|
Insects have no brains.
Posted: 17 Jan 2007 08:49 PM |
Therefore they should not be casting Implosion and Acid Crud Everywhere. Especially not several times in a row, obscuring the "Tight Space" transition back through the caves and dooming me to a Where's Waldo death.
Or at least, come on... give me a warning of some sort that I'm about to die unless my character is an epic level spellcaster. You've got messages letting me know that the smell of salt is on the air or that someone carved a lewd message into an outhouse (the latter of which I dig.) Why not let me know when I'm about to make the transition from Fire Beetle to certain death? With Mortifer you get all the warning you really need. When I died against him, I blamed myself. Vestlat is a little more unforgiving, but the area hints at what you're in for.
The Devastation Beetle has no warning whatsoever and you're trapped by virtue of the area construction. Seriously man, it's cruel. I would argue far more cruel than clever. Bleh. |
True solace is finding none, which is to say, it is everywhere.
-Gretel Ehrlich |
|
  |
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 17 Jan 2007 09:29 PM |
The Devastation Beetle also happens to have a Fort Save above 100. I seem to remember 116.
I would say there's a difference between 'Enemy that can be taken down through team-work and partying,' and 'Enemy that's designed specifically to obliterate any PC's and/or Parties that don't immediately run on sighting the danged thing.'
|
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 17 Jan 2007 11:06 PM |
| That's funny. I'm going to try my hand at it. |
CHOO CHOO!
- - - - - -
Bereil Yadashem.
Markus Mortriety, Herald of Novus Aristi. |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 17 Jan 2007 11:48 PM |
| Shard and Alton beat it, so it can't be that powerful. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 12:00 AM |
It's a known fact that Alton cheats.
Shard does too; but not as many people know it.
...Inchy. :D
- In all seriousness, the most disturbing thing is the CR of something like the Devastation Beetle in an area full of, at worst, Stag Beetles. And, as Rosen said, other, similar encounters bear omens of bad things to come. Se'eth has the oodles upon oodles of progressively-stronger golems. The Centaurs (for those of us that remember our days as low-level Characters) have the twice-pierced body; the Atalan now have the body on the pike. Naillamne has the golem-things and the spellcasters of increasing level that lead up to the final baddy.
True, it isn't so very terrible if you have a high-enough Fort Save and are immune (somehow) to Implosion spells. Nor is it really that bad after the ridiculous rates at which it successfully (almost decidedly) makes a Knockdown. And, really, who could have a problem with its 40 (50? 60?)+ AC? Heck, even the primary spellcasters don't break a sweat once they realize the thing's saves are probably equal to three or four times their character level.
Not that powerful at all.
|
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 12:21 AM |
| Is this a Vivesian Tarrasque? |
Famous last words:
Mykal> it's my new wireless router.
* > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout)
Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m.....
* > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat) |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 01:06 AM |
| No, I've seen a Vivesian Terrasque. It was not a beetle. |
- [Rob], Balthor, Jake, and Thomas. |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 02:02 AM |
Well, to give you an idea of the thing..
with a 30 AB, I hit it only on a 20. Also, it casts implosion 3 times, has Mestil's Acid shield, and two Acid Fogs. I've beat it three times; once with Alton + Syluné, twice on my own. What I didn't realize was that implosion isn't an "instant death effect", so it killed me when I rolled a 1 on my last attempt.
The thing has See Invis (I think), but not True Sight. The arcane slime that accompanies it, however, has a high DC paralyze, dispel, and has True Sight. There are occasionally two slimes instead of one.
There's also no warning, at all, before encountering it. In fact, in the most common route taken to it, there are 2-3 fire beetles as the last enemy before it. Fire beetles. They have something around 6 HPs.
A bit of warning -would- be nice. Though, admittedly, when I first checked the CR on it and it was "Impossible" with a description of "Epic Monster", my first instinct was to run. ;p |
Shard Aerinmane - Spellsword
Avion Bladesaint - Pugilist
Vincent Lawful - Adventurer
"One Color ~ Countless Shades" |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 03:26 AM |
I never trust the creature descriptions. Ever since it told me Giantlings are "Moderate," I've considered them to be utter myths and lies.
To give everyone else an idea of how hard this thing is (since Val's been proven to be > than Shard... ;P )
With an AB of 35 at highest, natural 20's are the only thing that sticks.
Its HP is, by my estimation, around 700 or so.
High Saves completely destroy any chance of killing it with a single spell; thus, spellcasters are forced to use Isaac's Greater and the like.
An Elder Earth Elemental, with its 30 Strength score (34 buffed) spent the entire duration of its time on Vives on its back; having been knocked down over and over and over again.
The Beetle itself seems to have four attacks per round, each attack made with (if my memory serves me correctly) a 20-something AB. The phsyical damage, while not overwhelming, is accompanied by Acid damage, bypassing Damage Reduction.
So far, Val's killed it four times, all solo. Each time took 10 castings of Horrid Wilting, 12 of Ball Lightning, and then around 20 castings (good thing I carry around two items for resting) of Isaac's Greater.
To put that in even greater perspective, each Horrid Wilting (thanks to the Beetle's obscenely high Saves) does around 50 damage; Ball Lightning around 30. Isaac's Greater is fickle, but the number of castings speaks for itself.
|
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 03:46 AM |
| And that's why it is an epic monster. It should be difficult to beat. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 07:12 AM |
And that's why it is an epic monster. It should be difficult to beat.
