Abbey Kirkminster, a female LE inquisitor dedicated to a LN deity, preferably one with a LG clergy that helps the PCs. She would essentially be a thorn in their sides, setting them up to perform dangerous tasks, then swooping in and stealing the glory and gold from the PCs. She would have a powerful benefactor in the church, probably her dad, who wouldn't hesitate to smite the PCs if they mess with his daughter. And because the deity is LN, it would be doing a lot of the law and order stuff in the realm, so, technically, all the actions the villainess does against the PCs is legal. And the LG clergy would be the ones giving the PCs healing stuff, so if they mess with the church too much, they lose valuable allies too.
I'm picturing a female version of Malfoy Draco, someone the PCs will love to hate, can get in a minor scrape or two with, but can't vanquish without serious consequences.
Before the Round 2 results were released, I generated a villain using Round 2's Still-Water Meditant. The character abused the ability that let him not have to declare readied actions, using Ki Throw and Stunning Fist to constantly disrupt his enemies. His motivations, basically, were to find the secrets to self-perfection through combat with others. This combat, of course, is to the death with no regard to the opponent's ability to fight back. After finding this self-perfection, he intends to return to Jalmaray and conquer it.
I'll unveil him after this round is over.
Before I knew the rules I was aiming at a male Pixie Sorcerer Lich.
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Jean-Pierre Covand, Gray Gardner and profiteer from the constant violence and political turmoil in Gault. The name of his archetype would have been 'black tongue savant', a bard that weaves the primordial language of evil into his speech and spellcasting. His short range plans include the completion of research about ancient evil powers, and the use of a cult of Norgorber to buy property nd gain influence, only to have the Galtans rebel against the new businessmen, and subsequently take the heads of the cultists, deeding everything to legal entities owned by Covand himself.
His longer range plans (and therefore enabling a director's cut version of him in the final round if I'd made it) include nothing less than acquiring the obsidian tablets that comprise the original Black Tongue - not just a language used by the ancient primal forces of darkness, but also their thoughts on sin, manipulation, deceit.
But, you know..more on that if I pitch the idea.
I had been toying with the idea of a lycanthrope fighter, with a particular taste for blood. A few factors that would have made him cool would be that he is rather a twist villian, leaving blood-drained corpses behind makes the players prep for a vampire fight, and having a vicious wolf-mask he wears in human form gives him an intimidation factor.
I hadn't worked too hard on his motivations, but I figured something about his deciding that his curse would be subdued or cured by his devouring enough blood, only to develop a taste for it. Lots of potential carnage there.
Kazmuk Boomshadow: a dwarven alchemist/ranger(urban) intent on clensing the surface world one bomb at a time.
Lord Alfred Kraiter IV: aristocrat/rogue/assassin. He's a minor noble (baron or duke) who rules his territory with an iron fist by day, and personally assassinates those who oppose his rule by night.
Those were the 2 i was leaning towards if i had made it this far into the competition, and obviously b4 the rules limitations were announced.
I actually had mine mostly ready to go, and was working on cutting down the word count. I'll post her on here at the conclusion of this round. :)
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
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Now that the voting is over and the long pause before the next round is announced, I'll post my almost-ran villain. She's still rough, as I stopped work on her when I found out the results. Keep that in mind, plus I don't have a good idea on the word count, since I don't have access to the forum tool anymore...
Sasha Harken, the Witch of Murky Bog
Portrait: 26
Description: Sasha Harken is never the same twice. With her hat of disguise, she takes pleasure in changing her appearance and assuming new faces. In her native face she’s pretty, but her beauty is marred by a dark demeanor and hateful stare at anyone she sees. She walks with a slight limp, and prefers well-worn utilitarian clothing that is perpetually stained by the bog she inhabits.
