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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mesh Hong" data-source="post: 5023032" data-attributes="member: 73463">As there aren’t a lot of monster threads about at the moment I will share an encounter from a recent game. This unfortunately is another tragic case of first session of new tier, in this case Epic. The encounter served its purpose but the Solo was royally beaten by my efficient and determined PCs. Encounter for 6 level 21 PCs (34144 xp)1x Dracolitch (level 21 solo) 16,000 xp24x Rot Zombie (leve 24 minion) 18144 xp  Rinflak Rotking Level 21 Solo SkirmisherGargantuan Natural Magical Beast (undead) XP 16,000 Initiative +16 Senses Perception +20, darkvisionHP 1,010; Bloodied 505; see Bloodied TransformationAC 35; Fortitude 34, Reflex 33, Will 34Immune disease, fear, poison; Resist 35 necrotic; Vulnerable 10 radiantSaving Throws +5Speed 8, fly 10 (clumsy)Action Points 2 <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Claw Swipe (Standard; at-will)Reach 4; attack +26 vs. AC; 3d6+7 damage <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Bite (Standard; at-will) ♦ necroticReach 4; attack +26 vs. AC; 2d6+7 damage; on hit target takes 15 ongoing necrotic damage <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Claw and Bite (Standard; at-will)Dracolich makes a Claw and a Bite attack <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Flyby Attack (Standard; at-will)Dracolich may fly up to 10 squares and make one Claw Swipe or Bite attack at any point <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Tail Whack and Dodge (Immediate Reaction; at-will) ♦ when attackedReach 6; attack +24 vs. Fortitude; 1d10+7 damage; on hit target is knocked prone; hit or miss Dracolich may shift 4 squares <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Bile Breath (Standard; recharge <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/5.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":5:" title="Five    :5:" data-shortname=":5:" /><img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/6.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":6:" title="Six    :6:" data-shortname=":6:" />) ♦ necrotic, poisonClose blast 5; attack +24 vs. Reflex; 4d8+7 necrotic damage; on hit target is slowed and takes 10 ongoing poison damage (save ends both) <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Sickening Breath (Standard; encounter) ♦ necroticClose blast 5; attack +24 vs. Fortitude; 2d6+7 necrotic damage; on hit target gains vulnerability 10 necrotic (save ends); hit or miss target loses any necrotic resistance (save ends) <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Fearsome Presence (Standard; encounter) ♦ fearBurst 5; attack +24 vs. Will; on hit target is stunned until the end of Dracolich's next turn; aftereffect target takes a -2 penalty to attack (save ends) Bloodied Transformation (Immediate Reaction) ♦ when first bloodiedWhen first bloodied Dracolich's flesh punctures and shreds; Dracolich removes all current status effects and transforms into (stage 2) see separate stat block Alignment Evil Languages draconic, abyssalSkills Arcana +22, Endurance +23, History +22, Intimidate +23, Religion +22Str 24 (+17) Dex 18 (+14) Wis 20 (+15)Con 26 (+18) Int 24 (+17) Cha 26 (+18)   Rinflak Rotking (stage 2) Level 21 Solo BruteGargantuan Natural Magical Beast (undead) Initiative +14 Senses Perception +15, darkvisionNoxious Aura (poison) aura 3; All creatures entering or starting their turn inside aura take 10 poison damageHP 505 (bloodied); at 250 HPs see Fetid MaggotsAC 33; Fortitude 34, Reflex 33, Will 34Immune disease, fear, poison; Resist 35 necrotic; Vulnerable 10 radiantSaving Throws +5Speed 8, fly 10 (clumsy)Action Points 1 <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Bone Claw Swipe (Standard; at-will)Reach 4; attack +24 vs. AC; 3d6+7 damage; on hit target takes 5 cumulative bleeding damage (save ends all) <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Frenzied Claws (Standard; at-will)Dracolich makes 2 Bone Claw Swipe attacks against a primary target and 1 Bone Claw Swipe attack against a secondary target <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Tail Stab (Minor; recharge <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/5.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":5:" title="Five    :5:" data-shortname=":5:" /><img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/6.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":6:" title="Six    :6:" data-shortname=":6:" />) ♦ necroticReach 6; attack +22 vs. Reflex; 4d8+7 necrotic damage; on hit target is dazed and weakened (save ends) <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Tail Thrash (Standard; recharge <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/5.