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

[Simplicity]

You think the damage seems low? I just don't see that.

15 fire damage every round just by standing there.
1d12+11 + 5 ongoing damage with mace
1d6+11 + 15 ongoing damage tail/poison (he can do both with frenzy)
2d10+5 damage in a 5x5 burst. Using irresistible command as a minor action.

That's 63 immediate damage on average. Plus 20 ongoing. Plus area of effect damage to others. Plus any damage done by his non-exploded allies which you are forced to fight "for free". That's not small change.

 

[FireLance]

On the issue of insufficient options and low damage:

Remember that the pit fiend is an Elite, not a solo. That means there could be one for every two PCs in a standard encounter.

In addition to the pit fiend's normal attacks, he gets up to two, five, or eight other actions from his summoned allies, all of which are at +4 while he is still alive. This already adds a sginificant amount of complexity and damage to a pit fiend encounter.

The apparent lack of options and low damage may be to offset this.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Okay, you're saying there might be a flat chance to end the effect (roll 11 or more on a d20 to end the effect). This would make sense given that there are no saving throw bonuses listed. But that seems rather simplistic, and the +2 bonus seems rather wimpy, given what the pit fiend's defences are.

Okay, assuming I remember anything from my college statistics classes... Having a 50% chance per round to throw something off means an 75% chance it is gone in 2 round and an 87.5% chance of it being gone in 3. Having a 60% chance per round to throw something off means an 84% chance it is gone in 2 rounds and a 93.6% chance it is gone in 3. A +2 is huge!

Statisticians, check my math!

 

[ThirdWizard]

Allied only. The damage is pretty sad given the cost. If the summons he has available don't trigger cool stuff when they die (possible!), the ability probably won't be used on his summons.

It's for getting use out of enemies who will just die before their next turn comes up, most likely.

 

[Voss]

It isn't terrible, but remember, thats if all those attacks hit. If his numbers are any guide to other 26th level critters, he's hitting on a ~13+, 8+ if he can get the fear ability off. If he hits with everything, it takes him roughly 5 rounds to take out a roughly equivalent critter.

Odds, are, however, only one of his two attacks will hit, being generous. So more like 8 or 9 rounds, assuming of course, his enemy isn't immune to fire. If they are, he's totally boned, as all he has to rely on is his tail.

His minions will, I think, be his really combat ability.

 

[JeffB]

Looks pretty good to me! Far less crazy than a 3.x version. Damage output does seem a bit low, but when you factor in the summoned allies plus his own attacks, I suspect it can and will get pretty brutal.

 

[Doug McCrae]

4. No ranged attack.

He's a soldier, which is a defensively oriented melee guy. Team him up with some artillery if you want a ranged threat too.

 

[Rechan]

With all this talk of the Pit Fiend not doing a lot of damage, I went back to look at the Paladin Smite article.

Binding Smite
Paladin 27
Encounter • Weapon
Standard Action
Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 2x[W] + Wis damage and target cannot gain line of effect to anyone but you until the end of your next turn.

Emphasis mine.

Here we have a 27th level Per Encounter ability that only does 2xWis+Wis damage.

That doesn't sound like a LOT of damage, either.

 

[Simplicity]

With all this talk of the Pit Fiend not doing a lot of damage, I went back to look at the Paladin Smite article.


Emphasis mine.

Here we have a 27th level Per Encounter ability that only does 2xWis+Wis damage.

That doesn't sound like a LOT of damage, either.

Actually, I think you're misreading. It's 2xWEAPON + Wis damage. Insert your weapon die wherever [W] is, I would guess.

 

[Rechan]

That's 63 immediate damage on average. Plus 20 ongoing. Plus area of effect damage to others. Plus any damage done by his non-exploded allies which you are forced to fight "for free". That's not small change.

You forgot that he's an Elite. Which means he's only worth 2 monsters for an encounter - which means you could pair him up with a second pitfiend, or 2 regular Level 26 monsters. That's not counting his summoned friends.