Help Our DM has gone Rat Bastard on us

[jmucchiello]

With 6 characters of levels 9-10, they should rate one to two ELs higher than the book, so they should be able to handle a CR 13 Beholder with some smart play. Not that it might not smart a bit when it's all over, mind you. (Oh, yeah -- and earlier in this same session, the took a CR14 baddie, 1/2 dragon ftr/sor, down in one round. That wasn't supposed to be a combat encounter, but one of the low Cha characters got a bit ... surly. So I'm generally pretty confident in their combat ability, if not the consistent skill in talking their way out of problems. They did talk/diplomacy their way past a tribe of giants the same session, though.)

The CR14 1/2 dragon is probably really only EL 12 for a group of 6 9-10 level characters. It is a) 1 person, b) missing 2 hit dice, c) half a sorcerer and half a fighter, d) acts only 1-2 times a round. The Beholder a) can fire all its eyestalks if surrounded, b) flies perfectly, c) is not facing a party with access to 6th level spells (as a CR13 creature should). With sound tactics and battlefield advantage, this can TPK easily.

My favorite action against a beholder is antimagic shell. Cast it and corner the beholder. Let someone with a big weapon hack it to pieces while it tries to BITE its way out. (This assumes you agree that a beholder's flight must be magical. Even if it can change its air buoyancy physcially, it's propulsion must be magicial to attain the listed speeds.)

 

[JoeGKushner]

My favorite action against a beholder is antimagic shell. Cast it and corner the beholder. Let someone with a big weapon hack it to pieces while it tries to BITE its way out. (This assumes you agree that a beholder's flight must be magical. Even if it can change its air buoyancy physcially, it's propulsion must be magicial to attain the listed speeds.)

I forget if it's the excellent Complete Guide to Beholders (Shame on all of you who didn't buy it for $1 in PDF format) or the old Monstrous Arcana, but Beholders basically used gas to move about. Nasty beasts I tell you...

 

[diaglo]

That wasn't supposed to be a combat encounter, but one of the low Cha characters got a bit ... surly.

hey, i couldn't get the other players to remember Nightscale.

they kept thinking the guy was a vampire.

i am the Dragonslayer in the group... and would have been a Dragon Hunter already if my DM had approved my PrC from months ago.

but it wasn't Fiddle that botched the diplomacy roll. i rolled an natural 20 in my assist

it was the HIgh CHa gnome sorc that rolled the natural 1.

 

[Squire James]

The Resilient Sphere can encase the beholder, but I believe one of its eyestalks has a Disintegrate ability that works quite well on things like that. Of course, any round a beholder's Disintegrate ray is pointed at some spell effect instead of YOU is a good round!

 

[Zappo]

(This assumes you agree that a beholder's flight must be magical. Even if it can change its air buoyancy physcially, it's propulsion must be magicial to attain the listed speeds.)

I wouldn't rely on this for a combat tactic. Dragons and angels couldn't fly physically either. And matter is made of fire, earth, water and air. Just because it isn't magical, it doesn't mean that it has to follow the rules of our world.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The Resilient Sphere can encase the beholder, but I believe one of its eyestalks has a Disintegrate ability that works quite well on things like that. Of course, any round a beholder's Disintegrate ray is pointed at some spell effect instead of YOU is a good round!

Unfortunately for them, they don't have a resiliant sphere handy.

The cleric is loaded up on searing lights, with a daylight or two and a flame strike.

The sorcerer knows: 1st: disappear, featherfall, mage armor, magic missile, secret signs; 2d: aversion, glitterdust, Ozlo's alter self, scorching ray; 3d: dispel magic, invisibility sphere, scintillating sphere; 4th: charm monster, dimension door; 5th: teleport. He's invisible at the moment, though he's given his position away -- but he could certainly escape provided he survives the beholder's next action.

 

[Algolei]

...Diaglo is really a very kind person.

Yes. diaglo bought me an ENWorld membership out of the Lawfulness of his heart.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

I forget if it's the excellent Complete Guide to Beholders (Shame on all of you who didn't buy it for $1 in PDF format) or the old Monstrous Arcana, but Beholders basically used gas to move about. Nasty beasts I tell you...

I agree. I love the Complete Guide to Beholders. I just wish I got to actualy use it.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

What kind of kooky DM stops a session mid-combat.

The kooky kind who likes to have maximum suspense to start the next session (plus people had to leave ... it was either break mid-combat or finish with half the party).

The real question for the DM is: should I allow the characters to gain a level mid-combat?

I award XP at the end of each session, and if characters gain a level, the new level takes effect at the start of the next session. In this case, I awarded XP for all encounters except the current one -- and four characters are in a position to gain a level next session (Fiddle, Darian, Alya, and Vlad). They might be a bit more survivable with the extra levels ... should I relent and just give it to them?

 

[Argent Silvermage]

I say give them the levels. Tell them it's the godsa watching over them if they want an explanation.