Tasha's Hideous Laughter --- Broken?

[blargney the second]

Consider it a low level save-or-die effect. If you fail your save, you're out of the fight. it's not the only one by a long shot - I'd list them, but it'd take me ages.

 

[Wik]

Consider it a low level save-or-die effect. If you fail your save, you're out of the fight. it's not the only one by a long shot - I'd list them, but it'd take me ages.

Didn't this spell take out Blue in one of the adventures we played recently?

I remember that fight. It went something like this:

Round one: Take out the goliath with Hideous Laughter.
Round two: Take out the dragon shaman with Charm Person.
Round Three and Onwards: My mage is invisible, summoning critters and hoping that the Goliath can come back into the fight.

 

[blargney the second]

Yep, that's about the size of it. It's a spell that denies actions and worsens defense, which is about as bad as it gets in low level D&D.

 

[pallandrome]

Oh there are certainly worse spells to throw at low level baddies. One word for ya:

Sleep.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It also might seem powerful because you left your fighter with his stereotypical Achilles Heel and no support. He either shouldn't have been alone or he should have had a positive wisdom modifier (potion of owl's wisdom perhaps), cloak of resistance, and/or Iron Will. I'm not suggesting you need to powergame all the opponents, but they should be at least somewhat aware of major drawbacks, particular by the time they reach 10HD.

 

[Sunderstone]

It also might seem powerful because you left your fighter with his stereotypical Achilles Heel and no support. He either shouldn't have been alone or he should have had a positive wisdom modifier (potion of owl's wisdom perhaps), cloak of resistance, and/or Iron Will. I'm not suggesting you need to powergame all the opponents, but they should be at least somewhat aware of major drawbacks, particular by the time they reach 10HD.

This is a good point.

A little more background info for all of you....

The module was Encounter at Blackwall Keep in the AoW AP.
It was the Lizardfolk leader, Shukak. Short of detonating something loud, he is most likely encountered alone. I already added the Half-Dragon template as suggested by the sidebar for a slightly higher level party (my party wasnt higher level but it was larger). Adding another cohort to him would have increased the EL even further.

I adjusted him quickly stat-wise and didnt spend too much time on the skills/feats aspect. IIRC, adding the Half-Dragon template doesnt give you an extra feat (though I likely wouldnt have picked Iron Will) anyway. As for adding friendlier Will power save items, good suggestion I will look into it more in the future.

Thanks

 

[Darklone]

Yeah Tashas is the new Hold Person.

 

[Doctor DM]

It's especially ugly if they take that Melodic Casting (or whatever it's called) feat. Spend a Bardic Music to increase the DC by 2. Not many fighter type characters are gonna make that save.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm, Fey Heritage gnome bards.... SEE MY ILLUSIONS!

 

[wildstarsreach]

This is a good point.

A little more background info for all of you....

The module was Encounter at Blackwall Keep in the AoW AP.
It was the Lizardfolk leader, Shukak. Short of detonating something loud, he is most likely encountered alone. I already added the Half-Dragon template as suggested by the sidebar for a slightly higher level party (my party wasnt higher level but it was larger). Adding another cohort to him would have increased the EL even further.

I adjusted him quickly stat-wise and didnt spend too much time on the skills/feats aspect. IIRC, adding the Half-Dragon template doesnt give you an extra feat (though I likely wouldnt have picked Iron Will) anyway. As for adding friendlier Will power save items, good suggestion I will look into it more in the future.

Thanks

This is where he would have had +7 vs the spell instead of the +3.