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":5:" title="Five    :5:" data-shortname=":5:" /><img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/6.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":6:" title="Six    :6:" data-shortname=":6:" />)Burst 6; attack +22 vs. Reflex; 2d10+7 damage; on hit target is pushed 4 squares and knocked prone <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/area.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":area:" title="Area    :area:" data-shortname=":area:" /> Bone Spray (Minor; recharge <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/5.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":5:" title="Five    :5:" data-shortname=":5:" /><img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/6.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":6:" title="Six    :6:" data-shortname=":6:" />) ♦ necroticArea burst 1 within 4; does not provoke opportunity attacks; attack +22 vs. Reflex; 2d6+7 necrotic damage; on hit target loses a healing surge <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Acid Breath (Standard; encounter) ♦ acidClose blast 5; attack +22 vs. Reflex; 4d10+7 acid damage; on miss target takes half damage <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Fetid Maggots (Immediate Reaction; encounter) ♦ zone, when reduced to 250 HPsWhen reduced to 250 HPs thousands of maggots spill out of the Dracolich; Burst 3; creates zone; the area inside the zone is considered difficult terrain for living creatures; all living creatures entering or starting their turn inside the zone take 5 necrotic damage Alignment Evil Languages draconic, abyssalSkills Arcana +22, Endurance +23, History +22, Intimidate +23, Religion +22Str 24 (+17) Dex 18 (+14) Wis 20 (+15)Con 26 (+18) Int 24 (+17) Cha 26 (+18)   Rot Zombie Level 24 minion (Brute)Medium Natural Humanoid (undead) XP 756 Initiative +17 Senses Perception +17, darkvisionHP 1; a missed attack never damages a minionAC 36; Fortitude 36, Reflex 34, Will 34Immune disease, poison; Resist 30 necrotic; also see Shadowfell ResistanceVulnerable 5 radiantSpeed 5, climb 4 <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Zombie Swipe (Standard; at-will)Attack +27 vs. AC; 13 damage <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Draining Bite (Immediate Reaction; at-will) ♦ poison, missed by melee attackWhen missed by a melee attack; attack +25 vs. Reflex; 10 poison damage; on hit target is weakened until the end of their next turn Shadowfell ResilienceWhilst in the Shadowfell Rot Zombie gains resistance 5 to all damage it is not vulnerable to Alignment Unaligned Skills Athletics +25, Endurance +22Str 26 (+20) Dex 20 (+17) Wis 20 (+17)Con 20 (+17) Int 3 (+8) Cha 3 (+8)  This is almost definitely the last solo creature my group will face that doesn’t act multiple times a round, now that they are epic level I need to make sure that solo threats match their epic prowess. I am also reconsidering the 80% HPs change from MMII as the damage output from my group is very impressive, I might even go as far as 120% HPs for certain important threats. The encounter worked thematically and plot wise, but as a dangerous creature an even level solo just wasn’t the right approach on my part. It should have been two to three levels above them in order get a good couple of rounds of danger time in before it started to spiral towards death. The encounter was surprisingly fast, with the dragon being immobilised in the first round, dazed and weakened in the second round, stunned in the third round, blinded in the fourth round, and dazed in the fifth round. Shamefully the creature was bloodied before it got to use most of its first stage powers, then it had to suffer the humiliation of being an even level brute in its second stage (what was I thinking?). Out of three possible actions points it only used one, it also had a large open environment that should have enabled it to move around and run riot, but it just gave the PCs enough space to stay out of breath weapon grouping. I had the zombies emerge from the ground in two waves of twelve on turns two and three. In the end the zombies were a lot more effective than the solo, but from the xp you will see that I was using a different rating system for them. In hindsight I should have had the zombies arrive earlier so as to give the dragon a little breathing room (no pun intended!). In the end I felt sorry for the poor creature, but I enjoyed seeing the PCs doing what they do best, and the players seemed to enjoy the encounter so I suppose that is job done! If anyone considers using this creature I would recommend it for a group of level 19 (give or take), I would also consider adding some sort of stun protection if you have a stun happy group. I would probably allow it an unmodified saving throw against stun only at the start of its turn.</blockquote>

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