Arena: McBoon vs. Frost Giant Jarl
This installment of the arena pit against each other a frost giant jarl and McBoon, Reaper of the Arena - an illithid proficient in psionic martial arts.
Second 1
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl has Basic Speed 6, while McBoon has Basic Speed 5, so he goes first. He takes a step towards the pile of rocks and kneels, planning to pick up a boulder on the next turn.
McBoon: McBoon knows what's going to happen, so he steps into cover behind the pillar.
Second 2
Frost Giant Jarl: Takes a Ready maneuver to pick up a 40 lbs. boulder.
McBoon: Uses Wait to run out when the giant throws the boulder.
Second 3
Frost Giant Jarl: Stands up.
McBoon: Still waits.
Second 4
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl has a perfect way to lure the illithid from behind the pillar. He casts Freezing Fog 1 at a hex adjacent to McBoon. He has Innate Attack (Gaze)-14, the range penalty is -5, and he gets a +4 for targeting a hex. Thus, he has effective skill level 13. (Rolls 9 vs. 13). The spell lands squarely.
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes 1d-2 fatigue damage. (Rolls -1 on 1d-2, but it becomes 1, because that is the minimum damage for a non-crushing attack). He moves behind the wooden fence.
Second 5
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl makes a Move and Attack (moves 6 yards, throws the boulder). The boulder is in off-hand. Effective skill level is merely 5 (Throwing-14 - 3 range - 4 off-hand - 2 move). (Rolls 12 vs. 5). That's a miss, obviously.
McBoon: McBoon uses Mental Blow to stun the frost giant. (Rolls 10 vs. 10; The frost giant jarl rolls 12 vs. 12 to resist). This is a draw, so nothing happens.
Second 6
Frost Giant Jarl: Uses Ready to change the great axe's reach to Reach 5.
McBoon: Moves into close combat with the giant.
Second 7
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl casts Freezing Fog 1 on himself. He is resistant to cold, so this is a good way to keep the tiny illithid out of close combat. (Rolls 12 vs. 18). That's a success (it's hard to miss yourself).
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes FP damage from the freezing fog. (Rolls 4 on 1d-2). McBoon uses his Telereceive with the Independent technique to read the surface thoughts of the frost giant. (Rolls 8 vs. 14; frost giant roll 12 vs. 12 to resist; margin of victory is 6). Thus, McBoon gains access to the giant's surface thoughts for 6 minutes and, thanks to the Tactical Reading perk, gets a +3 bonus to active defenses against the giant.
Second 8
Frost Giant Jarl: The giant decides to just kick the illithid. (Rolls 17 vs. 8). This is a critical failure that resulted in the giant losing balance, becoming unable to do anything during the next turn, and getting a -2 penalty to active defenses for the next turn. He also rolls against his DX to remain standing after a failed kick. (Rolls 14 vs. 10). And he falls down. That's very dangerous.
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes more fatigue damage from the Freezing Fog. (Rolls 1 on 1d-2). Soon he will be tired. He steps out of the fog and uses Mental Blow. He rolls at -1 due to the repeated attempt penalties. (Rolls 10 vs. 14; the giant rolls 7 vs. 12 to resist and resists successfully). Really, McBoon should've gone for a telegraphic strike at the hand or neck.
Second 9
Frost Giant Jarl: Does nothing due to the critical miss.
McBoon: Swings his scythe at the giant's right arm. (Rolls 14 vs. 11). That's a very unfortunate miss.
Second 10
Frost Giant Jarl: Stands up (Edit: This is a mistake, he should've assumed the kneeling posture first.) and casts Freezing Fog 1 on McBoon. (Rolls 4 vs. 18). That's a hit.
McBoon: McBoon takes damage from the fog. (Rolls 1 on 1d-2). He is now tired and penalized! He does a runaround attack as Move and Attack. (Rolls 8 vs, 9). That's a hit. The giant rolls dodge at -2. (Rolls 7 vs. 8). That's a lucky dodge.
Second 11
Frost Giant Jarl: Moves backward 4 yards, then swings his great axe at McBoon. (Rolls 13 vs. 9). That's a miss.
McBoon: Steps and uses Mental Blow again. (Rolls 8 vs. 11; the giant rolls 9 vs. 12 to resist). That's another draw, so nothing happens.
Second 12
Frost Giant Jarl: Steps back and swings his great axe again. (Rolls 5 vs. 13). The axe is more than ten times heavier than the illithid's scythe, so he cannot parry. He decides to dodge. (Rolls 13 vs. 8). That's a hit. The frost giant rolls damage. (Rolls 23 on 7d+1 cutting and 3 on 1d follow-up non-incendiary burning damage). After DR, that should be something around 18x1.5+3 injury, but we decided that it's enough to slay the illithid.
McBoon: Dies.
Conclusion
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl has Basic Speed 6, while McBoon has Basic Speed 5, so he goes first. He takes a step towards the pile of rocks and kneels, planning to pick up a boulder on the next turn.
