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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lidgar" data-source="post: 4807514" data-attributes="member: 28334">An item to keep in mind for intelligent outsiders with spell-like abilities - especially one as powerful as a Balor - these are innate abilities that they likely have been using on a variety of foes for a long time. So, it is not necessarily just about their high intelligence, they should have the past experience to rely on when making decisions on who/what to target, and therefore getting the most out of their abilities and who/what would be most affected by them (based on quick visual observations in combat - they won't necessarily be perfect decisions!). As many others have posted, role-playing the creature, including his/its background, provide for more in-game fun. For example, every Balor had different experiences before they encountered the party, and each Balor will react to (or initiate) hostile actions in at least slightly different ways. It may be fun at times playing a Balor that distrusts some of his SLA's because they failed him before or he is a bit mad and just likes the fisty-cuff. Conversely, another Balor may have a real disdain for close combat and likes to "toy" with his prey primarily using SLA. Lastly, DM knowledge is almost never perfect. It may be near perfect in terms of the setting/existing conditions, but players have a great way of distorting those conditions in unexpected ways.</blockquote>