Beating the Tarrasque with the SRD

[gooddragon1]

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[Jallorn]

I remember a thread where the Tarrasque was beaten by a fairly low level character (I think) using an NPC class, and the Ride skill.

[dascarletm]

0 cha doesn't kill the Tarrasque, or anything for that matter.

You still need that wish.

[LordBlades]

0 cha doesn't kill the Tarrasque, or anything for that matter.

You still need that wish.

It's practically dead though. Ability drain doesn't heal on it's own so without outside intervention the tarrasque would be lying there comatose until the end of time

[dascarletm]

It's practically dead though. Ability drain doesn't heal on it's own so without outside intervention the tarrasque would be lying there comatose until the end of time

Sounds like the job of an Evil Cleric.:smallbiggrin:

[gooddragon1]

Sounds like the job of an Evil Cleric.:smallbiggrin:

Or a good cleric (hired) to cast miracle. (If it would cost money then you can just cast wish of a scroll yourself which is the cheapest method short of cheesing a wish out of shapechange zodar).

[Wookie-ranger]

the OH SO mighty Tarrasque! The fear of the realm.
That will rip you to shreds, ... unless you fly.... or are incorporeal, ... or invisible ... etc.

Its pretty tough to kill (relatively speaking); but in all honesty, if you get killed by it, you didn't try very hard.

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

A while ago I found this: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dkb1/dnd/tarrasque.txt

I thought to myself why not...
Wait until the tarrasque (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/tarrasque.htm) is on an open plains area then Greater Teleport (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/teleportGreater.htm) near it and cast Reverse Gravity (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/reverseGravity.htm) on it then use the prescience variant wizard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#prescience) on a gray elf (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/elf.htm#grayElf) to activate a scroll of Shapechange (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shapechange.htm) with a CL check of 13+5 for the minimum 18 required and change into an Allip (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/allip.htm) and drain away it's charisma.

Summary.

Cost: 3825gp if you have the spells already. A.

Time: A day most likely. A.

Level: All possible at 13th-level. A.

Experience: Full 46800. A+.

Sensibility: Makes as much sense as magic always does. A.

Legality: Completely legitimate. A+.

Not free, but really close to it. The only drawback is that you have to build your character a specific way. Though no cheese is involved here.

I'm pretty sure that the Allip's incorporeality won't work because the tarrasque's weapons are treated as epic (i.e. +6 magic) weapons, and incorporeality doesn't protect against "magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons". It has a 50% chance to hit you with each attack, and you are going to need about 7 rounds to wear down its Charisma.

Also, even if it swings at you and misses, you have to make a Will save to avoid freaking out from its fear aura.

Another major issue is reverse gravity. It can only cover 13 ten-foot cubes, and the tarrasque's feet cover at least 9 of those (30x30). Even if it bobs on top, it can just reach down to the ground and claw its way out of the field.

Finally, you have to beat it on initiative. Very risky.

[Flickerdart]

I'm pretty sure that the Allip's incorporeality won't work because the tarrasque's weapons are treated as epic (i.e. +6 magic) weapons, and incorporeality doesn't protect against "magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons". It has a 50% chance to hit you with each attack, and you are going to need about 7 rounds to wear down its Charisma.

Also, even if it swings at you and misses, you have to make a Will save to avoid freaking out from its fear aura.

Another major issue is reverse gravity. It can only cover 13 ten-foot cubes, and the tarrasque's feet cover at least 9 of those (30x30). Even if it bobs on top, it can just reach down to the ground and claw its way out of the field.

Finally, you have to beat it on initiative. Very risky.
It's only got Epic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. For beating Incorporeal, you need proper magic. And Shapechange grants you the type of the new form, so you become immune to fear.

The Reverse Gravity isn't necessary, as the Tarrasque couldn't outpace a Dimension Door even if it was smart enough to run away.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Yea, it really isn't that difficult to beat Big T. I mean hell... my level 13 Takahashi no Onisan can solo it. I had to engage in a bit of cheese to get my Intimidate check up to +59 (and Exemplar to Take 10), but it wasn't particularly difficult. Switched out the Blindfold of True Darkness for this (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#crystalMaskofDread), and some other things. Then I picked up immunity to fear from somewhere... I forgot which source I finally decided on.

Sure, damage output was a PITA to come up with. I think I ended up using poisons that did Ability Drain.

But you know what was fun? Making Big T Cower because I'm that dang scary... because for some reason, it's NOT immune to Mind-Affecting OR Fear effects.

