Design & Development: Elite Bulette

[Green Knight]

I'm guessing that Bullettes, when safely beneath the ground, can heal a few points of damage once or twice during an encounter.

Nah, I doubt that being under the ground is some kind of prerequisite. It's probably just the Second Wind ability, and the Bulette used it while underground as it wouldn't have to worry about getting attacked by the PC's while it was using Second Wind.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Yup. That's a lesson learned from 3E's CR-system. Also, the reverse is problematic: PCs that are higher level than the CR can often mop the floor very easily with lower CR-opponents.

*snip*

Differentiating into a "level" (AC, attacks) and "elite/whatever rating" (hp, damage dealt), allows judging these different proportionalities better and hence give a better estimation of overall impact on the party.

Cheers, LT.

Absolutely, and it's a very good idea.

I'd just like to add that it's also likely that Elites and Solo monsters will have either area effects or multiple actions, to allow them to spead out the damage more, as opposed to just doing more damage to one target.

 

[Rechan]

The one thing I wish they would do is allow the Bulette to bite and drag someone under ground. The PCs having to dive into the tunnel the bulette left, in order to 'Go Save the Cleric' would be real exciting, I think.

 

[the Jester]

I'd just like to add that it's also likely that Elites and Solo monsters will have either area effects or multiple actions, to allow them to spead out the damage more, as opposed to just doing more damage to one target.

From the article featuring the dragon, I would say that this is almost certainly true. My prediction would be that the difference between an Elite level 10 monster and a level 11 or 12 monster isn't just toughness, it's how many times they can act per round.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Unless they're going to promote solo play, "counts as two monsters" and "is slightly more dangerous" work out to exactly the same thing.

Apparently somebody hasn't played WoW to see where the stole the "elite" designation from!

In WoW, an "elite" monster does about as much damage and has comparable abilities to any other creature of the same level; however, it has maybe 4 times as many hit points, so it takes longer to kill. This is more fun than just fighting a higher-level normal bad guy because the higher-level mob will kill you in a couple hits and it'll resist or deflect most of your attacks, so it's a matter of luck whether you can even connect. Generally speaking, in WoW "elites" are designed to be taken down by groups, whereas non-elites can be taken down solo.

In D&D terms, the difference between, say, a level 14 mob and a level 10 elite mob is that the level 14 will do more damage, have higher defenses/AC, and have a higher attack bonus, whereas the level 10 elite will have a bunch more hit points. The elite is a lot more fun for a level 10 party to fight, because they don't have to pray for a 17 or higher on their attack rolls to successfully do anything to the mob, and in turn their own AC and defenses will actually be helpful.

 

[Shroomy]

I would also think that elite and solo monsters look more like the PCs (in terms of range of abilities) then the standard and mook monsters. For example, someone mentioned second wind above; I could see that being available to the elite/solo monsters, but not to the other groupings.

 

[Scribble]

Nah, I doubt that being under the ground is some kind of prerequisite. It's probably just the Second Wind ability, and the Bulette used it while underground as it wouldn't have to worry about getting attacked by the PC's while it was using Second Wind.

Could be.

Just a lot of actions seem like they have specific triggers or ways in which they work. If x then y type events. So if underground, heal up some damage.

Shrug. Would amount to pretty much the same thing, but if you make it underground only, the "controller" has a significant role in keeping it above ground.

 

[Rechan]

Apparently somebody hasn't played WoW to see where the stole the "elite" designation from!

The term popped up before, or at least the concept did, in Diablo II.

An Elite monster is one that's named - it's a unique. The elite monster usually has more HP, and some other ability. For instance, if it hits you you're slowed, or if you strike it, it radiates electricity in every direction.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I wonder though if a DnD elite is really just "more hit points". Especially since there's been indications that HD = Level for monsters in the new edition. As others have mentioned, it seems the ability to do area attacks (like the rock spray) bumps up a creature's threat level as well. Also, the bulette will most likely have a higher AC, plus for parts of the encounter it's practically invulnerable... being buried in the ground.

 

[LostSoul]

What about the other tidbits in the article, like the Fighter's apparent use of Evasion with his shield?

Bulette number two uses the same opening gambit but knocks over both the cleric and the wizard, who were next to each other. It opts to burst from the ground in a spray of packed dirt and stone. The prone heroes are easier to hit and take more damage from the wave of rocks. The fighter is also in range of the burst, but he brushes the soil aside with his shield.

Looks like some kind of area attack against AC. I think that "easier to hit and take more damage" means that a miss means you take 1/2 damage. Thus my thoughts about the Fighter's Evasion-ish move with his shield.

The party gets to act. The rogue rises. He’s not in a position to flank, but he can still try to do some damage. He doesn’t like the look of the bulette’s heavy armor, so he tries to slip his short sword between two stony plates before the bulette can react and he draws blood.

Some kind of attack that allows the Rogue to negate armour? or just fancy prose?