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My group's final session is tomorrow. I'll come back in to report how it went, but in the mean time, has anyone got any final battle stories? How did Karzoug and the PCs alike prepare for it, and what did they do once the battle took place? Was it a 2 round rocket tag, or a minute-long epic confrontation? I'd love to hear your stories, for entertainment and yes, maybe some last-minute prep ideas. (All I could find on the boards so far were recounts of the original edition.)
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Did the final battle! Results.
Achille, human wizard 7/diabolist 10
His command over devils is unparalleled.
Athyra, halfling rogue 17
Her skill with a rapier is something to be feared.
Mark, human lich ranger 17
An unstoppable kukri-wielding shredding machine.
Raunkin, half-orc generalist 17 (he was a half-elf, then a human, then a half-orc, due to reincarnation)
No school of magic is unknown to this master of the arcane arts.
Witch, samsaran witch(winter witch)7/winter witch 10
This cruel woman encases her victims in ice, and few survive.
The party is very well made and geared, so Karzoug needed to be tailored accordingly, and to make it a battle worthy of a megawizard of his stature (to the credit of the authors, most of the changes I employed were not to his statistics, but his tactics, so it was a great head start for me!).
I swapped out his combat expertise feat for improved initiative.
Before the party found Xin-Shalast, Karzoug called a succubus to receive her profane gift. He put the resulting skill points into stealth. Everyone in the party has it (thanks to the diabolist), so this helps even the scales. This granted Karzoug an extra 9th level spell, and a couple extra lower-level ones.
I corrected Karzoug's wisdom score (which should be 18, based on my reverse engineering of his point buy).
Every few days, Karzoug casts dimensional lock on the arrival platform. The Anima Focus is an artifact, and is unaffected by the locking effect, so unwelcome visitors can still gain access if they know how to use it.
Karzoug placed a touch-activated symbol of revelation on the floor of the arrival platform.
Karzoug placed a permanent prismatic sphere that encompasses his throne and the area to the right.
I swapped out a few of Karzoug's spells. Notably, removed quickened baleful polymorph, meteor swarm, crushing hand, and added imprisonment, an extra wail of the banshee, clashing rocks, and mage's disjunction.
I allowed the party to receive free wishes to boost their stats... there's a backstory here that I won't get into. In doing this, I also reasoned that Karzoug's minions should also receive this benefit. I did this so that both the party and the minions would be a little more robust against save or die spells, and more HP, etc, especially since I altered Karzoug's tactics significantly. I think it worked out well in the end.
Diabolist used multiple castings of gate to call two planetars, an immolation devil, and an apostate devil.
The planetars buffed the party, and would help with combat.
Ranger used scrolls to cast contingency to cast antimagic field when he spoke a key word.
The entire party received communal mind blank, and one of the wizards cast invisibility sphere prior to using the anima focus's fiery transportation device.
The rogue had greater invisibility.
All throughout this, summoned outsiders are basically attacking other outsiders.
Round 1:
The party appears on the arrival platform. This triggers the symbol of revelation. Witch tries to ice tomb one of the storm giants, the giant saves. The diabolist, ranger, and rogue exit the dimensional lock area, and the diabolist uses dimension door to transport them over to the throne area, and they notice the prismatic sphere. The rogue attacked the dragon (readied action after transport). Karzoug emerged from the sphere, and the ranger spoke his antimagic field keyword trigger. Though the field is invisible, its effects were noticeable, and fairly obvious to Karzoug. Karzoug decides to cast mage's disjunction at the generalist and the witch. This took out all their buffs, and the pair lost a couple magic items between them, but notably the witch's headband of vast intelligence and the generalist's belt of physical might (DEX/CON) were destroyed, and the loss of these two items is felt later in the scene. Karzoug then uses quickened time stop to gain two rounds of buffing, during which he cast cloudkill on the arrival platform, and limited wish to wish for greater invisibility. With mind blank, he would be hard to detect (same as the rogue, were it not for the antimagic field). With his time stop rounds, Karzoug moves to one side of the Eye of Avarice. The dragon and rune giant ganged up on the diabolist, and killed him. The generalist casts hold monster on the other storm giant, who fails the save.
Round 2:
Wanting to take one of the storm giants out of combat, the witch casts maze on the storm giant she tried to freeze. The ranger moves himself and the antimagic field out of the way so that one of the planetars could rush to the diabolist's side, and cast breath of life to save him. The diabolist uses his diabolist dimension door power to move back to the arrival platform. The rogue kills the dragon. Karzoug casts wail of the banshee where the wizards and the witch are now standing, and the generalist fails his save, and dies (he would have had more HP than wail of the banshee would have dealt if his belt still functioned, but alas, it was disjoined). With his second quickened time stop, Karzoug gets five rounds, and casts more buff spells, and a wall of force between the rogue and the rune giant, and moves to the other side of the Eye of Avarice. The rune giant attacks the immolation devil.
