However, I thought that a Save or Die caster with DCs in the 30's was not a fun encounter to face, despite it being thematic for Rasputin.People seem to consistently underestimate the durability of high-level PCs (in this case, 14th level PCs) that take some care before booting open that last set of doors. Even running the semi-tolerable iconic group (Feiya, Imrijka, Lini and Valeros) against my submission they pulled off a victory half of the time.
A better-optimized group shouldn't have as much trouble with him.
It's more of like, if you make him a save or die Caster combat just devolves into him either winning the fight entirely or the PCs getting another turn to smack him up side the head.
It's more of like, if you make him a save or die Caster combat just devolves into him either winning the fight entirely or the PCs getting another turn to smack him up side the head.However, I thought that a Save or Die caster with DCs in the 30's was not a fun encounter to face, despite it being thematic for Rasputin.People seem to consistently underestimate the durability of high-level PCs (in this case, 14th level PCs) that take some care before booting open that last set of doors. Even running the semi-tolerable iconic group (Feiya, Imrijka, Lini and Valeros) against my submission they pulled off a victory half of the time.
A better-optimized group shouldn't have as much trouble with him.
Mostly the PCs get to smack him upside the noodle. The average test fights lasted a minute, narrow victories by either party. Good fun!
He is in a big open room with like 3-4 other roughly CR=APL encounters. If you add all that up, because it is extremely likely that the PCs will have to deal with all of it at once, I wouldn't be surprised if it was CR 20.
The PCs aren't often lacking options in that regard at 14th level. They can usually manage to divide and conquer on rounds 1 and 2. ;)
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He is in a big open room with like 3-4 other roughly CR=APL encounters. If you add all that up, because it is extremely likely that the PCs will have to deal with all of it at once, I wouldn't be surprised if it was CR 20.
Keep in mind that this isn't a Society adventure and the GM isn't required to play everything by the book. If things start to go really badly, the GM can adjust things down on the fly a lot easier than he can adjust things up without things feeling fishy to the players. I'd rather throw more than the party can handle at them and dock some hit points from an NPC or two to make them feel like they have accomplished something than have them on a path to wipe the end boss in three rounds and be forced to keep adding hit points to him on the fly to make a bad encounter last longer. Nobody likes an encounter like that, and most players see through that kind of manipulation in a second flat.
I took that into account when I designed my version with his opening moves to disable the entire party. The DC 45+ Coup De Grace that I have him doing to a PC the second round after he manages it is a blow that will get the player's attention and build a lot of tension. They get new saves every round, and I would rather fudge someone's success on round 4 just before he kills a second PC (is the party can't handle the DC26 + Mind Fog save) than watch the fighter walk up and pop ol' Ras in the noggin for a third of his hit points on the first round of combat.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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He is in a big open room with like 3-4 other roughly CR=APL encounters. If you add all that up, because it is extremely likely that the PCs will have to deal with all of it at once, I wouldn't be surprised if it was CR 20.The PCs aren't often lacking options in that regard at 14th level. They can usually manage to divide and conquer on rounds 1 and 2. ;)
Absolutely true, but it does tend to even out the action economy differential somewhat. Also, lockdown tactics (sleet storm, walls, etc.) used by the PCs tend to help the boss last longer, too, which enhances the epic feel of a fight.
@Illrigger: Also true. That's one reason I like Brandon Hodge's high-level encounter spacing/pacing; it gives GMs options as to how many encounters PCs pull at once. That kind of flexible pacing is a really good way of acknowledging, and mitigating, the way CR as a difficulty metric tends to break down at high levels.
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The one thing I am hoping to accomplish with this battle is the big reveal. This is the big bad before the big bad. I want as much time for monologue-ing during the course of the combat as possible. Enough time to drop big reveals that have been building since the party left Taldor and I can't pass up the chance to role play the Mad Monk until the PCs wipe the floor with him.
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The one thing I am hoping to accomplish with this battle is the big reveal. This is the big bad before the big bad. I want as much time for monologue-ing during the course of the combat as possible. Enough time to drop big reveals that have been building since the party left Taldor and I can't pass up the chance to role play the Mad Monk until the PCs wipe the floor with him.
Another thing I was thinking about with my build. Incapping the whole party gives a wonderful opportunity to monologue and insult them for being puppets the whole time. :)
