And now, back to Encounters!
With your host, Gary Geyron!!!
Gary: Hey there monsterphiles, you're going to love our next guest. He's a tough customer who's been the subject of not a few terse DM versus Players discussions. Let's have a big hand for ... the Bodak!
(bodak enters, wearing sunglasses)
Gary: Thanks for stopping by. I know you're a busy former man.
Bodak: Always a pleasure Gary.
Gary: So, before we get to the Q&A, is there anything exciting you're working on at the moment.
Bodak: Definitely. I've got a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak. First off, I'm in negotiations with BioWare for a part in Baldur's Gate III.
Gary: How is it, working with BioWare?
Bodak: Oh, they're great guys. I was a little nervous when I came onboard for Neverwinter Nights, but they didn't tone my performance down a bit. In fact, they really encouraged me to play up the whole sinister evil spirit thing. Before that project, really, most of the good sinister bits for mortality-impaired actors went to vampires and liches.
Gary: Speaking of toning you down, how do you feel about the complaints people have lodged about your death gaze?
Bodak: That's a sore spot for me, frankly. I mean, why do they even play the game if they're afraid to have a character die now and then?
Gary: Well, I think it's more of a problem with "instant" death.
Bodak: What, would they rather prolonged suffering?
Gary: No, but you have to admit that a fort save of 15 is awfully steep for CR 8. That gives an 8th-level cleric with a 10 Con a 45% chance of instant death.
Bodak: Well, if we're going to metagame it, I'd say he should have spent a little cash on some fortitude-enhancing items. Or maybe folks who don't have the constitution for it ought not be adventurers. And let's not forget that that same cleric, if he had a 10 charisma could turn ME about 35% of the time, from twice as far away! And let me assure you that the type of munchkin players you get these days are going to pump up their cleric's charisma.
Gary: Whoah, now. I'm not trying to rile you here.
Bodak: Sorry, but clerics really piss me off.
Gary: Now, some have also cited your weaknesses as frivolous.
Bodak: How would you like flashbacks and a vulnerability to sunlight?
Gary: But the flashbacks only have a 5% chance of affecting you in any given combat and most undead encou--
Bodak: Uh, Gary, we prefer "mortality-impaired," if you don't mind.
Gary: Sorry. Most mortality-impaired encounters occur indoors or at night.
Bodak: Well I can't be blamed for bad planning.
Gary: And the sunlight thing? It takes over 50 rounds for it to kill you. That's a lot longer than most combats last, particularly when you're death gazing half the battlefield every turn.
Bodak: So what are you trying to say, here, Gary? That I'm broken? Eh? I've only got nine stinking hit dice! You try going up against an 8th level fighter with 9 measly hit dice and see how far a 15 fort save death attack gets you! Bastards get two attacks per round and they are ALWAYS hasted these days.
Gary: But you've also got a host of defensive abilities: You're immune to electricity ...
Bodak: Yeah, like that's common. Aside from lightning bolts and the occasional odd magic item, it's a non-issue.
Gary: And very resistant to fire and acid ...
Bodak: So? There's no lack of brute force in the PC arsenal, now is there?
Gary: And you have damage resistance.
Bodak: Ha! 20/silver. If somebody can't nail me with a +1 weapon or better by eighth level, they are doing something seriously wrong.
Gary: Hey, on that silver issue, how do you feel about the 3.5 revision that's going to remove magic weapons' "trump power" over the silver requirement?
Bodak: I'm all for it.
Gary: I bet you are.
Bodak: Hey, I've had it with your attitude.
Gary: Look, you are a broken monster that's only going to get more broken when they change the rules!
Bodak: That's it! (removes sunglasses)
Gary: Nice try, but I'm immune to death attacks. We've got clerics on staff, you know.
Bodak: You suck.
Gary: Okay, well thanks for coming, Bodak. We'll be looking for you in Baldur's Gate III.
Bodak: Whatever.
Gary: Be sure to tune in next week folks, when we'll welcome the Krenshar, the Vrock, and we'll find out just how Green Slime feels about being reduced from a monster to a hazard! See you then!