Round 3:
Witch casts heal on the diabolist. The diabolist uses the Anathema Archive to cast wish to revive the generalist. Karzoug casts finger of death at the diabolist, who saves. Angered, he follows with a quickened magic missile, then moves out of the area. The generalist comes up with the idea of casting interposing hand, which is not fooled by the mind blank/invisibility combo, to help point where Karzoug is. Being the grid that it is, the hand is directly in front of him, and so the generalist moves forward, and the hand shifts over to his front-left square. This gives the party a 45 degree cone (front to front-left), and because their perception checks helped them discover the square from which Karzoug cast finger of death, they guessed on his probable location. One of the planetars picked up the rogue, flew her over the wall of force, and put her down next to the rune giant. The rogue and the immolation devil killed the rune giant.
Round 4:
The witch delayed for Karzoug to be revealed. One of the planetars tried using greater dispel magic to undo Karzoug's invisibility, but missed. The diabolist tried disjunction in a different spot, and it hit, clearing all of Karzoug's buffs, including invisibility. Fortunately for him, most of his power comes from artifacts, though he did lose power to all his magic items except for his ring of protection. The witch tried to ice tomb him, but he passed his save (he would have failed if her headband still functioned). The ranger rushed at Karzoug, using his quarry ability and instant enemy. Karzoug reacted to this rush by casting wail of the banshee at point blank range, and everyone succeeded on their saves. He then used quickened dimension door to go to his prismatic sphere. One planetar dispelled the symbol of revelation effect from the rogue. The generalist cast disjunction on Karzoug, though mainly to dispel the wall and sphere.
Round 5:
At this point, we erred in initiative order, so I swapped Karzoug and the generalist, who had virtually the same score, and this ended up putting the party together, and as a result, they began to swap orders for better coordination. Witch casts ice prison on Karzoug, who succeeds on his save. The diabolist casts time stop to get closer to Karzoug, and to re-cast mind blank and greater invisibility, to be ready with trap the soul for when Karzoug is killed (he needs Karzoug's soul as part of his backstory). The generalist disjoins Karzoug again, though mainly to get the wall of force and prismatic sphere. This allows the rogue to get into position, where she gets one hit at Karzoug. The ranger also moves into position, having to cast instant enemy again, since Karzoug was just disjoined. Karzoug casts imprisonment, and touches the ranger, who, unexpected to Karzoug, had spell turning running via his ring. Karzoug fails his own save and succeeds on passing his own SR, so he gets imprisoned.
The party then takes a few rounds to converge on the imprisonment site and prepare, and the diabolist uses his arcane bond to cast freedom. The party utterly destroys Karzoug immediately after he is freed.
I'm always interested in hearing about how the high level boss fights go in the APs. What did you think? Was it too easy for them? Did Karzoug put in as good of a showing as you hoped?
It seems like it ended up being a fairly easy fight, but magic items were lost and one PC was killed-only to be brought back the next round, so there were certainly some challenges.
NICE. Phwoar, I've never read a high level combat that sounded so intense, let alone seen something of it's equal at the table. Kudos! Sounds awesome.
You should check out some of the write ups for the battles against Dragotha, Kyuss and Demogorgon if you are interested in seeing what really high level combat plays like.
NICE. Phwoar, I've never read a high level combat that sounded so intense, let alone seen something of it's equal at the table. Kudos! Sounds awesome.
Thanks, Twigs. Being a complete noob at high-level combat myself (highest PC I've played was a sorcerer 15, and my only introduction to high level combat was the few high level characters in the pinnacle), I thought it went rather well. My main goal was to avert rocket tag, so that goal was met. I'm 95% sure that without the preparatory spells I added to the map, they could have taken him down in one round.
I'd say it was fairly easy for them but it was not the usual "derp right in without a plan" sort of thing that is often normally possible. So, not too easy. I did kill two PCs after all, and they did actually have to think and coordinate. They were very well prepared, and really took the time to stack every bonus type they could muster. It went about almost exactly like I planned, really, except I expected Karzoug's minions to be more effective.
I was kinda foolish for having Karzoug cast imprisonment (especially since my character spell-turned a maze in our last campaign which really helped turn the tide of the final fight), but doing something else instead (e.g. point-blank disjunction and quickened dimension door to safe range) would just have delayed the inevitable in this instance. Karzoug was down to about 3 WIS and one more attack from the apostate devil would likely have drained all of that.
