Rakshasa Reconstruction.

[Xarlen]

My group is coming up against a Rakshasa (A more powerful one), and I was wondering if any had spell suggestions?

I'm going to advance it's HD to 10, thus advancing it's spell capability to a tenth level Sor, giving a CR 10, I believe.

Now, any suggested spells?

I'd figured that he'd go for things to help with being hit with blessed arrows: Shield, Mirror Image, Blacklight (MagoF), and Wind Wall.

But, what good offensive spells are there, or defensive, for that matter?

 

[gfunk]

Ghostform (T&B, 5th) is particularly nasty for both offense and defense. Also, it will make the Rakshasa immune to non-magical crossbow bolts. Couple this with Non-Detection and Improved Invisibility and you have a spell-caster who is nearly undetectable.

I would try some of the lesser used elemental spells like Mestil's Acid Breath (MaoF, 3rd).

If you prefer a less direct approach, then Mind Fog (5th) followed by Suggestion (3rd) or Charm Monster (4th) is very effective.

 

[Xarlen]

Considering his Damage Reduction is 20/+3, nonmagical arrows aren't going to phase him.

Considering how Blessed Arrows are arrows with divine casters popping Magic Weapon onto them, and he can't be immune, then I don't think Ghostform works quite well.

Couple that with the fact the party has no +3 weapons... The arrows are their best bet. I'm just looking for a good mishmash of offensive and defensive, that would acount for a spellcaster from the outer planes (Thus, things that would show he's been fighting outsiders, because...that's what they do).

It's too bad there's not a spell that can hide from Blindsight. I ruled that Invisibile critters can be detected via blindsight... Considering our Illusionist has a bat familiar, this can be quite annoying.

 

[gfunk]

Considering how Blessed Arrows are arrows with divine casters popping Magic Weapon onto them, and he can't be immune, then I don't think Ghostform works quite well.

It's too bad there's not a spell that can hide from Blindsight. I ruled that Invisibile critters can be detected via blindsight... Considering our Illusionist has a bat familiar, this can be quite annoying.

Actually even magic weapons suffer a 50% miss chance for a caster in Ghostform.

Also I think it is very reasonable to rule that Ghostform + Improved Invisibility = immunity to Blindsight. I mean, what is there to sense? You can't see the caster, touch him, smell him, echo-locate him, or feel his vibrations.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Protection from Arrows or Reverse Arrows (Magic of Faerun) might be particularly useful, as are some illusions and the 4th level necromancy spell enervation (mainly on spellcasters to deprive them of their highest level spells).

 

[Xarlen]

Oh my. You're right! Bwhaha.

But, who needs invisibility, when you have Blacklight?

Basicly a 20' radius darkness spell that you can see into. Center it on yourself. Cast ghostform. No One Is Finding you.

Oh my... this is a Mean Combination. My players are out of Dispel magics, the healer is down to three spells (A dismissal and thre spells) and they've still got two Aritek devils (An 8th level wiz and a Rog/cleric), I fear they won't be able to *compete* with this guy.

 

[Xarlen]

Protection from Arrows or Reverse Arrows (Magic of Faerun) might be particularly useful.

I don't see how, since they're magical weapons, which bypass the protection spells.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

In any case, the Rakshasa's particular vulnerability is to blessed crossbow bolts, not arrows.

I don't think the damage reduction does him any good, as his vulnerability states that he is slain by "any hit by a blessed crossbow bolt."

He's far more nasty with access to Contingency spells... Very handy to know in advance the ONE THING that can kill you, and prepare for it.

Wulf

 

[Xarlen]

A few things.

I houseruled that Arrows and Crossbow bolts will do it. I just don't see the point why a crossbow bolt will, but an arrow won't. Frex, a Rakshasa would be unstoppable against wood elves, who normally never use crossbows.

Another: The blessed bolts have plusses. Magic Weapon, GMW, they are considered 'Blessed' if cast by a cleric. Thus, the spells Prot from *Normal* arrows.

I don't believe Contingency will work. Atleast, maybe a last gotcha 'Fireball centered on me if I am ever hit by a blessed arrow', but I don't think it works to Teleport away if he is; he's hit, he's dead, back to the outer planes where he belongs.

 

[Xarlen]

Bump.