Hey all! So I have been thinking of throwing in a Mind Flayer sub plot (as the title suggests) and had a couple questions. Before those questions, let me provide some party details. Running 3 PCs with 1 NPC tagging along for the ride. 3 PCs are a monk, druid, and a Blood Hunter (Matt Mercer homebrew). The NPC they have is a ranger.
What level would you guys and gals suggest the characters be at for this arc?
Plot Point question: Is it the Elder Brain itself that controls the Mind Flayers in the area, or could one say that an important plot character had their mind taken over and etc?
Do Mind Flayer hives have an average size? And also just general tips on making a mind flayer hive/encounters, etc.
A single Mind Flayer sits at somewhere between a Medium or Hard encounter for four characters that are level 5. A Mind Flayer Arcanist would be slightly more difficult. An Elder Brain would be a Medium to Hard encounter for four characters that are level 12.
That all being said, the Mind Flayers (and their Elder Brain overlords) can be used in all sorts of plot points (mind control included). There is lots of information about the Elder Brains in the Volo's Guide.
As for the "hives," I would peg the population at about a dozen or so Mind Flayers and tens or more of their thoughtless minions, and maybe a specialty monster or two like a Gibbering Mouther or a Mindwitness.
If I were designing encounters in a hive, I would group a single Mind Flayer with five or six servants or a specialty monster. It would depend on what you wanted to do with the feel of the fight overall. Since your party has a Druid and a Ranger, that can form a pretty good hook to get into this arc since Mind Flayers are creatures of the Far Realm, a place rather antithetical to the natural world.
Hey all! So I have been thinking of throwing in a Mind Flayer sub plot (as the title suggests) and had a couple questions. Before those questions, let me provide some party details. Running 3 PCs with 1 NPC tagging along for the ride. 3 PCs are a monk, druid, and a Blood Hunter (Matt Mercer homebrew). The NPC they have is a ranger.
Thanks in advanced for any and all comments!
A single Mind Flayer sits at somewhere between a Medium or Hard encounter for four characters that are level 5. A Mind Flayer Arcanist would be slightly more difficult. An Elder Brain would be a Medium to Hard encounter for four characters that are level 12.
That all being said, the Mind Flayers (and their Elder Brain overlords) can be used in all sorts of plot points (mind control included). There is lots of information about the Elder Brains in the Volo's Guide.
As for the "hives," I would peg the population at about a dozen or so Mind Flayers and tens or more of their thoughtless minions, and maybe a specialty monster or two like a Gibbering Mouther or a Mindwitness.
If I were designing encounters in a hive, I would group a single Mind Flayer with five or six servants or a specialty monster. It would depend on what you wanted to do with the feel of the fight overall. Since your party has a Druid and a Ranger, that can form a pretty good hook to get into this arc since Mind Flayers are creatures of the Far Realm, a place rather antithetical to the natural world.
Mind flayers like minions. I'd say the party should be around 14th level if the hive they're going after has an elder brain.
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