Tell me about remorhaz in your game

[Tav_Behemoth]

You know, the bizarre arctic worms that radiate heat so intense that weapons striking them melt -- that swallow you whole (on a roll of natural 20 to hit in 1E!) -- that have an awesome Trampier illustration in the AD&D Monster Manual, but were first depicted by Erol Otus in The Dragon #2.

Lots of people have never used these under-appreciated classics, no doubt, but I'm betting that the occasions in which they have raised their finned, fanged heads have been memorable!

 

[Sejs]

I generally don't use 'em. They're far too deadly for their CR to be appropriate, in my oppinion.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

It's a critter I've always meant to use but never had the oppurtunity.

 

[Jdvn1]

I ran a short module from the Wizard's site that included a Remorhaz. It almost killed the party, but it was a neat encounter at least.

Didn't help that it surprised them.

 

[Crothian]

When I had a group that new the monsters well, I'd hint at one being in the area when ever I wanted them to go elsewhere. Worked like a charm!!

 

[Jdvn1]

When I had a group that new the monsters well, I'd hint at one being in the area when ever I wanted them to go elsewhere. Worked like a charm!!

Ah, hilarious. Sadly that wouldn't work with one of my paladins. "Must venture forth!"

And he complained about dying a lot. Go figure. I don't like it when GMs railroad the party and I don't like it when players do it either. It's a party, give someone else a chance to have an opinion.

 

[fusangite]

The world in which I used the remorhaz was the one with a cyclical history based on modern climate change theories and Taoist alchemy. As a result, the world had a lengthy ice age every few thousand years and reptiles would die out or hybernate for millennia. So, lacking white and crystal dragons, the half-dragons of the world tried to create the Chalcedony dragon, the creature that would survive the ice age. The monstrous remorhaz was produced instead, killing its creators and haunting the frozen wastes for the rest of time.

 

[DMH]

I didn't use it, but I did talk to someone who used one in a jungle. It was colored to its habitat and ambushed the party. The fires it caused by brushing up against trees did more damage to the party than the 'haz itself.

 

[adwyn]

Last one I used ambushed the party while they were on an ice flow.

Once I realized how outclassed the party was I simply started rolling dice behind the screen and designated places where the ice was breaking up. The players, thankful for salvation, jumped on to the pieces and were happy to float off to nearly guaranteed doom on the open arctic sea while the Rhemoraz reared up and gloated over the fallen henchmen and horses.

That was in `91, and for thirten years the legends of the ice worms of the north have lived on among the players, even though all of the old players are goneand new players have filled their shoes.

With Frostburn out , its time for them to reappear.

 

[Tav_Behemoth]

For thirteen years the legends of the ice worms of the north have lived on among the players, even though all of the old players are gone and new players have filled their shoes.

Now that's what I like in a monster - staying power! And fear!

Crothian, did your players run because they feared for their lives (swallow whole), or for their weapons - like a rust monster but without the obvious "uh oh, looks like DM thinks we're overequipped" angle?