Demons and "at will" spell-like abilities.

[BLACKDIRGE]

Ok, I'm convinced.

As you can probably imagine, I am soon to run an adventure featuring a boatload of demons. I will point my players to this thread, after I hand them their butts, as support for my rat-bastardly tactics.

Thanks all.

BD

 

[Dog Moon]

In general, just doing normal things, I think they would do that for any spell that lasted at least 1 min/level. I mean think about it: would you want to stop in the middle of doing something every 2 minutes to activate a spell? I wouldn't. Every 15, that's not nearly so bad.

However, I probably would do that every 2 minute thing if I knew I was going somewhere I likely would need it.

 

[Legildur]

I'm with Dog Moon on this one. Every 15 minutes is reasonable, but I would get tired of interrupting myself every few minutes 24/7 to keep the Unholy Aura active. Mind you, at the first hint of trouble. BAM, it'd be there.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I go by a general guideline of if its 10+ min duration, then they probably keep activating it. If its less, then they activate it if they are in a situation where it would be useful (such as guarding something or they know enemies are about). Otherwise, they don't bother with it.

So, generally, yes on true seeing, but no on unholy aura.

 

[Crothian]

So far, three to one in favor of perpetually buffed demons.

To those of you who said yes, do you consider a demon's listed CR to already encompass this idea?

BD

Of course. CR's are based on the abilities of the creatures. Just like a fully buffed up 10th level cleric is not all of a sudden treated as 12th level.

 

[Liquidsabre]

How useful is an unholy aura against other gnashing demons on the demon's home plane anyhow? Doesn't sound too helpful (I haven't looked at it though) except from invading extraplanar dogooders and how often does that happen? Trueseeing I can see activated when the demon catches wind that something is afoot, becomes suspicious, or as a standard 'scan' when meeting any creature, but prob not necessary all the time.

I'd have to consider the specific at-will ability and the demon's environment they currently reside in to determine what defenses/abilities are currently up/down. I wouldn't automatically say they were all up all the time, that's a bit much. Though I think most of the circumstances where PCs come into contact with a demon, the beastie likely has his standard full defensive-screen up continuously. Like I said though, it's gonna be circumstantial as opposed to full auto.

 

[Question]

The EL of the encounter may go up. I highly doubt demons have the patience to activate their abilities every few mins just in case they suddenly get attacked.

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

At will— blasphemy (DC 25), dominate monster (DC 27), greater dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), insanity (DC 25), power word stun, telekinesis (DC 23), unholy aura (DC 26); 1/day—fire storm (DC 26), implosion (DC 27). Caster level 20th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Change quicken spell-like ability feat from telekinesis to dominate monster, and you can teleport around the field and smile as the players try to kill eachother before using the implosion ability.

At will—blasphemy (DC 25), create undead, fireball (DC 21), greater dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), invisibility, magic circle against good, mass hold monster (DC 27), persistent image (DC 23), power word stun, unholy aura (DC 26); 1/day—meteor swarm (DC 27). Caster level 18th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Once per year a pit fiend can use wish as the spell (caster level 20th).

Yea... perfect killing machine, if only it served chaos.


Those are the two best from the SRD, and there are even better fiends in other books, like 'loths or your own creations. Fun, fun, fun all around!

 

[Vahktang]

Would the player characters do it if they could?
Then the monsters would.
Ten minutes, certainly.
Minute long, probably.
Round long, probably not.

Unless they were about to go into combat.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'd take it on a case-by-case basis. Remember that demons aren't particularly orderly and remembering to reactivate your powers all the time is about as orderly as it gets.