Fiend Folio, Quth-Maren: Horrifying Gaze

[Trainz]

I need help with the Fiend Folio, Quth-Maren (p. 139), for it's (Su) ability: Horrifying Gaze.

It doesn't specify the following parameters:

- How often during a combat encounter do you make the PC's roll a save ?
- If there are 8 critters in a 30' radius, against how many critters must the PC's save ?
- How long does the cowering effect lasts ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Knight Otu]

From the SRD:

Gaze (Su):
...
Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to make the saving throw by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways.
...

So, a character needs to save each round, and propably once per gaze attack subjected to. However, he should propably be considered to be averting his eyes from some of them.

The duration is tricky... Maybe the character cowers as long as he fails his save, but that is speculation on my behalf. Maybe City of the Spider Queen has more information...

 

[shilsen]

I don't have City of the Spider Queen, but AFAIK that doesn't have a listed duration either.

 

[Knight Otu]

You're correct, shilsen. And the rest of the SRD doesn't help with the duration, either. :\

 

[mikebr99]

I need help with the Fiend Folio, Quth-Maren (p. 139), for it's (Su) ability: Horrifying Gaze.

It doesn't specify the following parameters:

- How often during a combat encounter do you make the PC's roll a save ?

I am thinking... every round that the Quth-maren activates Horrifying Gaze, which is a std. action... as it doesn't specify otherwise.

- If there are 8 critters in a 30' radius, against how many critters must the PC's save ?

All of them. But as soon as the PCs realize what is going on, and have had a chance to say: "I avert my eyes!", then they get a 50% chance to not have to make a save that round.

- How long does the cowering effect lasts ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

From the Gaze (Su) description: to the beginning of his turn in the initiative order.

I know it's flavour text, but their combat description says... "making best use of their ranged attacks and gaze attacks before closing with their opponents."

So, this is leading me to believe that the gaze attack isn't a constant ability... YMMV


Mike

 

[Knight Otu]

I am thinking... every round that the Quth-maren activates Horrifying Gaze, which is a std. action... as it doesn't specify otherwise.

It is only an attack action when the creature concentrates the gaze on an opponent. Otherwise, the following applies:

Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order.

You are referring to this part:

A creature with a gaze attack can actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range. That opponent must attempt a saving throw but can try to avoid this as described above. Thus, it is possible for an opponent to save against a creature’s gaze twice during the same round, once before the opponent’s action and once during the creature’s turn.

From the Gaze (Su) description: to the beginning of his turn in the initiative order.

I'm not finding that sentence in the SRD. Is it from the revised MM?

 

[mikebr99]

It is only an attack action when the creature concentrates the gaze on an opponent. Otherwise, the following applies:

isn't that what I said?

I'm not finding that sentence in the SRD. Is it from the revised MM?

You quoted it yourself, in your 1st post of the SRD...

Init Character
20 Thief
18 Quth-maren
16 Fighter
11 Wizard
6 Cleric

On the Quth-maren's turn, if he chooses to activate Horrifying gaze, it lasts until the beginning of the Quth-maren's next turn. So every character, on his turn, has to make a save vs the gaze... after that has happened - and during his turn - he can decide to avert his eyes (as a free action), or not to give him a 50% miss chance to avoid any further activations of the gaze attack.


Mike

 

[Knight Otu]

isn't that what I said?

Not quite. You said it was a standard action for the quth-maren, but the "gaze save" that happens on the init count of the victim requires no action on behalf the the creature.

You quoted it yourself, in your 1st post of the SRD...

Seems we're interpreting it differently, then.

On the Quth-maren's turn, if he chooses to activate Horrifying gaze, it lasts until the beginning of the Quth-maren's next turn.

Actually, gazes are considered to be always active. The two SRD files that describe gazes agree on that (though they disagree on how the gaze can be turned off...)

Unless specified otherwise, a creature with a gaze attack can control its gaze attack and “turn it off ” when so desired.

Allies of a creature with a gaze attack might be affected. All the creature’s allies are considered to be averting their eyes from the creature with the gaze attack, and have a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack each round. The creature also can veil its eyes, thus negating its gaze ability.

The first quote should also be found in the DMG, the second in the MM.

 

[Trainz]

Thanks for whatever help you could provide guys.

What was most important to me was the duration though... I guess I'll assume it lasts only 1 round.

I HATE it when rules descriptions are sloppy.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I'm not sure where I'm getting this from, but wouldn't the effect last until the creature is no longer in their presence (or no longer alive) (edit: like for a dragon's fear effect)?

AR