1/day-Dominate Person (DC 18+spell level), Manifester level 14th.
I do have to second having some sort of tough minion type creature to go along with the brain, preferably something mindless/immune to crit hits and such like a construct or undead.
The one I used:
Brain in a Jar, Evolved Undead (x10): CR 18ish; Tiny Undead; HD 9d12+72; hp 120; Init +7; Spd Fly 30 ft (good); AC 37 (+2 size, +7 Dex, +18 deflection); SA Mind thrust, picnics, rebuke undead 11/day (9th level cleric); SQ Blindsight 60’, darkvision 60’, DR 5/-, fast healing 30, madness, telepathy, undead traits, +14 turn resistance, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +10, Will +7; Str --, Dex 24, Con --, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 26.
Skills and Feats: X; Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Dodge, Greater Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Iron Will.
Mind Thrust (Su), 9d10 damage, Will DC 27 negates
Spell-like Abilities: 3/day-Suggestion, Telekinesis, 1/day-Dominate Person (DC 17+spell level), Manifester level 14th.
Example of a tweaked critter:
Brain in a Jar, Evolved Undead (x?): CR 12ish; Tiny Undead; HD 9d12; hp 76; Init +7; Spd Fly 30 ft (good); AC 27 (+2 size, +7 Dex, +8 deflection); SA Mind thrust, picnics, rebuke undead 11/day (9th level cleric); SQ Blindsight 60’, darkvision 60’, DR 5/-, fast healing 5, madness, telepathy, undead traits, +6 turn resistance, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +10, Will +7; Str --, Dex 24, Con --, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 26.
Skills and Feats: X; Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Dodge, Greater Ability Focus (Mind thrust), Iron Will.
Mind Thrust (Su), 6d10 damage, Will DC 24 negates
Spell-like Abilities: 3/day-Suggestion, Telekinesis, 1/day-Dominate Person (DC 18+spell level), Manifester level 14th.
I do have to second having some sort of tough minion type creature to go along with the brain, preferably something mindless/immune to crit hits and such like a construct or undead.
Deadguy
First Post
I made good use of a brain-in-a-jar recently as the BBEG for an adventure set in an ancient necromantic research laboratory. The backstory was that this BBEG had contracted a disease during the course of his studies which he was unable to cure. He began to research the process of becoming a lich, but realised that he just lacked the time to finish this. He rejected trying to become a ghoul or vampire, as he didn't want to be ruled by cravings that would make him irrational.
His research happened to point to this facility and having worked his way in (well him and his followers), he uncovered notes concerning the transformation into a Brain-in-A-Jar. By now very sick and desperate he was so transferred using the facilities there, and became a BiaJ Necromancer 7. He lost levels in the process, and was also driven insane - but being a necro, no-one really noticed the difference!
To supplement him, I allowed him two tools. He created a flaming skeleton whcih he used to try and recruit the local Orc tribes to his side. And he was working on a patchwork Ogre 'zombie'*, in which he created a space for himself to dwell whilst leading his army. The PCs had great fun as they kept thinking they'd defeated him, only to find that it was another shell for his form! They were greatly pleased when at last they blew him apart with a fireball!
So yes, I enjoyed the Brain-in-a-Jar, and just used common sense when advancing it.
* I actually used the stats for a Hulking Brute to represent this superior design. It gave the party warriors something to smash apart (and nearly die to!)
His research happened to point to this facility and having worked his way in (well him and his followers), he uncovered notes concerning the transformation into a Brain-in-A-Jar. By now very sick and desperate he was so transferred using the facilities there, and became a BiaJ Necromancer 7. He lost levels in the process, and was also driven insane - but being a necro, no-one really noticed the difference!
To supplement him, I allowed him two tools. He created a flaming skeleton whcih he used to try and recruit the local Orc tribes to his side. And he was working on a patchwork Ogre 'zombie'*, in which he created a space for himself to dwell whilst leading his army. The PCs had great fun as they kept thinking they'd defeated him, only to find that it was another shell for his form! They were greatly pleased when at last they blew him apart with a fireball!
So yes, I enjoyed the Brain-in-a-Jar, and just used common sense when advancing it.
* I actually used the stats for a Hulking Brute to represent this superior design. It gave the party warriors something to smash apart (and nearly die to!)
EricNoah
Adventurer
Great advice on advancing the brain. Just don't forget to also advance the jar! It could give off electrical pulses; it could be made of harder material; the fluid inside could explode on contact to the outside air (a death throe type of effect). Or maybe the jar is made out of "force".
You need to have the brain in a jar affixed, via a special cybernetic harness, to an extreamly stupid trained circus bear.
Evilhalfling
Adventurer
hmm ..
Force Jar + Burrowing power [metapsionic]
could get very ugly except that it needs a Psicraft dc 30 to sucessfully use any power-
If it is using Clairstentiance it could just be behind a wall.
DC 10 + hardness of barrier for psicraft
I like the unbodied - an incorpral floating brain, already a psion 4th
Force Jar + Burrowing power [metapsionic]
could get very ugly except that it needs a Psicraft dc 30 to sucessfully use any power-
If it is using Clairstentiance it could just be behind a wall.
DC 10 + hardness of barrier for psicraft
I like the unbodied - an incorpral floating brain, already a psion 4th
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