New minis preview: Trolls regenerate differently

[TerraDave]

The new Desert of Desolation preview has a little 4thed preview material.

On the Shrieking Harpy:

This creature is mechanically close to its 4th edition counterpart with its cone of sonic damage and its ability to lure foes into danger. The Lure ability is a way to lock down an opponent, forcing the target to move if it wants to do anything at all (of course, it could just stand there and do nothing).

On the Feral Troll:

His abilities are a lot like previous trolls, though we swapped out his regeneration power for something more meaningful. In general, tracking small increments of damage or healing created a sort of 'upkeep' phase for such creatures. It's easy to forget to heal 5 damage on a creature each turn, but not so easy to forget the ability to heal 20 damage with a swift action.

Also included is a dryad with attitude (talked about in a podcast) and pictures and stat cards (which may have more 4thed implications in the listed abilities).

 

[Kunimatyu]

I'd like to see a 4e troll with the ability to immediately regenerate all the damage from a single attack dealing above a certain threshold of damage as an immediate action.

In fact, I'll be testing out that ability this session in 3.5, to see how it goes.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Healing 20 points with a swift action - in theory (and of course, thinking in 3.5 terms) that means a troll could do that three times in one round if it wanted to do nothing else, right?

 

[Benben]

Healing 20 points with a swift action - in theory (and of course, thinking in 3.5 terms) that means a troll could do that three times in one round if it wanted to do nothing else, right?

Not under current action rules. You get 1 swift action during your turn of initiative.

 

[KoshPWNZYou]

Healing 20 points with a swift action - in theory (and of course, thinking in 3.5 terms) that means a troll could do that three times in one round if it wanted to do nothing else, right?

If you're assuming that a swift action can be used in place of a standard or move action, you're mistaken. The only action that be substituted is a move action for a standard action.

 

[ZappoHisbane]

Lets keep in mind that the abilities listed are specifically for the mini's game. The troll's swif heal may not carry over directly into the tabletop RPG.

A lot of folks were decrying the 'male harpy' and it looks like they were heard. The preview notes that the artwork that will appear in the MM will be more feminine than the miniature scupt turned out.

From a mini's perspective, that 'Roots of the Earth' ability of the Dryad really caught my eye. Prevent any non-flying creature from moving away? No save? Keep that thing away from the archers and casters.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

If you're assuming that a swift action can be used in place of a standard or move action, you're mistaken. The only action that be substituted is a move action for a standard action.

I assume this speculation stems from the fact you CAN turn Move and Standard Actions into Swift Actions in Star Wars Saga Edition.

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

SW Saga allows you to make up the three swift actions per round if you choose to forgo an attack and a move action.

This is how I houseruled it for my own adaptation of SW Saga to d20 fantasy

Full Attack
Move - Swift - Attack
Move-Move-Swift
Move-Move-Move
Swift-Swift-Move
Swift-Swift-Attack
Swift-Swift-Swift
Attack-Move
Attack-Swift-Swift

 

[Imaro]

In general, tracking small increments of damage or healing created a sort of 'upkeep' phase for such creatures. It's easy to forget to heal 5 damage on a creature each turn, but not so easy to forget the ability to heal 20 damage with a swift action.

Not sure how to take this as the beholder flash video gave the impression that they now have effects for attacks that do exactly this. I agree it's a headache to book keep this type of stuff, especially with more than a few creatures doing things like this...that said if you're making attacks do the same thing, how is this simplifying it? Am I missing something?

 

[Gloombunny]

Not sure how to take this as the beholder flash video gave the impression that they now have effects for attacks that do exactly this.

I didn't get any impression like that. I thought the gradual petrification thing meant that the attack has to be used multiple times to fully statue-ize someone.