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Much appreciated, though I think if I were a dwarven shield wall I'd have some teamwork feats to start with. Maybe a cavalier sergeant handing one or two of them out... Ooh, I have ideas.
A Cavalier (Standard Bearer) 4 is indeed a pretty good addition to the group. Raise the Lieutenant (or sergeant, or chaplain) to level 5 and drop the warriors numbers to 10 and you can throw him in and still have it CR 10.
And I could've gone with Teamwork Feats, but it seemed to me that offensive stat increases would be more effective and useful as compared to them against a higher level party.
A lot of those also rely on their being adjacent, which foregoes flanking. Flanking definitely seems to me like a tactic they should be using.
DM: not neccessarily. Consider the dwarven phalanx as used in their native underground. Find or make a choke point and then hold the line...you wouldn't need either flanking OR adjacent on that one and DEFENSE would be the name of the game. I think it depends on what the extra circumstances would be. Frankly for high level though I favor initiative increases and higher damage output for single attacks if you want your NPC/Monster/villain-de-jour to have a fighting chance.
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DM: not neccessarily. Consider the dwarven phalanx as used in their native underground. Find or make a choke point and then hold the line...you wouldn't need either flanking OR adjacent on that one and DEFENSE would be the name of the game. I think it depends on what the extra circumstances would be.
That's true, but the problem with that tactic has a name: Fireball. A single caster only a level higher than them can easily have three of those a day to use on them. A character their level can use Color Spray similarly. Better saves (from Shake It Off) would ameliorate the problem somewhat but it's still there.
In a world where such spells are relatively common (and especially when up against PCs) spreading out and using somewhat more skirmish-based tactics would seem to be the way to go.
Frankly for high level though I favor initiative increases and higher damage output for single attacks if you want your NPC/Monster/villain-de-jour to have a fighting chance.
Definitely a priority. Improved Initiative instead of Weapon Focus wouldn't necessarily be a bad way to go with these guys for that very reason...but I was (and am) somewhat worried about their ability to hit 9th level characters at all, and I thought that took precedence.
With a bunch of tower shields you can get a pretty decent cover bonus to your Reflex save vs fireball. Of course, there are plenty of other AOE spells to use. Gang Up is a good teamwork feat for a shield wal, though -- if three of them line up they're considered flanking. Add Precise Strike and that's a dangerous shield wall to be next to.
Great ideas, guys. Cheers.
Y'know what I'd use against the dwarven phalanx? Cold spells. Sleet Storm; make 'em all fall down at once. Ice Storm; AOE damage. Wall of Ice dome style; keep 'em all in place. OMG that would be awesome if it all worked: round 1 sleet storm to make em fall; follow that on round 2 with the wall of ice; round 3 while they're enclosed and trying to chip out while NOT falling down you drop 5d6 damage on all of 'em! Then when the ice dome finally fails...Hungry Pit and then everyone else in the party drops alchemist fire on them. That is an ANGRY scene in my head!
In the spirit of the dwarves, give me a unit of gnomes. With a cleric, and arcane type in there. Whatever level blows wind up your skirt!
@Azten and DMW: I have taken some great liberties with Shara Mooncrazed, but I think I've got a cool little side quest with her that I thought I'd post as a thank you and to get your input (if you feel like it):
The PC's come to a town holding a spring festival and one of the folks they meet in the crowd is an old crone giving away apples. This is Shara in disguise and the apples carry lycanthropy, turning you into a wererat. The party is actually in town to meet w/an inquisitor that knows about some local ruins and that is the main quest. Shara is an optional side quest.
So the PC's meet her and she offers them an apple. Whether they take and eat the poisoned fruit (requiring a minor fort save) or just ignore her and move on with their main quest is up to them. However with or without them an outbreak of wererats will infest the town over the next couple of days.
