D&D 5E Customizing Beholders

[trentonjoe]

I want to swap out some beholder powers but keep the same general feel. I figure the things that can't be changed are:

• All rays must only effect one enemy
• DC still 16
• The effects must be or similar to spell
• The effects must either have an effect or damage

The MM beholder has the following rays:

• Sleep-1st level Spell
• Charm 1st level spell
• Fear- 1st level spell
• Paralyze- 2nd level spell (hold monster)
• Slow- 3rd level spell
• Enervation-4th level spell (blight) only save for 1/2 damage on the list
• Telekinesis-5th level
• Petrification- 6th level
• Disintegrate- 6th level
• Death Ray- 7th level

Only three do damage, the rest are all conditions. Most of the conditions from the PHB are covered. The only ones missing are blind, exhausted and poisoned. Any ideas on how to change the rays other than just changing the conditions or swapping the damage type without messing with the "spirit" of the beholder?

Thanks in advance

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Change one to Detect Lie and name the beholder Large Luigi. ;-) (Spelljammer reference.)

Here are some other beholder variant powers from AD&D:

Repulsion
Cone of Cold
Lightning Bolt
Dweomer Drain (drains charges from magic items)
Telepathy
Enlarge
Reduce
Identify
Legend Lore
Transmute Form (treat as Polymorph)
Spell Reflection
Emotion (treat as Calm Emotion)
Heal
Dispel Magic
Tongues
Phantasmal Force
Magic Missile
Burning Hands
Wall of Ice
Spell Reflection
Chain Lightning
Mass Charm (treat as Mass Suggestion?)
Major Creation (treat as Creation or Fabricate)
Temporal Stasis (treat as Imprisonment?)
True Seeing
Advanced Illusion (treat as Major Image)

Personally I think it would be fun to make a beholder that has eyes for Mud To Rock and Rock To Mud.

 

[Jediking]

Beholders are powerful and intelligent creatures and can be seen as individuals or NPCs depending on the campaign. You could have the Beholder have a certain theme depending on his profession, location, or how he acts. One Beholder who has gone mad (well, madder than usual) could have Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Crown of Madness, or Conjure Animal (and set off a swarm of misshapen weasels). Another Beholder that works behind the scenes and lives in the sewer could have Mass Suggestion, Contagion, and Stinking Cloud. Let their rays and effects showcase their role in the campaign.

I don't think the rays only have to target a single enemy, but that is up to you and how you fluff it. Maybe one stalk starts to wildly spray tears from the eye (Acid spell), while another glows and anyone who looks at it must defend their psyche (Mass Suggestion). Just make sure to mix up the spells and maybe use lower-level spells that can target multiple people to play it safe.

 

[trentonjoe]

Thanks guys.

I am going to try the themed approach... something like Freddie from Nightmare on Elm Street, fear using soul eater.

Trap the Soul will replace petrification (using the double save mechanic)
Dissonant Whispers for slow (up to 3rd level so it's 5d6)
Command- "Kneel" for Sleep
Ray of Enfeeblement for Charm

MAybe more....