Results 1 to 30 of 1500
-
2018-03-03, 03:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Arcadia
- Gender
The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Please post in the new thread, thanks in advance. The archive has a link there.
The fourth iteration of this thread already!
Most people probably know its purpose by now, but for those new: this thread is a communal effort to assign balanced level adjustments to all D&D monsters, whether or not they had them already or not. With the Monster Manual finished, we're now moving on to other books.
For further information, a list of all assigned LAs so far, and an explanation of the terminology used in the thread, please refer to the archive.
New monster will be up soon, enjoy the new thread smell until then!Last edited by Inevitability; 2018-09-25 at 06:31 AM.
Creator of the LA-assignment thread.
A new Junkyard Wars round is up! Come join Weapon Bond + Weapon Specialization - Fighter!
Interested in judging a build competition on the 3.5 forums but not sure where to begin? Check out the judging handbook!
Extended signature!
-
2018-03-03, 03:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2005
- Location
- Baator (aka Britain)
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
*Butcher voice* Mmmm, fresh thread!
-
2018-03-03, 03:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- NYC
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
I rate this thread LA Confidential.
I want you to PEACH me as hard as you can.
-
2018-03-03, 03:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Arcadia
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Boneleaf
Despite being called 'boneleaves', these monsters are neither undead nor plants. Instead, they're aberrations.
These creatures are large-sized, with 7 RHD. Their ability scores are decent: 25 strength and 22 constitution make for a strong melee character, and the other stats are pretty neat as well (with the exception of the 8 intelligence).
10 ft. land speed hurts a lot, though the (equally slow) burrow speed makes up for stuff a bit. +8 natural armor is okay, until you realize no armor shop ever is going to have something that fits a tree.
Boneleaves' natural weapons are okay-ish. They get two attacks per round, which may be tendrils, slams, or a tendril and a slam. Slams deal okay-ish bludgeoning damage with some slashing thrown on, while tendrils Improved Grab and Constrict instead.
Furthermore, boneleaves have a number of plant traits (because figuring out their typing wasn't quite confusing enough). They're immune to magical sleep, paralysis, stunning, and most importantly mind-affecting effects. They also have 50% fortification. They're also so alike plants that a DC 15 spot check is required to tell them apart, which I guess is nice for the occasional ambush.
Boneleaves can also create illusions, which is a vastly limited, short-duration Major Image. It's worth mentioning, but not very impactful on the LA.
Finally, boneleaves have the Pervasive Sentience Ability, which states that near each boneleaf are 1d6+6 other ones, which share senses. However, the ability does not explain what happens as individual boneleaves are killed, what happens when one travels away using its move speed, or even what happens when a boneleaf is disconnected from the nerve network by making use of a Fly spell or similar effect. For this reason, I'm going to need an asterisk here.
I think -0* LA is fine for boneleaves. Their low speed and unimpressive stats, combined with the load of less-than-stellar aberration HD and inability to use most equipment, make me doubt whether they'd be able to contribute as much as any other ECL 7 PC. I guess some niche builds could use Illusory lure and the burrow speed to ambush people and get around the low speed, but even then foes could simply disengage and leave you unable to retaliate.Creator of the LA-assignment thread.
A new Junkyard Wars round is up! Come join Weapon Bond + Weapon Specialization - Fighter!
Interested in judging a build competition on the 3.5 forums but not sure where to begin? Check out the judging handbook!
Extended signature!
-
2018-03-03, 03:55 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2016
- Location
- Canterlot, Equestria
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
There are some monsters that just should never be played. This is one of them.
Princess Celestia's Homebrew Corner
Old classes, new classes, and more!
Thanks to AsteriskAmp for the avatar!
-
2018-03-03, 04:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
I agree with the -0 but I don't feel that their questionable ability is so disruptive as to warrant the asterisk. Compared to split or infinite wight creation asterisks, this is tame.
