Quth-Maren gaze attack question

[shilsen]

I was just looking at the Quth-Maren's stats on the WotC website here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040112a

The description of the gaze attack lists no duration. I believe this monster came out earlier in some module (City of the Spider Queen, maybe?) or book, but I don't have it to refer to. If anyone here has the information, could you kindly check and let me know what the correct duration is?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shadowdweller]

This monster does indeed come from City of the Spider Queen. Unfortunately, however, no duration for the gaze attack is listed there either.

 

[shilsen]

This monster does indeed come from City of the Spider Queen. Unfortunately, however, no duration for the gaze attack is listed there either.

Thanks. And yikes! No duration makes that a pretty strong ability for any critter, leave alone a CR7 one.

 

[Celtavian]

re

I gave it a one round duration. They have to roll every round at the start of their turn prior to attacking or be cowered whether they have made their save in a previous round or not. No duration is way to powerful for a CR 7 creature with a 17 will save. Classes with a bad will save mine as well not even fight the thing if that was the case.

 

[shilsen]

I gave it a one round duration. They have to roll every round at the start of their turn prior to attacking or be cowered whether they have made their save in a previous round or not. No duration is way to powerful for a CR 7 creature with a 17 will save. Classes with a bad will save mine as well not even fight the thing if that was the case.

I like that ruling. I've got a large (seven) group of 7th level PCs, and I think only three of them would have a better than 50% chance of making that save. Did you allow the quth-maren to also use its gaze as a targeted attack, as creatures with gaze attacks usually get to do?

 

[Endur]

I treat the fear gaze as a supernatural gaze like ability, allowing targeting and a chance of randomly meeting their gaze per the DMG. For duration, I make it five rounds since they are treated as a 5th level cleric for some other abilities and fear is typically a one round per level spell.

Don't forget that Paladins are immune to fear and give their friends a +4 bonus to fear saving throws. Also Heroes Feast works very nice and Resist Fear, Protection From Evil, etc. are useful tactics.

Worst comes to worst, you can always close your eyes. Also, if you don't have darkvision, you can't see them unless you make a light.

 

[Celtavian]

re

I like that ruling. I've got a large (seven) group of 7th level PCs, and I think only three of them would have a better than 50% chance of making that save. Did you allow the quth-maren to also use its gaze as a targeted attack, as creatures with gaze attacks usually get to do?

I never had it come up, but I would have allowed it to use its gaze as an attack on its action.

I am running an 8 person party. At least half were usually cowered at any one time including the second strongest fighter. The only PC's who shrugged off the gaze was the Paladin and the Cleric. Otherwise, between 2 and 4 people would be cowered per round. Makes them a much tougher fight.