With your host, Gary Geyron!!!
Gary: Hey there monsterphiles, you're going to love our next guest. He's a tough customer who's been the subject of not a few terse DM versus Players discussions. Let's have a big hand for ... the Bodak!
(bodak enters, wearing sunglasses)
Gary: Thanks for stopping by. I know you're a busy former man.
Bodak: Always a pleasure Gary.
Gary: So, before we get to the Q&A, is there anything exciting you're working on at the moment.
Bodak: Definitely. I've got a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak. First off, I'm in negotiations with BioWare for a part in Baldur's Gate III.
Gary: How is it, working with BioWare?
Bodak: Oh, they're great guys. I was a little nervous when I came onboard for Neverwinter Nights, but they didn't tone my performance down a bit. In fact, they really encouraged me to play up the whole sinister evil spirit thing. Before that project, really, most of the good sinister bits for mortality-impaired actors went to vampires and liches.
Gary: Speaking of toning you down, how do you feel about the complaints people have lodged about your death gaze?
Bodak: That's a sore spot for me, frankly. I mean, why do they even play the game if they're afraid to have a character die now and then?
Gary: Well, I think it's more of a problem with "instant" death.
Bodak: What, would they rather prolonged suffering?
Gary: No, but you have to admit that a fort save of 15 is awfully steep for CR 8. That gives an 8th-level cleric with a 10 Con a 45% chance of instant death.
Bodak: Well, if we're going to metagame it, I'd say he should have spent a little cash on some fortitude-enhancing items. Or maybe folks who don't have the constitution for it ought not be adventurers. And let's not forget that that same cleric, if he had a 10 charisma could turn ME about 35% of the time, from twice as far away! And let me assure you that the type of munchkin players you get these days are going to pump up their cleric's charisma.
Gary: Whoah, now. I'm not trying to rile you here.
Bodak: Sorry, but clerics really piss me off.
Gary: Now, some have also cited your weaknesses as frivolous.
Bodak: How would you like flashbacks and a vulnerability to sunlight?
Gary: But the flashbacks only have a 5% chance of affecting you in any given combat and most undead encou--
Bodak: Uh, Gary, we prefer "mortality-impaired," if you don't mind.
Gary: Sorry. Most mortality-impaired encounters occur indoors or at night.
Bodak: Well I can't be blamed for bad planning.
Gary: And the sunlight thing? It takes over 50 rounds for it to kill you. That's a lot longer than most combats last, particularly when you're death gazing half the battlefield every turn.
Bodak: So what are you trying to say, here, Gary? That I'm broken? Eh? I've only got nine stinking hit dice! You try going up against an 8th level fighter with 9 measly hit dice and see how far a 15 fort save death attack gets you! Bastards get two attacks per round and they are ALWAYS hasted these days.
Gary: But you've also got a host of defensive abilities: You're immune to electricity ...
Bodak: Yeah, like that's common. Aside from lightning bolts and the occasional odd magic item, it's a non-issue.
Gary: And very resistant to fire and acid ...
Bodak: So? There's no lack of brute force in the PC arsenal, now is there?
Gary: And you have damage resistance.
Bodak: Ha! 20/silver. If somebody can't nail me with a +1 weapon or better by eighth level, they are doing something seriously wrong.
Gary: Hey, on that silver issue, how do you feel about the 3.5 revision that's going to remove magic weapons' "trump power" over the silver requirement?
Bodak: I'm all for it.
Gary: I bet you are.
Bodak: Hey, I've had it with your attitude.
Gary: Look, you are a broken monster that's only going to get more broken when they change the rules!
Bodak: That's it! (removes sunglasses)
Gary: Nice try, but I'm immune to death attacks. We've got clerics on staff, you know.
Bodak: You suck.
Gary: Okay, well thanks for coming, Bodak. We'll be looking for you in Baldur's Gate III.
Bodak: Whatever.
Gary: Be sure to tune in next week folks, when we'll welcome the Krenshar, the Vrock, and we'll find out just how Green Slime feels about being reduced from a monster to a hazard! See you then!
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