Motivations/Goals: Sasha Harken is a woman who wants vengeance. Two years ago, she and her lover, a half-elf named Iovan Bowles, ran a scam on the small mining town of Iron River. Everything was going perfectly until they committed the cardinal sin of the con game: never stay too long. As the lovers lay sleeping, undoubtedly dreaming of their imminent payday, the townspeople realized they’d been had. They organized a mob and sought justice in their fashion: they kidnapped the thieves, tied them up and cast them into the 40 foot deep refuse pit near the edge of town, “throwing out the garbage” as they called it as they laughed down into the pit. The two lovers fell down a rocky cliffside and onto a pile of broken tools, human waste and other fouless; a fall that ended with Sasha seriously injured and Iovan dead of a broken skull. It took Sasha three days to find a way out of the pit, carrying her lover’s body and limping on a shattered ankle into the darkness of the swamp that surrounded the town. She swore that day that the townspeople of Iron River would pay for their crimes with blood. She intends to see that they do, or die in the attempt.
Schemes/Plots/Adventure Hooks: The townspeople of Iron River have lost their children. Over the last two years, a mysterious figure they’ve begun calling the Witch of Murky Bog has shown up in disguise, appearing as an innocent trader or traveler. They sweet-talk the native, usually into loaning them the use of their child to help carry a small load to a wagon on the outskirts of town. The children are never seen again. Search parties are organized, but no trace is ever found, though the local ogre tribe has begun to appear more and more well-fed and aggressive.
Disguised using her hat of disguise Sasha enters town from time to time, usually in the guise of a trader or a local, sweet talks a shop keeper or townsperson using her honeyed words ability and borrows a child, usually with the promise of candy. Once out of sight, she casts sleep on the child, and stashes her in a bag of holding. She then disappears using invisibility and returns to the swamp. She has negotiated a treaty with the local ogres: tasty children in return for protection and being left alone. Numerous search parties have invaded the swamp, only to meet with either ogres or a mysteriously disguised familiar member of the town who claims to have seen nothing. Sasha spends a great deal of time spying on the town, and knows them better than she knows herself.
PCs may stumble upon this horror if they stop in town to buy supplies or visit a missing contact. PCs on their own may be attacked by a mob of townspeople, as in their paranoid state, the townspeople have begun to trust no one they don’t know personally. If they can calm the mob, they will undoubtedly hear the sad tale of the missing children, though the townspeople will be loath to admit they’ve killed a dozen innocent travelers recently, simply on suspicion of being the Witch of Murky Bog.
Sasha Harken, the Witch of Murky Bog CR 4
Female Human Bard (crooked man, RPG Superstar round 2) 4(?)
NE Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +1 Senses Perception +7
===== Defense =====
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14; (+4 armor, deflection, +1 Dex, natural, shield, etc. alphabetical)
hp ZZ (4d8+4); fast healing ZZ; regeneration ZZ (conditions that bypass regeneration)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +4
Defensive Abilities all defensive abilities except the following, listed alphabetically;
===== Offense =====
Spd 30 ft.
Melee whip +4 (1d3-1), masterwork rapier +6 (1d6-1)
Ranged type +ZZ (ZZdZZ+ZZ), type +ZZ (ZZdZZ+ZZ), type +ZZ (ZZdZZ+ZZ)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with whip)
Special Attacks list all special combat actions here, in alphabetical order. Do not list feats.
Bard Spells Known (CL 4th, concentration +8)
0--daze (DC XX), detect magic, light, lullaby (DC XX), spark, summon instrument
1st (4/day)--alarm, charm person (DC XX), cure light wounds, sleep (DC XX)
2nd (2/day)--detect thoughts (DC XX), invisibility
===== Tactics =====
Before Combat List any spells and/or abilities used before combat. The villain stats should reflect these spells.
During Combat List all combat tactics here, including spell, feat, and magic item use.
Morale List here under what condition the creature flees combat, if any.
Base Statistics If the creature has buffs and other effects active that modify its stats, the base stats should be quickly summarized here.