[INoKnowNames]

Yea, it really isn't that difficult to beat Big T. I mean hell... my level 13 Takahashi no Onisan can solo it. I had to engage in a bit of cheese to get my Intimidate check up to +59 (and Exemplar to Take 10), but it wasn't particularly difficult. Switched out the Blindfold of True Darkness for this (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#crystalMaskofDread), and some other things. Then I picked up immunity to fear from somewhere... I forgot which source I finally decided on.

Sure, damage output was a PITA to come up with. I think I ended up using poisons that did Ability Drain.

But you know what was fun? Making Big T Cower because I'm that dang scary... because for some reason, it's NOT immune to Mind-Affecting OR Fear effects.

... that is badass as hell. To be able to scare Godzilla. That is badass as hell.

You are one scary, scary sonovagun, Shneekey.

[Psyren]

The Allip technique is a bit boring now. I was busy trying to think of other (hopefully SRD-legal) methods to handle big T.

One way I thought up is to hold it in place until it falls unconscious from starvation/thirst. That should (a) keep it from marauding the countryside (a Good character would want to avoid this if possible), and (b) render it vulnerable to the Wish/Miracle "CDG." Its regeneration won't protect it from nonlethal damage sustained from not eating/drinking.

Doing so would be tricky though. Magic methods of paralysis are dangerous (you'll likely have to overcome its SR and saves - both of which have 5% chance of failure - getting close enough to touch it is unsafe, and using a ranged spell has a chance of bouncing it back onto you.) And most such spells have limited duration, necessitating frequent recasting along with multiple CDGs to get its nonlethal high enough to drop it.


But rather than, say, optimize Flesh to Stone or Hold Monster, I instead remembered psionics, specifically the Immovability (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/immovability.htm) power. The steps are simple: Get him to swallow you by grappling him and failing your check, then manifest it in his stomach and start concentrating. Immovability effectively gives you +50 strength (+20 to your strength check) to stay where you are - this means that even with 10 strength, you are impossible for Big T to move with as he only has 45. Provided you don't need to eat/drink (e.g. wear a Ring of Sustenance or be an Elan) you can maintain the power indefinitely - you aren't moving, so you won't actually become fatigued from not sleeping.

The key then becomes surviving in its stomach for however long (weeks? months?) it takes for it to collapse. You get DR 15/- from Immovability to help with the crushing damage - the remainder can be taken care of with some kind of regen or fast healing item. The acid damage is easily solved with a ring of energy resistance or immunity (Greater ER will negate all of it, as it can never do more than 22 acid damage.) Negating rather than mitigating the acid damage is vital - if any of it damages you, the tarrasque is arguably gaining nourishment, even if you heal the damage later, though whether it's enough to keep it going may be a matter of judgment. Better to avoid it totally. Finally, your DM might rule that the gases are suffocating, so you'll need a Bottle of Air.

What I like about this method, beyond its simplicity (all you need is a Psywar/Psion 10 and some common magic items) is that the Tarrasque itself is protecting you. With the Allip methods, another spellcaster can come along and muck things up. Inside the Tarrasque, you're safe from nearly all outside interference because nothing had line of effect to you.

And this method should be SRD-only as well.

[gooddragon1]

The Allip technique is a bit boring now. I was busy trying to think of other (hopefully SRD-legal) methods to handle big T.

One way I thought up is to hold it in place until it falls unconscious from starvation/thirst. That should (a) keep it from marauding the countryside (a Good character would want to avoid this if possible), and (b) render it vulnerable to the Wish/Miracle "CDG." Its regeneration won't protect it from nonlethal damage sustained from not eating/drinking.

Doing so would be tricky though. Magic methods of paralysis are dangerous (you'll likely have to overcome its SR and saves - both of which have 5% chance of failure - getting close enough to touch it is unsafe, and using a ranged spell has a chance of bouncing it back onto you.) And most such spells have limited duration, necessitating frequent recasting along with multiple CDGs to get its nonlethal high enough to drop it.


But rather than, say, optimize Flesh to Stone or Hold Monster, I instead remembered psionics, specifically the Immovability (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/immovability.htm) power. The steps are simple: Get him to swallow you by grappling him and failing your check, then manifest it in his stomach and start concentrating. Immovability effectively gives you +50 strength (+20 to your strength check) to stay where you are - this means that even with 10 strength, you are impossible for Big T to move with as he only has 45. Provided you don't need to eat/drink (e.g. wear a Ring of Sustenance or be an Elan) you can maintain the power indefinitely - you aren't moving, so you won't actually become fatigued from not sleeping.