My players planned the Abaddon out of things before the fight and the end was result was that Karzoug was defeated with no one taking any damage and Karzoug never even got up from his throne. My players are also specialize in tactical war games and they went for Kourzaog first ignoring the other opponents.
We defeated Karzoug today! I usually GM but was a player in this campaign.
As a player, my insight into Karzoug's tactics and abilities is obviously limited, but I can say that the battle lasted for 10-12 rounds and was epic, although we actually handled ourselves pretty well.
Karzoug unleashed lots of lethal high-level spells on us, but we were well prepared and made most of our important saving throws. Our party was slanted towards spellcasting and ranged power but had no real front-liners (consisting of a Necromancer, Cleric, Crossbow Ranger and my own Alchemist). We got rid of his support in 4-5 rounds, then it was just him and us.
In the end, I'm proud to say that it was my character who bombed Karzoug into oblivion. Before the battle, I belittled him for not being a proper scientist. So when I lobbed my last three bombs at him, I shouted "QUOD!" *boom* "ERAD!" *boom* "DEMONSTRANDUM!" *boom* *splat*
Good times.
In the end, I'm proud to say that it was my character who bombed Karzoug into oblivion. Before the battle, I belittled him for not being a proper scientist. So when I lobbed my last three bombs at him, I shouted "QUOD!" *boom* "ERAD!" *boom* "DEMONSTRANDUM!" *boom* *splat*Good times.
I think you mean, Quod Erat Demonstrandum.
"which had to be demonstrated"
Oh well, good thing my character is smarter than I am. Or didn't have to write it down. ;)
Just finished this campaign and got to say, if the pcs aren't careful this is a 2 round and done fight.
A True Name called Planetar Angel
A Planar Ally called Marid Genie
Aasimar Druid and her Giant Mantis
Half-orc Tower Shield Specialist Fighter
Half-Elf Sword Saint Samurai, Acrobat Rouge, Chevalier
Dwarf Wrath Specialist Wizard
Human Chirurgeon Alchemist, Crossbowman Fighter
Round 1
If off Karzoug crited his Init roll so the moment the pcs arrived on the platform they ate a meteor swarm. He then used Time Stop, but could only put up his Prismatic Wall, and Wall of Force. The Samurai had Eldritch Heritage feat line for Boreal, so kicked up a massive Blizzard to give the hammered party some cover. The Rune Giant laughed and activated true seeing, even as he was buffeted by high winds, snow and ice. The alchemist, being the most wounded kicked up his spontaneous healing and then shared some of it with the dwarf wizard, burning it all in the round. The Blue Dragon with a roar pushed through the winds into the eye and blasted the dwarf and alchemist with it's breath, putting them back in jeopardy of collapse. The fighter did his best to cover up and live up to his name 'Turtle', Not wanting the dragon to have another fly by and being the only visible target the wizard dropped an Icy Prison spell on the drake, and the drake's wings covered up in ice and sent the mighty dragon screeching into pillars of molten gold and into the lava with a thunderous splash. The Planetar flew and being able to see through the storm blasted the Rune Giant with a Fire Storm and revealed it's immunity to fire. The Storm Giants couldn't find a good target through all the weather. The Marid berated the party for using it's wish to restore the mantis, after it had previously been baleful polymorphed into a cricket through one of Karzoug's images previously.
Round 2 Karzoug cast True Seeing and was shocked to not find his dragon ally anywhere and cast horrid wilting on the Planetar. Hurting it, but not as much as he hoped. The Samurai kept the blizzard moving forward as the party had started to make their way up, the eye being their only safe zone, until they were checked by the wall of force blocking it. Seeing this the Rune Giant tries to Dominate but found his spell matched by the samurai's resolve. The alchemist used this time to cast cure serious wounds on the fighter. The dragon burst from the lava, mouth agape, but it's vocal cords had long been melted away the corpse once again sank beneath the lava waves. With the way blocked the wizard disintegrated the force wall, and the winds once again took their protective shape. Braving the winds the Planetar flew through and struck out at the Rune Giant. The Storm Giants fired their chain lighting blindly into the storm still managing to wing the mantis, druid, marid, and wizard. Their saves mitigating the damage somewhat.
The druid cast heal on herself and sent her celestial servant the giant mantis to smite the RG, and while it got through the winds, it's claws found no good hold on the giant. The Marid tried to make a persistent image of a silver dragon on the Rune Giant's flank but it failed to impress.
