Slaughter [CR 10*]

[JNAProductions]

Slaughter
Medium Fiend, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 115 (10d8+70)
Speed 45', Fly 30'


Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Intelligence
Wisdom
Charisma


28 (+9)
20 (+5)
24 (+7)
14 (+2)
14 (+2)
20 (+5)


Saving Throws Charisma +10
Skills Athletics +14, Perception +7, Intimidation +10
Damage Resistances Non-magical Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened
Senses Darkvision 120', Lifesight 60', Passive Perception 17
Languages Many
Challenge 10*
Lifesight
Slaughter can detect animate creatures by a supernatural sixth sense within 60'. While viewing a creature in this way, Slaughter suffers no penalties in relation to being able to see them, even if they are otherwise undetectable. This detection bypasses most barriers, but can be blocked by a foot of stone, an inch of most metals, any amount of lead, or three feet of other solid materials.
Note that, while this is called "Lifesight", it detects any animate creature, including undead and constructs.

Invigorated By Carnage
Any time a creature drops to 0 HP while within 120' of Slaughter while it is engaged in combat, Slaughter gains a +1 to their hit and damage rolls.
If a creature is personally killed by Slaughter, it also gains +1 to its AC.
When any bonus reaches +5, Slaughter grows a size category to Large, increasing its reach on all melee attacks by 5'.
These bonuses last until one minute after the end of a combat.

Siege Monster
Slaughter does double damage to inanimate objects and structures.

Magical Attacks
Slaughter's attacks are treated as magical for overcoming damage resistance and immunity.

Reckless
Slaughter can choose to gain advantage on all attacks made until the start of its next turn. If it does so, all attacks made against it gain advantage for that same period.

Destructive
Slaughter adds one die to all attacks made with weapons. This is already reflected in its statblock.

Actions
Greataxe Melee Weapon Attack:
+14 to-hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: 2d12+9 slashing damage.

Spread The Slaughter (Recharge 4-6)
One target within 60' must make a DC 18 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, that target becomes enraged until the end of Slaughter's next turn. An enraged creature must use its actions and movement to attempt to deal damage to another creature. If it cannot make the attempt (such as by being Incapacitated) then, at the end of their turn, they take 4d10 psychic damage.

Extra Attack II
Slaughter makes up to three Greataxe attacks or other attack actions. One attack may be replaced by Spread The Slaughter.

Bonus Actions
Cannibalize
Slaughter consumes a creature that is either at 0 HP or has died within the past minute. The creature is slain, if they are not already dead, and Slaughter may spend up to three hit dice to regain HP.

Reactions
Retaliation
When hit by an attack, Slaughter may use their reaction to make a melee attack against the aggressor.

Sorcerous Scorn
Slaughter casts Counterspell against a spell that includes it as a target, using Charisma as its casting stat. However, the ability check must be made even for a spell of 3rd level or lower.

Note that this is CR 10... But that's off its base stats. Invigorated By Carnage means that, if you encounter one of these with some weaklings in tow, it will QUICKLY become much scarier! So be careful using this.

[MrStabby]

A few thoughts:

1) Lifesight - why not exclude undead and constructs? A little more thematic and not likely to be that significant in game?
2) Invigortaed by carnage - is this supposed to be both allies and enemy creatures? It will wreck things like conjured animals sometimes.
3) Seige Monster - kind of seems odd. Bonus against animate objects and a different one aganst inanimate. No big deal though, but feels a little unfocussed.
4) Reckless - might be worth harmonising with reckless attack from barbarian as otherwise the differences might cause confusion
5) Destructive (add 'included in profile'?)
6) Spread the slaughter feels like it should be more of a wisdom save to me. Also, is it just me or is this realtively weak? I get that the fiend flys so melee PCs might only be able to attack team mates, but javalins and even bows are cheap enough. Maybe do the damage if no damage in inflicted
7) Canabalise - not sure 'dying' is a condition. You might want 'that has 0 hit points or dies within the last minute'?
8) Reactions... wow, these are strong.

With its grea mobility, high damage output and great reactions I could see this being more of a pain that its CR suggests. Hit and run attacks - using reckless and potentially geting some hits off from Retaliation when pulling back without disengaging could see some steep damage.

[Potato_Priest]

Spread the slaughter could also be buffed my making it affect EVERY creature within 60 feet, like the opposite of terrifying presence.

[JNAProductions]

A few thoughts:

1) Lifesight - why not exclude undead and constructs? A little more thematic and not likely to be that significant in game?
2) Invigortaed by carnage - is this supposed to be both allies and enemy creatures? It will wreck things like conjured animals sometimes.
3) Seige Monster - kind of seems odd. Bonus against animate objects and a different one aganst inanimate. No big deal though, but feels a little unfocussed.
4) Reckless - might be worth harmonising with reckless attack from barbarian as otherwise the differences might cause confusion
5) Destructive (add 'included in profile'?)
6) Spread the slaughter feels like it should be more of a wisdom save to me. Also, is it just me or is this realtively weak? I get that the fiend flys so melee PCs might only be able to attack team mates, but javalins and even bows are cheap enough. Maybe do the damage if no damage in inflicted
7) Canabalise - not sure 'dying' is a condition. You might want 'that has 0 hit points or dies within the last minute'?
8) Reactions... wow, these are strong.

With its grea mobility, high damage output and great reactions I could see this being more of a pain that its CR suggests. Hit and run attacks - using reckless and potentially geting some hits off from Retaliation when pulling back without disengaging could see some steep damage.

1) Slaughter doesn't care what it kills. If it's animate, it's fair game.
2) Any creature that hits 0/dies within range.
3) The intent for this is that there can be occasions where Slaughter can "see" prey with Lifesight, but there's a physical, non-animate barrier in the way. Siege Monster lets it smash through it much more easily.
4) Differences are intentional-though I'd be fine updating Reckless Attack in my games to match this.
5) Sure thing, thanks.
6) It's not intended to be massively powerful. But it can be pretty useful to use on a support PC, and in-theme, would likely be used on someone who's trying to not fight as much. Say, an NPC that's being escorted and just wants to hide.
7) It should be clear, but updated just to make sure. Thanks again.
8) Yee.

One thing to note is that, thematically, Slaughter is NOT a hit-and-run fighter. It's a dynamo of destruction that will get in there and kill till nothing remains. If played as a coolly tactical monster, it's scarier than if played as a slavering beast.
Obviously a DM is free to use the mechanics without touching the themes, and given that I didn't actually WRITE any of it, it'd make sense to. :P
But I also feel that the type of DM to use homebrew like this is probably experienced enough to know what their party can and can't handle.

Overall, thanks for the detailed feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time. :)


Spread the slaughter could also be buffed my making it affect EVERY creature within 60 feet, like the opposite of terrifying presence.

Not sure that's needed. Though to keep it "spreading", perhaps any creature that takes damage from a creature affected by Spread The Slaughter must make a save against the effect themself?

[MrStabby]

Overall, thanks for the detailed feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time. :)



No problem. Is I was tryting to quickly type it out on a phone before an interview I was worried that it sounded very terse!

[JNAProductions]

No problem. Is I was tryting to quickly type it out on a phone before an interview I was worried that it sounded very terse!

You good. I can see why you might’ve worried, but no offense has been taken-only appreciation.