Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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So... I was thinking of using a beholder in an upcoming arena fight (which will be happening inside Baba Yaga's hut...) and realized how horrifying this new version of the monster can be... Because the antimagic eye starts as "off" at the beginning of its turn, and it can then turn it "on" as a bonus action, it could basically "lock down" the entire arena by hovering above the ground and aiming its antimagic eye ray straight down to cover the entire arena floor (adjusting its height as needed, up to 120 feet). Then when its turn comes up, the antimagic field automatically turns off and it makes its eye rays attacks on its turn, and turns it back on again. This shuts down all magic items and abilities for the entire party, and they're left attacking it with non-magical versions of their weapons, OR using readied actions (which are 1 attack/spell only, cannot use extra attacks, etc).
It also effectively means that the beholder won't be able to use its legendary actions, because the AMF blocks its own eye rays and if its 40+ feet away, it can't very well "chomp" someone. If the party somehow had non-magical flight (one of them has a pegasus they can summon, if they happen to bring it out beforehand...), then it could use these legendary actions to defend itself against that party member.
How unfair do you think this is? Is my party going to mutiny and kill me at the table if I pull this out? LOL
I think it should be fine, as I suspect that they will quickly figure out they have to use readied actions, and the beholder then will likely be better off just flying down and directing the AMF at only part of the arena floor at a time so it can use its legendary actions, etc. This tactic also might not be optimal if it successfully charms/petrifies/etc one or more of them.They're currently level 12, party of 5, fairly powerful, well-played, and flush with nice magic items. (One is a DM also, and several party members are quite rules saavy). So a CR 13 should normally be a cake-walk for them.
If you really feel like running them through a meat-grinder like this, then that's your table, but I don't know if I'd enjoy this as a player. I would suggest that you only lock down at few of them at a time, 2-4, and let the others act as normal, instead of just barraging them from above with no way for them to retaliate.
It also depends on party composition. A table with a lot of martials will fare far better than a group made primarily of casters.
He doesn't have much besides the skin on his bones. Me: I'll take the skin on his bones, then.
"You see a gigantic, monstrous praying mantis burst from out of the ground. It sprays a stream of acid from it's mouth at one soldier, dissolving him instantly, then it turns and chomps another soldier in half with it's- "
"When are we gonna take a snack break?"
To up the ante even further... I'm going to name it Ronnie Raygun, give it 5 lore bard levels, and let it cast spells with its eye rays (substituted freely for one of the typical ones). I'm also going to have it banter the whole time as if it's a stand-up comedian. I'm going to give it the following spell list:
Cantrips:
1st Level:
2nd Level:
3rd Level: