How often have you used Beholders?

[Hussar]

Just like the title says, how often have you used beholders in your games? Edition doesn't matter.

 

[delericho]

Properly? Once, in Shackled City. Well, actually, a few times, but it was the same beholder.

In my misspent youth, I ran munchkin campaigns that featured beholders a lot. However, in that case, I ran them really badly, such that any fighter with a sword could insta-kill them by sliding underneath, and stabbing up the way. As I said, misspent youth, munchkin campaigns.

 

[Wombat]

Like Mind Flayers, Ethereal Filchers, Phantom Fungi, and several other related creatures, Beholders have always fallen into the "too silly to be actually used" category for me and my group.

 

[Crysmalon]

2nd edition - I ran the Eye Tyrant adventure series. So for a few months I presented roughly 25 beholder-types as enemies. Crazy. They're pretty complicated, not to mention deadly so I don't think I've actually had one in combat (used a couple as insane PCs providing info) for years.

 

[The Crippler]

In the campaigns I've run, I ran one in RttToEE and one in Shackled City. They're certainly memorable encounters, especially the Shackled City one (since he shows up multiple times).

Now, in a campaign that I play in, but don't DM, we recently ran through an extended Underdark-type adventure where the DM used literally dozens of them, of all varieties and wow, it was rough. Learned a lot about fighting them though!

 

[the Jester]

I voted "once or twice," but my answer is really "a few times, but they aren't common."

Beholders rule.

 

[paradox42]

2nd edition - I ran the Eye Tyrant adventure series. So for a few months I presented roughly 25 beholder-types as enemies. Crazy. They're pretty complicated, not to mention deadly so I don't think I've actually had one in combat (used a couple as insane PCs providing info) for years.

Ha! Ha ha ha!

Complicated? You want complicated, try running a Gibbering Orb (from the ELH and Epic SRD)! If 10 eye-rays are too much, try two dozen- containing not only most of the Beholder powers, but also such fun things as all three Power Words, Prismatic Spray and Cone of Cold in ray form, Disjunction in ray form for that matter... I could go on. Those beasts are truly, off-the-rocker nuts.

And yes, I've used them- one combat I ran in my Epic game a few months ago featured, not just one measly Gibbering Orb, but four of the things- templated with Elemental templates no less- along with the Uvuudaum Sorcerer that made/called them. That, combined with (on the PC side) a 28th-level Wizard NPC, and seven actual PCs made for a fight that took us two and a half whole sessions to fully resolve (though admittedly the Orbs were all dead at the end of the first session).

Answering the OP's question more directly, I've also used regular old vanilla Beholders in game a couple of times, and even one templated one. Oddly enough, the first time I used one most of the players had no idea what it was, even one of the powergamers of the group. I was actually a little disappointed; I'd been hoping for more terror on the part of the players when it showed up. I've also used Gauths (the little 6-eyed lesser beholderkin) a few times, back when my games were lower-level.

 

[DaveyJones]

i have a couple statted out for use. and they are behind certain plots in the campaign i run.

but actual use in play.

none.

 

[Beckett]

I voted once or twice, but that might be high. I know I've used a increased gauth, but I can't recall seeing a real beholder, on either side of the screen. I know I've always been uncomfortable sending one against players, with its abilities seeming too weak (Inflict Moderate Wounds) or too brutal (Disintergrate and Flesh to Stone).

 

[rose4100]

i've never actually used/went against one but i would love too. They seem like a stereotypical D&D enemy.