"Tactics in Action"--maybe I'm just getting too old, but this sounded boring as hell.

[MerricB]

Doh! The answer was there staring me in the face all the time!

(In that case the Balor should have hovered and imploded away - see if the wizard can save a *second* time...)

Actually, Implosion has a duration of Concentration (up to 4 rounds).

If the Balor was struck before its next action (very likely), it could well lose the spell. Even if it didn't, it then had the Barbarian and the Dwarf to deal with. Well, the Barbarian, at least.

Cheers!

 

[DaveMage]

Doh! The answer was there staring me in the face all the time!

(In that case the Balor should have hovered and imploded away - see if the wizard can save a *second* time...)

Ok, let's clear things up about implosion:

1) "You can target a particular creature only once with each casting of the spell."
2) Duration: Concentration (up to 4 rounds)

You may now continue your regularly scheduled discussion.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Just thinking about the TK disarm on the Wizard:

Balor: Quickened TK disarm on the Wizard. Tries to deal with the other threat.
Wizard: Pick up bow (move action), Quickened True Strike (swift action), Manyshot Balor (standard action).

Oops. Didn't work as well as I thought it would!

I would certainly rule that telekinetic grapple is like unarmed grapple in that if the disarm works the disarmer ends up in possession of the weapon. It just seems more like a mental grab for the weapon than anything else.

 

[Plane Sailing]

You assume the wizard is within range of the Balor's flying speed. (40 feet). Hmm.

Balors fly speed is 90ft, 40ft is his ground movement speed. He has Good manouverability alongside faster flying than typical fly spells can provide.

High-level characters can fly. Mass Fly (CA) is a 5th level spell. There are also objects that grant flying.

Although in this case the one that we know can fly had it dispelled and in most cases their flying ability isn't going to be as good as 90ft unless they have a mount - and at this level it had better be a dragon to have the hp to survive combat

 

[MerricB]

I would certainly rule that telekinetic grapple is like unarmed grapple in that if the disarm works the disarmer ends up in possession of the weapon. It just seems more like a mental grab for the weapon than anything else.

That seems reasonable. The Balor quickens TK and grabs the weapon. (Note, at this point the weapon is still in the same square as the Wizard, but the Balor has control of it).

Next round, concentrating on the TK (so doing nothing else), the Balor moves the bow 20 feet towards itself. Oh, wait...

I guess it could throw the bow somewhere (range 200') on the second round it concentrates.

And like Implosion, if the Balor is hit for enough damage during the round, it loses control of the bow and drops it.

Cheers!

 

[Plane Sailing]

Actually, Implosion has a duration of Concentration (up to 4 rounds).

If the Balor was struck before its next action (very likely), it could well lose the spell. Even if it didn't, it then had the Barbarian and the Dwarf to deal with. Well, the Barbarian, at least.

Cheers!

Concentration +33 gives it a pretty good chance of maintaining concentration, it should certainly have at least attempted detonating the other PCs even if it couldn't try the wizard again. It's such a signature spell!

 

[Plane Sailing]

Anyway, whatever telekinesis function might be used, I think we are in agreement that missing out a quickened telekinesis every round *was* a bit of an oversight

Another thought occurs to me - I wonder if he gave the Balor his cleave attack on the barbarian when he dropped the dwarf with the vorpal sword? I guess we'll never know (but I'm tempted to think not!)

Cheers

 

[Piratecat]

Ever want to really drive your group nuts? When they showed up armed for bear and completely loaded down for spells in order to kill a particular monster, have it simply teleport away far enough to still see them but out of spell range. Then have it wait twenty minutes... and THEN attack. All those lovely one round/lvl and one minute/lvl spells will be wasted.

This is also a great idea for PCs attacking spellcasting enemies who know they're coming.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Another random thought - since it can do telekinesis at will, could it do a quickened telekinesis followed up by a standard telekinesis?

Cheers

 

[MerricB]

Balors fly speed is 90ft, 40ft is his ground movement speed. He has Good manouverability alongside faster flying than typical fly spells can provide.

* Looks at MM *

You're quite right. My apologies.

Although in this case the one that we know can fly had it dispelled and in most cases their flying ability isn't going to be as good as 90ft unless they have a mount - and at this level it had better be a dragon to have the hp to survive combat

Flying straight up would only net the Balor 45', though. (Not enough to get out of the way of another flying spell).

Incidentally, here are a few other notes based on the description:
* The dwarf is never described as hitting the balor!
* Revivify restored the dwarf at stable but -1 hp.
* PCs taken out during the combat: Dwarf (beheaded; revivified but still out), Elocator (dazed by Blasphemy).
* PCs killed except for Fortunate Fate: Wizard, Barbarian.
* The party proved immune to most of the spell-like attacks; or very lucky (implosion).
* The barbarian inflicted two criticals(!!!) in one round to kill the Balor. Otherwise it would have survived another round.

Cheers!