MM2 Excerpt: Ultimate Beholder Tyrant

[The_Fan]

Am I the only one who thinks that 2d6+7 isn't enough damage at level 29? Some of the higher-end players at this level will have upwards of 200 hitpoints. The Beholder gets a lot of attacks, but the damage is really low.

I think I'd probably still run this guy with my 75% hp and +1/2 level to damage which would turn the 2d6+7 into 2d6+21 damage - much more epic!.

Thing is, he can hit each PC with probably two effects per round, maybe more: One from the Eye of the Beholder and one from the Eye Rays attack. Possibly more if the PCs are stupid and bunch up. Then you get the ongoing damage going with a -2 to saves and the players are really going to be hurting.

Or, if you really want to up the damage, give it some fairly low-level backup with a damage boosting effect (crownwings come to mind). Five crownwings to give each PC a Mark of Death before they die, and now all the beholder's attacks to +10 damage. Ouch.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

... if the PCs bunch up...

the beholder has eye ray which makes the PCs bunch up:

push, pull, and short time dominate

 

[Aloïsius]

I think I'd probably still run this guy with my 75% hp and +1/2 level to damage which would turn the 2d6+7 into 2d6+21 damage - much more epic!.

Less grind = better. I approve this post.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm a fan of most of those eye ray powers. Could be a little tough to track, but he's a level 29 Solo, you SHOULD be putting in a bit of thought before the party goes against him. These guys are campaign-enders!

They evoke to me some of the 3e spell effects, charm, telekinesis, petrification, disintegrate....I like a ball of doom like this. This bad boy really shows off how 4e improves on the "save-or-die" mechanic.

Kind of unimpressed with the antimagic, but the older-school antimagic effect is pretty non-viable in 4e, and kind of lead to binary play anyway. I wish it was a little nastier, and effective against all PC's instead of just zone-makers, but eh...that's kind of a quibble. I don't mind what it is that much, because the other stuff pretty much makes up for it.