
However the effects last "1d4 rounds" which means the field will have 2 rounds of difficult terrain, 1 round of damaging effect 3 rounds of yadda yadda yadda. it has a variable effect instead of attacks which function similar to a beholder eyebeam. I used it SEVERAL times (Even using up to 4 of them at once) and every time i found it extremely underwhelming. The pillar one is the opposite (still CR4). On top of this it has multi attack with one attack doing 2d8+3 and the other doing 6d6+3 (+ grappled and restrained)

It has a fly speed of 20 so it could just go back and forth over a PC doing 6d6 with just its movement.


The skyfish is CR 4 and it has an ability that any creature below it when it hovers over them takes 3d6 lightning (1/2 on dex save) and doesn't give a limit to how many times it can do it. The Tusked Skyfish I believe is its name and the Pillar of the lost magocracy (something like that) I don't have the book in front of me but 2 come to mind (now keep in mind I don't remember if these are from creature codex or Tome of Beasts but they're very similar books). You REALLY have to look at the creature beforehand to make sure it's the right challenge you're looking for. With Creature codex monsters however, CR really is meaningless. As a DM I don't use any kind of calculations or EXP budget to plan encounters, I just go with gut and usually it works out well (combat is challenging, players go down, but with good plays, they usually come out ok). I know the CR system isn't perfect, but with WotC materials, i can usually tell how hard a fight's gonna be by using the CR of the monsters. These abilities can add complexity to the game forcing players/DM to keep track of +'s and -'s (This one may only be a negative because my personal table switched from pathfinder because we got tired of dealing with this exact thing lol)Ģ. Many creatures have abilities that either add or subtract flat numbers which, while was common in earlier editions, is almost non-existent in 5e and usually replaced with advantage/disadvantage. The dragons, I think, are my favorite! These books add a lot of unique spins and forms of creatures we already had which can increase encounter variety.ġ.

A lot of the creatures have abilities that are completely different from everything in WotC materialsĢ. I have the tome of beasts as well as the creature codex (also a kobold press) and from what I've used, They're kinda hit or miss with their balance.ġ.