3.5 Cast - A GitP member made, third edition podcast
D&D 3.5 Discord Chat, Come one come all
The Master Specialist Handbook
Truly Complete List of 3.5e Base Classes
-
2018-03-03, 05:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- NYC
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
I recall reading in some D&D book the phrase "a dagger to the eye is a dagger to the eye" in a section discussing hit points and damage. A dagger to the heart may mechanically be a coup de grace, but it's one of those times where the game rules expect the DM to step in. What would have been the point for writing "when you get your heart chopped up, you die"? It's like how fire doesn't burn wood because of hardness, until you realize that the rules are there to resolve non-obvious interactions, not obvious ones (and there's an exception clause in the text anyway).
All of that is pretty much missing the point that a dagger to the heart should be just as dangerous as a scythe to the heart, and hit points have nothing to do with it.
Amusingly, the BoVD provides yet another way to kill someone instantly - execution. These rules are a little more sensible, a restrained victim dies if the executioner can hit the Profession (executioner) DC. We can easily imagine that a tied-down person getting stabbed in the heart should follow the same rules as getting your head chopped off on the block. If the executioner fails the DC, he didn't have the anatomical knowledge to find the heart and strike it between the ribs, and the blade merely inflicts a coup de grace. Profession checks do require the user to be trained, but the PHB also says that they do not take an action, so there's some flexibility in the rules.
-
2018-03-03, 06:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Spoiler: Collectible nice thingsMy incarnate/crusader. A self-healing crowd-control melee build (ECL 8).
My Ruby Knight Vindicator barsader. A party-buffing melee build (ECL 14).
Doctor Despair's and my all-natural approach to necromancy.
-
2018-03-03, 06:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
-
2018-03-03, 09:34 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2016
- Location
- New York
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Cool creature. Creepy thematics. Easy -0*.
-
2018-03-03, 09:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
-
2018-03-04, 12:57 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- Michigan
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
At least +0, they get +14 strength in exchange for 2 points of base attack, and the large sized penalty, they look like they'd make good enough barbaarians. Sure they would be a little bit slow, but no slower than a cleric in full plate or other small characters.
-
2018-03-04, 01:04 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Sovereign State of Denial
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
In my games, I always houseruled coup-de-graces as doing maximum damage and critting, anyway. That 1d4 would become 12, a DC 22 Fortitude save (though again, I usually bump the DC to 15 + damage dealt, so 27). Frankly, it's not unreasonable that someone tough enought to make a DC 20+ save could theoretically survive such an injury. Surviving a beheading, however...
-
2018-03-04, 01:34 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
A little slow? I think you misread their speed. They have a base speed of 10 feet. Halflings in full armor get 15 feet. So yeah, it's incorrect to say that a small character is just as slow. 10 feet is cripplingly slow. Given that this is the key part of your analysis, -0* makes a lot more sense.
They also cannot use most equipment, cannot wield weapons in two hands (or wield weapons at all), will have to squeeze in certain areas, low skill points and does literally nothing except being OK at melee combat. They also will have a hard time making use of pounce shenanigans, which is one of the big things that makes barbarians work.
EDIT: I was misreading you, you were including the 10' bonus speed from barbarian. However, that's a specific class ability that makes that possible, and I don't think being ok in exactly one class is really enough to say that the monster is good enough to warrant a +0 LA. There's also the fact that even barbarians with a 20 feet speed limits what they can do with charging which is a key part of what makes them effective. After all, small sized races tend to make bad melee characters thanks in part to lack of mobility and full-armored clerics tend to work as melee characters because they are CODzillas and can do anything. 20 feet speed doesn't mean that you are completely crippled in melee, but it does have a significant negative impact.
-
2018-03-04, 02:10 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
As I understand it, a "Boneleaf" stand is basically one tentacle of the larger entity. Thus, if one were to move around using its move speed, it would be like an octopus moving the tip of a tentacle, or you moving around a hand/fingers.
As for how killing one Boneleaf stand affects the others it is linked to, it apparently has no mechanical effect, although the others will know everything the dead one did. In this sense, they're more like a coral reef, perhaps - doing something to part of a reef doesn't directly affect the rest of the reef.
As such, a true Boneleaf is comprised of the 1d6+6 Boneleaf stands linked together. That more than merits a caution marker, IMO. 1d6+6 characters for the price of one? No remotely sane DM wants to dive into that mess. Especially since the text of Pervasive Sentience could be taken to imply that when linked Boneleaf stands are within 100 yards of one another, they are no longer treated as solitary creatures, which could be interpreted that they have an effective 100 yard range on a Hive Mind-type ability, and outside that radius they only get Pervasive Sentience.
