The Gaming Den

Everybody knows that the ogre mage sucks, so I made this thing, which is hopefully less crappy and a bit more themed....

OGRE MAGE CR 5
Large Giant
Init +6; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision; Listen +9, Spot +9
Languages Giant, Common
AC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 20 SR 17
hp 39 (6 HD); fast healing 5
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +4
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee greatsword +9 (3d6+7/19–20); or
Ranged longbow +5 (2d6/x3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +4; Grp +13
Atk Options sneak attack 2d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th):
3/day— invisibility, minor image;
1/day—color spray, gaseous form, mirror image;
Abilities Str 21, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 17
SQ deceptive veil
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (greatsword)
Skills Concentration +10, Disguise +10, Intimidate +10, Listen +9, Spot +9
Possessions greatsword, composite longbow, +4 chain shirt
Deceptive Veil (Su): As per the spell disguise self, save that the ogre mage can appear to be up to one size smaller.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Sneak Attack: As if used by a rogue with levels equal to the ogre mage's HD.

I've always thought of ogre mages as manipulators for some reason, so I gave them some illusions and some other things.

Just tell me what you think, I'm kind of inexperienced with making monsters.

Well, I'm also not the greatest with monsters, but this seems pretty cool. I prefer it being CR 5 and a challenge over being CR 8 and a total walk in the park (though sometimes I play with ogre mages who skill have polymorph available... hee hee). The one thing that bothers me is the loss of SR. I mean, we're looking at a monster with the Touch AC that's slightly higher than a rolling brick, 2 rather poor saves, and now no SR. For being an ogre mage, he sure would get his butt handed to him by any kind of caster.

Thanks, what would you suggest the spell resistance being? Just keep it the same, higher or lower?

Normally it's 10 or 11 + HD, isn't it? So I'd do 16-17.

Alright, Spell Resistance added.

I think it's pretty close to CR 5. It should be a toss-up between it and a single 5 level PC, and it should be a moderate challenge for a group of 5th level PCs.

It's AC is okay for CR 5, and it's HP are moderate to low, so it probably shouldn't just stand in melee with opponents. Mirror Image would help briefly, but not for too long. Flight and a longbow can keep it out of melee, but it won't do much bow damage, and it lacks any real ranged offense. I'd suggest hit-and-run sniping while flying invisibly, but he only gets Invisibility 3/day.

So, it could hit and run okay for a bit, but not long enough to wipe a group of 5th level PCs.

You don't tell what level of rogue this class acts as for sneak attack.

Leress wrote:You don't tell what level of rogue this class acts as for sneak attack.

At a guess, I'd say equal to HD, but you're right - it should specify just for clarity's sake.