Really? I had no idea.
Regardless, I don't think that's the issue.
|
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 07:18 AM |
And that's why it is an epic monster. It should be difficult to beat.
Really? I had no idea.
Regardless, I don't think that's the issue.
What /is/ the issue then? |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 08:01 AM |
To give everyone else an idea of how hard this thing is (since Val's been proven to be > than Shard... ;P )
Why are this monster's stats being posted on the forums at all?!
Spread the word IG and IC, don't go to so-and-so or you'll get killed!! |
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about dying."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means lying in the ground with dirt on your face and holding your breath forever."
-Burt Reynolds, "The End" |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 08:36 AM |
Excellent point.
In case you've forgotten, Vives is a roleplaying server. If something nasty exists, warn folks.
Rule Number 1 btw, and worth bearing in mind.
There is not a single PC on this server who is invulnerable or has a divine right to be able to kill anything they come across, that applies to DM run PCs as well.
Sometimes you lose, no matter who you are, and while I accept the point about lack of warning... doesn't the fact that you've previously visited and had your rear handed to you on a plate give you grounds to at least reconsider going again? |
ELVES! |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 09:20 AM |
After being to the beetle cave near Port a character probably knows it´s not just a few fire beetles coming along the way. I´d guess the Hive Mother and her friends have ended a lot of journeys into her small realm.
Knowing the danger of her it should be obvious there are not just happy beetles in that cavern. And I think I remember something along it being the testing area of magic (it´s quite obvious if you read the area notice, don´t want to spoil it here). Even if your character doesn´t know, that´s a clear sign there 'could' be something that bites. ;) |
Portraits: zip.rar
PRAISE HECK, FOR HIS NAME IS HECK, AND JUST HECK! |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 10:58 AM |
I never trust the creature descriptions. Ever since it told me Giantlings are "Moderate," I've considered them to be utter myths and lies.
This should be considered an important rule of thumb in Vives. I was once killed in two hits by a creature whose description was "Easy", and I was level 10. Make no judgements about a creature unless you have fought one before or spoken to someone (IG) who has. |
-Kalos
"When in doubt, tell the truth. It will amaze most people, delight your friends, and confuse your enemies" -Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 11:35 AM |
Just step on it.
and if that doesn't work
go to the Gnomes and buy a can of Raid. |
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 01:00 PM |
The Magus inspects a substantial can with "RAID" written upon it in large magical runes. "Made in Tockticken" is written in smaller characters below the advertisement which features a big orclun woman in a red frock, with red headband, and flaming sword. A floating human woman is illustrated behind her, this one wielding an oversized sword in one hand while summoning a fire elemental with the other. These two seem to be leading a horde in the background, which is suggested by a flat gray outline of a mass of persons with weapons raised.
The Magus rotates the can around in his left hand while twiddling his DMFI certified Encounters Wand in his right. "Hmmmm..... Ingredients," he reads, "Half-orc barbarian berserker pit fighter, Epic human orclun sorceress, Uncontrollable Fire Elemental named Sparky, 2d12 extras from encounter table VI. Yes. I like it! This ought to do the trick."
And with that he packs his DMFI wand back into the widget from whence it came in exchange for a can opener. |
Famous last words:
Mykal> it's my new wireless router.
* > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout)
Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m.....
* > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat) |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 01:05 PM |
| Henesua, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter. |
True solace is finding none, which is to say, it is everywhere.
-Gretel Ehrlich |
|
|
|
|
Re: Insects have no brains.
Posted: 18 Jan 2007 01:37 PM |
Just for you Rosen:
Henesua's Newsletter |
Famous last words:
Mykal> it's my new wireless router.
* > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout)
Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m.....
* > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat) |
|
|
|
|
And another thing!!!
Posted: 20 Jan 2007 11:04 PM |
| (( double post )) |
True solace is finding none, which is to say, it is everywhere.
-Gretel Ehrlich |
|
|
|
|
And another thing!!!
Posted: 20 Jan 2007 11:04 PM |
| I would humbly suggest that a merchant who sells crafting junk be centrally available so as to save on public sanity and cut down on my bitching. You should not have to travel across the continent to get a sewing kit in a world where every merchant has a steady supply of magical potions. |
True solace is finding none, which is to say, it is everywhere.
-Gretel Ehrlich |
|
|
|
|
Re: And another thing!!!
Posted: 20 Jan 2007 11:12 PM |
There are merchants in the south and north, all still alive. I can think of at least 4 in the north off the top of my head that sell sewing kits, 2 in south-central and 1 in the west.
You might get better results if you try to resolve this IC first instead of posting an OOC complaint. Put that bulletin in the trading post to good use, peeps! |
|
|
|
|
|
Re: And another thing!!!
Posted: 20 Jan 2007 11:14 PM |
| How about Bligh getting his store? D: |
|
|
|
|
|
Re: And another thing!!!
Posted: 21 Jan 2007 03:50 AM |
There are merchants in the south and north, all still alive. I can think of at least 4 in the north off the top of my head that sell sewing kits, 2 in south-central and 1 in the west.
You might get better results if you try to resolve this IC first instead of posting an OOC complaint. Put that bulletin in the trading post to good use, peeps!
Wow, if that's the case, I must have hit every merchant who didn't sell them, then. Sorry. Though I assure you I -did- try to solve this IC'ly. I spent over an hour asking around and poking around. |
True solace is finding none, which is to say, it is everywhere.
-Gretel Ehrlich |
|
|
|