[SS] Have you guys played any monsters?

[gfunk]

I was leafing through my friend's copy of SS and thought that several monster progressions seemed grossly underpowered. Sometimes it is very difficult to estimate ECL accurately.

Anyway, had anyone played any monsters (either from level 1 or a higher-level one-shot)? If so, I would appreciate your insights.

Thanks!

 

[Pax]

Well, with a few exceptions, the Anthropomorphic Template under-values the Level Adjustment by about 1 (IOW, starting ECL should be 1 higher for the "furry" races).

In general, though, SavS is really just a better-quantified way to handle characters based on M1/MM2 monsters, together with progressions that allow you to START with such a creature, even in a 1st-level campaign.

 

[gtJormungand]

I played an anthropomorphic indian elephant in a campaign. He was a 9th level cleric of a travel diety. Unfortunately, he was killed two weeks later due to us trying to fight an encounter that was by far too difficult for us to manage. Half-Fiendish Red Dragons are a bad thing, especially when ridden by Pit Fiends.

 

[gfunk]

One of the PCs in a campaign that I DM is playing a Fighter Half-Ogre with the feats Large and in Charge and Combat Reflexes while wielding a Huge spiked chain with 15 foot reach.

Melee combat with him is nearly impossible unless combatants have invested in the Mobility/Spring Attack feat chain or can Tumble.

However, he's just one Will save away from TPKing the entire party.

 

[marshaldwm]

I started a new PBEM two weeks ago focusing on the SS rules.

While I think the SS book is certianly one of the best books from WoTC in a long time it does have a few problems when it converts monsters into characters.

1. Yes, the Anthropomorphic races are sweet, and probably a level lower ECL than they should be(especially the Medium and large varieties with +4 and +6 to most physical scores.)

2. Certain other creatures are a bit underprices *Pixie* butthe problem comes that most ofthe creatures are efecively unplayable as PCs in a game at high levels if thei8r ECL is above a 3 or so(Unless you are a fighter, in that case the right creature can be great.)

Hope this helps

 

[Pax]

One of the PCs in a campaign that I DM is playing a Fighter Half-Ogre with the feats Large and in Charge and Combat Reflexes while wielding a Huge spiked chain with 15 foot reach.

Melee combat with him is nearly impossible unless combatants have invested in the Mobility/Spring Attack feat chain or can Tumble.

However, he's just one Will save away from TPKing the entire party.

Just wait until he can afford a Ring of Growth, and his chain goes to Gargantuan (4d6 damage with a 20' reach).

I have exactly that in an arena (Epic level; he's a Half-Ogre/Half-Dragon Fighter(21) ... heh ...). Truly ugly.

OFC, he's easily neutered by the ludicrously easy Tumble DC of 15 to avoid all AoOs from movement through up to 20' of threatened space. IMO, that DC needs to be scalar to the target creature ...

 

[Brista]

OFC, he's easily neutered by the ludicrously easy Tumble DC of 15 to avoid all AoOs from movement through up to 20' of threatened space. IMO, that DC needs to be scalar to the target creature ...

Not really neutered. The fighter can still just hit him with his regular attacks

 

[Pax]

Okay, put it this way: with a 20' reach, what you're really trying to do is use yoru AoOs, and your Knockdown (any spiked chain fighter with the name gets Improved Trip and Knockdown, heh), to shut the enemy down. As many as half yoru feats have been invested in achieving exactly that end: using AoOs to severely curb your opponent's ability to use THEIR "neat tricks" against you, without taking a couple extra hits in the meantime.

But DC 15? Past 11th level )or 21st level, if it's a CC skill), anyone that wants to be able to tumble, can GUARANTEE they will make the roll -- just by having max ranks in the skill.

I honestly think it should be MUCH harder to tumble past a Fighter(20)'s threatened area, than it is to do the same, past a Fighter(5).

The DC for Tumble to negate AoOs is simply way too easily made; it should be scalar to the level/HD/etc of the foe you're tumbling past (so, against foes of equal level to yourself, you should have the same rough chance of success, be you 5th, 10th, 20th, or 50th level).

One way to look at this: shouldn't it be easier to tumble past the mooks, than to tumble past the BBEG himself?

 

[Darklone]

Nice highjack.

Yes, I played some kobolds.

 

[Ziggy]

On wednesday I'm playing a Astral Deva, while my wife will play a Ghaele (two celestials). At 6th level (for this one-shot) they are extremely powerful, especially compared to a fighter and cleric of the same level. Their relative power drops a bit when you get past 10th level, but at lower levels you get lots of goodies for almost no price.

.ZIggy