The story is: Shara was one of the pretty girls in town but she was the poor daughter of a local woodcutter. Despite her good looks she was mercilously teased. To seek solace she often made her way into the woods where she just spent nights sleeping under the moon in a faerie ring. When she did this "woodland spirits" woulud whisper to her in her dreams. Her bullies found out and started calling her Mooncrazed.
Her dream-friends convinced her that to deal w/her oppressors she should spend the night of a full moon in the circle. When she awoke the wicked faeries had stolen her beauty but given her lycanthropy as a "gift". Her spirit friends (mites) showed her how to prepare the apples to infect others and also taught her how to cast spells as an adept.
She's been missing now for a month and her father the woodcutter is extremely worried. Shara's oppressors (wealthy and "beautiful" teens in town) have all been infected with the disease and without ANY intervention whatsoever will be her minions.
The PC's can get involved either by 1) accepting an apple, 2) meeting the old woodcutter, or 3) being around in town when the outbreak occurs. Clues will lead the PCs through a mini-dungeon in the sewers and then eventually to the faerie ring. They will have to retrieve Shara's beauty from the real villain: a forlarren sorceress who wears the extra charisma as a locket around her neck. Once returned to the adept the curse is broken and all are saved.
Villans; Shara (as written but with the Wererat template added), a dozen or so mites but I'm going to re-skin them to change the vermin empathy specifically to rats, Dire Rats and finally a forlarren sorceress (probably with more mites at her disposal). I'll follow up with the stats on the sorceress if you don't mind DMW. Your thoughts?
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@Vuvu: Added to the list. :) Actually, I may have some of these already statted for an old game...
@Mark Hoover: Go for it! I'll probably critique and advise, for the record.
@Malhagor: Very workable. Will do.
@ruemere: Also added to the list. Probably both 14th-15th level so as to keep up with your PCs. I'll build them as humans...you can make any necessaryb alterations.
@Everyone: Been busy this weekend, may continue to be. I'll start back on my list of things to do (Familiar Wizard, Bodyguard, Rich Guy, Gnomish Troops, High Gorgon Druid and Bard) tomorrow or so if not before.
Please critique; let me know if the math is sound and if you'd change the build at all. What I was going for was a mastermind-type villain. Also please note: she will have stolen 2 people's "beauty" and be adorned with special jewelry on her courtier's outfit which then give her an effective +2 to all Charisma based rolls. Without further ado, my first posted build ever on these boards:
Fabelina
Forlarren sorcerer 2 (fey bloodline)
CR 3
Xp 800
NE Medium fey
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +11
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 29 (6d6+6)
Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +8
DR 5/cold iron
Weaknesses remorse
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +7 (1d6+1)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +3)
3/day—heat metal (DC 14)
5/day – laughing touch
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 17
Feats Skill Focus (Perception), Spell Focus (enchantment), Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +9, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Perception +11, Stealth +9
Languages Common, Sylvan
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Remorse (Ex)
Whenever a forlarren kills a living creature, it must make a DC 15 Will save to avoid becoming overwhelmed with remorse. If it fails this save, the forlarren becomes nauseated for 1d6 rounds. This is a mind-affecting effect.
Bloodline Arcana: Whenever you cast a spell of the compulsion subschool, increase the spell's DC by +2.
Bloodline Powers
Laughing Touch (Sp): At 1st level, you can cause a creature to burst out laughing for 1 round as a melee touch attack. A laughing creature can only take a move action but can defend itself normally. Once a creature has been affected by laughing touch, it is immune to its effects for 24 hours. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. This is a mind-affecting effect.
Spells
0 level: Daze (DC 15), Ray of Frost, Resistance, Spark, Touch of Fatigue (DC 13)
1st level: Hypnotism (DC 16), Sleep (DC 16)
Gear: wand of Mage Armor (27 charges), potion: Disguise Self, scroll: Vanish, 3 smokesticks, masterwork courtier’s outfit
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The big issue with Fabelina seems to me to be thematic, not mechanical. She seems singularly low in Int for a mastermind type. I'm aware that's to some degree unavoidable...but still. Maybe tack on the Advanced Simple Template?
