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<blockquote data-quote="Lonely Tylenol" data-source="post: 3855218" data-attributes="member: 18549">Except that, as has been pointed out in the other SoD thread, a bodak is considered an appropriate encounter for four 8th level characters, but we can expect somewhere in the vicinity of 25% of the party to die.&nbsp; Using it doesn't mean you're a killer DM.&nbsp; This monster is dramatically different than all the other CR 8 monsters, and the reason it's different is its save-or-die gaze attack.&nbsp; If you happen to choose to use a bodak because you need a CR 8 monster for a planar-themed adventure, you're probably going to kill PCs, perhaps without realizing that it's going to be so deadly until it's too late.If the bodak were a CR 15 critter, and were being put up against 8th level characters, you might have a point.&nbsp; However, judging by the official yardstick of monster strength, bodaks should be a mild challenge for those 8th level characters, not an auto-kill for at least one party member, on average.Again, what's the CR of an ancient red dragon?&nbsp; I'll bet you $50 it's not 8.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lonely Tylenol, post: 3855218, member: 18549"] Except that, as has been pointed out in the other SoD thread, a bodak is considered an appropriate encounter for four 8th level characters, but we can expect somewhere in the vicinity of 25% of the party to die. Using it doesn't mean you're a killer DM. This monster is dramatically different than all the other CR 8 monsters, and the reason it's different is its save-or-die gaze attack. If you happen to choose to use a bodak because you need a CR 8 monster for a planar-themed adventure, you're probably going to kill PCs, perhaps without realizing that it's going to be so deadly until it's too late. If the bodak were a CR 15 critter, and were being put up against 8th level characters, you might have a point. However, judging by the official yardstick of monster strength, bodaks should be a mild challenge for those 8th level characters, not an auto-kill for at least one party member, on average. Again, what's the CR of an ancient red dragon? I'll bet you $50 it's not 8. [/QUOTE]

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