Finishing Off the Mimics

[freyar]

Let's stick to 2d6, I think.

Going up to Garg works, too.

 

[Cleon]

Let's stick to 2d6, I think.

Going up to Garg works, too.

Okay, I've made it so.

Updated.

The rest of its stats look OK (Initiative, Speed, AC, Environment, Organisation, Treasure, Alignment, LA), but I think it needs some adjustments to its description & tactics.

Something like:

These powerful cousins of the common mimic are called metal mimics due to their fondness for mimicking objects made out of metal, such as iron doors or steel treasure-chests. As well as being stronger than a regular mimic they have minor magical abilities that help them lure prey within reach.

A metal mimic can have almost any dimensions, but usually is not more than 12 feet long. A typical metal mimic has a volume of 200 cubic feet (about 5 feet by 5 feet by 8 feet) and weighs about 7,000 pounds.

Metal mimics speak Common.

Combat
Metal mimics often create a magical light to lure adventurers or monsters to approach them. This light usually appears to be the glow of a magical item, but the mimic will imitate other light-sources such as torches, lanterns or campfires if it thinks these are more likely to interest a victim. A favorite ploy is to shape part of its body into a glowing sword or shield and place a false magic aura upon it, since avaricious creatures find such a treasure hard to resist.

A metal mimic often surprises an unsuspecting opponent, lashing out with a heavy pseudopod. The creature does not necessarily fight to the death if it can succeed in extorting treasure or food from a party.

Can you think of anything else worth adding?

 

[freyar]

It looks pretty good, but we need to do something about the magic aura DC; it's really wimpy for the HD. Switch to Su? Boost Cha? Make the DC be based on a weird stat?

 

[Cleon]

It looks pretty good, but we need to do something about the magic aura DC; it's really wimpy for the HD. Switch to Su? Boost Cha? Make the DC be based on a weird stat?

Good point.

Making it Supernatural would be an easy solution which'd up the DC to 16.

We'd have to give it a really big Cha boost to give it a competitive DC and a Mimic with 20+ Charisma doesn't feel quite right.

EDIT: While we're at it how about increasing the caster level to equal its Hit Dice?

False Magic Aura (Sp or Su): Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12 or 16). A metal mimic can cancel its magic aura as a free action. Caster level 5th[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT] or equals hit dice (10th for a standard metal mimic). The save DC is Charisma-based.

...

While we're thinking about the Magic Aura DC I'll Update the draft with the suggested description and tactics, since nobody objected to them.

 

[freyar]

I'd say make it Su and drop the CL bit. A couple other revisions:


False Magic Aura (Sp or Su): Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself or a part of itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12 or 16). The aura lasts for 24 hours, or the metal mimic can cancel its magic aura as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based.

How's that?

Crush is probably ok (or does it need more damage?) -- and why isn't this constrict?

Is mimic shape finished?

 

[Cleon]

I'd say make it Su and drop the CL bit. A couple other revisions:


False Magic Aura (Sp or Su): Once per day, a metal mimic can give itself or a part of itself a false magical aura, as per the magic aura spell (Will save DC 12 or 16). The aura lasts for 24 hours, or the metal mimic can cancel its magic aura as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based.

How's that?

Looks fine to me! It doesn't need a CL if its a Su power, since dispel magic won't work on it.

The original had a much shorter duration, but I have no problem with a longer one.

I'll swap it in with the next update.

Crush is probably ok (or does it need more damage?) -- and why isn't this constrict?

I didn't use Constrict because the SRD Mimic uses Crush.

I'm reluctant to increase the damage above 2d6+6 since I think it should follow the example of the basic version by doing damage = Slam.

If you think it needs boosting I would be willing to give it 1.5* Strength instead of 1*, for 2d6+9, as it is supposedly a more "powerful" version.

Is mimic shape finished?

I think so. The original could mimic all-metal items (except for adamantine) while a regular AD&D mimic couldn't, but that restriction doesn't apply to the SRD Mimic.

 

[freyar]

We can reduce the duration if you want; the Sp version had 1 day/CL duration, so it's already reduced a bit.

 

[Cleon]

We can reduce the duration if you want; the Sp version had 1 day/CL duration, so it's already reduced a bit.

I'm happy with it as it is. Cutting it from multiple days to an hour or so didn't sit very well with me.

So, is there anything more in current Update that looks worth changing?

I can't see anything were the base Mimic's Red Text text doesn't work pretty well.

Suppose we could increase the AC a few points to suit their higher CR, although the original Metal Mimic has the same AC as the standard variety.

It says they "often use the coins and weapons of previous victims to lure other prey" so we could increase the Treasure?

 

[freyar]

Let's go to half-standard treasure across the board.

The AC is a little soft but not ridiculous. It's ok if you want to leave it or if you want to bump it a point or two.

 

[Cleon]

Let's go to half-standard treasure across the board.

The AC is a little soft but not ridiculous. It's ok if you want to leave it or if you want to bump it a point or two.

That sounds reasonable. Let's go for Half standard treasure.

Might as well leave the Armour Class as it is, since the original's AC doesn't differ from the standard Mimic.

Updated.

So, is it done then?