The key then becomes surviving in its stomach for however long (weeks? months?) it takes for it to collapse. You get DR 15/- from Immovability to help with the crushing damage - the remainder can be taken care of with some kind of regen or fast healing item. The acid damage is easily solved with a ring of energy resistance or immunity (Greater ER will negate all of it, as it can never do more than 22 acid damage.) Negating rather than mitigating the acid damage is vital - if any of it damages you, the tarrasque is arguably gaining nourishment, even if you heal the damage later, though whether it's enough to keep it going may be a matter of judgment. Better to avoid it totally. Finally, your DM might rule that the gases are suffocating, so you'll need a Bottle of Air.

What I like about this method, beyond its simplicity (all you need is a Psywar/Psion 10 and some common magic items) is that the Tarrasque itself is protecting you. With the Allip methods, another spellcaster can come along and muck things up. Inside the Tarrasque, you're safe from nearly all outside interference because nothing had line of effect to you.

And this method should be SRD-only as well.

Necropolitan, ring of major energy resistance, immovability. You don't breathe and don't eat and don't need to sleep (so concentrating on the power isn't a problem).

Also, for my earlier method, tack on a baleful polymorph which will cause the tarrasque to lose all of its abilities if it fails the will save and thus you can kill it.

[TuggyNE]

Necropolitan, ring of major energy resistance, immovability. You don't breathe and don't eat and don't need to sleep (so concentrating on the power isn't a problem).

Necropolitan isn't SRD, while Elans are.


Also, for my earlier method, tack on a baleful polymorph which will cause the tarrasque to lose all of its abilities if it fails the will save and thus you can kill it.

I have to admit I find it odd Big T isn't immune to polymorphing.

[Spuddles]

I've built a Lvl 11 or lvl 13 telepath that statistically psionically dominates the tarrasque.

+20ish to over come SR, will save DC at around 30. One in four chance to dominate it each round.

Stay flying.

[toapat]

Necropolitan isn't SRD, while Elans are.

I have to admit I find it odd Big T isn't immune to polymorphing.

it is kinda irritating, and now we need to find another template to staple onto the Tarrasque for that topic of yours where i stapled something like 12 templates on him to make him living armegeddon

[Psyren]

I don't know how long until Big T needs to eat before starving, but this build has slot trouble. Elans till need to eat/drink - they can just last without doing so by spending 1 PP/day. Worse, they need a standard action to do so, which means breaking concentration on Immovability.
Sustenance, Greater Acid Resistance, and Regeneration are therefore all necessary items to survive in its stomach, but in the SRD, all are rings. One of these effects needs to be shifted to another slot.

A Skin of Proteus can help with this, transforming the Psion or Psywar into something with acid resistance/immunity that can wear rings (like a Djinn) for as long as he stays in Big T's gut, and allowing him room to wear a Ring of Sustenance. This also opens the trick up to any race.

[Amidus Drexel]

I don't know how long until Big T needs to eat before starving, but this build has slot trouble. Elans till need to eat/drink - they can just last without doing so by spending 1 PP/day. Worse, they need a standard action to do so, which means breaking concentration on Immovability.
Sustenance, Greater Acid Resistance, and Regeneration are therefore all necessary items to survive in its stomach, but in the SRD, all are rings. One of these effects needs to be shifted to another slot.

A Skin of Proteus can help with this, transforming the Psion or Psywar into something with acid resistance/immunity that can wear rings (like a Djinn) for as long as he stays in Big T's gut, and allowing him room to wear a Ring of Sustenance. This also opens the trick up to any race.

You can get Acid Resistance on magic armor, so that should free up your ring slot. (And since we're using psionics, there's no failure chance to worry about)

[Twilightwyrm]

Nitpick: Allips drain Wisdom, not Charisma. /nirpick
(I recognize this is doubly nitpicky since the Tarrasque has a 14 to both Wisdom and Charisma)

[Psyren]

You can get Acid Resistance on magic armor, so that should free up your ring slot. (And since we're using psionics, there's no failure chance to worry about)

Yeah, and that would be slightly cheaper than the Skin as well, albeit having less utility in a general sense. Since the goal is to be able to take on Big T at as low a level as possible, maximizing WBL is important :smallsmile:

[Amnestic]

Nitpick: Allips drain Wisdom, not Charisma. /nirpick
(I recognize this is doubly nitpicky since the Tarrasque has a 14 to both Wisdom and Charisma)

Not nitpicky if the Tarrasque bound Dahlver-Nar which gives him immunity to Wis Drain/Damage but not Cha Drain/Damage!

[Piggy Knowles]

SRD only, ECL 13, you say?

Ghost (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm), Commoner 8. Make sure "draining touch" is one of your chosen special abilities.

Float up to the tarrasque. Touch it with your draining touch. Even without a Dex bonus, you'll have no trouble hitting its touch AC of 5, as Commoner gives you +4 BAB.