===== Statistics =====
Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +3; CMB +4 (+6 to disarm); CMD 13
Feats weapon finesse, agile maneuvers, weapon focus (rapier)
Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +13, Disguise +11, Escape Artist +8, Perception +7, Perform (Oratory) +13, Perform (Singing) +11, Stealth +8, Use Magic Device +11 (+ZZ conditional)
Languages Common, Giant, Sylvan
SQ
Combat Gear whip, masterwork rapier, chain shirt, wand of summon monster II (10 charges) Other Gear bag of holding I, hat of disguise
===== Special Abilities =====
Name of Special Ability (Ex/Sp/Su) List special ability info here. Special abilities (including special qualities) are all explained here, in alphabetical order. Do not list abilities that appear in the Universal Monster Rules (darkvision, grab, incorporeal, rend, and so on). Note that spell-likes abilities are no longer italicized unless they are actually spells (so a paladin's lay on hands ability is not italicized).
Name of Special Ability (Ex/Sp/Su) Describe each special ability info here. Special abilities (including special qualities) are all explained here, in alphabetical order. Do not describe abilities that appear in the Universal Monster Rules (darkvision, grab, incorporeal, rend, and so on), Core Rulebook, or Advanced Player's Guide.
Now that the voting is over and the long pause before the next round is announced, I'll post my almost-ran villain. She's still rough, as I stopped work on her when I found out the results. Keep that in mind, plus I don't have a good idea on the word count, since I don't have access to the forum tool anymore...
** spoiler omitted **...
I love her! But why did you have to name her Sasha? :-/
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
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I love her! But why did you have to name her Sasha? :-/
I love the name Sasha, what can I say? Plus it sounds fierce and passionate, and I wanted a villain whose evil was rooted in passion over chaos.
I love her! But why did you have to name her Sasha? :-/I love the name Sasha, what can I say? Plus it sounds fierce and passionate, and I wanted a villain whose evil was rooted in passion over chaos.
Oh I agree with the fierce and passionate remark. That is why I chose that name for my very first AD&D character way way back in the day. In those days we rolled 3d6 in order for stats. I had rolled three sixes so decided my character would be a fighter. Fortunately I rolled low enough on the percentiles for bonus strength to keep her female. Yes, back then the dice could determine the gender. At any rate my Sasha was no villain, she was a hero! She became known as Sasha the Dragonslayer after killing a White Dragon with a single (critical hit) toss of her adamantine spear.
But enough digression, I still love your villain concept. For show and tell, here is mine:Description: A refugee from war-torn and mob controlled Galt, Lilly encountered a group of missionaries out of Razmiran and taken into the fold. She is in her mid 30’s but still beautiful. She wears clothing which accentuates her beauty with intention to attract persons of the opposite sex, particularly youthful and easily influenced persons, but with enough cover to not appear as a courtesan overtly. With her deep sultry voice and eyes like crystal clear pools of calmness, she can mesmerize a crowd of rubes quite effectively while her associates can gather needed “donations” as they surreptitiously move through the crowd.
Motivations/Goals: Lilly is a devout member of the Priesthood of Razmir, the Living God. She worships Razmir completely and works within her abilities to guarantee his wishes. This includes attracting new converts as well as gathering needed gold to fund improvements back in Razmir. She tells of and performs many acts of faith in front of crowds to prove Razmir is a god and, if need arises, utilizes Faith Healing to achieve verisimilitude with her listeners.
Schemes/Plots/Adventure Hooks: Lilly travels with her associates, a group of thugs and thieves, from place to place. She works hard to tell the message of the Living God and to recruit new members to the fold. While Lilly does her work on stage, her associates work the crowd. Sometimes a particularly valuable donator will refuse either to voluntarily give up his due or be too savvy to safely extract the donation by other means. In such a case, Lilly sometimes will take it upon herself to entice the individual with promises of further entertainment. If the person is willing, he (or she) will find himself surrounded by Lilly’s accomplices once the main thoroughfare of the city is exited and a more suitable location is achieved. In such cases, to date, these individuals are found unconscious and without any valuables on their person with a gap in their memory as well. Lilly does not kill, nor does she allow her accomplices to kill, at least while she is around to notice.
