Generic Monster Boosting templates ?

[Trainz]

Grrrreetings...

I'm DM'ing an Epic level campaign.

I applied the Paragon template to an invisible stalker:

=============================================
PARAGON INVISIBLE STALKER

Large Paragon Elemental (Air, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 8d8+16 (232 hp)
Initiative: +19
Speed: 90 ft. (18 squares), fly 90 ft. (perfect)
Armor Class: 50 (–1 size, +12 Dex, +5 natural, +12 insight, +12 luck), touch 44, flat-footed 37
Base Attack/Grapple: +31/+46
Attack: Slam +42 melee (2d6+31 (19+))
Full Attack: 2 slams +42 melee (2d6+31 (19+))
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, natural invisibility, improved tracking, spell-like abilities, fire and cold resistance 10, DR 20/+6, spell resistance 32, fast healing 20
Saves: Fort +21, Ref +28, Will +22
Abilities: Str 33, Dex 34, Con 29, Int 29, Wis 30, Cha 26
Skills: Listen +30, Move Silently +32, Search +30, Spot +30, Survival +19 (+21 following tracks)
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Greater Init, Improved Crit, Weapon Focus (slam)
Environment: Elemental Plane of Air
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 22
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 9–12 HD (Large); 13–24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —

COMBAT

An invisible stalker attacks by using the air itself as a weapon. It creates a sudden, intense blast of wind that pounds a single target on the same plane as the creature.

An invisible stalker can be killed only when it is on the Elemental Plane of Air. When performing a task elsewhere, it automatically returns to its home plane when it takes damage sufficient to destroy it.

Natural Invisibility (Su): This ability is constant, allowing a stalker to remain invisible even when attacking. This ability is inherent and not subject to the invisibility purge spell.

Improved Tracking (Ex): An invisible stalker is a consummate tracker and makes Spot checks instead of the usual Survival checks to trace a creature’s passage.

Spell-like Abilities (Sp): greater dispelling, haste, see invisibility(3 times per day each).

=============================================

Let me tell you, this baby almost finished in a TPK. Eventually the PC went to upgrade his AC, and managed to kill it.

I like the Paragon template because it is quick to apply. I was wondering if there are templates that increase the CR of critters of about 10 or so... especially if it's quick to apply.

Anyone ?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

DM Grudge Monster
Hit Dice: as many hp as it needs
Initiative: Before you
Speed: fly fast ft. (perfect)
Armor Class: Highest PC attack bonus +1
Base Attack/Grapple: highest PC AC +21
Full Attack: 2 slams +x melee (yd6+z (12+))
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Blindsight, Tremorsense, whatever else it needs, spell resistance 24+highest PC caster level, DR 50/Silver AND Cold Iron AND Adamantine AND Evil AND Good or Green Cheese.
Saves: Fort +10+highest PC DC mod, Ref +10+highest PC DC mod, Will +10+highest PC DC mod
Abilities:
Skills:
Feats:
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: Average Party Level +10
Treasure: None (of course)
Alignment: Usually neutral (of course)
Advancement: unnecessary

 

[Hypersmurf]

DM Grudge Monster
Armor Class: Highest PC attack bonus +1

+19, surely?

-Hyp.

 

[Trainz]

LOL !

That was hilarious. Thanks Basilisk !

On a more serious note, I'm looking for a template that gives a monster more or less +10 CR, because I feel that the Paragon template boosts beasts a bit too much for my current needs... it gives CR +15 (IIRC), but I feel the output is much more than that challenge-wise, after all the stats have been boosted...

Creating epic adventures is a feat and a half... I'm trying to keep it (the creation process) managable...

 

[Hypersmurf]

Titanic!

Just rewrite the first line to say "Titanic is a template that can be applied to any creature", and you're good to go

-Hyp.

 

[Trainz]

Where can I find that "Titanic" template ?

Or... are you pulling my leg ? Again ?

 

[Norfleet]

Bah! All this templation is making me ill. That has to be one of the most annoying things about 3E monsters: The mad templation, to the point where templated monsters are more common than their regular monsters. No....we can't have bears anymore, or even dire bears. They have to be half-fiendish vampire paragon dire bears.

Sheesh.

What happened to the "arbitrary random monster", which consists of describing some horrendous critter as "It looks kinda like <SOMETHING VAGUELY SIMILAR, ONLY NOT REALLY>, only different", and then assigning it whatever stats you feel like it?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Where can I find that "Titanic" template ?

Or... are you pulling my leg ? Again ?

Monster Manual 2.

It takes an animal or Vermin of Medium size or smaller, makes it Colossal, and gives it 25 hit dice.

CR +13, or thereabouts.

-Hyp.

 

[Trainz]

Bah! All this templation is making me ill. That has to be one of the most annoying things about 3E monsters: The mad templation, to the point where templated monsters are more common than their regular monsters. No....we can't have bears anymore, or even dire bears. They have to be half-fiendish vampire paragon dire bears.

You don't understand...

When you make an epic campaign, your choice of critters is QUITE LIMITED. The only choice you're left with, is to take the plethora of below CR 20 monsters and boost them to a proper challenging level. In the epic level handbook, you only have one or two critters available for a given epic EL.

BTW, thanks for the reference Hyp., I'm gonna go check it right away.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Norfleet
What happened to the "arbitrary random monster", which consists of describing some horrendous critter as "It looks kinda like , only different", and then assigning it whatever stats you feel like it?

That's the way I like to do things. Just work out how difficult the encounter should be and make up stats accordingly... consult a lengthy chart and then make up some xp total later. I do like the grudge monster...


I have not played any epic level gaming. But I did get the impression that any 2 adventuring groups are likely to have wildly differing abilities. Does this require GMs to customise adventures to their party even more than lower levels?

For example, compare a 127th level specialist demon blasting wizard with a 127th level illusionist. Surely, they're going to find fighting the Demon King of Demonia a very different level of challenge? And they're both going to be in trouble if they meet the Uber Golem of Mage Munching.