Your touch will deal 1d4 points of Intelligence damage. Big T's got an Intelligence of 3. That's a 50% chance that you just took him out in one hit.

(I know that ghost shenanigans aren't really any more original than the allip, but still, this doesn't involve a scroll of shapechange. Although you'll still need a wish or miracle to take him out completely...)

(My first thought actually involved a level 13 wizard using planar binding for an efreet to stand by, and then polymorph, greater invisibility to approach unnoticed, and quickened true strike to hit him with a phthisic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/phthisic.htm)'s bite attack. Have the efreet then wish him dead. But with no way to overcome Big T's damage reduction, that's not the best option. Also, there's still only a 50% chance that would take him out, and even with invisibility and displacement effects up, there's still too great a chance that I would die to a counterattack.)

[Devmaar]

I don't know how long until Big T needs to eat before starving, but this build has slot trouble. Elans till need to eat/drink - they can just last without doing so by spending 1 PP/day. Worse, they need a standard action to do so, which means breaking concentration on Immovability.
Sustenance, Greater Acid Resistance, and Regeneration are therefore all necessary items to survive in its stomach, but in the SRD, all are rings. One of these effects needs to be shifted to another slot.

A Skin of Proteus can help with this, transforming the Psion or Psywar into something with acid resistance/immunity that can wear rings (like a Djinn) for as long as he stays in Big T's gut, and allowing him room to wear a Ring of Sustenance. This also opens the trick up to any race.

Hand of Glory (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#handofGlory) is 76000 Gp cheaper than a Skin of Proteus

[Eldariel]

Your touch will deal 1d4 points of Intelligence damage. Big T's got an Intelligence of 3. That's a 50% chance that you just took him out in one hit.

Important nitpick, it's ability drain, not damage. Big T is immune to damage, so it's kinda important to note.

[Than]

My turn to /nitpick. That essay gave me SO many headaches. Please keep in mind I do not have access to the 3.0 Tarrasque. All I can see is the 3.5 Tarrasque and ruleset.

He suggests that lowering party members lowers the Average Party Level like the CR of encounters. This defeats the purpose of the word "average".

Did 3.0 not have stacking rules for different types of bonus? This guy just seems to ignore that rule if it was there.

[Piggy Knowles]

Important nitpick, it's ability drain, not damage. Big T is immune to damage, so it's kinda important to note.

Yeah, sorry, used the wrong term. Which is odd, because the phthisic strategy I was planning on posting kind of relied on the fact that the bite attack's Int damage would turn to Int drain on a roll if 3 or higher.

[Spuddles]

Yeah, sorry, used the wrong term. Which is odd, because the phthisic strategy I was planning on posting kind of relied on the fact that the bite attack's Int damage would turn to Int drain on a roll if 3 or higher.

That's not how it works; it's not what is rolled but the amount of damage done. If you're immune to ability damage, then the amount of int damage you take from the monster's bite is always zero, thus never turning into drain.

Reread the ability- "If this effect reduces the opponent’s Intelligence score to 0, the ability damage becomes ability drain."

The effect will never reduce the opponent's int score, if the opponent is immune to ability damage.

[Piggy Knowles]

That's not how it works; it's not what is rolled but the amount of damage done. If you're immune to ability damage, then the amount of int damage you take from the monster's bite is always zero, thus never turning into drain.

Reread the ability- "If this effect reduces the opponent’s Intelligence score to 0, the ability damage becomes ability drain."

The effect will never reduce the opponent's int score, if the opponent is immune to ability damage.

Well, there goes the only source of Ex ability drain in the SRD that I know of. As I said above I was having trouble getting the bite to deal enough damage to actually hurt him anyhow.

[OrlockDelesian]

On a game long ago I defeated it single handed.

17th lvl wizzard at the time, I ammased 10 5.000 worth diamonds, and Wished them to fuse into a single one. The Dm Accepted it, and I had possesion of a huge diamond worth 50.000 the size of a Basketball.
I then casted invisibillity, teleported near (not near enough so it could smell me lets say 1200 feet away) the tarrasque, limited wished for it to take -7 on it's next save, and then casted assay resistance. I closed in for the kill.

I cast trap the soul. It's will save of +20 became +13 and my dc was 30 [10 + 8 (spell level) + 10 inteligence*+2 spell focus and greater spell focus conjuration].
I beat its 32 spell resistance easily (with a +29 to my roll), it needed a 17 or higher to save, It fails.

Since then the tarrasque was in my Bag of holding, within it's shiny diamond, and I proceeded to blacmail the hell out of every nation in the world.

With a proper strategy it is not that hard to beat.

*intelligence of 30: 18 to start, 4 on the lvl ups, +6 headband, and 2 inherent from a book