Hordes of the Abyss: Demon Lord Aspects Question

[Endur]

Why do the Demon Lord Aspects lack spell-like abilities?

Malcanthet, Queen of the Sucubi, has numerous spell-like and supernatural abilities to charm enemies (Charm Monster, Seductive Gaze, etc.), but her aspect is a combat-oriented creature without spell like abilities to charm and seduce opponents. Malcanthet's aspect is far more powerful in combat than the average succubi, but has less capability to charm or seduce than your run of the mill succubi. Likewise the other demon lord aspects are lacking in spell like abilities.

Is this because Aspects are intended for the Miniatures game where spell like abilities are less useful and the focus is on combat?

 

[Nightfall]

Endur,

Maybe they just figure "Hey look how weak I am! I don't need spell-like abilities to be strong!"

 

[demiurge1138]

Why do the Demon Lord Aspects lack spell-like abilities?

Is this because Aspects are intended for the Miniatures game where spell like abilities are less useful and the focus is on combat?

You are correct, sir. The Aspects started as a way to make minis of headliner gods and demons while still keeping them within reasonable point-buy limits. That said, it's always been the statement that the aspects provided cover the god/demon's aspect as a combat brute - even Malcanthet has a militant side. It's not outside the realm of possibility to make an Aspect of Malcanthet of her seductive side - a succubus or lilitu would be a good place to start (for an example of these expanded aspects, check out "Strike on the Rabid Dawn" in Dungeon 111).

Demiurge out.

 

[Nightfall]

Demi,

I still think my idea is better.

 

[JustaPlayer]

Demi,

I still think my idea is better.

So do I, so do I.

 

[Garnfellow]

Why do the Demon Lord Aspects lack spell-like abilities?

Malcanthet, Queen of the Sucubi, has numerous spell-like and supernatural abilities to charm enemies (Charm Monster, Seductive Gaze, etc.), but her aspect is a combat-oriented creature without spell like abilities to charm and seduce opponents. Malcanthet's aspect is far more powerful in combat than the average succubi, but has less capability to charm or seduce than your run of the mill succubi. Likewise the other demon lord aspects are lacking in spell like abilities.

Is this because Aspects are intended for the Miniatures game where spell like abilities are less useful and the focus is on combat?

I think the miniatures game is not the reason for this decision. The intended role for the aspects in D&D seems to be to act as a big, bad brute that gets summoned in for a big fight. Since most fights only last 3-5 rounds, that's not a lot of opportunity to use spell-like abilities. Better to focus on their pure combat abilities than add a bunch of extraneous abilities that would have marginal or no impact on the encounter. You can see a similar logic in place for the 3.5 revisions of fiends: a lot of spell-like abilities were dropped in favor of increases to HD, ability scores, and physical attacks.

It does seem a little weird to have Malcanthet's aspect focus so much on combat. For the other demon lords, though, I don't have much problem with a lack of spell-like abilities.

 

[Kunimatyu]

Why do the Demon Lord Aspects lack spell-like abilities?

Malcanthet, Queen of the Sucubi, has numerous spell-like and supernatural abilities to charm enemies (Charm Monster, Seductive Gaze, etc.), but her aspect is a combat-oriented creature without spell like abilities to charm and seduce opponents. Malcanthet's aspect is far more powerful in combat than the average succubi, but has less capability to charm or seduce than your run of the mill succubi. Likewise the other demon lord aspects are lacking in spell like abilities.

Is this because Aspects are intended for the Miniatures game where spell like abilities are less useful and the focus is on combat?

Aspects are generally summoned when a god or archfiend is supremely mad at you and wants you dead. There's not much reason for an aspect of Malcanthet to seduce; she's there to cave your skull in for messing with her plans.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Y'know, looking at that statblock, a question occurs to me...

Does she really need 'em?

So she doesn't have charm person....eh. Check out that Bluff, Diploacy, Intimidate....heck, worst case scenario, she picks up a wand or scroll and Uses a Magic Device like a 25 gp wandering prostitute and she has virtually any spell at her disposal.

I mean, yar, she COULD have it. But does she need it? Eh, methinks no.