Roper: CR 12 with SR 30?

[heliopolix]

I am building an adventure, and noticed that a 10 HD Roper has SR 30. As it is only a CR 12 creature, I was wondering if this might be a little steep, and was considering adjusting it downward to 25. Your insight (or errata) is appreciated.

Thanks
heliopolix

 

[Crothian]

Considering the slowness of the creature and the plethra of spells that ignore SR out there, I don't have a problem with it. The real challenge though is to run

Spoiler

Forge of Fury and kill the one in there with your 4th level party.

inside that spoiler space is the true challenge

 

[heliopolix]

I have actually encountered that very one before (and nearly lost my dwarven barbarian to it - actually managed to break free). It is really a nasty creaure because it often gets the jump on the party.

 

[Staffan]

I am building an adventure, and noticed that a 10 HD Roper has SR 30. As it is only a CR 12 creature, I was wondering if this might be a little steep, and was considering adjusting it downward to 25. Your insight (or errata) is appreciated.

Not every creature is supposed to have what is effectively 50% spell resistance. IIRC, the roper had something like Magic Resistance 80% in 2nd ed, which combined with CR 12 would mean a SR of 29 (CR 12, affect on 17+). So 30 is OK in my book.

 

[heliopolix]

Ah, I see. I was unaware of the Roper's prior magical resistance, but I understand where the SR 30 comes from now. The roper in this adventure will play a similar role to the one in the aforementioned adventure. Although the target party level in this adventure is 8 instead of 4, it is still highly unlikely that they will be able to overcome its SR. I hope they prepare lots of Melfs acid arrows lol.

Thanks again
heliopolix

 

[Saeviomagy]

Ah, I see. I was unaware of the Roper's prior magical resistance, but I understand where the SR 30 comes from now. The roper in this adventure will play a similar role to the one in the aforementioned adventure. Although the target party level in this adventure is 8 instead of 4, it is still highly unlikely that they will be able to overcome its SR. I hope they prepare lots of Melfs acid arrows lol.

Thanks again
heliopolix

In the aforementioned adventure, it's role was supposedly to

Spoiler

show the party that there were foes that should be bargained with, not fought. I hope you note that the roper is quite possibly the WORST creature to do that with. It's not vaguely humanoid, so it's not likely to enter your parties minds. It will grapple a party member instead of killing or wounding him, leaving the party (in their minds) the option of either
a) Killing the monster
or
b) abandoning their buddy.

In fact, the ONLY thing it has that makes it appropriate for it's role is that it moves slowly so the PCs can escape.

 

[Shin Okada]

It's a high SR. But still weaker than Immunity to Magic. CR 7 Flesh Golem has it.

 

[Pinotage]

I think you underestimate the power of a 12th level party. Despite a good AC and that SR, they should be able to take it down fairly easily. We recently took one down with 6 10th level characters. Once the rogue/fighter got into a flanking position, it died rather quickly. The SR is tough, but reasonable, and with the Spell Penetration feats and no SR spells, it's not that difficult to beat.

Pinotage

 

[Plane Sailing]

The plethora of spells that ignore spell resistance make a high SR much less of a benefit than it used to be.

 

[TheGogmagog]

The only way I can see of defeating it would be if your characters have freedom of movement. It can grapple high level characters as well as low, and after a few strenght drains.

I ran Forge of Fury and removed it in fear of the group's tendancy to not negotiate, especially with non humanoids. A few months later I played in a game and came across one with our 17th level party. It was a screwy 'low magic' campaing an the party had no magic items, and the wizard had his spell book stolen. Regardless, it would have been a tpk, but as me (the cleric) and the wizard watched the monk, fighter and rogue get drained to 0 str, I decided to use out of chacacter knowlege to negotiate with it. The DM didn't know they were intelligent until he looked it up at the table, and was reluctant to negotiate, but it was that or a 3/5 party kill.

I'm not familiar with the history of the roper, or what they were thinking, but unless the DM has it sing golum's fishing song as it's eating the party, there's little chance they would think to negotiate with it.