Rakshasa with Deflect Arrows

[FireLance]

Hmm, greater magic weapon doesn't make a weapon blessed any more, does it? That's too bad.

That's what the align weapon spell (Clr2) is for.

Beware of clerics bearing morningstars, oh young rakshasas, for they will beat you like a tambourine. And the mounted paladins with lances? Can you say "lance, bless weapon, and Spirited Charge"?

And, add a Smite Evil to give the rakshasa a really bad day.

 

[MarauderX]

Forgot about the 3.5 update, as it looks like this kitty will be overcome a lot more easily that I originally thought. The party isn't that powerful, so it's ok and should be a fair fight... maybe... and besides, I will let them think 1 shot from a blessed xbow bolt will bring it down. I can see the looks in their eyes now, when the Rakshasa giggles as he pulls out the bolt and casts a few nasty spells as they run away. The players probably will come back after looking it up between sessions and pummel it soundly though, so it's time to think up some new traps...

 

[MojoGM]

That is interesting about the change they made in 3.5

I was going to house rule that anyway, I did not like the blessed crossbow bolt vulnerabilty.

What I was thinking was a crossbow bolt made of specific material (iron perhaps) blessed by two specific dieties. This way the characters had to LEARN what would kill him.

Not fully decided if I'd still do that or go with the 3.5 way...

 

[Gez]

Exalted swashbuckler with blessed rapier == skewered rakshasa.

 

[Psion]

That is interesting about the change they made in 3.5

I think it's way cool.

First, the "one shot solution" seems boring.

Second, I like it when legends and mechanics are only loosely linked. Sure, the legend may have arisen from when someone slew a rakshasa with a "blessed" (good) crossbow bolt. But perhaps the legend neglects to mention that the slayer was a crossbow master with the aiming feat.

 

[MarauderX]

First, the "one shot solution" seems boring.

It's not really boring, I suppose, it just add flavor.

What I don't want to happen is...
The critter is ripping through your 8-9th level party 'cause it has DR 15, immunity to spells 8th level and lower and can deal out some serious magic before shredding you with it's well-manicured claws... and you still just think it's a hobgoblin on steroids because of the shape shift ability. Add on that it can read minds, so it should know exactly what your players are saying to one another, even if they were speaking another language or using telepathy. Yeah, it can get ugly in a hurry... and then you finally piece it together: cat fur on all of the bedding, all of the luxurious finery around the place, spell immunity, DR, and get it to reveal itself to you. So you bless a crossbow bolt in hopes of saving the ranger's life in the nick of time...

...when it deflects your shot as if you were an annoying pest and pounces on the cleric before she can scream let alone bless anything else. Then the party manages to back off and fire two blessed bolts at the same time at the thing, one of which is deflected, but the other hits it soundly...

...only to have it laughingly fake it's death to rise up again and devour someone else. After that, it's snack time for the Rakshasa, and you are rolling up your new PCs.

Not good, as it would make quick work of your party, and no one would be happy with the final ending.

 

[Voadam]

It's not really boring, I suppose, it just add flavor.

What I don't want to happen is...
The critter is ripping through your 8-9th level party 'cause it has DR 15, immunity to spells 8th level and lower and can deal out some serious magic before shredding you with it's well-manicured claws... and you still just think it's a hobgoblin on steroids because of the shape shift ability. Add on that it can read minds, so it should know exactly what your players are saying to one another, even if they were speaking another language or using telepathy. Yeah, it can get ugly in a hurry... and then you finally piece it together: cat fur on all of the bedding, all of the luxurious finery around the place, spell immunity, DR, and get it to reveal itself to you. So you bless a crossbow bolt in hopes of saving the ranger's life in the nick of time...

...when it deflects your shot as if you were an annoying pest and pounces on the cleric before she can scream let alone bless anything else. Then the party manages to back off and fire two blessed bolts at the same time at the thing, one of which is deflected, but the other hits it soundly...

...only to have it laughingly fake it's death to rise up again and devour someone else. After that, it's snack time for the Rakshasa, and you are rolling up your new PCs.

Not good, as it would make quick work of your party, and no one would be happy with the final ending.

It is no longer immune to spells of 8th level or lower, but it does have an SR of 27, so magic missiles can now potentially hurt it and meteor swarms could fizz.

It is CR 10 with DR 15 and massive SR plus minor spells and illusions. It's main weakness is it only has 7 HD.

Go alchemist's fire!

 

[Psion]

It's not really boring, I suppose, it just add flavor.

What I don't want to happen is...
The critter is ripping through your 8-9th level party 'cause it has DR 15, immunity to spells 8th level
(...)
...only to have it laughingly fake it's death to rise up again and devour someone else. After that, it's snack time for the Rakshasa, and you are rolling up your new PCs.

1) If you are talking the 3.5 Rakshasa, it's not immune to all but the highest level spells anymore. It just has an annoyingly high SR.

2) I would think/hope the GM would know better than to slap this on a party that wasn't ready for it.

 

[Mista Collins]

Well I threw them at it without them knowing or being prepared. They had oppurtunities top find out, but failed. It ended with the paladin and the rakshasa going toe to toe as the rest of the party was on the ground bleeding or running away. It took the paladin a bunch of smite evils, divine might, and the spell divine sacrifice out of DoTF. It ended with the paladin kneeling down breathing very heavily and the rakshasa dead. Great session, the players for some reason enjoy getting their butts kicked a lot.

 

[Pants]

1) If you are talking the 3.5 Rakshasa, it's not immune to all but the highest level spells anymore. It just has an annoyingly high SR.

Also, it scales as they gain levels.