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Let’s Read Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse.
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<blockquote data-quote="Leatherhead" data-source="post: 8571665" data-attributes="member: 53176"><p><h3>Boneclaw (MToF)</h3><p></p><p>Liches and minions, is there a more classic combo? In a twist the Boneclaw is what happens when a wizard fails to become a lich, and in turn becomes a minion of some random person with a hate-filled heart. So long as their evil master lives, the Boneclaw will regrow it’s body every time it’s destroyed.</p><p></p><p>Boneclaws serving their master is an iffy thing. Some will receive direct orders from their master. Others will lurk in the shadows nearby, trying to figure out what their master desires like some kind of twisted guardian angel. It’s worth noting that if their evil master is somehow redeemed (by becoming good or at least neutral) then the Boneclaw is destroyed. This can raise some philosophical questions regarding if it’s ok to kill someone who is the petty kind of evil and an unknowing master of a boneclaw. Is it really ok to execute a thief who is in jail for a crime they didn’t commit? How about a commoner who is selfish, but not breaking any laws themselves? Is it ok to use enchantments or psionic magic to reform the master if it means an otherwise unkillable cr12 monster is destroyed in the process? Traditional reeducation and rehabilitation takes a lot of time, and all the while there is a sadistic murderous monster stalking the lands. Another thing to consider, what happens when the master is resurrected? Will that bring back the Boneclaw in a two enemies for the price of one deal?</p><p></p><p>As for fighting the Boneclaw, you may be surprised to hear that a former wizard turned skeleton has no magic spells. In fact, they have only one power that is unquestionably magic (aside from being an undead monster). Instead, the Boneclaw is what 4e would have called a lurker. They hide in shadows using their bonus action, and can use their 15’ of reach to grapple and pull their targets to them. Which is handy if you are attacking from the rafters, a creature that manages to escape their bony grasp will then plummet down on the ground, taking damage and being potentially knocked prone for easy grabbing. The Boneclaw can also use their long claws as an enhanced reaction, stopping any would-be melee aggressors in their tracks, safely away from them. The Boneclaw should not fear death, but killing enemies one-by-one is undoubtedly easier than fighting them all as a group. For this, the Boneclaw has Shadow Jump, a teleport power that also has an AoE damage rider, that can also teleport one creature that is grappled. It’s worth noting that moving a creature while they are grappled normally means a reduced movement speed, but the Boneclaw can sort of cheat this restriction. By exploiting their extended reach, and the fact they can use their claw attack to drag their target for free, they can simply move normally, then attempt to pull with their attack, move some more, then attack and pull again. Mind you, this isn’t a guaranteed tactic, but it is a possibility. </p><p></p><p>In the change, the Boneclaw’s claws became significantly more deadly, and they gained a smattering of HP and the Unusual Nature trait. In return, they can no longer spam their shadow Jump power, as it has a recharge of 5-6 now. A fair change due to the fact their previous best tactic was to grab someone and teleport away forever.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leatherhead, post: 8571665, member: 53176"] [HEADING=2]Boneclaw (MToF)[/HEADING] Liches and minions, is there a more classic combo? In a twist the Boneclaw is what happens when a wizard fails to become a lich, and in turn becomes a minion of some random person with a hate-filled heart. So long as their evil master lives, the Boneclaw will regrow it’s body every time it’s destroyed. Boneclaws serving their master is an iffy thing. Some will receive direct orders from their master. Others will lurk in the shadows nearby, trying to figure out what their master desires like some kind of twisted guardian angel. It’s worth noting that if their evil master is somehow redeemed (by becoming good or at least neutral) then the Boneclaw is destroyed. This can raise some philosophical questions regarding if it’s ok to kill someone who is the petty kind of evil and an unknowing master of a boneclaw. Is it really ok to execute a thief who is in jail for a crime they didn’t commit? How about a commoner who is selfish, but not breaking any laws themselves? Is it ok to use enchantments or psionic magic to reform the master if it means an otherwise unkillable cr12 monster is destroyed in the process? Traditional reeducation and rehabilitation takes a lot of time, and all the while there is a sadistic murderous monster stalking the lands. Another thing to consider, what happens when the master is resurrected? Will that bring back the Boneclaw in a two enemies for the price of one deal? As for fighting the Boneclaw, you may be surprised to hear that a former wizard turned skeleton has no magic spells. In fact, they have only one power that is unquestionably magic (aside from being an undead monster). Instead, the Boneclaw is what 4e would have called a lurker. They hide in shadows using their bonus action, and can use their 15’ of reach to grapple and pull their targets to them. Which is handy if you are attacking from the rafters, a creature that manages to escape their bony grasp will then plummet down on the ground, taking damage and being potentially knocked prone for easy grabbing. The Boneclaw can also use their long claws as an enhanced reaction, stopping any would-be melee aggressors in their tracks, safely away from them. The Boneclaw should not fear death, but killing enemies one-by-one is undoubtedly easier than fighting them all as a group. For this, the Boneclaw has Shadow Jump, a teleport power that also has an AoE damage rider, that can also teleport one creature that is grappled. It’s worth noting that moving a creature while they are grappled normally means a reduced movement speed, but the Boneclaw can sort of cheat this restriction. By exploiting their extended reach, and the fact they can use their claw attack to drag their target for free, they can simply move normally, then attempt to pull with their attack, move some more, then attack and pull again. Mind you, this isn’t a guaranteed tactic, but it is a possibility. In the change, the Boneclaw’s claws became significantly more deadly, and they gained a smattering of HP and the Unusual Nature trait. In return, they can no longer spam their shadow Jump power, as it has a recharge of 5-6 now. A fair change due to the fact their previous best tactic was to grab someone and teleport away forever. [/QUOTE]
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