I think her claws should also only do 1d6 damage.
And more character builds go up today...my last few days were busy.
DM: thanks for the critique. I figured her for more cunning than knowledgeable; she hasn't left her wood, traveled the world much, or studdied many subjects to soak in knowledge other than what she needs to survive; however she can charm a lit torch out of a goblin's hand. When she needs knowledge of some kind (the purview of the Int stat) she simply diguises herself, finds some hapless human, hypnotizes them and then asks her question...before knocking them unconscious or worse.
The claws damage: I missed that plus 1; a holdover from her original strength score. I'll get that cleaned up on her final statblock.
Thanks again for all the help with this and the whole thread. I've learned more from reading this thread than in all the hours slaving over the core book and the SRD trying to sculpt really cool NPCs!
@Azten and DMW: I have taken some great liberties with Shara Mooncrazed, but I think I've got a cool little side quest with her that I thought I'd post as a thank you and to get your input (if you feel like it):
I nice way to reinforce the "Never take candy from strangers." advice. I like it much better than my idea for knives covered in lycan saliva/venom. Wreck havoc with her!
Deadmanwalking,like so many others I am enjoying this thread. Not just the builds, the commentary is very instructive and enjoyable.
I'm glad folks are enjoying the thread. :)
I'll probably have a build or two up tonight, just FYI.
Is it nerdy of me that I can't wait to see what the Man-Who-Walks-Deadly comes up with for the familiar-using wizard?
Is it nerdy of me that I can't wait to see what the Man-Who-Walks-Deadly comes up with for the familiar-using wizard?
I am waiting for it too as I am currently playing something like that :).
In the meantime here's mine (currently lvl9):LN half elf wizard
spec: transmutation (enhancement)
forbidden: evocation, necromancy
14/10/14/17/10/13(20pts buy)
familiar : compsognathus
1 - toughness, ancestral arms : bastard sword(large)
3 - improved familiar (celestial compsognathus)
5 - eschew materials, still spell
7 - extend spell, familiar: inevitable,arbiter
9 - evolved familiar (skilled: UMD)
10 - quicken spell
11 - improved share spells
15 - spell perfection (true strike)
He focuses on polymorph spells to inscrease his familiar size and flank with him. He gets a peak in power @lvl11 when he can tag battle with his familiar as 2 giant flying minotaurs with battlemind link and transformation (familiar only).
Compsognathus is my favorite starting familiar, good strength and bonus to init. Then arbiter is the best front liner familiar, he has regeneration, a buckload immunities, and martial proficiency being an outsider.
Why take Improved Familiar though? That's one of the key points I'm making in my challenge to DMW; build a wizard (not a witch) that uses their familiar as part of the threat they pose, and have it NOT be an improved familiar.
My contention with my buddy and other gamers is: I feel you can have an original animal familiar and STILL be dangerous.
Yes, levels 1 & 2 will be a challenge; yo don't really have any spells to reliably protect your familiar from damage and one hit from even a minion takes it out. But at 3rd level you could p/up alter self, share spells, and now you've got a 2nd wand wielder. At 5th level you could make an owl (Tiny) into a Great Horned Owl (Small) and now you've eliminated the need for it to enter an enemy's space to attack and given it the ability to flank if needed.
I just feel like, back in 1, 2, and 3e versions of the game familiars were always a great idea but never worked unless you took a feat to permanently change them into something else. But with PF I have this sense that there's FINALLY a way to be a wizard with a basic animal familiar (cake) and also have a proper helper for ALL aspects of your career (eating it too).
Let's just think first level for another example: your wizard takes a couple knowledge skills, spellcraft, and readies detect magic as one of his cantrips for the day. With PF making cantrips unlimited use now your 1st level owl familiar can fly around the dungeon in the dark (good perception, senses and stealth) returning to you from time to time for a re-fresh of its detect magic, and scout out all the potential sources in the area. Then when you actually go THROUGH the area it scouted, it sits on your shoulder and gives you an automatic 2 rolls for knowledge/spellcraft checks to analyze any such magic sources. It's not a huge utility, but a far cry from my 3.0 sorcerer who used her owl twice in total through first level.
