|
To challenge my party. Not kill them, just maim and scare them. All four of the players are 4th level. They're good at the game but not over the top optimizers. They believe in taking feats and skills for RP not just combat, but also aren't so unoptimized that they can't kill anything. It's a 20-point buy party consisting of:
- Human Paladin wielding a greatsword.
- Half-elf support/control Summoner with a 4-armed eidolon.
- Human Ninja 2-handing a Katana.
- Dwarf support cleric with a 12 Cha.
The enemy party is brought together by a cunning bounty hunter with previous knowledge of the party (I'd like him to be recurring villain, but his party is expendable.) He was hired to take the Ninja alive with no further instructions on what to do with the Ninja's companions. He doesn't mind killing them, but like I said, I want a challenge and NOT to kill them. I was thinking possibly:
- Anti-Paladin
- Bard (Villain)
- Ranged Inquisitor
- Undead Lord Cleric
I figured the synergy with the Anti-Paladin and the Undead Lord would be good, but also opens up the Pally to smite half the party. I am completely open to suggestions, but thematically I need someone who is skilled at tracking. Thanks all.
I would use:
Zen Archer Monk
Grappling Barbarian (for the paly)
Inquisitor for the Ninja
Spell sniping Magus for the Cleric (preferably a Myrmidarch).
The monk is going to pretty much peg and run against the half elf while the magus is going to outdamage the dwarf's ability to support.
Honestly having a bard would be an excellent thought though.
Here's a question -- does the bounty hunter have to kidnap the Ninja or could he simply fool the ninja into traveling with him to the point he needs the ninja at?
My thought is have a couple of attacks happen -- attacks that show that someone is paying attention to the party then hit them with this party of 5 (the above 4 and the bard) and as things go the bounty hunter comes to the aid of the PC's. After the battle he comes up with a story about how something bad is going on blah blah blah and if they come with him it will stop the attacks and they can get to the bottom of this (all true mind you).
The 'villains' haven't met the bounty hunter face to face and therefore don't realize they were betrayed, and he only paid them half up from so it works well for him too (saves money).
|
|
That's an amazing idea, but I want them to purposely fail. Story reasons and all. Now you think 5 level 4's isn't too much for a party of 4? I love the Magus and Zen Archer, but I'd rather not have a grappling Barbarian (they've fought A LOT of Barbarians and Rangers). Any other ideas to fill that role? And is the inquisitor melee or ranged?
Instead of a Barbarian, maybe make one of those mutagen using monster like alchemists.
Yeah I'll agree with an alchemist -- also the bard itself could fill in well there.
Also I would really recommend being careful with party wipe situations especially purposeful ones. If you are stuck on that plan I would suggest making it quick.
In fact I would readjust my suggested party:
Keep the Magus and Zen Archer, then add in the alchemist and bard.
The alchemist:
Internal Beastmorph vivisectionist archetypes
Discoveries: Poison Conversion
Weapon: Battle Poi
Having the battle poi allows for two weapon fighting without the feats so pump strength instead of Dex. With poison conversion you are going to turn poisons into inhaled poisons, which are going on the battle poi. When the battle poi are lit they'll create a poison cloud around the alchemist, if you stick the poison into smoke sticks in the battle poi he'll also have cover. For this to work he'll need the shadow strike feat too so he can sneak attack. You can also throw some of the poisoned smoke sticks at the party to force them into melee and get the poison to the weaker party members... remember you can dose someone with multiple doses of inhaled poison at the same time -- so DO IT!
The bard needs to be an arcane duelist and simply sit back and shoot people with the Zen Archer.
The magus should shoot at first (or throw a javelin or whatever) before closing to melee -- remember to give him the shield arcana to help his AC.
The poison should be a knock out poison and the Bard and Zen archer should focus on the cleric with the magus helping to knock people out quickly.
The nice thing is the poison smoke will actually help the party some since it's going to block some line of sight for the bard and zen archer (forcing them to close at some point).
By the way the bard should have delay poison cast on himself.
Ranged human druid with Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, and Deadly Aim, using Produce Flame as a primary attack: 1d6+7 fire damage per hit, twice per round, as a ranged touch attack.
Maybe a dervish dancing druid with a flame blade?
Some kind of big barbarian with a greatclub or warhammer and the bludgeoning weapon feat (bludgeoning weapon does non-lethal damage).
Witch with Slumber Hex and Improved Counterspell to un-heal.
EDIT:
Actually, I would suggest 3 NPC of 4th level, plus a bunch of mooks, like 3 to 6 human warriors 1 to 3 with Weapon Focus or Point Blank Shot, and some fun Teamwork feats.
|
|
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I'm gonna go with a Bard (the villain), either a Barbarian or Monk (or both!) grappler, a ranged Inquisitor, and one more. I don't know what, something to counter the Cleric. But I need a companion for the eidolon. Maybe Feather subdomain + Boon Companion for the inquisitor?