How often have you used Beholders?

[Rystil Arden]

Never ever. Always struck me as being to complex to run, and my games always seem to end circa level 10, so I never had a group that could manage one.

Hmm...I'd venture that a level 10 character that isn't a magic sort stands a good chance to kill a Beholder fairly quickly if she lives to attack it (winning initiative helps with that). Their AC is appallingly low for CR 13 and their HP isn't too high. A Spirited Charge + Power Attack + Smite from the Paladin would basically kill the thing just from the Smite and Power Attack damage without weapon damage or Strength added in. A Raging Barbarian probably only needs two or three attacks (so charge and then full attack afterwards if he lives) or less if he gets to keep his magic. An archer can probably take it out with two Rapid Shot volleys, etc.

I'd be very surprised if a full party of level 10 characters lost to a Beholder unless they started out very low or perhaps caught in a severely bad tactical position.

 

[GwydapLlew]

I'd be very surprised if a full party of level 10 characters lost to a Beholder unless they started out very low or perhaps caught in a severely bad tactical position.

For once, Rystil and I agree!

In my experience, beholders are difficult to defeat in advantageous terrain and when they are expecting trouble. Just like dragons. OTOH, if the DM runs them poorly, or they dont' have a situation that is geared towards their abilities (flight, ranged attacks, etc) then they go down like chumps. Just like dragons.

 

[Rystil Arden]

For once, Rystil and I agree!

In my experience, beholders are difficult to defeat in advantageous terrain and when they are expecting trouble. Just like dragons. OTOH, if the DM runs them poorly, or they dont' have a situation that is geared towards their abilities (flight, ranged attacks, etc) then they go down like chumps. Just like dragons.

Yep--honestly, the beholder that appeared in SCAP's first module appeared in a terrible location for a beholder to fight--I'm convinced that our group probably could have killed him (we were level three and badly hurt from a previous fight) and ruined the adventure path, but we stood around a 75% chance of dying and didn't want to risk it since he wasn't attacking. Also, we would have died to his wizard girl even if we killed him quickly.

 

[Lanefan]

I've run Beholders exactly once, and that was this past summer...I finally had a group I thought could take on a few, so they went up against a nest of 3 and *barely* survived. Then again, the Beholders had home-ice advantage and far, far too much foreknowledge about the party (due to some freak mishaps, the Beholders had an informant within the party; long story).

I've also played against one for the first time, a month or so ago; the party's longest-serving PC got disintegrated and a front-liner got turned to stone, but otherwise we did OK...it easily could have gone far worse.

As for other iconics:

Aboleth: used a few here and there, nothing spectacular.
Rust Monsters: rarely if ever use, but I'd be very sad if they disappeared from the game.
Dragons: every three or four adventures I'll chuck one in.
Mind Flayers: again rare, and the battle is always short; either the party gets blasted and half the PC's lose their minds, or the 'Flayer gets slaughtered in seconds.
Giants: every time I get the chance! I love those guys!
Dracolich: am about to use for the first time ever, again because I *finally* have a party that might stand a chance. (fortunately, they've been diligent on their info-gathering, so they know going in what they're up against...and this ain't your average Dracolich...)

Lanefan

 

[Voadam]

Iconics:

Aboleth: used for the first time recently

Beholders: never

carrion crawlers, I remember using these with the red book basic set, early in my DM career.

Goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, kobolds: all the time

Ogres: all the time

Trolls: all the time

Giants: infrequently though I've used a lot of fire giants and templated fire giants with my high level group recently.

Demons: used a bunch

Drow: used a bunch but usually as behind the scenes bad guys.

Displacer beast: never

Mindflayers: Used one as a shadow magic construct from a rakshasa illusionist. Used a construct one made of meats.

Yuan Ti: never used them

Dragons: used a few times, usually considered big and scary.

Vampires: used a couple of times

Skeletons: used tons and tons

Zombies: used tons and tons

gelatinous cube: never

Black pudding: never

Green Slime: a few times

stirges: a few times

Lizardmen: a few times

Piercers: a few times

Wights: Tons

Lich: had one as a background bad guy, never fought.

Golems: Lots

Giant rats/rats: yes

Wolf: yes

Elementals: I don't think so as a DM, though I've summoned and fought a lot as a player.

Nagas: a few

Kuan toa: never

Rakshasa: a few

Rust monster: had one in a dungeon but the party never hit it

Giant spider: yes, plenty

 

[JRRNeiklot]

More than once or twice, but still less than the next choice of fairly common, so I didn't vote. There should be an option for several. I'd say I've used them a dozen times over the 25 or so years I've been gaming.

 

[Hussar]

JRR, I would call that some. Sounds like they've appeared in just about every campaign you've run.

Voadam, I think I'll start a series of polls on iconic monsters. Just out of curiousity. I'm the same as you in that I've rarely run most of the iconics. Thanks for that list. Hrm, I think a "number of times in the past" sort of poll is the best way to go.

 

[Warbringer]

In my current campaign they're cropping up quite a bit. The paladins breed them, severe all the eyestalks and use them for hunting mages. Not particulary a "good" act, but give them a break, there god is dead

Anyway, the party had to run from town after killing one of the hunters while fleeing from a raided spell auction. They managed to escape town by securing passage on a smugglers schooner. After prooving their worth in fighting of an undead kraken, the captain recommends them as guards for the second leg of a smuggling job overland.

After an encounter in town, the party believe that they are smuggling elven children, not something they want to be associated with. But, they figure if they are guarding the cargo they can find out more about it. A couple of days into the journey the party rogue sneaks into the caravan carrying the cargo and takes a peak through the air holes ...

Still thinking the crates contain elven children she speaks softly, assuring the children they are safe and they'l be rescued soon. The crate rocks a little, she try to hush the frantic child within... Pulling out a sunstone, she shines the light inside only to a have a large single eye stare back... A little confused she just stares until an immature eyestalk pops out an air hole an clumsily fires or a weak distintigrate.

A little singed, but non the worse for wear, she sneaks out of the caraven and tries to explain to the party the six crates they are guarding ideed contain children, only they're not elven...

 

[frankthedm]

Mindflayers:... Used a construct one made of meats.

The Mind Fillet-er from Castle Greyhawk?

__________________________
I too never used a beholder myself.

 

[Voadam]

The Mind Fillet-er from Castle Greyhawk?

__________________________
I too never used a beholder myself.

For ages the only artefact seen in my campaign by the PCs was the mithril breadknife of Greyhawk.