How is the owl getting detect magic? It does not fit the criteria of share spells.
And can you really have it scout to any degree with just general emotions? Sure, it can say "danger", but it can't say "Danger in 3 rooms down, on the left side."
How is the owl getting detect magic? It does not fit the criteria of share spells.
I may have mis interpreted; Det Magic in the description says "you detect magic..." and I thought that meant you cast it on yourself, thus you could share it w/your familiar.
And can you really have it scout to any degree with just general emotions? Sure, it can say "danger", but it can't say "Danger in 3 rooms down, on the left side."
No you can't make it an effective scout in that respect, but you can have it sense magical auras, passing the emotion of confirmation (you're asking it is there magic down that side passage, it flies, it returns with a positive emotional response to your query - gray area I'd ask my GM about if need be) on to you upon discovery. Remember, it may only give you emotional grunts, but at first level it's already got a 6 Int; 1 point lower than some munchkined fighters I've seen...
Unfortunately, Share Spell actually only works on spells with "Target: You" in them.
And it's not just it that can communicate with you in general emotions. The wizard also can only communicate with it in general emotions.
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@ cheapy: without turning this into a familiar thread, how do you use the familiar for ANYTHING until 3rd level if there's virtually no articulate communication between you?
@ DMW: either you've got WAY too much on your plate to keep this thread going or the 10th level wizard w/a usable base familiar finally broke the creative bank. Either way I think threads like this are too useful to just fade out.
If ANYONE wants to stat out a CR 5 bugbear I'm billing as the Nightmare King please feel free. He's blind, relying on the bugbear feat Scent of Fear. He should also have Sow Terror as a feat from the bugbear selection as well.
Here's the scenario: he's the villain in a re-telling of The Boy Who Wanted to Learn to Shudder (a Grimm Fairy Tale). A hunter's son is somehow immune to fear and has never been afraid. In his quest to make his father proud by knowing fear he's come across this bugbear who in turn has (somehow) cursed the young man that, since he can't make the boy afraid the lad will instead make everyone else who sees his face afraid (cause fear gaze effect).
The PC's meet the lad as a traveling puppeteer at a faire; he's retelling his own story through the marionettes. After getting to know him the PC's undertake the quest to head into the wood, destroy the nightmare king and retrieve for the boy his father's axe to end the curse.
When not cursing the sons of woodsmen this bugbear and his goblin minions eke out an existence hunting and trapping fey in the nearby wood to torture, kill and eat.
I guess this is as good a place as any to post this:
I can't seem to get NPC spellcasters to challenge the PCs. Between their recommended ability score arrays and low starting funds, I can't get the DCs of their spells to be anything better than a joke when compared to the PC's saves (which have better ability scores and gear to put into them). Even using things like potions to save money and increase the NPCs' spellcasting stats only goes so far. Even using clever tactics can be real tricky if you can't get any of the magic to stick.
Hoping for some advice.
If you gear every feat they have toward upping the DC that doesn't do it? a wizard enchanter using charm person w/a 17 Int is already a DC14; tack on Spell Focus that's 15; a human NPC at level 1 could already push it to 16 with Greater Spell Focus. If said first level had an intimidating bodyguard anyone so intimidated technically has a DC 18 from being Shaken. A cleric with an 18 wis would fail that save slightly over half the time.
I think I see your challenge though R D; there's no easy way for the villan spell slinger to pull this off on their own. They need SOME kind of bodyguard or minion to run interference and intimidate to get FULL benefit of their spells.
I've had entire military squads supporting my spellcasters. Short of using no save spells like enervation, the spellcasters still usually end up as a joke in direct confrontations.
