Bodak alternatives?

[Voadam]

So I'm running a modified module where creatures have been trapped in a demonic extradimensional temple for 10,000 years. The mortals in the place when it was sealed mostly either committed suicide or were turned into wights by being drained by the succubus. The resident Glabrezou however made a deal with some of the more evil cultists, those who pledged to serve him were touched by ultimate Evil and transformed into Bodaks.

Now I like that story and atmosphere, but the problem is I don't like the mechanics of Bodaks with their death gaze. They have cool defenses and a cool flavor text that fits in with the module back story well, but I hate save or die effects.

I'm thinking of changing the save or die into a death gaze blast that does death based damage, perhaps 1d6 per Bodak HD, fortitude save for half. This means failure does not equal immediate death for the 15th level party, and the bodaks' big attacks still have some punch even when everybody saves.

Is that a good replacement for the death gaze on the 9 HD CR 8 bodaks? should the damage be different to remain CR 8? There will be about eight of them for the party of 4 15th level PCs to handle, possibly with the Glabrezou at the same time depending on party actions.

As it stands, The party will rip through the Bodaks and probably shrug off the DC 15 death gazes, but chances are high that someone will roll a one and just fall over dead, which I find anticlimactic.

If I shift it to damage the party will suck up a lot of damage even making their saves, will it be too much?

The party has fought bodaks before (I took over DMing the campaign later)so they have some knowledge about their defenses and powers, but I have no problem changing the bodak's death gaze (including in-game story reasons about either different types of bodaks or about this Glabrezou's evil creations), I just want to make it more fun.

Is there a monster roughly CR 8 that I could use alternatively that would fit in well with the backstory above (cultists bargaining with resident Glabrezou to avoid death or succubus draining)? I have a ton of monster books, so any suggestions from anywhere?

 

[hong]

I changed over all death effects IMC to deal 4d6 Con drain. Still dangerous, but not instantly lethal. Not that it's mattered so far, since the PCs have made their saves every time....

 

[diaglo]

is the Glabrezou immune to the effect?

if not i'd definitely look to tweak the monster selection. no reason for a guy to make things that can hurt him. when he can make things that can't hurt him.

 

[Voadam]

is the Glabrezou immune to the effect?

if not i'd definitely look to tweak the monster selection. no reason for a guy to make things that can hurt him. when he can make things that can't hurt him.

Not immune but he has absolute command over them and they have to actively activate their death gaze. I'd have him issue a standing order not to use their gaze if he is in the area of effect.

This also gives an incentive to the brave ones who risk the pincer claws to get into melee with him as they will then be safe from the death gazes, forcing the bodaks to rely upon their weaker slam attacks.

 

[Pants]

You could change the Bodak's gaze to cause negative levels. Perhaps affected characters must make a Fort save or gain 3 negative levels. This is still dangerous (very dangerous in fact), but not as deadly as before.

 

[nimisgod]

Paralysis for a number of rounds is almost as bad as death.

That said, the Quth-Maren in the Fiend Folio (or was it MMII?) has a paralyzing gaze attack.