Anyone else think Bakemono are HARD?

[Archer]

Ok, the better choice is to ready an action against the bakemono's charge that way you get the same effective +2 to hit and the first attack and keep normal armor class while avoiding the full attack until after 2 attacks (6-8 total for the party) against the bakemono. If that is the case then the chances of any bakemono surviving to deal a full attack is nearly zero.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I don't know why people think 18's are so unusual.

An 18 may not be so unusual.

The Bakemono should go down with one hit or one spell. An 18 str samurai with cleave has a 45% chance to kill one and 20% of killing two each round.

An 18 is a very high starting stat when playtesting a monster. The monster's CR is determined (in theory) by facing off against a typical 25 point buy party.

If someone had said "my 18 Strength samurai can beat them easily." that's fine.

But if someone says "their CR isn't off because my 18 Strength samurai can beat them" then they're not talking about playtesting.

 

[Storm Raven]

An 18 is a very high starting stat when playtesting a monster. The monster's CR is determined (in theory) by facing off against a typical 25 point buy party.

If someone had said "my 18 Strength samurai can beat them easily." that's fine.

But if someone says "their CR isn't off because my 18 Strength samurai can beat them" then they're not talking about playtesting.

Well then, let's try a 14 Strength 1st level Samurai.

+1 BAB
+2 Strength
+1 Masterwork
+1 Weapon Focus
----------------------
+5 Attack Bonus

That means he hits on a 12 or better. And that is without boosts like bless or flanking, or charging. His attacks do 1d10+3 damage, so on a roll of 2 or better he knocks down the creature, a 90% chance that if he connects he will incapacitate the thing.

Let's assume that since you took the 14 Strength, you also took a 14 Dexterity. Give him decent armor, say the equivalent of chain mail (I don't remember the armor types from OA) and his AC is 17. The Bakemono only hits with one of its claw attacks 10% of the time, and the Samurai can easily withstand one or two bite attacks since he has a 14 Constitution and hence 12 hit points.

And this doesn't even begin to get into the use of spells to handle these things: sleep, color spray and so on would make them a complete non-threat.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Storm Raven, that is a very good job. Thank you.

That's the sort of thing I wanted to see.

I will now have to change my assessment of the bakemono.