Alternatively, I suppose one could be playing a Boneleaf stand that is the sole surviving stand of its Boneleaf, and is incapable of adding/creating new Boneleaf stands. Thus, disregarding Pervasive Sentience entirely.
-
2018-03-04, 05:42 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Arcadia
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Creator of the LA-assignment thread.
A new Junkyard Wars round is up! Come join Weapon Bond + Weapon Specialization - Fighter!
Interested in judging a build competition on the 3.5 forums but not sure where to begin? Check out the judging handbook!
Extended signature!
-
2018-03-04, 06:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Gender
-
2018-03-04, 08:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2016
- Location
- Seoul
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
...Do these things even make decent Polymorph forms?
Cool elan Illithid Slayer by linkele.
Editor/co-writer of Magicae Est Potestas, a crossover between Artemis Fowl and Undertale. Ao3 FanFiction.net DeviantArt
We also have a TvTropes page!
Currently playing: Red Hand of Doom(campaign journal)Campaign still going on, but journal discontinued until further notice.
Extended sig here.
-
2018-03-04, 08:45 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Well, a Swiftblade with Persistent haste might counteract the speed penalty, and then...
...or you could just be a treant (7 HD, Huge, +18 strength). Or a fire giant (15 HD, Large, +20 strength). That's the two obvious ones I have right now; I'm sure there are many more.Spoiler: Collectible nice thingsMy incarnate/crusader. A self-healing crowd-control melee build (ECL 8).
My Ruby Knight Vindicator barsader. A party-buffing melee build (ECL 14).
Doctor Despair's and my all-natural approach to necromancy.
-
2018-03-04, 12:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
The artwork is insane tho.
So there's that.
-
2018-03-04, 12:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Arcadia
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
That's sadly not the HoH artwork. This is.
Last edited by Inevitability; 2018-03-04 at 12:50 PM.
Creator of the LA-assignment thread.
A new Junkyard Wars round is up! Come join Weapon Bond + Weapon Specialization - Fighter!
Interested in judging a build competition on the 3.5 forums but not sure where to begin? Check out the judging handbook!
Extended signature!
-
2018-03-04, 02:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Tagging in to follow the thread.
Somehow I don't know that I ever even looked at the monsters for this book... This stuff doesn't even ring any bells.
-
2018-03-04, 03:35 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
- Location
- Char
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Last edited by zergling.exe; 2018-03-04 at 03:38 PM.
-
2018-03-04, 05:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Well, it depends on how generous the DM is. If you can only turn into a singular stand, not so much. On the other hand, if the DM allows you to turn into a complete boneleaf (the 1d6+6 individual stands) ... then maybe? In very specific circumstances, at least. Definitely not a general standby polymorph form.
Swiftblades get a bonus to speed that explicitly stacks with Haste.
-
2018-03-04, 05:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- Italy
- Gender
-
2018-03-04, 05:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Arcadia
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Creator of the LA-assignment thread.
A new Junkyard Wars round is up! Come join Weapon Bond + Weapon Specialization - Fighter!
Interested in judging a build competition on the 3.5 forums but not sure where to begin? Check out the judging handbook!
Extended signature!
-
2018-03-04, 05:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
-
2018-03-04, 05:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2016
- Location
- Canterlot, Equestria
- Gender
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Princess Celestia's Homebrew Corner
Old classes, new classes, and more!
Thanks to AsteriskAmp for the avatar!
-
2018-03-05, 03:03 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2016
- Location
- the dark side of the moon
Re: The LA-assignment Thread IV: Live Free or Hit Die Hard
Well this is a bizarre creature...
I'll concur with -0*. It doesn't really bring anything worth the 7 levels and cripplingly low speed to the table except for the truly strange Pervasive Sentience which is in all ways far more suited for a monster than a PC.My extended signature!
My PbP info
78% of DMs started their first campaign in a tavern. If you're one of the 22% who didn't, copy/paste this into your sig.
Mine started in the battle arena of the capital city
-
2018-03-06, 01:53 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- Michigan
- Gender