When I originally quoted the bounties to my players, the example was 300 per head of Ghoul/Ghast. (being as those enacting the bounty do not distinguish between the two as far as the NPC knew), but in light of this, I think the price on their heads was too much, especially considering the Lawful Good ruler's coffers would be better focused on promoting MORE adventurers doing the job than rewarding each kill so highly...
but yes, I need a method, possibly basing it on challenge rating is good, but I wouldn't think anything short of a phenomenal Knowledge Religion check would be able to identify the head of a Ghast vs a Ghoul...(but still 100 for the ghoul to 300 for the ghast may still be the standard)
If I base it on challenge rating, then perhaps I will get a better price assignment method...for instance no more than 1/3 of a 100 gp for a human skeleton, no more than 50 gp for a human zombie and 100 gp for a ghoul, perhaps or 150-200 for either a ghoul or a ghast.
Maybe a limit of 1000 gp per Bounty claim, but then again that would limit the results of the actual hunt.
Still, the Kingdom of Salkiria would be actively summoning Rangers, freely wandering Clerics, and other Adventurers to combat this evolved threat of Undead. In addition, they'd call Nobles to the court, at least ones with standing armies, to patrol the land and to combat the threat as well, though some (such as an NPC nobleman and his cohort) would probably show up willingly, expecting no bounty for their services. Same for some clerics and paladins that would answer the call.
And what of Necromancers/Evil Clerics, would such a bounty be too much? Or would they just have to be brought in alive? Or dead with evidence? (more than just a head) And this would be only within the borders of the Country.
What about body parts other than heads, for instance one player decided that thigh bones would work for the Zombies and Skeletons they killed.
Furthermore, what sort of Bounty would you set on Yuan-Ti, by type and so forth? Again, should it be based on CR or just Type?
I think I put a 500 gp bounty on Athaches, so yeah, that wasn't quite CR based, but it was a different country, the bounty funded in part by the Kingdom of Salkiria.
And as a side question, how would Gentle Repose affect Ghast remains? I would hope that it would reduce the smell. (and prevent further decay of the remains)
Might want to look at the wealthy by town/village/city stuff.
Bounties that high are going to be REALLY ENORMOUS to villagers and woodsfolk (probably the most common victims).
You would probably have to go to the capital to get it paid.
Cool idea though.
Might want to look at the wealthy by town/village/city stuff.
Bounties that high are going to be REALLY ENORMOUS to villagers and woodsfolk (probably the most common victims).You would probably have to go to the capital to get it paid.
Cool idea though.
They DO have to go to the Capital...
Note, the King of Salkiria, and his court, is responsible for dishing out Bounties. Adventurers not only have to go to the CAPITAL, Donaree, but have appear in the King's Court both to sign up to participate in the bounty program, possibly entering a sign up fee- which might be negated by any heads they've already collected (but remember they are a lawful bunch, so they might not pay out for heads collected without a commissioned bounty license- or charge a fee for unlicensed bounty hunting.), and for proper identification of the marked creatures, followed by payment. There might even be a required report, determining risk to persons involved so as to determine exact bounty. Bounty per head would be split between members of the party collecting the head, naturally. (Again, ONLY those signed up to collect heads can collect, so those bringing the thigh bones or other parts of undead may find themselves wasting the effort if they aren't fined for not following due process, yet Durann is a benevolent goddess and probably wouldn't encourage her followers to penalize those who risk their lives.)
Also, fraudulant heads or claims, such as necromancers trying to turn in their own zombified victims or commoners slain for their heads but claimed to be undead would be found out and punished- unless they make their will saves- due to a Zone of Truth via candles (they add atmosphere) and/or cast by the King himself or his clerical advisor, who also checks the remains for evidence of necrotic flesh or animate dead (the wizard who works for him might also do a spellcraft check for the spell).
Again, YAY GHOSTWALK!
I probably would base the bounty on challenge rating, with 20gp x CR as a rough estimate.
It seems cheap but in Ghostwalk undead and Yuan-Ti are pretty prevalent and creative PCs will likely find fun new ways to take advantage of the bounty. You can't spit without hitting a ghoul or ghast in the Manifest tombyards and a trip to Sura-Khiri is relatively cheap for the return on Yuan-Ti heads. Especially since the Elves who live there might be paying for help as well, thus doubling the reward. (Its not like the king is going to check if the Yuan-Ti were killed in Salkirian borders).
