Experiences with Monster Manual V

[MerricB]

I'm the 13 incarnate in Merric's game and during that fight for what ever reason, I don't remember at the moment I didn't get the chance to attack any of the wolves, I have a 6d6 acid attack and a 8d6 scorch ray (2 rays) so a total of 14 d6. I can't say that amount of damage would have saved our soulborn, or complete turned the tide, we probable would have still needed to run away but i'd like to think we might have been able to at least take one of the wolves out.

Should have been possible. The problem is that the Soulborn charged into combat (again), and you were left behind. By the time you were moving into range, things had gone bad (again) for the Soulborn. Oh, and you were *hurting* from the frost rays.

Not having the Bardic song was a real problem. Your cohort really needed to have prepared Mass Resist Energy!

Cheers!

 

[Nlogue]

The Party
Duskblade 7
Fighter 7
Druid 7
Beguiler 6 /master of masks 1
Cohort Priest 5

1 spectral rider (cr6)
Challenged a champion to joust on a bridge. Suggested that the party help with what magics they chose. after five rounds of buffing they both charged! The champion's horse fell through a pit trap on bridge, SR rode through the party and nearly killed the cohort cleric - priceless.

Classic! My spectral rider claims its first victims that I know of! Thanks for sharing Evilhalfling!!!

Nick

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

The last item on your list seems a little unrealistic--Improved Invisibility on the tank is one of the most suicidal tactics in the game.

I remember an LG module I was playing once where the illusionist who was just getting to try out his new 4th level spells and the party faced a stone giant. The illusionist won initiative and moved forward to cast improved invisibility on the party tank. That left him in the front of the party, so rather than swing at the tank (who is supposed to take the damage), the stone giant charged, critted, and dropped the illusionist. And thus it was that he learned that Improved Invisibility is not for the party's main fighter. You want the bad guys to be able to see him. Otherwise, they'll attack you.

29 is easy enough to hit for 10th. 39 AC is not impossible for the front line to hit provided the party is working together as they should be in the first place.

+11 from roll
+10 from BAB
+3 from enhanced weapon
+8 from enhanced raging STR [starting 16, 18 from level ups, 22 from four point item, 26 from rage]
+1 weapon focus
+1 from prayer
+1 from moral
+2 from flanking
+2 from being improved invisibled

50% / 50% shot of hitting AC 39.

 

[Crazy Eights]

Have you used anything from MMV yet?

In my War of the Burning Sky game, my players ran into a Sanguineous Drinker, and I must say, I really liked how it went. For a CR 5 Undead, it is pretty nasty, and it has the hit points and healing ability (via Blood Drain) to really stick with a longer fight. A single Drinker and three basic human skeletons managed to give my party of seven players (four 5s, three 4s) reason for pause. The Blood Spray ability allows some battlefield control on the part of the Drinker, giving it an edge on mobility.

Haven't used anything else out of the book yet, but I have some plans, eeeevil plans.

~CE

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I don't have a whole lot to add other than merely flipping through MMV it looks like there are some really interesting and clever creatures in there that can truly enhance the gaming experience rather than just creatures to churn out and throw at PCs. Though, ironically, one of my favorite creatures is the Madcrafter (a monster which churns out other monsters). Maybe its the picture of the thing that looks so creepy-cool.

 

[megamania]

I think I like this book more than IV. The only creatures that stand out in IV are the Tiamat Spawn and one or two others. Not sure what I will do with the Mindflayer section.... not yet anyway.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

And thus it was that he learned that Improved Invisibility is not for the party's main fighter. You want the bad guys to be able to see him. Otherwise, they'll attack you.

This happened to me in a game once. We were fighting giants, and surrounded, and everyone turned invisible except my cleric. I was paste by the end of the round.