I either have bad optimizers for players or yours are exceptional. I had a throw-away encounter w/a 3pp skeleton variant called a Danse Macabre in a ghostly ballroom scene. The DC of their special Ability to make people dance is only a 13; had it not been for 1 evil cleric in turn controlling a skeletal champion with a shield bash attack an CR 3 worth of base skellies and Danse skellies would've TPK'd the party.
That being said in my current game rebooted at level 1 I have an enchantress with similar stats as in the example above, except that she's Fey so she doesn't get the Greater Spell Focus. Even if her mite minions DON'T succeed w/their doom power and cause Shaken conditions she STILL has a DC 15 on her hypnotism spells. I figured that would take out the entire party...
I've had entire military squads supporting my spellcasters. Short of using no save spells like enervation, the spellcasters still usually end up as a joke in direct confrontations.
What level range are we looking at here. I would imagine the discrepancy is greater at high levels.
Also, another technique might be to throw a larger number of low level casters. 20 saves means there's a fair chance someone wiffs and rolls poorly. It is not a catch all, but it could help some encounters. By probability, knocking a few levels off, and than increasing the number of enemies will get similar CR, and greater chance of getting a good hit in.
Your NPCs sound really fun, Mark. Also ruemere has some great ideas. Glad to see this thread is still full of goodies.
Set up contingency planes. Clones, Similacrum, a phylactery so he comes back as a lich after death.
I've had entire military squads supporting my spellcasters. Short of using no save spells like enervation, the spellcasters still usually end up as a joke in direct confrontations.What level range are we looking at here. I would imagine the discrepancy is greater at high levels.
Also, another technique might be to throw a larger number of low level casters. 20 saves means there's a fair chance someone wiffs and rolls poorly. It is not a catch all, but it could help some encounters. By probability, knocking a few levels off, and than increasing the number of enemies will get similar CR, and greater chance of getting a good hit in.
My players all have 11th-level characters, and we've been playing most of them practically from 1st-level.
R.D: other ways around your problem: ranged touch attacks, witches in a Coven to boost caster level, and did you know that many of the sorcerer base powers come w/no save, like Laughing Touch from the Fey bloodline? I'm not being sarcastic; I honestly had no idea until I created a sorcerer NPC for this very thread.
Imagine a sorcerer/witch with a flying familar, fey bloodline and a forest setting. The party sees a raven on a branch. From surprise it descends and causes one party member to begin laughing hysterically, then flies away while the invisible mistress drops a Mind Fog over the area with a DC 25 Will save attached plus it blankets them all in fog. If the party makes the save and leaves the fog...more laughter (unless they've previously been affected) wheras if they stay in it their vision is hindered. If they fail the save...
Round 1 of initiatives: if the sorceress is still alive and the party is relatively close to one another, a simple confusion tossed into the mix should liven things up; carrying a healthy DC 24 will save (-10 for anyone actually affected by the mind fog) that has the party slobbering all over themselves. If they are scattering or she needs to deal some damage...a fireball boosted by her witch sisters (all 1st level so they don't affect the CR of the encounter very much) so it's maxed out in potential damage.
Any additional rounds can be spent on individual compulsions, fleeing, or commanding dominated PCs to attack their friends. Good times...
So DMW: in the immortal words of Sean Connery in the Untouchables...
"Is that IT then? Are we DONE here?"
Well I really like this thread and have learned a lot. I didn't even knkow there WERE arrays for NPC's til now. I've posted my first stat block here.
I open the challenge up to all of you: post your NPC's. Deadman: if you're just taking some time off I hope all is well. I also hope you take no disrespect at all, for I mean none with this post.
I seriously have learned a lot about building NPC's here and would love to see more threads like this one. I have a game starting over from 1st level and will need lots of NPC's since the prime villains will be sentient humanoids and fey.
I don't think I'll be able to pull it together til tomorrow night but I intend to have another NPC to post; the brutal bugbear known to his enemies as the Nightmare King.
