Beware!!! Beholders a Head

[Harmon]

Okay, so I would like some ideas on spells to ready for our cleric (rogue1/cleric9- sum/protct), Wizard (Wiz6/ArcOrdr4), Druid (druid10). There is an NPC Wiz/LoreMaster and one of the other PCs is a Ranger/Wizard/ArcArcher- so I am not to concerned about spells for them- the ArcArchr is more then Archer then a Wizard and the LoreMaster is run by the GM and the character ante stupid.

So we’re hunting Orcs and we follow them into a cave mouth. We end up following the nose of the druids wolf and run into some “Lesser” Beholders (Gauth). The fight is cool and ends with us needing to use up much of the clerics spells, the wizards- not expecting such a villain as these (we were in travel mode, not combat mode), have few spells left, the group retreats and makes camp near the mouth of the cave.

From clues we have figured that there is a real Beholder ahead of us, the characters have not faced one before, but know of them and know about the rays such.

What I would like are a few suggestions on what spells to take- pretty sure the Summoner stuff is out as the Beholder need only use his AntiMagic eye to wipe them out. Suggestions on spells?

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, there's a spell in the Draconomicon that prevents flying (don't remember the name, but there's not a lot of spells in that book either). If you do that, it'd be cool if you did Antimagic Field and just stood next to the Beholder the entire time. He can't use his rays and the the Fighters beat him up.

Well, then the first spell would be negated. Hm. Well, don't sweat it. None of his saves are Reflex, so the Cleric and Druid should be fine. Just kill it fast. Lots of damage. And spread out your party.

 

[Vraister]

I came up with a great tactic (IMO).
The druid should memorize Obscuring Mist. As long as the Antimagic Cone is one, the mist is gone and you can shoot the Beholder. When he turns of the Cone, the Mist is there and you get total concealment from the beholder.

Vraister

 

[Jdvn1]

... Until he moves out of the mist. It's stationary and centered on you.

 

[Crothian]

Beholders aren't that bad, I took one out with a single thrown hammer!! Amber Company Rules!!!!!

I like the mist idea.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Some things, assuming it's a normal beholder:

Worth bearing in mind - the eye ray only supresses magic. The magic resumes as soon as the eye ray is no longer targeting it...

Also, it can't use it's cone on you and zap you with it's eye rays at the same time.

Defenses:

Our group fought a beholder a while ago. Miss chances are absolutely great. Displacement is a great option at that level. 50/50 defense against the rays is nothing to be sniffed at. Improved invisibility is another strong choice. If nothing better, then even an Entropic Shield is worthwhile.

If you can find ways to buff up your saves it will help a lot. A very high AC vs touch attacks is worth doing, but half measures won't help much there.

Offense:

The arcane archer is a real boon. It somewhat negates the beasts flight ability. Anything you can do to make his attacks more painful is good. Flame Arrow spell perhaps?

With the spellcasters. Ready an action to cast spells as soon as you are out of it's antimagic cone. It can't Antimagic and use it's offensive eye rays on you at the same time.

Getting the Druid to summon flying beasties/elementals is worth a try. Get several of them and arrange in such a way that it can't stare at them all at once. Trying to do this in sight of it will not be easy - full round actions may be disrupted by the eye.

If the fighter can back it into a corner and hack at it, then it won't last long.

It's definitely worth coming at it from different directions. We used Polymorph (into an Umber Hulk) to dig around our ones lair and flank it.

Metagamey: (if it's an out the book beholder!)

It can flesh to stone you. Break Enchantment can reverse this.

It can disintegrate you. Ouch. Get a small brush and pan. Scrape up the leftovers.

It can make you go insane. This is really hard to fix. Try and keep the affected individual in the cone as that will supress the insanity?

It can charm you. Protection From Evil effects should hedge that out.

 

[Patman21967]

My group in 3rd edition came up with a plan in Rappan Athuk. The mage and cleric would split, making the Beholder focus on one, usually the mage, then the cleric, who had the "reach touch" feat, would cast Harm, which has no save, then a fighter would hit it with a missile weapon. Pretty intelligent, Huh? Yhen when the Beholers changed tactics, and targeted the Cleric, the Mage would Anti-Magic field and charge it. Then the fighters would tear it up...The Mage would always save a D. Door, so they could make the Beholder have to choose 1 target.

 

[Treebore]

Harmon,

I don't know what Coyote thinks about you doing this, but don't do it for the game I DM. I DM for the groups gaming style/thinking, not the ideas of potentially thousands of ENWorlders.

 

[Corsair]

It can charm you. Protection From Evil effects should hedge that out.

Incorrect. Protection from Evil only protects against those spells and powers which give direct control. (Dominate Person/Monster) Charm Person/Monster is unaffected.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Incorrect. Protection from Evil only protects against those spells and powers which give direct control. (Dominate Person/Monster) Charm Person/Monster is unaffected.

My bad. Been a while since I looked at that...

A nice targeted Dispel would probably be the answer.