Review the Creature’s Weaknesses

No matter how intelligent the creature is, any opponent of high-level PCs should be as prepared as possible to face the party. Unintelligent creatures undoubtedly have another force that tells them what to do, and this behind-the-scenes antagonist makes sure that any discernible weaknesses have been minimized. Against high-level PCs, few allies are expendable—the villain must make sure that each ally has a specific purpose.

As DM, it is your responsibility to make sure that the PCs’ enemy has adequately prepared for any confrontation. Obvious weaknesses, such as a rakshasa’s susceptibility to a blessed crossbow bolt, should should be shielded from the PCs. Perhaps the rakshasa has read a scroll of protection from magic, or is protected by a minor globe of invulnerability when the PCs attack. Some additional examples follow:

· · Fire and acid are troll’s worst enemies because they prevent the troll from regenerating (see the troll entry in the Monstrous Manual™). A troll’s regeneration ability also has a delay; the creature regains no hit points until three rounds after it suffers its first wound.

Trolls that have each consumed a potion of fire resistance and covered themselves with oil of acid resistance might prove quite a challenge for PCs who are accustomed to chopping up trolls and dousing them with flaming oil.

A cavern filled with pockets of explosive gases would make any fire-based spell hazardous for the PCs.

Player characters might hesitate to attack trolls with fire after a trap douses them with flammable oil.

A troll that spends a few rounds hurling missiles at a party before closing to melee might just suffer an arrow hit that starts its regeneration before it begins suffering really heavy damage from the party’s warriors.

· · Vampires suffer from diverse vulnerabilities that players know all too well: sunlight, garlic, mirrors, holy symbols, turning by priests and paladins, and running water.

Living deep underground and keeping a few items enchanted with continual darkness spells effectively eliminates the threat of sunlight.

Smart vampires keep charmed minions on hand to break mirrors, destroy garlic, and snatch away holy symbols.

A well-placed wall of ice, Otiluke’s freezing sphere, or lower water spell makes immersing a vampire in running water difficult if not impossible.

Remember that it is running water that harms vampires. Stagnant water doesn’t hurt them at all, and a clever vampire might use standing water as a hiding place to ambush overconfident PCs.

A vampire employing a disguise might not be recognized as an undead creature until after it attacks, providing hefty surprise penalties to the PCs. A nondetection spell would prevent its discovery by detect undead or similar spells.

A vampire living in a particularly unhallowed place might be resistant to turning attempts.

· · Giant slugs are wildly inaccurate when they first use their acidic spit in an encounter, and they have a terrible Armor Class.

A giant slug might automatically hit with its initial acid attack if the party must approach it through a narrow opening or constricted passage.

The slug’s poor Armor Class is irrelevant if the party cannot attack it. Perhaps it lies on the far side of a crevasse or behind a portcullis or other barrier.

In many cases, you also have to find ways to explain why a creature enjoys the advantages it has for the situation you have constructed. Remember that the PCs might want to incorporate some of your ideas into a defensive aid for their own keeps and castles. Keeping the PCs’ alignments in mind, your rulings—for or against—should be consistent.

· · Perhaps a member of the troll’s group is a polymorphed or reincarnated wizard who is making the best of a bad situation by brewing potions for her companions.

· · The explosive gases are a naturally occurring event in that region. An alchemist could reproduce the explosive for the PCs, but it would be expensive.

· · Vampires have the intelligence and longevity to dream up all manner of special defenses and contingency plans. Did someone say contingency?

· · Perhaps the giant slug is another creature’s pet or guardian. The portcullis, which the slug might easily batter down, is coated with a thick layer of salt that discourages the monster from pushing against it except in one place that is just large enough to accommodate its head.

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