New Monster Swordwing!


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dystmesis said:
Why is this thing level 25? It's just a dude with wings and swords for arms that likes collecting stuff. How is that an Epic threat?

It's an epic threat because they're level 25? :)

Ok, smart-a&$ery aside, I tend to agree with you. I'dve pegged these guys at about level 13, personally. Still, if you only put truly "epic" enemies in that tier, I bet you end up with a pretty empty tier.
 

For Reaper Steve and others.....

Swordwings are supreme collectors, gathering rare items and arranging them in galleries within their cavernous lairs. A swordwing’s collection defines it as an individual. A typical swordwing favors one particular collectable, while crownwings keep multiple collections. Typical “collectables” include skulls, weapons, gems, magic items, books, monster eggs, and victims’ hearts.

Swordwing
Level 25 Soldier
Medium aberrant humanoid
XP 7,000
Initiative +21 Senses Perception +18; low-light vision
HP 234; Bloodied 117
AC 42; Fortitude 40, Reflex 38, Will 32
Speed 6, fly 10 (hover)
:bmelee: Armblade (standard; at-will)
Reach 2; +30 vs. AC (+32 against a bloodied target); 2d6 + 9 damage (crit 2d6 + 21), and the target is marked until the end of the swordwing’s next turn; see also vicious opportunist.
:melee: Sudden Strike (immediate reaction, when an adjacent enemy shifts; at-will)
The swordwing makes a melee basic attack against the enemy. The attack deals an extra 2d6 damage if it hits.
Vicious Opportunist
The swordwing’s opportunity attacks deal an extra 2d6 damage.
Alignment Evil
Languages Deep Speech
Skills Endurance +25, Stealth +24
Str 28 (+21)
Dex 24 (+19)
Wis 13 (+13)
Con 26 (+20)
Int 10 (+12)
Cha 10 (+12)

Swordwing Tactics
A swordwing swoops into battle and hacks enemies to pieces with its armblade, using its sudden strike power against those that try to shift away. The creature is incensed by the blood of its enemies and attacks bloodied foes with greater accuracy.

Crownwing
Level 26 Skirmisher (Leader)
Large aberrant humanoid
XP 9,000
Initiative +24 Senses Perception +20; low-light vision
HP 238; Bloodied 119
AC 40; Fortitude 36, Reflex 38, Will 32
Speed 6, fly 10 (hover); see also flyby attack
:bmelee: Armblade (standard; at-will)
Reach 2; +31 vs. AC; 2d6 + 10 damage (crit 2d6 + 22) plus an extra 2d6 damage if the crownwing is flanking the target.
:melee: Flyby Attack (standard; at-will)
The crownwing flies up to 10 squares and makes one melee basic attack at any point during that movement. The crownwing doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when moving away from the target of the attack.
:ranged: Mark of Death (standard; encounter)
Ranged 10; allies gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls and deal +10 damage against the target.
Alignment Evil
Languages Deep Speech
Skills Arcana +22, Endurance +24, Intimidate +21, Stealth +27
Str 30 (+23)
Dex 28 (+22)
Wis 15 (+15)
Con 22 (+19)
Int 18 (+17)
Cha 16 (+16)

Crownwing Tactics
The crownwing places its mark of death upon the foe it perceives as the most dangerous, then orders its underlings to attack that target while it takes out weaker prey using its armblade and flyby attack power.

Swordwing Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Dungeoneering check.

DC 25: Swordwings are insectoid creatures that inhabit the Underdark. One of their arms ends in a scimitarlike blade, hence the name.

DC 30: Swordwings live in clusters of tall “nesting spires” built from resources chewed out of the surrounding environment. From a distance, these towers resemble stalactites or stalagmites made of grayish-white paper, but in truth the structures are as hard as stone.

Encounter Groups
Swordwings occasionally ally with other Underdark dwellers such as mind flayers, beholders, and gibbering orbs.

Level 25 Encounter (XP 37,000)

* 4 swordwings (level 25 soldier)
* 1 crownwing (level 26 skirmisher)

Level 29 Encounter (XP 76,000)

* 3 swordwings (level 25 soldier)
* 1 gibbering orb (level 27 solo controller)
 
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Rex Blunder said:
OMG 4e is Pokemon! ;)

Visually it gave me a huge Aura Battle Dunbine vibe.

What can I say? I like to kick it old school. *duck*

On second thought, it also reminds me of the Vespid from 40K.

They're certainly crazy high level. I wouldn't expect a creature like that to be epic. Neat design though.
 

Hmmm. I hope there's some advice in the new DMG about how to handle vertical combat for monsters like this.

It can hover and it has Reach 2. It could be hovering 15' off the ground, in melee combat with some PCs, some of whom might have Reach weapons. Deciding just who can reach it, and from which squares, might be a little laborious without some good diagrams.



Cheers,
Roger
 


dystmesis said:
Why is this thing level 25? It's just a dude with wings and swords for arms that likes collecting stuff. How is that an Epic threat?

Thematically I agree, but I'm guessing their flight abilities have a lot to do with their placement in the Epic tier.
 

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