I'm running Kingmaker, and we just ended Stolen Lands. I have found that I have helped in the creation of a monster that must be put down.
I run games with increased monster HP(Not the statblock standard) and adjusted monster stats (generally +2 to all), whil at the same time the characters are running with a 25 point buy. While it more or less evens out, the higher numbers they see make them feel far superior than they actually are, comparatively speaking.
It also gives them a more Epic and Fantastic feeling. I reward my players for playing their characters.. some do amazingly well, some do ok.
Varnold, Human(Shoanti) Brawler, level 3.
Feats: Power Attack, Improved Grapple, Boar Style, Weapon Focus. Two-Weapon(Bonus), Imp Unarmed (Bonus)
Varnold was a joke project a co-worker and I came up with to pass the time, that has turned into the greatest amusement to watch, whiel at the same time, the worst PC to be up against.
Varnold is best described as a caricature of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan if he fought with hands.
When he speaks, he only has an outside voice. When he speaks for too long, his common tongue slips into the mish-mash native shoanti language (Which we call Flaghla).. that is the comical gutteral Arnold noise.
He is not the smartest (Int 8), but he is oddly Wise (Wis 14?). He believes the shortest path to next room is a whole in the wall, and the shortest route to a mans heart is the whole he puts in his chest.
He has jumped off a charging mount, to grapple an Elk and deal nonlethal damage until it passed out, so they could skin it for a pristine pelt, and have food.
He has grappled a Tatzlwyrm and told it it had very bad breath when it used it's breath weapon.
He has grappled an insane bear, and told it to calm down.
He uses his full round attack to deal 2x1d6+4(Str)+2(Power Attack)and then +2d6 Rend from Boar Style..
When they fought the Stag Lord, he yelled "HORN MAN, I'VE BEEN PRACTICING!" (You see, he figured he wrestled an Stag to the ground, so this couldnt be much different.. what with horns and all) and grappled him while the rest of the part dispatched.. well.. everything else.
Staglord could either Spend his action to break free from Varnolds Embrace w/CMB+9 vs Varnolds CMD 24vsGrapple. Or try to attack him..
Let's just say the fight ended up with Varnold pinning him. When the Owlbear mades it's debut (Thanks to Dovan) The player looked up as the Owlbear did it's owlbear rampage of charging, attacking, grabbing, and ripping... and merely whispered "I have seen my future....." I was afraid.
Mechanically, he is a beast with three modes. Sleeping/Eating. Jovial conversation which makes him friends (Auchs, and Mikmek the Kobold are both his warrior brothers now, all through RP), and rending limb from limb. Oddly, the sleeping is when he's loudest, as the player will close his eyes, lean back in his chair.. and scream/mumble in Flaghlah while punching at the air like a dreaming dog.
I love this character, dont get me wrong.. the party has voted, and he is definitely not 'in charge', however they can only really follow him as he does his thing.. because... they're tooa fraid to try and stop him. (ie. He rang the Nettls Crossing bell, and when the Ghoul rose from the water swinging its Ranseur, everyone watched in awe as he start yelling back "FERRYMAN, WHO KILLDJU? OK I'LL GET HEEM, I'LL BRING HEEM, THEN YOU CAN TAKE ME TO DA REEVA")
BUT DEAR GOD does he trivialize some of the better encounters. First Tatzlwyrm, grappled. Insane bear, grappled. Giant Trapdoor Spider, trapdoor ripped from it's hinges, then dropped onto and pummeled. Mite lair.. crouched down, reaching our and popping their heads like zits(his minimum damage even after DR was enough to put them at 0-1HP. Tuskgutter, grappled and headbutted into obliviong. Shambling Mound, ripped to shreds. Dovan, charged.. and thrown from a roof. Auchs, wrestled into submission. Owlbear, beaten to death. The list goes on and on.
Granted, the rest of the party is effective at doing their jobs just fine, a Rogue, a Skald, and a Cavalier wrecking things in their own time.. but is' Varnold that is tipping these scales to be ridiculous..
Oh yeah, the Skald... Raging Varnold, just what I needed.
When we first started this character, we had no idea there was a place called 'Varnhold' in this AP.. so when it comes up, I can tell it's going to be hilarious....
Varnold: "WHERE ARE WE GOING?"
Skald: "To Varnhold."
Varnold: "I'M RIGHT HERE, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"
Skald: "No, Varnold.. VARN-HOLD"
Varnold: "HOLD WHAT? FOR HOW LONG?"
Skald: "Varnold, i'm tryin-"
Varnold: "IS IT BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX?"
Skald: "/sigh."
