Dragon 372 - Ampersand: Summoning, Arcane Power Preview, and Mordain the Fleshweaver

[Shroomy]

Lots of good stuff in here, including the rules for the Summoning keyword, new wizards powers from Arcane Power, and stats for the Eberron villain, Mordain the Fleshweaver:

Ampersand: Wizards and Worlds

 

[RefinedBean]

It's looking like Durable will be a must-have feat for Summoners. I like how it's done! I thought they were going to go with the Beastmaster way of "move when I move," but I like this better; it seems to be more about control than cooperation.

 

[Rechan]

I wish they hadn't given a pic of Mordain. Namely so his visual is different depending on the DM.

Mordain sure likes slowing/ongoing damage.

Reading his tactics, yawn. He uses his only two encounter powers in the first round. Then it's basic attacks all around! yaay!

The Tome Implement is back!

 

[chaotix42]

I wish they hadn't given a pic of Mordain. Namely so his visual is different depending on the DM.

At least it's a pretty cool pic - Strahd got a very blah pic in OG, for example.

Reading his tactics, yawn. He uses his only two encounter powers in the first round. Then it's basic attacks all around! yaay!

I think he's VERY stacked for an elite monster. With a cadre of aberrant monsters at his side Mordain would make for an extremely interesting combat.

 

[chaotix42]

I think summoning is going to help out the wizard's controller shtick quite a bit. When he plops burning sphere down on the mat it really helps to control the flow of battle, and where the monsters want to go. Summoning is like having a suite of burning spheres, all appropriate in varying circumstances.

And that Iron Cohort is %#&*ing sweet!

*EDIT* Although, granted, none of the previewed summons have that nasty auto damage that makes burning sphere so nice.

 

[Rechan]

I think he's VERY stacked for an elite monster. With a cadre of aberrant monsters at his side Mordain would make for an extremely interesting combat.

Oops! I read it wrong. I thought he was a SOLO.

Well, that's a bit better.

I am also not certain how his regeneration works. Does he need cold and radiant, or either cold/radiant? Because I can't think of any powers that do both.

 

[Shroomy]

Oops! I read it wrong. I thought he was a SOLO.

Well, that's a bit better.

I am also not certain how his regeneration works. Does he need cold and radiant, or either cold/radiant? Because I can't think of any powers that do both.

Yeah, he would need to be hit by a power that does both. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but there's probably some out there (or will be at some point).

 

[FireLance]

Yeah, he would need to be hit by a power that does both. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but there's probably some out there (or will be at some point).

Holy strike delivered through a frost weapon.

 

[Rechan]

Yeah, he would need to be hit by a power that does both. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but there's probably some out there (or will be at some point).

Even if there are at least 3 powers that do it, I think that's too few a power to build a monster to be weak against it. It's like building a monster that's weak against left-handed clerics named Fred.

Unless your PCs have the exact appropriate combo, they're not going to beat him.

 

[yesnomu]

Yeah, he would need to be hit by a power that does both. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but there's probably some out there (or will be at some point).

Sounds like you just need to hit him with both types. A cleric and a cold-wizard would work nicely.

EDIT: Both before the beginning of his next turn, that is.