WotC's Head to head monster match! Vote for your favorite!

[Felon]

Then we come to Jannys Shadowgaunt - apart from the overuse of drow and spiders, and the mechanically-dubious idea of the use of an iron golem as a lich's phylactery

What's "mechanically-dubious" about an iron golem with a small hollow cavity?

Using an iron golem as a phylactrary is a cool idea, IMO, although the drow bit is not really relevant.

It's relevant in that it brings elf-bashers out to vote against it, giving a much-needed boost in votes to the stupid swashbeholder.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

What's "mechanically-dubious" about an iron golem with a small hollow cavity?

The fact that that ain't what it says? The phylactery is the golem, and that's jank. Yeah, uh, I'm a lich, and this here skeleton tarrasque is my phylactery . . .

Plus, it's a little bit stupid. PCs like to kill monsters. Sending your phylactery in to fight for you = great risk to your phylactery, and isn't that exactly what you don't want?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The fact that that ain't what it says? The phylactery is the golem, and that's jank. Yeah, uh, I'm a lich, and this here skeleton tarrasque is my phylactery . . .

Plus, it's a little bit stupid. PCs like to kill monsters. Sending your phylactery in to fight for you = great risk to your phylactery, and isn't that exactly what you don't want?

Her phylactery isn't sent in as a pet -- it's in a seperate location. It's just that, when the vengeful undead slayers bust in to destroy the phylactery, it kicks them in the goodies.

 

[Nightfall]

*is glad he's batting 1000 when it comes to choosing a winner so far*

Let's hope the Troll wins out on that one too. I like the idea VERY much.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Her phylactery isn't sent in as a pet -- it's in a seperate location. It's just that, when the vengeful undead slayers bust in to destroy the phylactery, it kicks them in the goodies.

I'm just not as impressed by "ass-kicking monster" is the phylactery as others, I guess. Seems to defeat the purpose - why not have an ass-kicking monster guarding the phylactery? There's no advantage to it, it's not that stylish, and the beholder had a zombie parrot. I'm disgusted in you people.

 

[Jdvn1]

*is glad he's batting 1000 when it comes to choosing a winner so far*

Let's hope the Troll wins out on that one too. I like the idea VERY much.

One of us will lose his perfect record on this one... probably me, but.

 

[Felon]

The fact that that ain't what it says? The phylactery is the golem, and that's jank.

Semantics. A phylactery is some bits of inscribed parchment placed in some kind of vessel. If the golem's acting as the vessel, then, for simplicity's sake, it can be considered a walking phylactery.

Plus, it's a little bit stupid. PCs like to kill monsters. Sending your phylactery in to fight for you = great risk to your phylactery, and isn't that exactly what you don't want?

An iron golem has high damage reduction and immunity to spells. Sounds like it makes a pretty good safe. And golems typically aren't sent to fight. They guard things. It's a perfect fit.

As far as the golem fighting in this particular instance, risking its phylactery in the process, I don't see anything that describes the actual scenario. Maybe the lich doesn't have a choice. Looks like the gods are plucking two monsters out of their environments and pitching them at each other.

I'm just not as impressed by "ass-kicking monster" is the phylactery as others, I guess. Seems to defeat the purpose - why not have an ass-kicking monster guarding the phylactery? There's no advantage to it

Of course there's an advantage to it. The golem is guarding the phylactery, in the most effective manner possible. A golem's strength is its personal defenses; its lack of mobility and ranged offense are weaknesses. If the phylactery's sitting in some chest near the golem, the PC's can easily do an end-run around the golem and attack the phylactery directly. Even an adamantine chest can be disintegrated. A golem can't be.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

This really boils down to my not being impressed by a drow lich with an iron golem guarding/containing/being its phylactery. There's just nothing about that concept that screams "cool".

 

[Felon]

Oh, well, fair enough.

 

[Jdvn1]

Last day for what will probably be the closest match of the 1st round... at least the closest match yet.