A Director is one of the innumerable forms of beholderkin, which are considered to be true aberrations of the race known as Beholder. Beholderkin are the result of Hive Mothers and Elder Orbs attempts at breeding slaves to be used in their individual quest to conquer all other beholders. Directors are slightly smaller than a standard beholder, averaging 6 feet in diameter, and are capable of controlling vermin, which they use as war mounts in battle.
This particular director is encountered in Firkraag's Maze while searching for the six pieces of a burial mask to complete the Mask of King Strohm III. The creature is in a short passageway that is accessible through two doors, the southern one of which is locked(30).
Abilities[]
Reflecting its diminished status as a mockery of the beholder self-image, this director only has the ability to use one kind of Beholder Eye Ray, that being the Slow Ray. The creature is also capable of casting Burning Hands, Magic Missile, and Ice Storm.
The creature has fewer hit points than standard beholders; however, it does have 20% magic resistance and 50% resistance to all melee and ranged attacks. It is the only variant form of beholder that is not immune to backstab attacks.
Unlike a beholder, the director is unable to cast the Death Spell upon seeing a summoned creature in range; instead, it will cast an Ice Storm. It does have immunities to movement-modifying effects like Hold Creature, Paralyze, Slow, and Stun, and since it is under permanent Free Action and naturally buoyant like all beholders, Web, Entangle, and Grease will not work on this creature either.
Gameplay[]
The director will not hesitate very long before attacking. It begins casting spells with near-instant deployment, and there is no chance of spell interruption from a successful hit. When a valid targeted enemy is detected, it will usually begin with Magic Missile, and if there are multiple opponents seen by the creature, it looks at the second nearest and even third nearest target to determine at which one it aims the spell. It will concentrate its attacks on any mage within visual range and has a contingency for summoned creatures.
If the creature is able to cast more than one Ice Storm spell during the battle, it is possible that it might be applied on top of an existing active spell, and the director could end up in its own Area of Effect and take damage.
When engaged in battle, the director will utilize its eye ray and wizard spells in the following manner:
Slow Ray:[]
First cycle:
- See any party member or mage class (priority)
Second cycle:
- See 2nd nearest party member
- HP >35
Spells:[]
First cycle:
- Summons seen: — Ice Storm
- See any party member
- HP >65: — Magic Missile
- See 2nd nearest party member
- HP >55: — Burning Hands
- See least damaged party member
- HP >45: — Ice Storm
- See any party member or See least damaged party member (priority)
- HP >45: — Magic Missile
Second cycle:
- See any party member
- HP >15: — Burning Hands
- See 3rd nearest party member
- HP >5: — Ice Storm
- See least damaged: — Magic Missile
- See any party member or See least damaged party member (priority): — Magic Missile
- See any party member or mage class: — Magic Missile
- See any party member or mage class (priority): — Burning Hands
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Mods:[]
If the player has installed the Ooze's Lounge mod, then the Director's corpse will provide an item that will further a side quest introduced by that mod, involving the Beholder merchant and its sidekick immature small beholder.
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod makes a several changes to this Director. The beholder has a brighter tint to make it appear different than an ordinary beholder. The creature's immunities are standardized with SCS beholders, so it is immune to all movement and hold type spell effects and is under Free Action. It is protected from Backstab.
SCS revised the AI script for the Director. The mod has melded the original Director's use of force cast spells with several other uses of Beholder eye ray attacks. Instead of Ice Storm (which can harm itself), it uses an innate spell version of Cone of Cold. Rather than casting Burning Hands, the beholder uses the Beholder Burning Ray eye beam.
The creature will be firing an Eye beam called "Enervation", which is basically a Power level 7 Death Ray, save vs. Death or be killed, magic resistance can block it.
There is a beholder Paralyze eye beam used, and force cast Magic Missile spells.
As all SCS beholders have, the creature has permanent Alacrity, allowing multiple eye beams/spells to be launched (2-3 per round) with no cool down period. Have fun adventurers!
External links[]
- Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Wiki - Director
- Director on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.