question about dire weasels (and dire animals in general)

[Cyronax]

Okay, so I expect that my party of 7 ECL 2 PCs will run into a dire weasel, advanced to 4 HD (making it Large), as well as a 3rd level goblin druid. The advanced dire weasel is one of the animal companions of the druid (the other 2 HD of animals yet to be determined...and will probably not be encountered during this session).

A few questions if I may:
1) A normal dire weasel is a CR 2, an advanced weasel is a CR 3 right? I ask just because I think I found some discrepancy between the various monster books and DMG in trying to figure out the CR.

2) The 'Attach' ability seems an awful lot like improved grab in that the weasel can automatically drain 2d4 temp Con. after a successful hit. Should I resolve grappling contests in the same way as improved grab is done? 'Attach' seems a bit powerful though.........anyone else think it works "too well?"

3) Just a clarification, dire animals can be included as animal companions as part of the core 3.0 rules right? Or is this just a rule from the MotW?

4) Does this combo, of the weasel and the druid seem overpowered for 7 2nd level PCs?

Pretty basic questions, but I just wanted to be sure I was handling this encounter right since the advanced weasel with its con drain on top of the druid seem formidable.

C.I.D.

 

[Gregor]

We encountered a Dire Weasel with 5 level 3 PCs and while it was not enhanced, it was able to drain at least one of our party members with its crazy bite thing. The con damage can hurt.

But, it all depends on how you are going to play the weasel and the druid. This can be a tough fight for the party depending on the combination of spells you use. However, with only level 2 PCs....I would expect one or two to go down.

Cheers,

 

[Cyronax]

Well I had planned on having the druid roll out with a flaming sphere from some hiding place. He'd already have cast Magic Fang and Bull's Strength (the 3.5 rules are already applied) on the weasel if he has two rounds to prepare (which I bet he will due to the planned site of the encounter).

So I'm thinking it'll be pretty tough, and I guess with the con drain a PC death could be likely.

But the setup is devious, but the players will have heard rumours and reliable second hand accounts of a "vampiric beast" attacking travelers in the forest......

The party will probably know it's a weasel well beforehand (with two party rangers who are locals to the area).

Anyway, anymore comments on the given power level, or should I just nerf the weasel back to 3 HD and maybe not have the druid encountered at the same time?

Thanks,
C.I.D.

 

[avatarolt]

If you play either the druid or the dire weasel correctly (not even necessarily both), you're going to beat the hell out of your party (unless they are remarkably skilled at what they do). Dire weasels = no joke. Also, if it's a 4HD weasel...and the Druid is 3HD...I mean, do what works for your story, but no PC would get away with that until 4th level at least.

And if you DO stick with it, I was always entertained by the concept of a dire ferret. If a weasel = ferret in the animals section, I see no reason why you can't have a huge dire ferret that bounces around happily, begs for treats, and snaps peoples' necks.

Oh so cute, oh so powerful!

 

[Cyronax]

Point taken. .I think I was going to nix the weasel anyway......i mean that con. drain is too much. Were it not for that, I'd probably toss it in.........having it do bleeding damage or just extra "grapple/bite" damage due to its powerful jaws.

Incidentally, it seems like soo many monsters are unplayable at their given CR. Despite the fact that a dire weasel should not be more than a CR 2 or 3...(intuitively speaking), it seems like it can do the kind of damage that a monster with rend can do. What I mean is, that these types of attacks usually screw one or two characters up in one or two rounds, and then the monster is either taken out by the rest of the party or else it tactically retreats......

I hope the 3.5 gets this stuff right. It seems that a dire weasel should be at least CR 4.

C.I.D.

 

[Caliban]

Advanced Dire Weasels are nasty. When you advance them to Large, they gain +8 Str, a +4 Con bonus, +3 natural armor, -2 Dex and -1 size penalty to AC and attacks.

Also, according to the MM errata the CR is +1 for every 50% increase in HD, so the weasel would technically be CR 3. In this case I think the ability increase is dramatic enough that it would actually be closer to CR 4.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Savage Species has a working monster-advancement calculator. A slightly better one is found on the D20 Modern section of the WotC website.