Anyways just my rough guesstimate. It also means that when the PCs start reaching higher levels they aren't still looking for easy kills for an incomensurate amount of gold.
Have fun.
Again, YAY GHOSTWALK!
I probably would base the bounty on challenge rating, with 20gp x CR as a rough estimate.
It seems cheap but in Ghostwalk undead and Yuan-Ti are pretty prevalent and creative PCs will likely find fun new ways to take advantage of the bounty. You can't spit without hitting a ghoul or ghast in the Manifest tombyards and a trip to Sura-Khiri is relatively cheap for the return on Yuan-Ti heads. Especially since the Elves who live there might be paying for help as well, thus doubling the reward. (Its not like the king is going to check if the Yuan-Ti were killed in Salkirian borders).
Anyways just my rough guesstimate. It also means that when the PCs start reaching higher levels they aren't still looking for easy kills for an incomensurate amount of gold.
Have fun.
Thanks, I think that method is probably a better one,or more reasonable. putting Ghouls at 20 and Ghasts at 60, though again a difference between the two might be hard to tell via Knowledge Religion (Especially since Gentle Repose was cast on the Ghast heads)
But, yeah, 6.66 gp for human skeletons and 10 for human zombies (20 gp for 3 skeletons, common encounter vs 20 for 2 zombies) might be a reasonable standard...at anyrate, no one's going to be cashing in on those,yet. Theres just an NPC Ranger/Cleric and a Ranger/Rogue who's taking advantage of the NPC's License to Bounty Hunt- and all they have are low level Ghast heads.)
Besides, I already have dished out most of the useful magic items in game. There will be little trading up going on past 5th level, until they have the money to buy REALLY powerful magic weapons and so on. So the boon of a higher bounty isn't necessary at this level.
But, as I told the Ghostly Monk, who's player is insistant on magical items to boost his monk's abilities, "Dracanish Provides." (so, he might get some help from a ghostly cleric of Durann actually, since they are benevolent- in the form of a Ring of Manifestation. The phrase SHOULD go "Durann Provides" but few of the PCs are actually worshiping her apart from a dwarven Cleric...though the Salkirian Court certainly does.)
If he, and the rest of the pcs, get creative, overcome challenges, and perhaps just look in the right nooks and crannies, I'll take care of them. Unfortunately for the bard, his resourcefulness and roguish behavior is going to be his undoing, at least most likely. (for one he's tredding on The Golden's territory if he gets caught by them, and another, he's about to activate a magic item- not knowing what will happen. Namely the Lawkeeper's Lock, suffice to say he's Chaotic Neutral and turned it Clockwise...)
The Bounty method is really just to get them all together. the Promise of GP is the draw, but most of them already want to hunt undead for one reason or another- usually according to their background. The Thurkasians have already been offered a portion of the Armed Yard's finder's fee for adventurers- and are going to sign up for the bounty in Donaree. I might give THEM a temporary bounty license since they'd have signed up in some form or fashion with the Armed Yard.
Donaree, as a capital and base of the King, benefits most highly from the trade from the Ghostwalk, so their interests would be protected by a bounty on Undead, the subsequent bounty on the Yuan-Ti has historical presedence and may be reenacted if the mission of the deceased Elf Wizard (former PC, now NPC) is still carried out by her former & current protector, the elven cleric of Uhanam- and more so his own philosophy about the cycle of life and death- and/or the sorceress traveling with him and an NPC monk who's traveling to protect her.
At anyrate, I think the bounty has been set at 20 x CR, but I'll gladly take any further ideas, thoughts, or advice, for instance Ghouls are on average more dangerous to everyone but Elves- beyond their challenge rating of 1, while Ghasts just tend to be more effective ghouls (since they can paralyze Elves) and have more hitpoints...so I might average out the two separate bounties into one and maybe throw in a bonus if a certain number of heads are collected at a time. (The elf ranger/rogue has had some severe bad luck/good luck running into ghasts instead of ghouls, but that's mostly because I forgot the paralytic differences and switched around the encounters)
The Dwarven Barbarain/Druid and the Thurkasian Fighter might very well pursue reports of a Necromancer in the Varlin Mountains- since one was apparently following them, or at least working off their handy work, he's a particularly vulturous nemesis. The two are still unaware as to the exact method by which the dwarf's brother was animated...so they're pretty well determined to track down the threat, no matter the challenge.
