The Devil's in the Details: Slavicsek reveals the Pit Fiend in all its glory

[Burr]

But since most every devil in the hells probably knows about the Irresistible Command ability, why would any devil ever agree to allow a Pit Fiend to designate him as an ally, knowing he'll just get blown up and instantly killed?

There are only a dozen or so Pit Fiends, and there are probably more low-level devils than you could count in a millenium. The benefits of alliance probably far outweigh the risk of being a casualty of war.

 

[Voss]

Do we have access to any other monster write-up with stats? Please provide a link if you can.

Thanks.

Yeah, the spined devil
http://www.enworld.org/images/4e/monstestat.jpg

The top card is the 4e card.

 

[Hjorimir]

Yeah, the spined devil
http://www.enworld.org/images/4e/monstestat.jpg

The top card is the 4e card.

Well darn, that sinks my math on attack bonuses. Thanks for the help, Voss.

 

[nightspaladin]

I can't believe that people are complaining that the Pit Fiend does have skills outside of combat. He has all of them at +18 or better. He has a +22 Diplomacy. That's the equivalent of a 15th level human bard with a 18 Cha. Pretty good for a 12 foot tall horned devil.

As Hell's Generals, i suspect much of their persuasion is in the form of coercion. They are less Gen Colin Powell and more George Patton. They bark orders and they are obeyed because of the eminent threat of swift violence behind every word . And this is reflected in the Intimidate Skill training.

Overall, I like the design. The powers are easy to manage, and it is clear that these are the relevant powers. The part about the Wish infers that they have other powers at their disposal outside of combat, at the DMs discretion. And that's how it should be.

 

[Nathan P. Mahney]

Regarding the complaint further upthread that the Pit Fiend doesn't have any trained knowledge of the Planes...

I'd say that it's likely Religion encompasses this. The Gods live on the Planes, and lumping these two Knowledge skills into one is a logical move.

This is easily the best preview since the Elf, and I like it. It's flavorful, and for a 26th level monster it seems pretty easy to run. And I love the little touches, like the signet ring.

 

[jeffh]

Regarding the complaint further upthread that the Pit Fiend doesn't have any trained knowledge of the Planes...

I'd say that it's likely Religion encompasses this.

I'd say it's dead certain that Religion accomplishes this. Read to the end of the article, people!

 

[frankthedm]

But since most every devil in the hells probably knows about the Irresistible Command ability, why would any devil ever agree to allow a Pit Fiend to designate him as an ally, knowing he'll just get blown up and instantly killed?

I think it is more of a "Asmodeus [the DM] decreed you serve this pit fiend. If he judges you unworthy, you are gone." As a devil you don't want to be his 'ally', but you got no choice in the matter. The devil the PCs summoned or a devil under a rival's pit fiends command is not explodable.

The more I think about Irresistible Command, the more it seems like a very poorly thought-out ability, both from a flavor standpoint and a mechanics standpoint (16 average damage at the cost of a 21st or 22nd level ally? Said ally could probably do more than that in just one round, especially with the Pit Fiend giving him a +4 bonus to hit).

Uhm, the ability lets the pit fiend detonate any devil 'ally'. Imps and lemures can also be used as blammo

 

[Voss]

I can't believe that people are complaining that the Pit Fiend does have skills outside of combat. He has all of them at +18 or better. He has a +22 Diplomacy. That's the equivalent of a 15th level human bard with a 18 Cha. Pretty good for a 12 foot tall horned devil.

Well, that isn't actually the complaint. At least, it isn't mine. He has no non-combat *abilities*. Teleport, create undead, invisibility, magic circle, all that stuff. Poof. Gone. He's an immortal being with nothing to do when he isn't killing people.

On the skill side. Maybe a 3e bard. But a 15th level bard with an 18 Charisma would come in at a grand total of 7+4+5 (+16) on his trained skills.

Except for trained skills, he has the exact same skill bonuses that anyone else of that level would have with those stats. Maybe they'd train a different set of 4 skills. But really, he's using any skill with more or less the same proficiency as anyone else who could be viably compared to him. Unless they have some large bonuses he doesn't, its just a random die roll.

 

[hero4hire]

Data!!!!

Damage/hit is *pathetic* by 3e standards.

Seems like it can add up overall. If you are in melee with it
15 flame per round
1d12+11 and 1d6+11 with its attacks, potential for ongoing 15 poison damage and 5 fire damage

an opponent may just be eating 60-70 damage a round.

 

[Peter LaCara]

Well, that isn't actually the complaint. At least, it isn't mine. He has no non-combat *abilities*. Teleport, create undead, invisibility, magic circle, all that stuff. Poof. Gone. He's an immortal being with nothing to do when he isn't killing people.

On the skill side. Maybe a 3e bard. But a 15th level bard with an 18 Charisma would come in at a grand total of 7+4+5 (+16) on his trained skills.

Except for trained skills, he has the exact same skill bonuses that anyone else of that level would have with those stats. Maybe they'd train a different set of 4 skills. But really, he's using any skill with more or less the same proficiency as anyone else who could be viably compared to him. Unless they have some large bonuses he doesn't, its just a random die roll.

He does, in fact, have teleport. Longer range teleport is a ritual. Create undead is almost certainly going to be a ritual, as is anything involving a magic circle. Invisibility is a combat power, but one that he doesn't have. I would wager that there's going to be a ton of stuff like this in the DMG. In fact, haven't we read something to that effect in one blog or another by this point?

Also, I find it interesting to compare the Pit Lord's damage against the Spined Devil. I suppose that's the difference between a Soldier (Leader) and a Skirmisher. Assuming the Spined Devil's damage hasn't drastically been toned down, of course.

Finally, I bet most 26th level monsters aren't going to have a freaking Charisma of 28, so there's your social monster right there.