Round 3
Karzoug time stopped again and added more to his defenses. This time going so far to even grease the steps for some minor fun at the PCs expenses, when that was over he used finger of death on the Planetar and removed it from existence with ease. The Samurai realizing Karzoug had dropped a cloudkill and solid fog inside the 'eye' used his winds to disperse it, stopping the wind, dropping the cover, and leaving everyone but the samurai a bit cold. With just a fake silver dragon and a very real giant bug left to fight the Rune Giant easily destroyed the mantis in front of the horrified druid's eyes. The only revenge was the alchemist putting a force bomb attached crossbow bolt into the giant's shoulder. The fighter run up the stairs nearly falling on the grease eyes on the rune giant, even as he felt a pull of his dominant acid dripping battleaxe guide his gaze to the runewell and the lens. Seeing the gloating Rune Giant the wizard opened up another Icy Prison on the giant and the giant's smug expression turned to shock when he became incased. Thought the cold didn't harm him, the helplessness would be far worse. The Druid, showing no mercy brought forth 2 massive Purple Worms, and let them feast on the helpless rune giant. Freed the Storm Giants joined the pcs. And the only one to slip on the grease was the berating Marid.
Round 4
Karzoug evens the score with a Wailing Banshee call that ends the purple worms existences in a flash. His glaive sends out a fireball towards the samurai who evades it with ease. The Samurai runs up the steps eyes on the runewell. The alchemist cure moderates the half elf, while barely keeping up. Seeing Karzoug's nervous glare on the lens and the well the fighter double times to the well and gets ready to attack the lens with everything he has. The wizard goes airborne while the giants move to the pc's side. The druid takes the form of a Quetzalcoatlus and gets airborne as well. The now humbled Marid creeps up the steps.
Round 5
Angered that his minions have either turned on him or outright died pathetically he targets the fighter with a quickened baleful polymorph turning the stout half orc into a mouse and then to make his point very clear disintegrates the mouse. Undeterred the samurai runs to the soul lens to stand right where his friend stood. Dominant holy adamantine katana poised to strike the lens. The alchemist now among the freshest of the pcs, runs to be in-between the samurai and the Claimer. The wizard seeing Karzoug hiding behind a wall the wizard knew he didn't have the spells to defeat instead pulls up a Wall of Force of his own around the Prismatic Wall but not touching it. Entrapping the runelord (so the pcs think). Blocked by the wall the giants wait taunting the runelord that enslaved them. The druid though uses her most powerful summon again and this time to Karzoug's horror 3 purple worms answer the druid and burrow out of the ceiling to bite and sting at the wizard. Making Karzoug feel pain for the first time in a long time.
Round 6
Though unable to grip him, the worms become the immediate threat to the runelord and he releases his glaive and works furiously with his talons to fight back. The Samurai though is now in place and begins to slice and stab the lens with a near insane fury.
Rounds 7-11
Karzoug tries to elude the worms first by dimension door and offensive spells. Even trying to nail the samurai who's evasion and sheer stupid luck with saves...saved his backside tremendously. The worms burrowing just let them move over the wall (since under was lava) to follow.
Round 12
Karzoug puts one of the worms down. Turns the other into an earthworm with quickened baleful polymorph. But by this time Karzoug was bleeding and badly poisoned and about to use wish to restore himself, but instead he watched as the samurai finally struck and shattered the lens, dropping the samurai into the runewell as it went off. The light of course only blinded Karzoug. As everyone else saved. (Well the worms failed but I think they are 'technically' blindish since they are worms afterall.)The druid adds a new purple worm to the fun.
Round 13 and on...
Karzoug gets his wish off and his glaive goes back into action with fireballs, but by then and the rest of this combat boiled down to healing the damage dealt by the glaive while a blind homicidal wizard swung away with his talons. The pcs and storm giants, and purple worms eventually tore him apart, the samurai dealing the death blow after getting out of the well, and maneuvering in place for smite, sneak attack, iaijutsu, challenge attack that critted. The Marid plane shifted them to safety as the place started to come apart.
I admit I think I made a few mistakes running Karzoug (I didn't use the glaive's fireball as much as I should, and should of made Karzoug dimension door further away when he used it. But all in all, I thought I was TPK bound after round one. Everyone nestled so close for that meteor swarm is evil. If he had had fly, I think he could of completely mitigated the worms buy staying out of reach flying over the platform at the entrance. But alas, the druid lost another dear celestial friend, (Celestial Servant feat.) but that was the only true loss.
The fighter will be true resurrected though.
The destruction of Karzoug and/or the Load-Bearing-Lens would result in everyone being Resurrected, including foes (except Karzoug). Still, an inspired battle report.