So the Choker monster says it can squeeze into a 4 inch wide area without "squeezing."
And in the description of the monster, it talks about how it lures targets - then strikes with its long, boneless arms, while being still "squeezed" into a tight spot.
Now, how would you rule attacking a Choker who is doing this?
Does it give it partial cover, since the entire body is not exposed? Or not at all, if you're stabbing at it, because it can't really move out of the way, if it's choking you with its arm, but its body is in this tiny crack/crevice in the cave?
I ask because it's a CR1 monster, and while it doesn't have much for HP (13), the AC is 16. And if you add a few points for partial cover or whatever, that can make it difficult to hit for a CR1 monster.
Yeah this is underrated. The DMG monster creation chart clocks this in at CR2 normally and CR3 if it has cover.
The counter play would be to use the help action to give the grappled PCs advantage on escape checks or force them to move out of reach, while spellcasters use save spells against the choker.
So the Choker monster says it can squeeze into a 4 inch wide area without "squeezing."
And in the description of the monster, it talks about how it lures targets - then strikes with its long, boneless arms, while being still "squeezed" into a tight spot.
Now, how would you rule attacking a Choker who is doing this?
Does it give it partial cover, since the entire body is not exposed? Or not at all, if you're stabbing at it, because it can't really move out of the way, if it's choking you with its arm, but its body is in this tiny crack/crevice in the cave?
I ask because it's a CR1 monster, and while it doesn't have much for HP (13), the AC is 16. And if you add a few points for partial cover or whatever, that can make it difficult to hit for a CR1 monster.
The RAW is that it finds as much cover as you, the DM, decide it does - it's intrinsically DM fiat where the border exactly lies between 1/2 and 3/4 cover - but remember, the Choker has to deal with the cover, too, as it has no in-built way to ignore it.
A far cleverer tactic for it would be to grab a party member in a cavern and flee up the wall to drop them from a great height.
I would give a chocker squeezed into a space a few inches wide three-quarters cover, similar to an arrow slit basically.
Wether a monster can use terrain to their advantage does not factor into its CR as it's situational bonuses. But that would make it a more challenging foe at AC 21 / DEX save +7 until its moved out for sure.
I would give a chocker squeezed into a space a few inches wide three-quarters cover, similar to an arrow slit basically.
Wether a monster can use terrain to their advantage does not factor into its CR as it's situational bonuses. But that would make it a more challenging foe at AC 18 / DEX save +7 until its moved out for sure.
3/4ths cover is +5. Which would make it's AC an absurd 21.
That's why i said the counter play was to force saves (INT and CHA id you've got them, STR and WIS if you don't).
OK - good to see others were seeing it how I was - with it having cover.
Man, that makes that beast potentially VERY lethal if played correctly for a CR1, despite the low HP - whether +2 or +5 to an already AC 16, is gonna be hard to hit.
OK - good to see others were seeing it how I was - with it having cover.
Man, that makes that beast potentially VERY lethal if played correctly for a CR1, despite the low HP - whether +2 or +5 to an already AC 16, is gonna be hard to hit.
Thanks all!
Especially against a party of level 1, a chocker is already lethal with Multiattack and its devastating Tentacule attack, this wether it has cover or not.
OK - good to see others were seeing it how I was - with it having cover.
Man, that makes that beast potentially VERY lethal if played correctly for a CR1, despite the low HP - whether +2 or +5 to an already AC 16, is gonna be hard to hit.
Thanks all!
Especially against a party of level 1, a chocker is already lethal with Multiattack and its devastating Tentacule attack, this wether it has cover or not.
I talked to a youtuber that checks monster balance. He said the choker got reprinted in MotM and does less damage, balancing out to CR1 again.
Still more difficult with cover though. But that effects encounter difficulty, not CR.
So the Choker monster says it can squeeze into a 4 inch wide area without "squeezing."
And in the description of the monster, it talks about how it lures targets - then strikes with its long, boneless arms, while being still "squeezed" into a tight spot.
Now, how would you rule attacking a Choker who is doing this?
Does it give it partial cover, since the entire body is not exposed? Or not at all, if you're stabbing at it, because it can't really move out of the way, if it's choking you with its arm, but its body is in this tiny crack/crevice in the cave?
I ask because it's a CR1 monster, and while it doesn't have much for HP (13), the AC is 16. And if you add a few points for partial cover or whatever, that can make it difficult to hit for a CR1 monster.
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Yeah this is underrated. The DMG monster creation chart clocks this in at CR2 normally and CR3 if it has cover.
The counter play would be to use the help action to give the grappled PCs advantage on escape checks or force them to move out of reach, while spellcasters use save spells against the choker.
The RAW is that it finds as much cover as you, the DM, decide it does - it's intrinsically DM fiat where the border exactly lies between 1/2 and 3/4 cover - but remember, the Choker has to deal with the cover, too, as it has no in-built way to ignore it.
A far cleverer tactic for it would be to grab a party member in a cavern and flee up the wall to drop them from a great height.
I would give a chocker squeezed into a space a few inches wide three-quarters cover, similar to an arrow slit basically.
Wether a monster can use terrain to their advantage does not factor into its CR as it's situational bonuses. But that would make it a more challenging foe at AC 21 / DEX save +7 until its moved out for sure.
EDIT to correct AC
3/4ths cover is +5. Which would make it's AC an absurd 21.
That's why i said the counter play was to force saves (INT and CHA id you've got them, STR and WIS if you don't).
Yeah 21 i misread with HP 13 sorry.
OK - good to see others were seeing it how I was - with it having cover.
Man, that makes that beast potentially VERY lethal if played correctly for a CR1, despite the low HP - whether +2 or +5 to an already AC 16, is gonna be hard to hit.
Thanks all!
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
Especially against a party of level 1, a chocker is already lethal with Multiattack and its devastating Tentacule attack, this wether it has cover or not.
I talked to a youtuber that checks monster balance. He said the choker got reprinted in MotM and does less damage, balancing out to CR1 again.
Still more difficult with cover though. But that effects encounter difficulty, not CR.