I'm thinking about adding a haunt in my KM campaign and am having trouble wrapping my head around it.
My concept is anyone disturbing the Barbarian Cairn will experience the moments leading upto the forgotten warrior's death (i.e. the sounds of battle raging all around) culminating in a painful experience when the warlord's head is crushed in. I want it to simulate a Inflict light wounds spell at CL5 (1d8+5, or the equivalent of a large club wielded by a troll).
Unfortunately, using the formula in the GMG it comes out as a CR:0 (1) haunt (base CR:2, -2 for Touch trigger), CL:1, Etc...
Can someone help a fellow out here?
I think I built a CR 5 symbol of pain haunt for my campaign, but the writeup is at home. I'll see if I can dig it up and post it for your consideration. I, too, wanted the PC's to experience "pain" so I opted for the symbol rather than actual damage. I also wanted it to be persistent.
Please do, I'd like to see the write-up. I'm looking for a CR 2-3, that's why I am considering going for the mass version of Inflict Light Wounds.
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Oh, my aching head CR: 4
Caster level: 4
Notice DC: 16 (Sounds of battle raging around you)
Hit points: 8 Trigger: Touch Reset: 1 day
Effect: Upon disturbing the pile of rocks that make up the cairn all creatures within the radius begin to hear the final battle of the slain barbarian and must make a DC: 16 Will save or take 1d8+4 points of damage (half damage on a successful save).
Destruction: The player's must disinter the corpse and return the remains to it's rightful tribe for a proper burial.
I'm thinking of making it a slow manifesting haunt to lower the DC even more and allow all the character's a chance to react.
Pain of the Damned CR 5
XP 1,600
CE haunt (10 ft. by 10 ft. room), persistent
Caster Level 5th
Notice Perception DC 20 (to see the shade rise up from the bed)
hp 22; Weakness tricked by hide from undead, only takes half damage from positive energy; Trigger touch (bed); Reset 1 day
Effect When triggered, all creatures in the room witness the horrifying, tortured final hours of the deceased. They are wracked as if by a symbol of pain (save DC 17).
Destruction The body under the floorboards beneath the bed must be taken outside and blessed before given a proper burial.
CR = 1+5 (symbol of pain) +2 (persistent) +0 (notice DC 20) +0 (reset time 1 day) -2 (tricked by hide from undead) +1 (half damage from positive energy) -2 triggered by touch = 5
At least that's what I came up with. /salute!