LANTERN ARCHON -- ideas on EL

[brehobit]

Hello,
The lantern archon doesn't have a LA (no hands, makes sense). But if you were going to allow it, what LA would you go with? What if the teleport ability were changed to Dim. Door?


Factoids:
1HD
-10 STR
-4 INT

darkvision and low-light

+4 natural AC

Aura of Menace (Su): (opponents within 20' save vs DC 12+CHR or take -2 on attacks, ACs and saves until hit the Lantern Archon)

Immunity to electricity and petrification.

+4 racial bonus on saves against poison.

Magic Circle against Evil (Su): A magic circle against evil at will

Teleport (Su): Archons can use greater teleport at will, as the spell (caster level 14th), except that the creature can transport only itself and up to 50 pounds of objects.

Tongues (Su): All archons can speak with any creature that has a language, as though using a tongues spell (caster level 14th). This ability is always active.

Light Ray (Ex): 2 attacks, d6 damage touch out to 30'

Spell-Like Abilities: At will—aid, detect evil, continual flame. Caster level 3rd.

Limited magic item use (no slots, mouth, hands, etc)

Limited ability to interact with the world.
===========================================

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Jack Simth]

Don't forget
Fly 60 (Perfect)
size small.
DR 10 / Evil AND Magic
Type: Outsider (grants Darkvision 60; Raise Dead, Reincarnate, Ressurection don't work; all simple and marital weapon proficiency, plus anything mentioned in the entry - nothing, in this case; no need to eat or sleep)

Also, ignore the racial hit die - there's only the one, so it gets replaced by the first class level.

As a Rogue, would be a sneak-attack monster, up until about level ten or so, when almost everyone has multiple attacks, as it's two touch attacks that are both suitable for Sneak Attacking, at your highest attack bonus.

As a Sorcerer or Cleric, the manueverability would be insane; stays out of direct combat trivially for most opponents, until the point where most of them fly and/or have ranged attacks.... and even then, retreat is a snap.

This thing would be difficult to harm (DR 10 / Evil AND Magic is kinda difficult to penetrate, except by demons with magic weapons, as well as the evil dragons... although an +1 Unholy weapon would do just fine.... at a cost of 18,000 gp; Magic Missile would do well, though) up until about level three to ten.

I'd probably guesstimate it at about LA +4, with the understanding that it will be arbitrarily killed or retconned if I start having difficulty challenging it without making the rest of the party useless, or if I decide it's too weak overall.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It would be at a minimum equal to a hound archon, LA +5. The hound archon, however is "hampered" by its HD. Sure, outsider HD are good, but not ideal for some characters. Given the other benefits of the lantern archon, I'd probably up it by 2 or so, if you change out greater teleport.

But, really, it's not a good critter to use as a PC. Why is someone interested in it? And, don't say it's because hound archon has too much baggage.

 

[szilard]

On the downside, a Lantern Archon isn't going to be able to effectively use any magic item requiring a body slot, weapons, or armor. That's a pretty big downside.

-Stuart

 

[Jack Simth]

On the downside, a Lantern Archon isn't going to be able to effectively use any magic item requiring a body slot, weapons, or armor. That's a pretty big downside.

-Stuart

So by character level 3, he needs to have Vow of Poverty. Simple fix - he's already got the perfect fly speed and teleportational abilities so often found lacking in such builds.

 

[Grog]

As a Sorcerer or Cleric, the manueverability would be insane;

Without hands, it couldn't cast any spells with somatic components. (And, can Lantern Archons speak? If not, no verbal components either).

 

[Sejs]

So by character level 3, he needs to have Vow of Poverty. Simple fix - he's already got the perfect fly speed and teleportational abilities so often found lacking in such builds.

As the saying goes (particularly for Gurps and Hero), a disadvantage that isn't a disadvantage is worth no points.

I would -not- allow a creature that has no body slots and can't use gear due to a lack of manipulators to take Vow of Poverty - what exactly are they giving up? Ioun stones?

 

[szilard]

So by character level 3, he needs to have Vow of Poverty. Simple fix - he's already got the perfect fly speed and teleportational abilities so often found lacking in such builds.

Assuming VoP is permitted...

-Stuart

 

[Jack Simth]

As the saying goes (particularly for Gurps and Hero), a disadvantage that isn't a disadvantage is worth no points.

I would -not- allow a creature that has no body slots and can't use gear due to a lack of manipulators to take Vow of Poverty - what exactly are they giving up? Ioun stones?

Manuals, Tomes, equipment for any followers and cohorts, hirelings for fetching and carrying, et cetera.

Also - they have some nifty choices with Alter Self (once they get to the point where they can cast it Stilled) that can deal with the whole lack of hands/body slots thing.

Assuming VoP is permitted...

-Stuart

Well, he's basically the most minor of angels to begin with; and lots of rules making needed to be done to get him into the game anyway. But yes. Definately a possible not-happening.

 

[pawsplay]

Just eyeballing it, I'm going to say LA +5. That covers flight, offensive powers, immunities, numerous special qualities, and a favorable attack. I can't think of any reason to discount such an exotic character; even a lack of hands, as pointed out, only digs so deep.

A much better choice would be a half-celestial, a celestial winged human, a hound archon, or a protectar.