I got Beholder info from the MM "wink wink nodge nodge knowaddaImean, come again ahh?

[Sir ThornCrest]

Anti magic cone from the beholder does it in 3e give no save? Is all magic in the gunny? LIke a +2 sword is just a sword, the +2 doesnt work in the cones field no save? How is it vs contigency spells? The wizards has like 6 contigency spells via the contigency feat on him self...how would they be effected???

questions questions so many answers

Thorncrest

 

[kenobi65]

You might want to read up on the spell antimagic field; I believe it operates the same way.

And, yes, it surpresses any magical effects in the area, with no saves (there are a few notable exceptions, such as wall of force, prismatic spray, prismatic sphere). So, the magic sword becomes a masterwork sword, all those contingencies are no longer in effect, etc.

But, note that the magical effects aren't dispelled, they're just surpressed. Once the wizard with his contingencies is no longer being affected by the ray, the contingencies are back in place. Once the +2 sword is out of the ray, it's a +2 sword once more.

Beholders are nasty, eh?

 

[Sir ThornCrest]

Im thinkin the beholder cr of 13 might be to much, all saves are dc18 thats not so bad but they are smart so they will cast all the fort save attacks at the spellcasters and all will saves vs the combatants.......its gonna get ugly!!!! All those save or die things.

Thorncrest

You might want to read up on the spell antimagic field; I believe it operates the same way.

And, yes, it surpresses any magical effects in the area, with no saves (there are a few notable exceptions, such as wall of force, prismatic spray, prismatic sphere). So, the magic sword becomes a masterwork sword, all those contingencies are no longer in effect, etc.

But, note that the magical effects aren't dispelled, they're just surpressed. Once the wizard with his contingencies is no longer being affected by the ray, the contingencies are back in place. Once the +2 sword is out of the ray, it's a +2 sword once more.

Beholders are nasty, eh?

 

[Jdvn1]

This is 3.0, but it gives you an idea of how they play.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/gs/20020614a

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Im thinkin the beholder cr of 13 might be to much, all saves are dc18 thats not so bad but they are smart so they will cast all the fort save attacks at the spellcasters and all will saves vs the combatants.......its gonna get ugly!!!! All those save or die things.

The Beholder is all offense and uncertain defense. It does not have much in the way of AC or HPs for a challenge of that level. Most 13th level PCs have a decent chance of killing one single-handedly in 2 rounds if he or she can get a fair crack at it. Naturally, from the POV of the Beholder, the name of the game is to never fight fair.

Personally I think the Beholder is one of the stupidest monsters ever conceived...about as cool as fighting a magical vending machine. But many seem to disagree.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

a magical vending machine

Dude.

Yoink.

EDIT:

Zoink? WTH's a "zoink" supposed to be? Next thing you know, I'll be sayin' "Jinkies!" BAH, I say!

 

[Sir ThornCrest]

cool combat sequence

This is 3.0, but it gives you an idea of how they play.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/gs/20020614a

 

[Sir ThornCrest]

I seems that the fort saves will be vs spellcasters not in anti magic and will saves for all those combatant types....I can just see the fighters dumping a 5 or so and getting disentegrated.

Thorncrest

The Beholder is all offense and uncertain defense. It does not have much in the way of AC or HPs for a challenge of that level. Most 13th level PCs have a decent chance of killing one single-handedly in 2 rounds if he or she can get a fair crack at it. Naturally, from the POV of the Beholder, the name of the game is to never fight fair.

Personally I think the Beholder is one of the stupidest monsters ever conceived...about as cool as fighting a magical vending machine. But many seem to disagree.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I seems that the fort save attacks will be vs spellcasters (not in anti magic) and will saves for all those combatant types....I can just see the fighters dumping a 5 or so and getting disentegrated.

Yes, of course.

Disintegrate is not such a big deal anyone. It is not a given that you will even hit with the ray touch attack against the Wizard (Mirror Image, Blur, Mage Armor plus a good Dex) or the Rogue (decent touch AC). They might even survive a failed save if buffed and/or lucky. Letting the Wizard out into the open away from the Anti-Magic is very risky. If a Wizard survives the Disintegrate ray the Beholder is going to pay a very steep price.

 

[Saeviomagy]

When facing a beholder:

Try to:
Stay in a group - that way it can only fire 3 rays at you.
Be outside the anti-magic cone when you attack - run around the beholder. However number 1 is still a cardinal rule - you should all run EITHER to the left or the right.
Dump as much damage as possible into the beholder. Ignore all other enemies - it's unlikely that they can hit you with quite so many save-or-die attacks in a round.
Fall prone after your attack (a nifty +4 to your touch ac should never be overlooked)
Get into cover after your attack
Throw up something that screws the beholders vision (the darkness chain is good, mirror image is good, hiding in a fog cloud or obscuring mist is good too - and if all else fails, smokesticks are effective too).

And finally:

Collect a piece of it after the battle, so the mage can make one using simulacrum. On-demand cone of antimagic, along with all the other abilities a beholder has, is just far too good to ever pass up. These things RULE as construction helpers.