Lolth!

[Pseudopsyche]

An interesting interpretation of the goddess -- and I am VERY curious what the Spider Queen form looks like.

The "Lolth the Spider Queen" stat block is simpler. She doesn't get a lot of attacks, but they're quite potent. She has Burning Webs, a 1/round minor-action attack that's a close burst 5, targets only enemies, immobilizes (save ends), and inflicts ongoing 30 acid damage after one failed save. She also has a nasty immediate interrupt, Impaling Legs, that triggers whenever an enemy enters a square within 3. Her standard action attacks do get stronger, too. I'll be curious to see how she holds up.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Is drow everything simply better than non-drow everything?

 

[Nahat Anoj]

I've got MM3. Lolth has two forms - a humanoid form (35 solo lurker) and a spider form (35 solo brute). Both have 634 hps, their own attacks, defenses, action point pool, etc.

When Lolth's humanoid form is reduced to 0 hp, she automatically transforms into the spider form. This is actually a triggered attack- when she transforms, she does an attack that stuns on a hit and gives vulnerability to damage (save ends).

When Lolth's spider form is bloodied (that is, when Lolth is reduced to a quarter of her overall hps), Lolth discorporates. So she stays around a bit longer than other gods.

 

[doctorhook]

Anybody else notice that Lolth is a "(god)" in the description line of her statblock? Interesting change of language from previous deities. First, Tiamat was merely a "Huge immortal magical beast (dragon)". Next, Vecna was a "Medium immortal humanoid, deity (undead)". Then, Bahamut was back to merely "Huge immortal magical beast (dragon)". Now, Lolth is a "Medium immortal humanoid, drow (shapechanger, god)".

Is it a typo? I've noticed that this line of the statblock has been woefully inconsistent across products, with regard to subtypes.

Personally, I prefer the word "deity" as a descriptor of fictional gods -- it has fewer RL religious connotations than calling something "god".

 

[TarionzCousin]

Is drow everything simply better than non-drow everything?

Anybody else notice that Lolth is a "(god)" in the description line of her statblock? Interesting change of language from previous deities. First, Tiamat was merely a "Huge immortal magical beast (dragon)". Next, Vecna was a "Medium immortal humanoid, deity (undead)". Then, Bahamut was back to merely "Huge immortal magical beast (dragon)". Now, Lolth is a "Medium immortal humanoid, drow (shapechanger, god)".

Lolth is, of course, better than everybody else.

It's a drow thing.

 

[Runestar]

Does the god subtype bring with it any special connotations or abilities, or is it just a fanciful descriptor with no real benefits?

 

[Mentat55]

Most, if not all, deities to this point have been immune to attacks by characters less than 20th level. So maybe the "god" keyword has that as an implicit feature? Still, I thought that was something they were trying to avoid -- monster features that don't appear in the statblock.

 

[Klaus]

Does the god subtype bring with it any special connotations or abilities, or is it just a fanciful descriptor with no real benefits?

Most, if not all, deities to this point have been immune to attacks by characters less than 20th level. So maybe the "god" keyword has that as an implicit feature? Still, I thought that was something they were trying to avoid -- monster features that don't appear in the statblock.

This.

Up until now, every deity came with a sidebar explaining how they break the rules. I guess now that's all been categorized into a keyword (Lolth is the first deity to appear in a 4e MM, so it makes sense for her to add that keyword to the game).

 

[Runestar]

Most, if not all, deities to this point have been immune to attacks by characters less than 20th level.

If a party that low is somehow able to defeat lolth without said provision, I would say something is seriously wrong. Based on stats alone, the PCs shouldn't stand a chance!

Besides, why bother with this stipulation if you know that no one is going to fight lolth that early?

 

[doctorhook]

Does the god subtype bring with it any special connotations or abilities, or is it just a fanciful descriptor with no real benefits?

I don't have the book yet, but I'm certain it's fanciful; all descriptors and subtypes have been thus far, except for where they interact with the occasional magic item or ability. As I pointed out above, they are quite inconsistent, as well. For example, Drow in Monster Manual 1 don't even have the "drow" subtype -- they're just "Medium fey humanoids". For what little it's worth, this line in the statblocks of monster in Keep on the Shadowfell is sometimes totally different from the one in the statblock of the same monster in the Monster Manual, although that might just be a change in design philosophy. (KotS used a lot more subtypes, IIRC.)

As I'm looking over the first two Monster Manuals, I'm noticing that subtypes are usually found on creatures whose name doesn't indicate their nature. For example, Duergar have the "dwarf" subtype, but Dwarves don't. Most Eladrin don't have the "eladrin" subtype, but the Coure of Mischief and Strife does (on the page right next to an eladrin without the subtype, no less). However, most goblins don't have the goblin subtype, including the Lolthbound Goblin -- but not including the Lolthbound Goblin Slave on the same page in MM2. Go figure.

Given the lack of significant mechanical effect, I'm going to chalk these inconsistencies up to their insignificance. It's not cool, but at least it doesn't wreck anything.

Most, if not all, deities to this point have been immune to attacks by characters less than 20th level. So maybe the "god" keyword has that as an implicit feature? Still, I thought that was something they were trying to avoid -- monster features that don't appear in the statblock.

I'm with Runestar; they may have just stopped bothering to print that bit, because of the extreme unlikelihood of any 19th level characters ever being a threat to a creature with these stats. However, if it ever came up in game, I'd still apply the "20+" rule anyway, because I know it. Also, can anyone even confirm that this sidebar actually doesn't appear in the book? We know the excerpt wasn't complete...

I'm still inclined to believe that there's nothing to this "(god)" subtype bit, except for what we're already familiar with. I just would've preferred the word "(deity)", like they've used before.