Robot Enforcer - please critique

[Wraith Form]

I'm brand-new to monster building, so be a little gentle with me here. I also don't have the mad r0><><0rz 1337 HTML skillz to put this up in a dope-fresh statblock format.

I created this for a cheesy 1930's pulp setting and want to know if it seems good, bad, or just plain ugly. (Yes, I know there's no "mechanical" keyword. I was just having fun with it.)


Robot Enforcer (Elite)

The robot is 5 feet tall and has an oval-shaped metal head with two menacing red "eyes". Its mechanical body is long and cylindrical with a short, pivoting, rod-like device mounted in the center of its chest. It hovers mysteriously off the ground with the aid of a hidden propulsion device. Two aluminum-colored tentacle "arms" whip around; they end in steel claws that clamp shut with a powerful hydraulic snap.

Robot Enforcer Level 3 Elite Soldier
Medium Natural Animate (Construct) XP 200

Initiative +5 Senses Perception +9; Darkvision, Truesight 10 (targeting system)
HP 48; Bloodied 24
AC 19; Fortitude 16, Reflex 15, Will 15
Immune: charm, disease, fear, poison, sleep; Vulnerable: 5 lightning.
Speed 6, fly 12
Action Points 1

Tentacle Claw (standard; at-will) * Mechanical
Reach 2; +10 vs AC; 1d10 + 3 damage
Target is grabbed until escape. Target trying to escape takes a -4 penalty to the check.

Choke (standard; at-will) * Mechanical
+8 vs Fortitude; 1d10 + 3 damage
Grabbed target only.

Electric Gun (standard; at-will) * Lightning
Ranged 10; +12 vs Reflex; 1d10 + 3 damage
Target is dazed (save ends). Miss: half damage, but daze effect still occurs.

Meat Shield (Immediate interrupt when targeted by a melee or ranged attack against Reflex or AC. Recharges when the robot makes a successful tentacle claw or choke attack.) * Immediate interrupt
Robot makes its grabbed victim the target instead. Can't be used vs. a target that's already been grabbed.

Alignment: Unaligned Languages: -
Str 17 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 16 (+4) Int 8 (0) Cha 8 (0)

Equipment: Small detachable electric gun.

Robot Enforcer (Elite) Tactics:
The robot attempts to shoot opponents with its electric gun. Once an opponent is dazed, it swoops in and uses its tentacle claw to grab and then choke the victim. It will use any grabbed victims as a meat shield against other opponents' attacks. Grabbed victims may also be lifted into the air and dropped.

 

[Wraith Form]

I'm wondering if I should create an additional Encounter power called Staggering Drop that allows the robot to shift vertically straight up only, no horizontal movement (up to it's full 12 Fly, if a ceiling doesn't prevent it) and release grabbed PCs as a move action?

Hmm....a character dropped from 12 squares isn't going to hurt much. Maybe it could double-move straight up, but take away the shift so that it is vulnerable to AoOs.

 

[chronoplasm]

It's a bit too strong I think.
I think you should tone down tentacle claw. Take off the part where the target takes a penalty to escape.
Maybe take the miss effect off of electric gun and tone down the damage.

 

[Wraith Form]

If I bumped this up to a level 4 creature, would it be more palatable?

(I based 75% of the abilities directly, word for word, from the level 4 Cavern Choker, pg. 42 of the MM. The Monster Builder on the WotC site calculated the damage based on a level 3 soldier.)

 

[Wraith Form]

The electric gun could be a recharge power rather than an at-will.

(And "recharge" fits with the schtick quite nicely, lol)

 

[Wraith Form]

The mad scientist went back to his lab and developed *Robot Enforcer Mark II* fresh off the assembly line. Is this any better?

(Please be aware, too, that the gun is detachable and can be used without needing the robot as a power source. Smart players can take a robot down and use a gun against other 'bots.)



Robot Enforcer Mk II --- Level 3 Artillery (Elite)
Medium Natural Animate (Construct) XP 150

Initiative +6 Senses Perception +9; Darkvision, truevision 10 (sensor suite)
HP 40; Bloodied 20
AC 15; Fortitude 16, Reflex 18, Will 15
Immune: charm, disease, fear, poison, sleep; Vulnerable: 5 lightning
Speed Fly 10 (hover) overland flight 15
Action point 1

{m} Tentacle Claw (standard; at-will) * melee
Reach 2; +10 vs AC; 1d6 + 3 damage
Target is grabbed (until escape). A target trying to escape the grab takes a -4 penalty to the check.

{M} Choke (standard; at-will) * Grabbed target only
+8 vs Fortitude; 1d6 + 3 damage

{M} Meat Shield (Immediate interrupt when targeted by a melee or ranged attack against Reflex or AC. Recharges when the robot makes a successful tentacle claw or choke attack.) * Immediate interrupt
Robot makes its grabbed victim the target instead. The robot cannot use this power to redirect attacks made by a creature it is currently grabbing.

{r} Electric Gun (standard; recharge 5,6) * lightning
Ranged 10; +8 vs Reflex; 2d10 + 3 damage
Target is dazed (save ends).

Alignment: unaligned Languages: -
Str 14 (+3) Dex 20 (+6) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 16 (+4) Int 6 (-1) Cha 6 (-1)

Equipment: Small, detachable electric gun

 

[fissionessence]

Hmm....a character dropped from 12 squares isn't going to hurt much. Maybe it could double-move straight up, but take away the shift so that it is vulnerable to AoOs.

What? 12 squares is 60 feet, and therefore 6d10 damage, which is an average damage of 33: 13 less than an 18-Con fighter's total hp [at 3rd level].

Anyway, I love the robot idea. You should consider having it throw them instead of dropping them. There's a bugbear with a 'throwing a grabbed target' attack in the Bloodghost Syndicate article from Dragon several months ago.

~

 

[Wraith Form]

You should consider having it throw them instead of dropping them. There's a bugbear with a 'throwing a grabbed target' attack in the Bloodghost Syndicate article from Dragon several months ago.

Beautiful. Thanks for the article reference. I was wondering how I was going to emulate Doctor Octopus' arms.

Regarding the 12 squares thing, you're right. Dunno why I was thinking 1 square = 1 foot. Gah, stupid not-robot brain...

So which of the two was better? The 'soldier' build or the 'artillery' build?

 

[Wraith Form]

38 views and no opinions? * pout *

 

[Nytmare]

38 views and no opinions? * pout *

I also don't have the mad r0><><0r 1337 HTML skillz to put this up in a dope-fresh statblock format.

I'm still reeling from your 1930's era slang. You're taking me back, grandpa!

What is that electric gun modelled after? 2d10 + Dex + dazed (save ends) at range as an encounter power? That sounds like it would live somewhere in the realm of a level 8 weapon at least.

What if you made it like a... *does some magic item fiddling*

Electric Gun * lightning
Simple one handed ranged weapon
This weapon does not need to be loaded.
Damage: 1d6
Proficient: +2 (crossbow)
Range: 10/20
Critical: +1d6 and the target is dazed (save ends)