So yes, I might put a bounty on Necromancers/Evil Clerics (assuming they practice necromancy), but mostly a Reward type function, assuming they bring the offenders to either Manifest (but I think that assumes the practicioner practices within Manifest) or Donaree, assuming that the king of Salkira makes such a practice illegal- which would already be frowned upon.
The two headed back toward the Varlin Mountains might find themselves drawn more toward Manifest, as there are plenty of scoundrels and such nesting there. (where I bring in adventures from the book actually, though everyone is pretty well at 4th level, and if not, they will be after the next session.)
I will add that the Elves wouldn't pay for help, they MIGHT allow outsiders to intervene, but they are far from asking for help. part of the Elven Wizard's mission was to garner support, but only by means of bolstering Tereppek's western front against actual Yuan-Ti attacks as well as the possible one she's warning all the capitals (and Hurmerbor) but Hazuk.
Btw Nighthunter, who'd be more likely to spill the beans, intentionally or no, a broodguard or tainted one? I'd say a dissatisfied or planted tainted one, so I'm going with that- the elves captured one in a battle for the Holy City, and Pi's, the elven wizard, father magically interrogated the subject and deduced an upcoming attack on Manifest- as well as continuing attacks in Sura-Khiri. (He presumed, as everyone does, that the attack on Manifest will include the lands of the allies that drove off their hordes the first time.)
Needless to say, Pi has been pursued onto her death by Tainted Ones. (I threw in an Iron Cobra to properly deal with the half npc party, now all I need to do is make a Tainted One capable of making the Construct.)
Btw, the bounty on Yuan-Ti, wouldn't include Tainted Ones, but WOULD include Broodguards.
What about spicing up the deal with non-monetary gains. Keep the general bounties low, but say the highest kill rate group is invited to a party with some high nobles in their honor or some such. Even a small congratulatory title. This way your adventurers won't be so upset about a low bounty for game balance since they are awarded with rp type gains.
How do they plan to negate cheating (i.e. digging up a grave and going, "oh, yeah. That skeleton's dead now. But you should've seen it 3 hours ago. All crazy stabby stabby with that scimitar!")
As noted in Ghostwalk, under an adventure detail, a successful Knowledge (Religion) check or a successful Spellcraft check determines whether or not a skeleton, or skeletal remains, for instance was once animated. Also, I'd make use of Detect Undead as an option, as suggested here on the boards.
The judges of the heads turned in for bounty are a 17th level Cleric of Durann and a 16th level Paladin of Durann, not to mention the king a 4th Level Aristocrat/10th level Paladin of Durann & a 16th level Evoker Court Wizard, who is there almost as much as the cleric is...
So yes, I do believe there won't be many "dead ringers" (bad pun I know...) ESPECIALLY since it is actually a fairly less common practice to bury the dead rather than transport their body to Manifest and have it be sent through the veil of souls, the problem recently has arisen from non-traditional or poor graveyards and actual animated and created undead along the ghostwalk itself. (Undead literally rising from the dead being transported via caravans to Manifest)
What about spicing up the deal with non-monetary gains. Keep the general bounties low, but say the highest kill rate group is invited to a party with some high nobles in their honor or some such. Even a small congratulatory title. This way your adventurers won't be so upset about a low bounty for game balance since they are awarded with rp type gains.
I like the way you think...
I am rewarding the players who brought the corpse of an elf sent to warn the King of Salkiria (and Manifest) of an Impending Yuan-Ti attack to Donaree, though the trip wasn't far with the "dead weight," har har, they also managed to persuade a CLERIC OF DURANN to cast "Speak with Dead." I really should have had them go to the temple of Aluvan instead, he's got Repose as a domain...but yes, they deduced the information that was there about the Yuan-ti attack in 4 questions. (she had limited knowledge anyway). At anyrate, they'll be rewarded with Divine Magic type protective items, though probably not rings unless I roll TWO sets of percentiles and then roll under them, since the Cleric can't make them, and the Courtly Wizard doesn't do divine magic- obviously...But yes, a potential encounter with a Nobleman is en route for the bounty seekers as much as the messenger that'll be traveling with them. Favors from the Church of Durann may also be in order, but it is really only powerful in Salkira and amongst Dwarves.