Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mesh Hong" data-source="post: 5215886" data-attributes="member: 73463">What I like to do with swarms these days is make them really swarmy and try and maximise mechanics that make them act like a cloud/carpet of hundreds or thousands of tiny creatures. In this case your swarm is probably tens of creatures as I picture the individual spirits being larger than wasps (for instance). I like to have swarms be at least huge size (3x3), for an elite swarm in this case I might be tempted to go for (5x5) to maximise use of the following mechanics: Swarm Characteristics 1Swarm may move through and end its turn in other creatures squares; the Swarm never provokes opportunity attacks and it may not make opportunity attacks itself. Swarm Characteristics 2Swarm is only subject to effects generated from area attacks (such as blasts, burst and zones), effects generated from single target effects have no effect. The exceptions to this are class abilities such as sneak attack, quarry, curse, mark and divine challenge. These traits give swarms a whole new feel, they can move around much easier and become much more interesting opponents. Swarms under this system have an ideal chance of sitting on top of multiple PCs, so I like to give them special attacks that target all creatures they are sharing a square with, or have them do additional damage to creatures they are sharing a square with. Again this keeps things interesting and adds to the feel of the swarm actually crawling over the PCs in question rather than sitting next to them. I am also a fan of the standard swarm aura of making an attack against enemies starting their turn adjacent (or sharing a square) with swarm. Given the above I would come up with something like: Panarii Spirit Storm Level 14 Elite Controller Gargantuan (5x5) Natural Beast (undead, swarm) XP 2,000  Initiative +12 Senses Perception +9 Tangle of Hands aura 1; All enemies starting their turn adjacent to or sharing a square with the Spirit Storm take a Ghostly Caress attack Spirit Drain (necrotic) aura 0; All enemies sharing a square with the Spirit Storm gain only half the amount when regaining HPs HP 220; Bloodied 110; also see Bloodied Purge AC 28; Fortitude 25, Reflex 26, Will 27 Immune disease, poison; Resist 15 necrotic, half damage from melee and ranged attacks; Vulnerable 10 close and area attacks Saving Throws +2 Speed 6, fly 8 (hover) 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:" /> Ghostly Caress (Standard; at-will) ♦ necroticAttack +18 vs. Reflex; 1d10+6 necrotic damage, targets sharing a square with Spirit Storm take 2d8+6 necrotc damage  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Psychic Torment (Standard; at-will) ♦ Psychic1 or 2 targets; attack +18 vs. Will; 2d6+6 psychic damage; on hit target is dazed (save ends)  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Hunger of the Ancients (Standard; recharge 456) ♦ necrotictargets all creatures sharing a square with Spirit Storm; attack +18 vs. Fortitude; 3d6+6 necrotic damage; on hit target loses a healing surge  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Bloodied Purge (Free) ♦ psychic, when first bloodiedWhen first bloodied Spirit Storm makes the following attack against all creatures it is currently sharing a square with as an immediate free action; attack +18 vs. Fortitude; 2d6+6 psychic damage; on hit target is pushed 6 squares and knocked prone  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/r.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":ranged:" title="Ranged    :ranged:" data-shortname=":ranged:" /> Panarii Champion (Standard; encounter) ♦ psychic, necroticRange 10 (may not target creatures sharing a square with Spirit Storm); attack +18 vs. Will; 1d10+10 psychic damage; on hit target is dominated and takes 10 ongoing necrotic damage (2 saves 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:" /> Lure of Forbidden History (Standard; encounter) ♦ psychicBurst 5; enemies only; attack +18 vs, Will; 1d10+6 psychic damage; on hit target is pulled 5 squares (towards the centre of the Spirit Swarm) and slowed (save ends)  Swarm Characteristics 1 ♦ trait Spirit Storm may move through and end its turn in other creatures squares; the Spirit Storm never provokes opportunity attacks and it may not make opportunity attacks itself  Swarm Characteristics 2 ♦ trait Spirit Storm is only subject to effects generated from area attacks (such as blasts, burst and zones), effects generated from single target effects have no effect. The exceptions to this are class abilities such as sneak attack, quarry, curse, mark and divine challenge etc  Alignment Chaotic EvilStr 10 (+7) Dex 20 (+12) Wis 14 (+9) Con 18 (+11) Int 14 (+9) Cha 23 (+13)  Its pretty nasty, but then you have got 7 players.Note: I have reduced the HPs to about 80% because of its resistance to melee and ranged attacks. If your group is very heavy on close and area attacks then you might want to increase its HPs to the expected amount (about 280 HPs). Anyway I hope this gives you some ideas.</blockquote>

Verification