Lilly DeFleur CR 3
Female human bard (Evangelist, R2) 4
Alignment LE Size Medium
Init +7; Perception +6
===== Defense =====
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 13; (armor +2, Dex +3, natural +1)
hp 24 (4d8)
Fort +1, Ref +7, Will +6; +4 vs. bardic performance
===== Offense =====
Spd 30 ft.
Melee MW Quarterstaff +4 (1d6)
Ranged MW Sling +6 (1d4)
Special Attacks Bardic Performance 18 rd./day (DC 15), countersong, distraction, fascinate, faith healing, inspire courage +1
Bard Spells Known (CL 4th, concentration +7)
2nd (2/day)--castigate (DC ZZ), lesser restoration
1st (4/day)--charm person (DC ZZ), hideous laughter (DC ZZ), sleep (DC ZZ), command (DC ZZ)
0 (6/day)--dancing lights, ghost sound (DC ZZ), message, prestidigitation (DC ZZ)
===== Tactics =====
During Combat Lilly will always be sure to use her bardic performances to assist her allies. She will use her spells when appropriate to calm and confuse enemies.
Morale If her allies are defeated, Lilly surrenders, claiming they forced her to be their accomplice.
===== Statistics =====
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 17
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats Extra Performance, Improved Initiative, Skill focus (perform)
Skills Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Knowledge (arcane) +8, Knowledge (religion) +8, Linguistics +8, Perform (oratory) +8, Perform (sing) +13, Sense Motive +8, Spellcraft +6, Perception +6.
Gear Bracers of AC2, Amulet of Natural Armor +1
===== Special Abilities =====
Faith Healing (Su) Evangelist (R2)
Convincing Faith (Ex) Evangelist (R2)
Glossolalia (Su) Evangelist (R2)
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I dig the name Sasha.
Obviously, no one can comment on the stat block, but the villain concept needs more I think. I think you're a fair writer and Sasha is not a developed or fearsome villain. i do think the name and the locations you chose can do a lot to make her very foreboding, though. She is much scarier as a murky witch who could be a random townsperson, instead of a glib human bard.
I think this was better than some entries but would not have ranked higher than the ones I voted for. Possibly with a glittering stat block and some other twists that make her more than meets the eye, she could have stepped up.
But enough digression, I still love your villain concept. For show and tell, here is mine:
Lilly DeFleur CR 3
Female human bard (Evangelist, R2) 4
Alignment LE Size Medium
Oh, wow. When you said you wanted to stat an evangelist up, you meant it! That's awesome. (Side note: one of my back-up villain options if Rosiline failed to come together properly was an evangelist using portrait #23; I just worried it would seem arrogant to use my own archetype.) Anyway, if you ever wind up using Lily in your home game, post a write-up about it on the evangelist thread? I'd love to hear how it goes.
Oh, wow. When you said you wanted to stat an evangelist up, you meant it! That's awesome. (Side note: one of my back-up villain options if Rosiline failed to come together properly was an evangelist using portrait #23; I just worried it would seem arrogant to use my own archetype.) Anyway, if you ever wind up using Lily in your home game, post a write-up about it on the evangelist thread? I'd love to hear how it goes.
But enough digression, I still love your villain concept. For show and tell, here is mine:
Lilly DeFleur CR 3
Female human bard (Evangelist, R2) 4
Alignment LE Size Medium
Sean, get off the board, you got work to do! :)
Sean, get off the board, you got work to do! :)Oh, wow. When you said you wanted to stat an evangelist up, you meant it! That's awesome. (Side note: one of my back-up villain options if Rosiline failed to come together properly was an evangelist using portrait #23; I just worried it would seem arrogant to use my own archetype.) Anyway, if you ever wind up using Lily in your home game, post a write-up about it on the evangelist thread? I'd love to hear how it goes.
But enough digression, I still love your villain concept. For show and tell, here is mine:
Lilly DeFleur CR 3
Female human bard (Evangelist, R2) 4
Alignment LE Size Medium
Hah. I raise my head from google docs for five minutes out of the night and I get chastised for it. :-)
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
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I dig the name Sasha.
