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Old 09-10-2020, 02:28 PM   #9
phiwum
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
Default Re: The basilisk freeze power

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadekeep View Post
Traditionally the petrifying power of a basilisk (and cockatrice, and gorgon) lies in its gaze. Doesn't necessarily need to be reciprocal (the victim doesn't have to meet the gaze with their own). So if some of the party can hide from sight or attack from behind they can avoid the effect a bit longer.

But in general any creature with petrifying vision is going to be quite dangerous in the hands of a smart GM. I put a single pampered basilisk and its two skeleton attendants on one of the higher (and thus harder) floors of the Deathspine in part because it's such an effective threat. Even moreso if it has sidekicks to do the actual killing while it handles paralysis duties.
A bit of an aside, but when you use skeletons as permanent fixtures like that, do you bother to give them Zombie rings or explain how they can serve a basilisk over time? Or do you just take for granted that these particular skeletons are special and don't require regular ST boosts?

I ask because one Zombie ring per skeleton adds up to a serious cash influx.
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