MM2 Excerpt: Pod Demon

[Nebulous]

Its face looks silly. Body is ok, but why Wotc is pushing demons with faces not frightening? A game safe for kids? Meh...

Nah, i think its face is plenty scary. It would be cool too if one of those big eyeballs ruptured and spewed out a pod-baby. What probably WON'T be scary is the uncommon/rare miniature of this which will resemble a lump of melted greenish plastic.

Oh, and pod-demon is generic yes, but it's easy to slap whatever name on it.

 

[RangerWickett]

The demon and the wizard had a battle royale
The demon almost killed him with an evil kapow
But then he broke his tooth and thus the demon said ow.
'Cause it's the PICK!
of DESTINY!
You know it's gonna rock because it's f***in' insane.
Yes it's the PICK!
of DESTINY!
You know our movie's better than'a Citizen Kane.

-Tenacious D, POD​

Did no one else think this when they heard 'pod' demon?

 

[Runestar]

Seems like they are pushing for foes with fewer hp, but deal more damage....maybe to make combat go more quickly?

 

[Dragonhelm]

I think it speaks volumes of how tired I am that I saw this thread title and thought it said "iPod Demon."

I go nap now...

 

[Ycore Rixle]

Nice to see that WOTC seems to be listening to customers and doing what it can to eliminate grindspace by decreasing monster hp and increasing monster damage (assuming this is indeed a trend).

Unfortunately their writing still treats words like play-doh that can be smushed into any shape desired and thrown against a wall until enough stick so that it looks kind of like art. For example, in the very short entry we have here, it says the pod demon is "disgusted." By what? I assume they meant "disgusting." Then there's that mixed metaphor about "under the heel" of the "Chained God." "Bound to the Chain God" wouldn't have worked? "Shackled"? And from a larger game-mechanics standpoint, "madness" or "demented" is mentioned in every paragraph of the flavor text, and seems to play a large role in the demon's place in the game world, but it has no representation at all in the mechanics or stats.

It does look like it would be a lot of fun to use in combat, though!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Seems like they are pushing for foes with fewer hp, but deal more damage....maybe to make combat go more quickly?

It seems so, at least for Elites and Solos.

I suspect they also make Minions a little stronger since they found that higher level Minions are not worth their XP.

My only concern is that this could make healing abilities less worthy in the big action and resource economy... Time will tell, and if I can see the risk, they can probably too - and evaluate it.

 

[wedgeski]

For example, in the very short entry we have here, it says the pod demon is "disgusted." By what? I assume they meant "disgusting."

You caught a typo! Hardly cause to insult the writers so.

Then there's that mixed metaphor about "under the heel" of the "Chained God." "Bound to the Chain God" wouldn't have worked? "Shackled"?

Given the context, not in the slightest.

And from a larger game-mechanics standpoint, "madness" or "demented" is mentioned in every paragraph of the flavor text, and seems to play a large role in the demon's place in the game world, but it has no representation at all in the mechanics or stats.

This I can get behind. A fight with this thing is going to be mad as in chaotic, but not really mad as in demented.

 

[Klaus]

Fear the Print On Demand Demon!!!

I kid! This guy looks mighty neat! It reminds me of the Legion of One from Scarred Lands (which got the 4e treatment earlier this month in Creature Collection 4e).

 

[Nebulous]

Fear the Print On Demand Demon!!!

I kid! This guy looks mighty neat! It reminds me of the Legion of One from Scarred Lands (which got the 4e treatment earlier this month in Creature Collection 4e).

Yeah, that's what i was thinking, but i forgot that things name until now. I remembered the picture though, it was badass too. I love me that 4e Creature Collection.

 

[hong]

My only concern is that this could make healing abilities less worthy in the big action and resource economy... Time will tell, and if I can see the risk, they can probably too - and evaluate it.

Which might not be a bad thing, really. Despite WotC's efforts to sex up the role, you still have the problem where noone wants to play the party medic.