I'm sticking around, regardless. I too have learned a lot. If anyone has any requests, I'd be happy to pitch in. I'll try to keep to the baselines that Deadman was following.
I have had an idea for an interesting group of villains... this could be fun.
Do share! (Still waiting on that bugbear, Mark)
I've actually had another, just as fun one.
1: Necromancers.
2: A group of of lieutenants for the Four Horseman.
Ok, so here goes:
The Nightmare King
CR 5
XP 1600
Male bugbear ranger (falconer; infiltrator) 3
CE Medium humanoid (goblinoid)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +13
DEFENSES
AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+4 armor, +4 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 55 (3d8+10+2d10+3 favored class+18)
Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +3
Weakness blind (auto fail any sight-based activities)
OFFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee hand axe +9 (1d6+4), dagger +9 (1d4 +3)
Ranged javelin +9 (1d6+3)
Special Attacks favored enemy (human +2)
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 14
Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 22
Feats Double Slice, Endurance, Scent of Fear, Skill Focus: Perception, Sow Terror, Two Weapon Fighting
Skills Intimidate +15, Perception +13, Stealth +17; Racial Modifiers +4 Intimidate, +4 Stealth
SQ adaptation, feathered companion, stalker
Languages Common, Goblin
Combat Gear +1 hand axe, masterwork dagger, Mistmail; Other Gear 2 javelins, 4 thunderstones
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Stalker (Ex)
Perception and Stealth are always class skills for bugbears.
Adaptation (Ex)
Select one ability or feat from the adaptation list for one type of favored enemy.
Feathered Companion (Ex)
Select a bird animal companion; it functions as the Druid ability Animal Companion except the bird has ½ normal HP.
Vilebeak
Bird (vulture)
Starting Statistics
3HD (8HP); BAB +2; Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +3; Skills Fly +7, Perception +6, Stealth +7; Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse; Size Small; Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average); AC 16 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural armor); Attack bite +5 (1d4), 2 talons +5 (1d4); Ability Scores Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6; Special Qualities evasion, link, low-light vision, share spells.
He's a bit weak on defense but he's meant as a menacing figure in the shadows for a handful of 2nd level PC's. The idea is that he should, if at all possible, be in the shadows. By winning the opposed stealth check he spends the surprise round freaking out the party causing Shaken. He then leaps out and attacks dealing as much damage as possible, using Vilebeak for Aid Another, and fleeing using the mistmail as needed.
If he's blind, how does he know when he is and isn't in the shadows???
If he's blind, how does he know when he is and isn't in the shadows???
Temperature difference?
Who cares? How does a thing called a "bugbear" exist? How does stealth work? Why aren't 0-level spells EVER useful after your first adventure?
My point is... he does it. If you were HONESTLY asking RD, my only explanation would be his vulture tells him somehow.
Your sardonic question doesn't tell me though if 1) he's cool, 2) he's broken, or 3) he should get changed for optimization.
Dot.
If he's blind, how does he know when he is and isn't in the shadows???Temperature difference?
Who cares? How does a thing called a "bugbear" exist? How does stealth work? Why aren't 0-level spells EVER useful after your first adventure?
My point is... he does it. If you were HONESTLY asking RD, my only explanation would be his vulture tells him somehow.
Your sardonic question doesn't tell me though if 1) he's cool, 2) he's broken, or 3) he should get changed for optimization.
I would not play in a game run by a GM that broke the rules like that. If he doesn't have an ability to back up his new power, then he either shouldn't have the new power or, at the very least, he should have a higher CR (and commiserate XP value) to account for it. How messed up would a GM have to be to say he's "normal" when he is anything but, then to pit him against the PCs as an inappropriate encounter?
So...remove blind.
This change having been made, is he a good CR 5 challenge?
Here's a challenge: keep this thread alive.
Here's another: build a viable NPC classed character around the Agile Maneuver's feat. 6th level. Anything else is up to you.
The Lieutenants are more difficult to make than I originally though...