Rhemoraz CR7?

[Crothian]

When I ran it everyone failed their listen check. For some ambushes, I allow spot checks instead, sometimes they get both. Depends on the situation. Works both way if I'm ambushing the PCs or if they are Ambushing someone else.

The 10d10 foire thing is really badly defined as to when it's on and when it's not. Something like that should be more clearly defined as it is a very important and powerful ability.

If it was a fire subtype I doubt it would live in the cold.

 

[alaric]

An ambush situation should increase the EL by +1 to +2, and i'm not sure you should be getting the heat damage in the surprise round, remove that rerun the test at 8-9 level against a Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Mage party and you'll probably see different results. Having a creature preform well under optimal conditions isn't how the CR system is based. You may be correct that it's CR is low, but the example given is invalid.

 

[the Jester]

A few points...

A remorhaz isn't a fire creature cuz it lives in the snow.

I agree with the comment about completely multiclassed characters- they gain versatility but lose out on oomph.

Finally, I also have to agree that the remorhaz shouldn't necessarily be 'heated up' during the surprise round; if it was it would melt all the snow its lurking beneath.

I seem to recall that in older editions the heat started after it took damage or something? Can't be sure, don't have the ol' 1e MM in front of me right now, but that's pretty much how I'd run it (under most circumstances.)

Keep in mind that most CRs are designed for a party of four that includes one "ideal" character for the creature (undead figure on a cleric or paladin in the party, animals figure on a druid or ranger, etc.)

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

Axiomatic Unicorn I can see your point. The only problem I have with this creature is that it is so likely to kill at least one party member no matter how well the party is prepared. Loosing 20% of my resources usually doesn't mean kill 20% of the party.

I agree.

I simply don't think this creature fits the CR system well. To me the best solution is keep it as a CR7 creature for how much exp it is worth, but as DM don't throw it at a party of L7 or 8 chars unless you think they are clearly ready for it. Not a very graceful solution, I admit.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

An ambush situation should increase the EL by +1 to +2, and i'm not sure you should be getting the heat damage in the surprise round, remove that rerun the test at 8-9 level against a Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Mage party and you'll probably see different results. Having a creature preform well under optimal conditions isn't how the CR system is based. You may be correct that it's CR is low, but the example given is invalid.

good points

 

[Petrosian]

First off...

Sure the rhemoraz can burrow. Sure it likes to hide under the snow and jump out. Sure, thats its best method of attack.

However when something this large burrows through the ice within 20' of the surface, is it hidden? is it quiet? Does it leave no sign of its passage? Does it automatically choose the right spot to sit and wait so that INTELLIGENT PCS walk right over it so that its not gonna take more than a 20' move to get them?

Well gee, we can decie "yeah cuz i liek ambushing parties it succeeds at all these automatically and nothing the party can have can ever make a difference in this",,,
or...

we can decide to use the skill system. Those things would be spot vs hide, listen vs quiet, wilderness lore vs wilderness lore, etc etc etc. looking at the rhemorazs stats, i doubt it will win these checks vs most any party unless they are a bunch of citified buffoons out in the wilderness tundra with no guide.

Sure, it can probably successfull ambush it normally not-as-bright YAK food source, but most parties, not all, are brighter and more skilled than a YAK.

There is nothing in the description of burrow or tremorsense which says "and this translates to always everytime perfect ambush without and skills to back it up."

Do you have every creature with tremorsense and burrow always have surprise? Umber hulks get real nasty with automatic surprise.

Without surprise, the rhemoraz can easily be avoided. It can be handled by spells or at range. it has a plethora of weaknesses for an inteligent equipped party.

its at best terrain, denying the party an area while it sits in its bunker waiting for its next yak-intellect meal to walk by.

I'll bet a lot of monsters in the book have "bad" crs when auto-ambush is added to their special qualities line by the GM. Especially if he hasn't read the DMG section on adjusting CR for surprise and ambush.

As for the timing thing of the bite/grab/swallow... the DND FAQ has a set of examples for that. IIRC its a 2-3 round process. hit, make grab, hold, then swallow whole.

but check the faq for specifics.

 

[Belares]

I agree that CR 7 may seem low, but if characters are not surprised or even a bit prepared, it would not take that much to take it out. Of course with that said, I ran a similar encounter with a Ankheg (CR 4) and the bite is nasty. If you suceed in the hit with bite the person better have a good grapple ability. Also I think that the creatures should get a surprise if the characters cannot get an easy (10) listen check or even a (12) spot (due to ground movement or in this case the horses got skitty). You may ask that is a little low, but as I have seen earlier posts, and I think that a burrowing creature is easy to hear/spot near surface. The last remark I would like to make is that unless you want to kill characters in first round of combat use the enraged abilty, but I think if it takes a good hit or maybe a crit immediately, then until it takes 40-60% of its hit points it will/or should not be enraged. With that said, unless it has a reason to be enraged (maybe it has young near where characters are or something has been harrassing it of late) then let the characters find out the hard way.

 

[AuraSeer]

I remain convinced* that 10d10 damage is a typo. IMC, I have reduced the remorhaz's heat damage to 1d10, and it now seems about right for a CR7 creature.

(*I've seen people argue that the listed damage is correct, because it isn't mentioned in erratta. My response is to stick my fingers in my ears and sing the "La La I Can't Hear You" song. )

 

[Christian]

I remain convinced* that 10d10 damage is a typo. IMC, I have reduced the remorhaz's heat damage to 1d10, and it now seems about right for a CR7 creature.

(*I've seen people argue that the listed damage is correct, because it isn't mentioned in erratta. My response is to stick my fingers in my ears and sing the "La La I Can't Hear You" song. )

I find it hard to believe that people are citing the failure of the Monster Manual errata to mention this monster. Seeing as the Monster Manual errata has, as yet, failed to make an appearance ...

Maybe the Monster Manual is error-free! Yeah, that's it, that's the ticket! At least that's what the MM editor at WOTC, Morgan Fairchild, told me. On our date last week. Yeah, that's the ticket!

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

I remain convinced* that 10d10 damage is a typo. IMC, I have reduced the remorhaz's heat damage to 1d10, and it now seems about right for a CR7 creature.

(*I've seen people argue that the listed damage is correct, because it isn't mentioned in erratta. My response is to stick my fingers in my ears and sing the "La La I Can't Hear You" song. )

10d10 was the amount of damage listed in previous editions as well.