Finishing Off the Mimics

[Cleon]

That final ability list looks fine to me. And so's the 1d10 slam.

okay, I'll put everything we've got so far into the rough draft.

I'll also include the size of the "SRD scale" killer mimic.

 

[Cleon]

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-monster-talk/278982-finishing-off-mimics.html#post5222216Updated.

Okay, SLAs next? Those seem straightforward. How about:

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): A metal mimic can create light 4 times per day as per the light spell, except the mimic can cast light anywhere on its body as well as on any object it can touch. Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12). A metal mimic can cancel its light and/or magic aura as a free action. Both these abilities are caster level 5th. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Apart from that it's just skills, feats, CR and advancement for the stats.

We had better modify the flavour text and tactics too.

 

[Shade]

For the SLAs, since they stray so far from the usual SLA format, I'd rather just write 'em up as unique abilities. Like so:

Create Light (Sp): Four times per day, a metal mimic can create light. This functions as the light spell (caster level 5th), except the mimic can place the source of this light anywhere upon its body or upon any object it can touch.

False Magic Aura (Sp): Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12). A metal mimic can cancel its magic aura as a free action. Caster level 5th. The save DC is Charisma-based.

 

[Cleon]

For the SLAs, since they stray so far from the usual SLA format, I'd rather just write 'em up as unique abilities. Like so:

Create Light (Sp): Four times per day, a metal mimic can create light. This functions as the light spell (caster level 5th), except the mimic can place the source of this light anywhere upon its body or upon any object it can touch.

False Magic Aura (Sp): Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12). A metal mimic can cancel its magic aura as a free action. Caster level 5th. The save DC is Charisma-based.

No objection to that. Updated.

It's got 6 more skill points and 1 more feat than a standard mimic.

I'd split the additional skill ranks equally between Disguise, Listen and Spot.

Haven't got any particularly strong preferences for the feat.

I gave Improved Initiative to the Huge Common Mimic to give it a better chance of grabbing its prey before they can flee. I like that a lot more than the Skill Focus (Disguise) the Killer Mimic's got, which was mainly to compensate for its low skill points.

Is there any other feat you prefer? Maybe Stand Still?

 

[Shade]

Agreed with the skill distribution, and I like Stand Still for 'em.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed with the skill distribution, and I like Stand Still for 'em.

I'll change the skills, but come to think of it Stand Still doesn't make much sense - the Mimic's Adhesive means it automatically grapples if it hits with a regular attack of opportunity, which will halt its foe AND do damage.

Hold the Line makes more sense, but it needs Combat Reflexes first.

We could just give it Combat Reflexes?

 

[Shade]

Combat Reflexes works. I'd be fine with making it a bonus feat so it could get Hold the Line as well, though. Either way works for me.

 

[Cleon]

Combat Reflexes works. I'd be fine with making it a bonus feat so it could get Hold the Line as well, though. Either way works for me.

Works for me! I've updated it with both those feats.

That leaves us with Challenge Rating and Advancement for the stats.

I'm got the Killer Mimic advancing to Gargantuan, do we want the Metal Mimic to do the same, maybe 11-15 HD (Large); 16-23 HD (Huge); 24-35 HD (Gargantuan)?

Or we could follow the "Standard Mimic" example and give it 11-15 HD (Large); 16-30 HD (Huge) Advancement.

Challenge Rating wise I'd like to make it CR6 but am not sure it quite merits it. Perhaps we'll need to tweak the slam damage up to 2d6 to make it feel more worthy of CR6?

Apart from that it just needs some adjustment to its tactics.

 

[Shade]

Let's tweak the slam damage so we're at a comfortable CR 6. I don't feel strongly one way or the other regarding Gargantuan potential.

 

[Cleon]

Let's tweak the slam damage so we're at a comfortable CR 6.

Okay then. Would 2d6 be enough to merit CR6? The original monster did 4d4 which suggests 2d8 or 3d6 as an alternative.

Let's see, CR6 creatures include:

Average Xorn - Bite 4d6+3 and 3 claws 1d4+1 (27.5 average)
Megaraptor - Talons 2d6+5 and 2 foreclaws 1d4+2 and bite 1d8+2 (27.5 average)
Average Salamander - Spear 1d8+3/x3 plus 1d6 fire and tail slap 2d6+1 plus 1d6 fire (22.5 average)
Girallon - 4 claws 1d4+6 and bite 1d8+3 (41.5 average)

Going by those figures it looks like two 2d6+6 or 2d8+6 slams should be enough (average 26 or 30 damage). Which do you prefer?

I don't feel strongly one way or the other regarding Gargantuan potential.

Since you don't mind either way I'll use the Gargantuan progression, just because it fits better with the Advancement in my conversion of the larger version of the AD&D Mimic, namely the "Killer Mimic".