Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="WizarDru" data-source="post: 858912" data-attributes="member: 151">[PLAIN]Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: [DM Q] Need a bit of help with a Mimic's attacks.[/PLAIN]Glad to offer it, from one DM to another. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />The mimic is all about the suprise.  It's mostly a 'GOTCHA!' creature in the classic Gary Gygax mode.  If the players manage to somehow figure out it's a mimic before examining it, they've got a fish in a barrell.  The mimic only has a move of 10', so it doesn't have many options for escape, once found out.  (suss = figure out, btw).Quite a few spells, even to a low-level party, will wreck a mimic's day.  A magic missle will severly crimp it's style.  In many ways, the mimic is roper, jr. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />  Good hit points, 10' reach, two strong saves, and it can deal out a solid hit.  Mind you, a first level barbarian with an appropriate weapon could do about the same damage, but couldn't take it nearly as well.Compare the mimic with a Minotaur or a Sea Hag, both also CR4.  Both have fewer hp than the Mimic, but also do, on average, more damage.  The hag has a weaker attack, but have some nasty magic powers.  The minotaur has brutal damage, and better saves.  All three of these would be nasty encounters, depending on the party makeup and their levels.  A party of 5th level characters would have significantly less trouble than a party of 3rd level characters, due to the differences at low levels.If you're worried that this thing would score a TPK or insta-kill against your players, essentially killing the sucker who draws the short straw (and most likely the rogue, if you have one), then there are different things you can do.1) Wound it so that it has fewer hp.  This gives the players a better chance of emerging without a death...but reduce the EL appropriately.2) Make the setup possible to discern.  A subtle clue or two that may warn the party clears you of responsiblity.  It doesn't have to be something as blatant as bloody bones around the chest, but you get the idea.  Mimics, for example, have a rough texture to them that doesn't always match what they're copying.  A character who goes the extra mile in examining carefully might notice that in time.3) Change the Mimic from book standard.  Don't like the adhesive attack?  Take it away, and give him a second iterative attack, say at +3.  Don't like his damage potential?  Lower it a bit, and raise his hit points accordingly.  Have fun with it.  This is a good option, as it keeps the players on their toes...especially the ones foolish enough to memorize the MM for monsters they can't summon. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

Verification