Obviously, no one can comment on the stat block, but the villain concept needs more I think. I think you're a fair writer and Sasha is not a developed or fearsome villain. i do think the name and the locations you chose can do a lot to make her very foreboding, though. She is much scarier as a murky witch who could be a random townsperson, instead of a glib human bard.
I think this was better than some entries but would not have ranked higher than the ones I voted for. Possibly with a glittering stat block and some other twists that make her more than meets the eye, she could have stepped up.
I thought about going with the witch class, but I liked the idea that this person could literally be anyone, and the bard fit that idea better. And since the townspeople don't know who she is, there's this note of paranoia that she could be anyone...
After missing out on the top 16, I toyed with the idea of allying her with some evil fey who have been taking the children and doing something nefarious with them. I still waver on that point.... I like fey, but with Kingmaker and Neil Spicer's module, there have been a lot recently.
Still, it needs something, and I like to believe if I'd worked on it a bit more I would have figured it out, but who can tell?
Dedicated Voter Season 6
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Well if I had made it into Round 2, my archetype would have been a Golarion specific one from Land of the Mammoth Kings. Basically a Ranger who could kill huge or larger animals more easily.
So that being said, my villain would have been either Picture #18 and use my archetype or a Piratey type guy and use Picture #2.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
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Well if I had made it into Round 2, my archetype would have been a Golarion specific one from Land of the Mammoth Kings. Basically a Ranger who could kill huge or larger animals more easily.
When I was brainstorming for archetypes, one of my ideas was for a Mammoth Rider Ranger. Ultimately I didn't go that direction, but it was an idea. Pretty cool image, too.
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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Well if I had made it into Round 2, my archetype would have been a Golarion specific one from Land of the Mammoth Kings. Basically a Ranger who could kill huge or larger animals more easily.When I was brainstorming for archetypes, one of my ideas was for a Mammoth Rider Ranger. Ultimately I didn't go that direction, but it was an idea. Pretty cool image, too.
My inspiration was kinda that martial arts movie about the Thai elephant protectors that would protect the elephants from spears from below as their bellies were their weaknesses. But instead of creating the Martial Artist Monk who protected Mammoth bellies. I wanted to create the guy who's sole purpose was to go out and hunt wild huge animals (mammoths, dinosaurs, et. al.) or kill them if they are being used as mounts in battle.
And yeah, it brings up memories of the LTR: Return of the King movie in that final battle when Legolas was leaping around on those giant elephant-like creatures.
But back on topic, I'm not sure how this archetype could be designed as a villain. At least the archetype would just be fluff rather than the reason the villain is a villain. He'd have to have more backstory. His archetype was simply part of how he was trained and raised as he became a villain.
I mean, I didn't want to get silly and say, "watch out player characters, or this guy will kill your elephant!"
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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My ideas, had I advanced even a little bit, were the black tongue savant, a druid that specializes in poison, and a cavalier that drives chariots.
In fourth place I had a riposted eidolon, where the spellcaster is the mook, and you, the outsider who bound him when he screwed up the spell are the PC, with more autonomy, an ability to appear with one of his spells cast on you already, Arcane Shield as a bonus feat (allowing you to steal on of your lackey summoner's spells to give yourself a deflection bonus), the ability to yoink hp from him and come back the round after you 'died', and the ability to foist a condition onto him. I liked it, but word count was messier than the savante, and I thought people might conclude "I could just play a summoner that does what the eidolon tells him to do", so it took the back seat.
What do you guys think?
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
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My ideas, had I advanced even a little bit, were the black tongue savant, a druid that specializes in poison, and a cavalier that drives chariots.
