I noticed that the Intellect Devourer was a measly 2 CR. I guess this is because they don't have many hit points and are only resistant to non-magical attacks as opposed to previous editions wherein they were immune to non-magical attacks. I would like to mod them so that they can take over the bodies of PCs or NPCs who have had the mind whammy put on them that reduces their INT score to 0. After teleporting into the body of the humanoid, the Intellect Devourer basically cannot be killed by most spells or weapons without first killing the body of the host. In this case, should the CR of the Intellect Devourer be that of the Ghost?
I am also thinking of making IDevourers resistant to certain types of magic, for instance, giving them the Intellect Fortress spell and making them resistant to fire, etc. What other ways have you seen to make the Intellect Devourer more of a threat to a 2nd or 3rd tier party?
Intellect devourers already have the ability you're talking about; what did you think the Body Thief ability was for?
As for being a threat to a tier 2 or 3 party, that's typically trivial. An Int 10 character who doesn't have Int save proficiency (which probably covers half of all PCs, Int is a common dump stat) has a 34% chance to be incapacitated by Devour Intellect, and then a 52% chance to lose an Int contest against Body Thief, so if you have 5 intellect devourers jump the party, they probably take out one PC in turn 1.
If you want a mix of creatures, add a mind flayer. They're also very good at incapacitating characters with low Intelligence saves, thus setting up Body Thief.
The problem with the Body Thief ability in the 5e version of IDevourer is, based on my reading, the IDevourer or an ally needs to get the PC down to 0 hp or Unconscious. The Mind Devourer ability Stuns, but Stun does not equal Unconscious in 5e. So even multiple IDevourers are not much of a threat to a prepared party unless most of the PCs fail their INT saves. I mean, of course, adding Mind Flayers makes the IDevourers more dangerous, but Mind Flayers are dangerous in most situations anyway. I want the IDevourers to BE dangerous without or without having their masters nearby.
The problem with the Body Thief ability in the 5e version of IDevourer is, based on my reading, the IDevourer or an ally needs to get the PC down to 0 hp or Unconscious.
The problem with the Body Thief ability in the 5e version of IDevourer is, based on my reading, the IDevourer or an ally needs to get the PC down to 0 hp or Unconscious.
Great, thanks! I must have read that wrong. In which case, I am confused why they are only CR 2 since eating a PC's brain with an action and taking over their body using the same action seems to be extremely dangerous. Esp. since so many people choose INT as their favorite dump stat.
Great, thanks! I must have read that wrong. In which case, I am confused why they are only CR 2 since eating a PC's brain with an action and taking over their body using the same action seems to be extremely dangerous. Esp. since so many people choose INT as their favorite dump stat.
When people talk about monsters that are overpowered for their CR, intellect devourers tend to be on the list.
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I noticed that the Intellect Devourer was a measly 2 CR. I guess this is because they don't have many hit points and are only resistant to non-magical attacks as opposed to previous editions wherein they were immune to non-magical attacks. I would like to mod them so that they can take over the bodies of PCs or NPCs who have had the mind whammy put on them that reduces their INT score to 0. After teleporting into the body of the humanoid, the Intellect Devourer basically cannot be killed by most spells or weapons without first killing the body of the host. In this case, should the CR of the Intellect Devourer be that of the Ghost?
I am also thinking of making IDevourers resistant to certain types of magic, for instance, giving them the Intellect Fortress spell and making them resistant to fire, etc. What other ways have you seen to make the Intellect Devourer more of a threat to a 2nd or 3rd tier party?
Intellect devourers already have the ability you're talking about; what did you think the Body Thief ability was for?
As for being a threat to a tier 2 or 3 party, that's typically trivial. An Int 10 character who doesn't have Int save proficiency (which probably covers half of all PCs, Int is a common dump stat) has a 34% chance to be incapacitated by Devour Intellect, and then a 52% chance to lose an Int contest against Body Thief, so if you have 5 intellect devourers jump the party, they probably take out one PC in turn 1.
If you want a mix of creatures, add a mind flayer. They're also very good at incapacitating characters with low Intelligence saves, thus setting up Body Thief.
The problem with the Body Thief ability in the 5e version of IDevourer is, based on my reading, the IDevourer or an ally needs to get the PC down to 0 hp or Unconscious. The Mind Devourer ability Stuns, but Stun does not equal Unconscious in 5e. So even multiple IDevourers are not much of a threat to a prepared party unless most of the PCs fail their INT saves. I mean, of course, adding Mind Flayers makes the IDevourers more dangerous, but Mind Flayers are dangerous in most situations anyway. I want the IDevourers to BE dangerous without or without having their masters nearby.
Body thief requires incapacitated, not unconscious. A stunned creature is incapacitated.
Great, thanks! I must have read that wrong. In which case, I am confused why they are only CR 2 since eating a PC's brain with an action and taking over their body using the same action seems to be extremely dangerous. Esp. since so many people choose INT as their favorite dump stat.
When people talk about monsters that are overpowered for their CR, intellect devourers tend to be on the list.