McBoon: McBoon knows what's going to happen, so he steps into cover behind the pillar.
Second 2
Frost Giant Jarl: Takes a Ready maneuver to pick up a 40 lbs. boulder.
McBoon: Uses Wait to run out when the giant throws the boulder.
Second 3
Frost Giant Jarl: Stands up.
McBoon: Still waits.
Second 4
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl has a perfect way to lure the illithid from behind the pillar. He casts Freezing Fog 1 at a hex adjacent to McBoon. He has Innate Attack (Gaze)-14, the range penalty is -5, and he gets a +4 for targeting a hex. Thus, he has effective skill level 13. (Rolls 9 vs. 13). The spell lands squarely.
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes 1d-2 fatigue damage. (Rolls -1 on 1d-2, but it becomes 1, because that is the minimum damage for a non-crushing attack). He moves behind the wooden fence.
Second 5
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl makes a Move and Attack (moves 6 yards, throws the boulder). The boulder is in off-hand. Effective skill level is merely 5 (Throwing-14 - 3 range - 4 off-hand - 2 move). (Rolls 12 vs. 5). That's a miss, obviously.
McBoon: McBoon uses Mental Blow to stun the frost giant. (Rolls 10 vs. 10; The frost giant jarl rolls 12 vs. 12 to resist). This is a draw, so nothing happens.
Second 6
Frost Giant Jarl: Uses Ready to change the great axe's reach to Reach 5.
McBoon: Moves into close combat with the giant.
Second 7
Frost Giant Jarl: The frost giant jarl casts Freezing Fog 1 on himself. He is resistant to cold, so this is a good way to keep the tiny illithid out of close combat. (Rolls 12 vs. 18). That's a success (it's hard to miss yourself).
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes FP damage from the freezing fog. (Rolls 4 on 1d-2). McBoon uses his Telereceive with the Independent technique to read the surface thoughts of the frost giant. (Rolls 8 vs. 14; frost giant roll 12 vs. 12 to resist; margin of victory is 6). Thus, McBoon gains access to the giant's surface thoughts for 6 minutes and, thanks to the Tactical Reading perk, gets a +3 bonus to active defenses against the giant.
Second 8
Frost Giant Jarl: The giant decides to just kick the illithid. (Rolls 17 vs. 8). This is a critical failure that resulted in the giant losing balance, becoming unable to do anything during the next turn, and getting a -2 penalty to active defenses for the next turn. He also rolls against his DX to remain standing after a failed kick. (Rolls 14 vs. 10). And he falls down. That's very dangerous.
McBoon: On his turn, McBoon takes more fatigue damage from the Freezing Fog. (Rolls 1 on 1d-2). Soon he will be tired. He steps out of the fog and uses Mental Blow. He rolls at -1 due to the repeated attempt penalties. (Rolls 10 vs. 14; the giant rolls 7 vs. 12 to resist and resists successfully). Really, McBoon should've gone for a telegraphic strike at the hand or neck.
Frost Giant Jarl: Does nothing due to the critical miss.
McBoon: Swings his scythe at the giant's right arm. (Rolls 14 vs. 11). That's a very unfortunate miss.
Second 10
Frost Giant Jarl: Stands up (Edit: This is a mistake, he should've assumed the kneeling posture first.) and casts Freezing Fog 1 on McBoon. (Rolls 4 vs. 18). That's a hit.
McBoon: McBoon takes damage from the fog. (Rolls 1 on 1d-2). He is now tired and penalized! He does a runaround attack as Move and Attack. (Rolls 8 vs, 9). That's a hit. The giant rolls dodge at -2. (Rolls 7 vs. 8). That's a lucky dodge.
Frost Giant Jarl: Moves backward 4 yards, then swings his great axe at McBoon. (Rolls 13 vs. 9). That's a miss.
McBoon: Steps and uses Mental Blow again. (Rolls 8 vs. 11; the giant rolls 9 vs. 12 to resist). That's another draw, so nothing happens.
Frost Giant Jarl: Steps back and swings his great axe again. (Rolls 5 vs. 13). The axe is more than ten times heavier than the illithid's scythe, so he cannot parry. He decides to dodge. (Rolls 13 vs. 8). That's a hit. The frost giant rolls damage. (Rolls 23 on 7d+1 cutting and 3 on 1d follow-up non-incendiary burning damage). After DR, that should be something around 18x1.5+3 injury, but we decided that it's enough to slay the illithid.
McBoon: Dies.
Conclusion
This was an interesting fight. McBoon didn't do any brain eating, and the giant mostly won through spellcasting, not the overpowering physical strength.
Magic is cheating, just saying. My decision to attempt a mental blow instead of an all out telegraphic to the neck or skull was staggeringly stupid and probably somewhat tainted the results, but you could argue surprise crit fails are equally outliers.
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