In fourth place I had a riposted eidolon, where the spellcaster is the mook, and you, the outsider who bound him when he screwed up the spell are the PC, with more autonomy, an ability to appear with one of his spells cast on you already, Arcane Shield as a bonus feat (allowing you to steal on of your lackey summoner's spells to give yourself a deflection bonus), the ability to yoink hp from him and come back the round after you 'died', and the ability to foist a condition onto him. I liked it, but word count was messier than the savante, and I thought people might conclude "I could just play a summoner that does what the eidolon tells him to do", so it took the back seat.
What do you guys think?
First, I think Paizo intends Aklo to be their "black tongue", but perhaps you could make a proto-Aklo that is spoken by the Old Ones.. I like the poison druid idea. It's got legs. The charioteer also sounds cool.
I really like the idea of the reverse eidolon/summoner, though the devil's in the details on how you do it. Do it right and it's cool as heck. Kind of like playing the pokemon instead of the trainer.
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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My ideas, had I advanced even a little bit, were the black tongue savant, a druid that specializes in poison, and a cavalier that drives chariots.
In fourth place I had a riposted eidolon, where the spellcaster is the mook, and you, the outsider who bound him when he screwed up the spell are the PC, with more autonomy, an ability to appear with one of his spells cast on you already, Arcane Shield as a bonus feat (allowing you to steal on of your lackey summoner's spells to give yourself a deflection bonus), the ability to yoink hp from him and come back the round after you 'died', and the ability to foist a condition onto him. I liked it, but word count was messier than the savante, and I thought people might conclude "I could just play a summoner that does what the eidolon tells him to do", so it took the back seat.
What do you guys think?
I think the reverse summoner/eidolon where the Eidolon is the PC would get shot down in a heartbeat. Same reason that the judges didn’t care for the dreamer summoner.
It gives the PC all kinds of really really cool powers and removes the danger of death and adventure.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Thanks for your feedback, guys. I think there are big differemces between a class where half the character has to sleep, and a class where the roles of the two 'half-characters' are reversed. I thought about the eidolon not being killable, but then the sumoner's eidolon really isn't killable either. When you consider that the two shar a poolr of hit points at higher levels, I thought the idea of taking those hitpoints to return after 'death' was neat, and also wekaened the other half considerably. Finally, I thought I'd balance it by removing summon eidolon and raising the elvel of the eidolon cure spells by a level. Again - word count.
I guess Aklo could be the original language of primordial evil, but I like the idea of something more ancient and epic that that. Aklo is the language of ancient races, many of which are tied to evil or maybe even other planes. But when yeti speak, the ground doesn't shake and the ears of the innocent don't bleed. However, it could be that an older dialect of Aklo holds power, or that the savant's corrupt soul gives power to the words.
Would have been a great discussion had I amde it. Sniff.
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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Thanks for your feedback, guys. I think there are big differemces between a class where half the character has to sleep, and a class where the roles of the two 'half-characters' are reversed. I thought about the eidolon not being killable, but then the sumoner's eidolon really isn't killable either.
I think you might have missed my point.
If your character is unkillable, it is a game breaker. It also completely defeats the purpose of the game.
Contributor
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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My idea for a villain was a summoner who used his eidolon to terrorize towns which then hired the famous monster hunter/villain to rid them of the monster.
Haha I like your idea. A bit like the guys in the Brothers Grimm movie, they create a monster then get paid to get rid of it. :D
Oh, wow. When you said you wanted to stat an evangelist up, you meant it! That's awesome. (Side note: one of my back-up villain options if Rosiline failed to come together properly was an evangelist using portrait #23; I just worried it would seem arrogant to use my own archetype.) Anyway, if you ever wind up using Lily in your home game, post a write-up about it on the evangelist thread? I'd love to hear how it goes.
But enough digression, I still love your villain concept. For show and tell, here is mine:
Lilly DeFleur CR 3
Female human bard (Evangelist, R2) 4
Alignment LE Size Medium
I sure will Sean.
My players almost met her and her gang of goons last week. I definately want to have them meet her eventually as she is my way for them to be introduced to Razmir and Razmiran.By the way, I want to thank you for your idea. I love ideas that turn into adventure hooks when I read them. With Benjamin Bruck's Chymick last year I saw an adventure in the making.
