Beholder CR
- Thread starter palin
- Start date
kigmatzomat
Legend
The actual effect will depend on the situation. If the beholder has acquired a number of noisy minions (shriekers, if nothing else), it can be a devastating opponent as others have pointed out. HOWEVER, a rogue at the levels you are discussing will likely have move/sneak skills of 17 before magic, which could easily take them up to 27. This holds up well to the beholder's spot of 20. Even if they can't dodge the antimagic cone, the 17 vs 20 is a calculated risk.
Even though beholders can't be flanked and few rogues know how to sneak attack a beholder, just knowing where the beholder is can make all the difference. If your party happens to have a "blaster" item (high-level wand of fireballs, staff of whomping, whatever), the rogue might be able to soften up the beholder during the surprise round while the other PCs get in position if his use device is good enough.
Like most encounters, it all depends on how aware the opponent is and how well the territory favors them. If the players can get the drop on a Beholder (and know they will be fighting one) it can be over with a few well placed spells or ranged attacks. The other way around will likely result in a messy fight with several PCs seriously messed up (disintigrate & stone to flesh leap to mind).
Even though beholders can't be flanked and few rogues know how to sneak attack a beholder, just knowing where the beholder is can make all the difference. If your party happens to have a "blaster" item (high-level wand of fireballs, staff of whomping, whatever), the rogue might be able to soften up the beholder during the surprise round while the other PCs get in position if his use device is good enough.
Like most encounters, it all depends on how aware the opponent is and how well the territory favors them. If the players can get the drop on a Beholder (and know they will be fighting one) it can be over with a few well placed spells or ranged attacks. The other way around will likely result in a messy fight with several PCs seriously messed up (disintigrate & stone to flesh leap to mind).
Don't forget his charm monster ability! EVery boholder needs at least two kinds of pets.
Meat shields. I find that umber hulks, girallons, or gray renders work wonders here.
The second is a spellcaster to haste the beholder. I personally rule that opening or shutting the central eye is a MEA. The text lists it as supernatural, but also says that it is continuously put out by the central eye. A real RBDM might say that its a free action, but that's likely to make your players have fits.
Even so, a hasted beholder could use his MEA to shut his eye, use as many of his eyestalks as he could, then use the partial action to open it again. If your DM calls it a free action, he can do this anyway.
Meat shields. I find that umber hulks, girallons, or gray renders work wonders here.
The second is a spellcaster to haste the beholder. I personally rule that opening or shutting the central eye is a MEA. The text lists it as supernatural, but also says that it is continuously put out by the central eye. A real RBDM might say that its a free action, but that's likely to make your players have fits.
Even so, a hasted beholder could use his MEA to shut his eye, use as many of his eyestalks as he could, then use the partial action to open it again. If your DM calls it a free action, he can do this anyway.
MerakSpielman
First Post
How about a spellcaster to Improved Invisible the beholder?
If pets were included in the CR, the book would say so (as in the entry for the Formian Taskmaster). If you add additional monsters to the encounter, make sure you award XP for them as normal.maddman75 said:
According to the book, the beholder can choose "once per round" to choose where (and whether) to use its antimagic. That's rather specific, and I'm not sure that Haste would allow an exception.
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