Mooncalf?

[Caliber]

I am going to be running HoNS pretty soon, and I find myself confused by the Mooncalf description in the back of the book.

The Constrict ability says it inflicts 2d6+5 or 1d6+2. The descriptive text says that a Mooncalf deals automatic tentacle and bite damage on a grapple. So which is it?

Also, I assume a creature with Improved Grab has to take a -20 on its Grapple roll in order to pull the target into its square and to retain its Dex. Is that correct?

 

[gtJormungand]

Hm... I've just been using the Constrict damage as listed.

And, about Improved Grab: If the Grapple attempt (which is free when hitting with on of the long tentacles) is successful, the opponent is automatically pulled into the mooncalf's square. In later grapple checks (not the first one, I've found out recently), the creature can take a -20 to it's Grapple roll to deal constrict damage, retain its Dex score, and to attack other people not in the grapple. It's grapple score (+23) was actually given when the mooncalf was reprinted in the Monster Manual II, which makes it a good idea to have that book on hand; it really scares players when you start pulling something out of that book.

 

[WizarDru]

grapple score (+23) was actually given when the mooncalf was reprinted in the Monster Manual II, which makes it a good idea to have that book on hand; it really scares players when you start pulling something out of that book.

The Mooncalf is just plain scary, period. I've just used one again, the first time since HoNS, and my players pulled out the stops to kill it. It was invisible, which led to an amusing turn of events (as you can see in our story hour.

I used both, actually. Escaping the mooncalf after the first round is paramount, although not too difficult, unless it's got a mad-on for that particular character. However, like a Girallon, it rips a player apart, if they're unlucky enough to get snatched. The party mage, who was polymorphed into an umber hulk during the HoNS encounter, narrowly avoided death by 1 point. Needless to say, on the second encounter, he opened a can on it. Then again, they all did.

 

[Stalker0]

Hehe, I never found that mooncalf to be so scary.

First time, I was an illusionist (yes in nightfang spire, it was...difficult). A little phantasmal killer, and goodbye.

Second time, necromancer. A little spectral hand, a little ghoul touch, and the calf was crashing through the roof of the tower and into the fun things below

 

[WizarDru]

Second time, necromancer. A little spectral hand, a little ghoul touch, and the calf was crashing through the roof of the tower and into the fun things below

Ghoul Touch is only supposed to work on Humanoids, specifically. Is this a house rule, or something different?

The Phantasmal Killer was a good spell and good luck...but also kind of a gray area, as the Mooncalf is telepathic, and probably should have been able to realize that it wasn't real (as per the spell description). But hey, even monsters roll suck.

 

[gtJormungand]

The Ghoul Touch was a DM Error. I really should have looked up the spell.

 

[Caliber]

Thanks for the help.

I'll just use the Constrict damage listed in the description. Auto-bite damage would be WAY too nasty to ever use anyway.

Thanks again.

 

[drnuncheon]

Mooncalf in MMII

Just to add to the confusion, the mooncalf in MMII doesn't have constrict at all - but it does specify automatic bite damage (of 2d8+6) after an improved grab. Oh, and tentacle rake (2d6+4) too.

 

[Stalker0]

The Ghoul Touch was a DM Error. I really should have looked up the spell.

But hey, it did create a really cool scene