Had I advanced to round 3 this is what I would have submitted. (Note i was bored and wondered what the stat block would like)
Captain Valnire Wynn
Portrait: Portrait 2
Description: Captain Wynn is an intimidating man, standing over 6 feet tall. Scars of battle itched across his face; and his eyes white, with a blue smoke escaping them.
Motivations/Goals: Captain Wynn was raised in the harsh Lands of the Linnorm Kings. He had heard rumours of ancient treasures that the Linnorm Kings would take with them on there final journey to die and will stop at nothing to obtain them.
Schemes/Plots/Adventure Hooks:
- Captain Wynn can be encountered at any port city around the Inner Sea; using his hat of disguise and ring of mind shielding to protect his identity; perhaps offering them gold for their assistance.
- Captain Wynn’s destructive search for treasure has drawn the eyes of Gozreh followers, who want Wynn’s quest ended before further madness occur.
Captain Valnire Wynn CR 9
Male Human Wight Fighter (Free handed Fighter, APG 105) 6
LE Medium undead
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12
===== Defense =====
AC 26, touch 17, flat-footed 22 (+6 armor,+3 dex,+3 dodge,+4 natural)
hp 97 (4d8+6d10+37)
Fort 11, Ref 7 Will 8
Defensive Abilities undead traits
Weakness resurrection vulnerability
===== Offense =====
Spd 20 ft.
Melee +1 Keen Cutless +17/+12 (1d6+9 /15-20 x2), or slam +12 (1d4+4 plus energy drain)
Special Attacks create spawn, energy drain (1 level, DC 16)
===== Tactics =====
Before Combat Captain Wynn will start by throwing an elemental gem at the party to distract.
During Combat Captain Wynn targets clerics first, followed by any other spell casters trying to take them out as quickly as he can. When facing melee combatants, Captain Wynn will use hit and run tactics until he can successfully disarm the target. He will always try to kill his enemy with his slam attack.
Morale If reduced to 40 hp Captain Wynn will toss down another elemental gem; then if reduced to fewer then 15 he will drink his potion of gaseous form and attempt to escape; unless of course fought on his ship; then he fights to the death.
===== Statistics =====
Str 16, Dex 16, Con -, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 18
Base Atk +9; CMB +14 (+18 Disarm); CMD (31 vs. Disarm & Sunder)
Feats Blind-Fight, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (Cutlass), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Specialization, Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Greater Disarm
Skills Climb +12, Intimidate +17, Knowledge (religion) +7, Perception +12, Stealth +18, Survival +10; Racial Modifier +8 Stealth
Languages Common
SQ create spawn
Combat Gear potion of gaseous form, potion of inflict serious wounds (3), elemental gem (water)(2) Other Gear [I]+2 Armored Coat, +1 Keen Cutlass, gloves of duelling, cloak of resistance +2, hat of disguise, ring of mind shielding[/]
===== Special Abilities =====
Create Spawn (Su) Any humanoid creature that is slain by a wight becomes a wight itself in only 1d4 rounds. Spawn so created are less powerful than typical wights, and suffer a –2 penalty on all d20 rolls and checks, as well as –2 hp per HD. Spawn are under the command of the wight that created them and remain enslaved until its death, at which point they lose their spawn penalties and become full-fledged and free-willed wights. They do not possess any of the abilities they had in life.
Resurrection Vulnerability (Su) A raise dead or similar spell cast on a wight destroys it (Will negates). Using the spell in this way does not require a material component.
I disliked all the winning villains personally most of them seemed to be one off serial killers, they are adversaries to be sure but nothing on the level of a villain. One of them “Lyell” also seems like a hero than a villain depending on your point of view. A good villain is someone the party is familiar with, who has hindered them or harasses them for many levels, someone the party the wants to face and defeat in a climactic battle.
