Running an encounter with gaze attacks

[KingCrab]

I think I may have run a basilisk encounter poorly today. I have several questions for which I'll preface with numbers.

The party passes over a bend where a basilisk is resting. They make spot checks to notice the creature.

1. Does anyone spotting the creature have to make a save? In MM p. 309 it says the characters only have to look at the creatures eyes. If they don't expect it to be there, and make a spot check, do they automatically see the eyes because they see the creatures face? I guess what I'm asking is, does that first glance warrant a save?

The characters have the option of averting their eyes or wearing a blindfold (which is equivalent to closing ones eyes).

2. For characters that don't have arcane knowledge and haven't encountered this type of creature before would it be fair to say that they wouldn't know to do one of these options since they didn't know about the gaze attack? If so should I restrict them if they wish their character to do so with no motivation?

3. For characters averting eyes it says the creature gains concealment. What kind of concealment? Is it 50% cover or something different?

It then goes on to say that a creature with a gaze attack can gaze as an attack action by choosing a target.

4. If the creature gazes as an attack action against a target that is averting eyes I'm assuming the 50% still applies? I also assume that the creature has no effect if gazing at someone who is wearing a blindfold.

I'm still new to 3.x so any help would be appreciated. I'm aware some of these are probably "noob" questions.

 

[Jack Simth]

I think I may have run a basilisk encounter poorly today. I have several questions for which I'll preface with numbers.

The party passes over a bend where a basilisk is resting. They make spot checks to notice the creature.

1. Does anyone spotting the creature have to make a save? In MM p. 309 it says the characters only have to look at the creatures eyes. If they don't expect it to be there, and make a spot check, do they automatically see the eyes because they see the creatures face? I guess what I'm asking is, does that first glance warrant a save?

If they are in range, yep.

The characters have the option of averting their eyes or wearing a blindfold (which is equivalent to closing ones eyes).

If they know about the thing. But that's for after someone's turned to stone....

2. For characters that don't have arcane knowledge and haven't encountered this type of creature before would it be fair to say that they wouldn't know to do one of these options since they didn't know about the gaze attack? If so should I restrict them if they wish their character to do so with no motivation?

Oh... legends enough abound about critters that kill with a gaze, that you can't look at directly; once they know what the gaze does, or even once they pass their save (RAW, you always know when you successfully make a save, although not necessarily what caused it) let them.

3. For characters averting eyes it says the creature gains concealment. What kind of concealment? Is it 50% cover or something different?

Concealment vs. Total Concealment - 20%, if I recall, although I'd need ot look up the numbers.

It then goes on to say that a creature with a gaze attack can gaze as an attack action by choosing a target.

Forcing someone to save twice in a round, yes.

4. If the creature gazes as an attack action against a target that is averting eyes I'm assuming the 50% still applies? I also assume that the creature has no effect if gazing at someone who is wearing a blindfold.

Yep and yep.

I'm still new to 3.x so any help would be appreciated. I'm aware some of these are probably "noob" questions.

Happens.