The House - problems with CR.

Chasmodai

First Post
Ok, I will be running a game for a bunch of level 3 PCs soon and I came up with this monster for them to fight at the end of the story arc. Right now, I'm having problems judging its CR, and whether it would be an appropriate challenge for them.

FYI, I plan for the PCs to be around level 4 when they fight the monster and this will be the only combat for the day.


The House (Psionic)
Huge Construct
Hit Die: 8d10 + 40 (80hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 0ft (cannot move).
AC: 15 (+7 natural, -2 size). Flatfooted: 15 Touch: 8
BAB/Grapple: +6/+23
Attack: Slam +14 melee (2d6+9)
Full Attack: 2 Slams +14 melee (2d6+9)
Special Attacks: Drain, Improved Grab, Possession, Psi-Like Abilities, Swallow Whole
Special Qualities: Construct Traits, DR 10/-, Naturally Psionic, Schism, Tremorsense, The Attic
Saves: Fort +2 Reflex +2 Will +4
Abilties: Str 28, Dex -, Con -, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 17
Skills: Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +14, Listen +13, Sense Motive +14
Feats: Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (slam)
Challenge Rating: ???

The House is a large, 3-story building of ancient architecture. Its walls are still sturdy and the curtains are drawn. No light or sound comes from within. There is only one entrance, the front door and it is unlocked. The door swings open without a sound.

The House is an ancient structure of a malevolent psionic race, formerly used as a storage space and torture chamber for prisoners. It slowly gained sentience of its own and developed psionic abilities. It has survived throughout the ages, bolstered by its psionic might and its evil, cruel mind.

The House's weak point is the attic, where its mind manifests in physical form (see below).

Drain: Anyone swallowed and slain by The House is slowly drained of essence, as The House devours and digests the creature. This is a process that can take as long as 1d4 weeks, or as fast as 1d6 rounds. The effects of this drain is as per the Assimilate power (Fort Save DC17 negates)

Possession: The House can possess any unconscious, living, non-mindless creature within it. This emulates the Control Body power (Fort DC17 negates)

Schism: The House acts as if under a continous schism effect (ML 4)

Swallow Whole: Any creature that The House pins will be swallowed. any creature swallowed takes 4d6+18 points of subdual, bludgeoning damage per round as The House slowly crushes it. A creature trapped inside can deal 15 points of bludgeoning damage in 1 round to escape. An effect such as Inertial Barrier or Iron Body will halve the damage taken by the trapped creature.

Tremorsense: The House can sense all creatures that are within it that touch any part of it (floor, walls, doors, etc, etc).

The Attic: The Attic is barred by a locked door. Open Lock DC 18 or Strength Check DC 18. The door has 20hp and a hardness of 5. In the Attic, the mind manifests as an Astral Construct 3, with no DR and Improved Buff (bringing it to 51 hp). It retains its feats and abilities.

Psi-Like Abilities:

At will - Attraction, (Will DC 18, +6 bonus to all interaction rolls), Charm (Will DC 18, all creatures can be affected),Correspond;

3/day - Psionic Blast (DC 16, 2 round duration), Swarm of Crystals (8d4, Rflx DC 16 half);

1/day - Aura Alteration, Cloud Mind, Mass (Will DC 19).

Tactics: The House attracts its victims to the third floor, where it stores all it's victims' bodies. The House only does subdual damage to its victims. It prefers them alive and thinking when eating them. It opens up with Charms and Attractions to avoid combat and have an easy meal. Failing that, it opens up with a Psionic Blast and uses its partitioned mind to possess one of the un-stunned victims. Particularly hardy and stubborn opponents are dealt with by the simultaneous shattering of all the windows (Swarm of Crystals), and a drop to the first floor (Awesome Blow)

So... any tips? Advice? Is it too powerful for 6 level 4s?
 

log in or register to remove this ad


Not too sure about the CR (I take little notice of such :\ ). Would need to have MM with me and check through the recommendations in the back....BUT WHAT A 'MONSTER'.

Chasmodai this is a very cool idea. I love it. Just might have my PCs in Port city Jevid wander in here ;)

One recommendation I can make with no books is that, I was reading Arms & Equipment Guide other night and it had how to deal with damage to vehicles and structures by dividing into 10x10 sections. You should check this out, as 80hp for a full house seems odd and as mentioned can easily be destroyed with a couple of good spells (not that they would have 3rd level spell with your target levels), but it does seem a little odd. Anyhow check out A&E, I think it would help immensely. May be set some parameters too. Like if 3 successive sections go it may lose a power or powers may be weakened. This could be one way of lowering its threat potential, whilst enabling it to start with several powers.

Keep us informed how this goes. Love the idea :D

Connors
 

As interesting as that 10 by 10 idea is, I don't have the A&E Guide, so I'm not very clear on how that would go.

Besides, I'd like to keep this rather simple and straightforward. Judging at the hp and damage outputs of my PCs, 80hp and the DR would be enough to make the house sufficiently tough for them.

Thanks for your tips though. If I ever get my hands on the Arms & Equipment Guide, I'll look for that rule.




P.S. You are welcome to use The House. Just remember to rumble a lot when you talk. :)
 

Remove ads

Top