My most successful villain was a throwback to Everquest, a gnome necromancer named “Meldrath the Malignant” who commands a legion of Minotaur slavers. Most of my player group is hack-n-slash, so I had to think of a way to get them involved into the story line. Previously I have had what I thought were good villains with interesting back stories but most of them never got into it. So Meldrath only goal was to draw them all into the game.
At first the party encountered a single Minotaur at the start of their adventure who at the time was a worthy foe, with its dying breath planted the seeds of the villain’s name. Later a small band of Minotaur raiders were attacking a caravan they happened by. Eventually the prodding culminated on a large scale raid of one of the towns the party frequented, slaying and capturing its inhabitants, many of which were NPCs the party liked.
At that point the party wanted vengeance they tracked down the lair of the Minotaur slavers and their gnome master. The first encounter was a complicated maze fit for a Minotaur, then a dungeon full of deadly traps and secret doors in which a Minotaur would pop out at inopportune times. Eventually they fight their way to Meldrath’s inner sanctum, big bad evil guy monologue, the party was into it this guy has been harassing them for 10 levels, they wanted blood. A party members knocks an arrow and kills Meldrath in a single hit in the first round of combat.
Meldrath was just a level 1 gnome wizard all along. The party is confused and angry on how this weak little gnome controlled the now dozens upon dozens of Minotaurs they had to slay to get to him. How they were not going to get fitting retribution. As the party started to leave the dungeon they reentered a trap room of electrified tiles. Suddenly the files begin to shift popping out of the ground and a blue dragon comes out of the floor. The party instantly realizes it was not the dead gnome in the previous room but this blue dragon that has been harassing them for so long.
Tl;dr
A good villain is not how awesome the loot they drop or how fun/challenging of a fight it will be, it is the buildup of the villain.
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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I disliked all the winning villains personally most of them seemed to be one off serial killers, they are adversaries to be sure but nothing on the level of a villain. One of them “Lyell” also seems like a hero than a villain depending on your point of view. A good villain is someone the party is familiar with, who has hindered them or harasses them for many levels, someone the party the wants to face and defeat in a climactic battle.
My most successful villain was a throwback to Everquest, a gnome necromancer named “Meldrath the Malignant” who commands a legion of Minotaur slavers. Most of my player group is hack-n-slash, so I had to think of a way to get them involved into the story line. Previously I have had what I thought were good villains with interesting back stories but most of them never got into it. So Meldrath only goal was to draw them all into the game.
At first the party encountered a single Minotaur at the start of their adventure who at the time was a worthy foe, with its dying breath planted the seeds of the villain’s name. Later a small band of Minotaur raiders were attacking a caravan they happened by. Eventually the prodding culminated on a large scale raid of one of the towns the party frequented, slaying and capturing its inhabitants, many of which were NPCs the party liked.
At that point the party wanted vengeance they tracked down the lair of the Minotaur slavers and their gnome master. The first encounter was a complicated maze fit for a Minotaur, then a dungeon full of deadly traps and secret doors in which a Minotaur would pop out at inopportune times. Eventually they fight their way to Meldrath’s inner sanctum, big bad evil guy monologue, the party was into it this guy has been harassing them for 10 levels, they wanted blood. A party members knocks an arrow and kills Meldrath in a single hit in the first round of combat.
Meldrath was just a level 1 gnome wizard all along. The party is confused and angry on how this weak little gnome controlled the now dozens upon...
We each have our own view on what makes a villain. So I can’t discount your view.
However, I do disagree with it.
I think you are speaking more about a campaign nemesis style villain, rather than a villain.
Are you saying that the one-off serial killers that CSI rounds up on a weekly basis aren’t villains? That only the one guy that keeps getting away for like 2+ seasons is the only villain on that show?
You mention a build-up to the villain as being necessary.
Well you can provide that build up with almost all of the villains presented in the last round.
I agree that a lot of the provided hooks didn’t show this, but a GM worth their salt can come up with campaign specific hooks.
But a villain can certainly be one-off (as far as a module goes) and doesn’t have to be a lingering nemesis campaign-wise.