Evil Overlord List: Best management Practices for PFS BBGEDs

[BigNorseWolf]

1) If i am a spell caster I will have multiple spell component pouches

2) If I am a divine spell caster i will have multiple spell component pouches and multiple holy symbols, and multiple holy symbol tattoos on easy to display parts of my anatomy

3) I will have a contingency plan for grappling.

4) I will not be a one trick pony. Like the players, I will have some means of overcoming unusual challenges the players may throw at me, including a swarm of bees.

5) If I am fighting to the death I will have clear motives for doing so.

6) If melee i WILL have a back up weapon in case my main one is sundered.

[KestlerGunner]

7) One attack of opportunity is preferable to standing and receiving a full attack from the angry guy with the greatsword.

[John Compton]

I am amused by this thread.

[Silbeg]

8) I will not allow myself to be trapped in a room, with no minions around me.

9) if I have minions, I will make sure that they are competent. Eight rookie warriors are no match for a higher level opponent.

10) when I carry magical gear, I will make sure it is things that I can use... And I will yes it!

[Lawrence of Qadira]

11. If I am working in a place (my evil lair) with deep chasms and rickety bridges all around, I might consider prepping feather fall each day, especially if it is in my spell book, just in case an insane posse of murderhobos invade my milieu and try to push me off a cliff.

[Dragnmoon]

12. I will get my Final Monologue off before I die to at least make it feel like there is some semblance of role-playing before the end.

[Jokon Yew]

13.) If I am a spell caster, I will prepare spells that I can expect to actually use.

[Mattastrophic]

14. I will pray to the gods every day, begging that my stat block be written by Alex Greenshields.

[Finlanderboy]

15. If I have a free hand and am prepared for voilence I will be holding one of the cure potions I am given.

[Benrislove]

Mattastrophic wrote:

14. I will pray to the gods every day, begging that my stat block be written by Alex Greenshields.

or that my accompanying encounter aspects were written by Erik Mona.

15) I will use the feats presented in my stat-block
16) I will have some vague idea of what is going on in my lair so I can prepare
17) I if possible, I will trip charging foes.
18) I will laugh when 17 happens.

[Drake Brimstone]

19) If I have natural weapons that are better then any other weapon I'm proficient with, I won't bother drawing any other weapons.

[Netopalis]

20) If I am a caster with minimal melee capabilities other than touch spells, I will NOT "wade into combat", no matter how many magical wards I have on me.

21) I don't care how cool-sounding my bloodline ability or 1st-level spell is, I will not "open with it" before "considering more powerful options."

22) I will use detect magic on anything that I steal from the Society, just to make sure there are no other magical auras on them.

23) I will try to make my continued existence begrudgingly beneficial to the Society. A boss enemy gets trounced, whereby an uneasy ally gains rewards from both sides of a conflict.

[Kobold Catgirl]

Benrislove wrote:

18) I will laugh when 17 happens.

Because I haven't been using Community clips enough lately...

[joe kirner]

I will no longer find myself in a 20 x 20 room when the pathfinder team comes charging in.

I will not use my wand of charm person dc 11 will save at tier 5-6 when I have 3rd lvl spells I can cast.

[Talon89]

24) i will have a valid means of escape, and willing throw my lack....i mean helpful retainers in the way so i can.

[wvpolarbear]

25 ) I'll keep a 1hd minion around, invisible if possible, to wake me up just in case of slumber.

[WalterGM]

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

[andreww]

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

That's just cheating! Suspiciously neutral indeed.

[zefig]

andreww wrote:

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

That's just cheating! Suspiciously neutral indeed.

If it's "valid" for the "neutral" Chelaxians, I dont see why it shouldnt be "valid" for the BBEGs.

[Jiggy]

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

Just as long as they're actually neutral.

[WalterGM]

27) If I am an evil enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster, I will be aware of what a wayfinder is and its interaction with a clear spindle ioun stone's resonance ability. I will not target Pathfinder's wearing such objects without destroying or removing that wayfinder first.

[Drake Brimstone]

28) I will not try and cast Charm Person, Reduce Person, Hold Person or any other "Person" spells on the guy with demonic Horns and a Tail, or the one with the Glowing Halo. I will instead cast it on some one who is quit obviously from THIS plane.

[Dhjika]

29) when my enemies are pathfinders, make sure to wear a wayfinder myself.

30) undetectable alignment potions are only 300 gp and last 24 hours - probably smart to keep one handy.

[WalterGM]

31) If I am a caster surrounded in melee, I will not blindly follow my tactics. I will adapt to the situation and do my best to be challenging. Unless, of course, I am blinded by anger, racial hatred towards an attacker, or am not intelligent enough to find a way out of my current situation.

32) I will remember all the backstory provided on the first few pages of the scenario, and lash out at PCs with diatribes that hint at my greater purpose.

[grandpoobah]

31) I will not "begin combat" by casting a full round spell, or summoning allies (especially if said summons has less than a 75% chance of success). I should only do this if I am near certain I will not be attacked while casting a full round spell.

32) I will not rely on poison-based attacks at high level, when PCs are certainly either highly resistant, immune, or able to "delay" the effects. Rinse and repeat for other condition based shenanigans.

33) I will not rely on area concealment or vision impairment effects in combat if my allies require sneak attack to be effective (unless they have means of overcoming said vision impairments).

34) I will always have at least two simple weapons (a dagger or spiked gauntlet) so as to always be at least minimally threatening - and have a chance to provide a sneak attacking ally a flank, or possibly threaten to coup de grace an unconscious enemy in order to purchase my freedom/life from said enemies team-mates.

[David H]

29)I will take up the following archetypes:
Synthesist
Broodmaster
Grave Walker
Vivisectionist

30)I will always have the following spells memorized, if appropriate for my class:
Create Pit
Glitterdust
Stinking Cloud
Grease
Slow

31)If a monk; I will
-either use Dragon Style for relevant damage or Crane Style for relevant AC.
-have potions of Mage Armor instead of wasting my limited NPC wealth on +1 Bracers of Armor.
-Perhaps take the Tetori archetype

32)Always have at least 2 mooks with me; not enough to overpower me, but able to at least hold of a couple of attackers for 1 turn.

[Sammy T]

39) I do not have the action surplus of a party, so when possible, I will take actions or cast spells that make multiple PCs waste their actions.

[BigNorseWolf]

41) Minions will be positioned in the charge lane between the ingress and my current location at all times.

42) Given their treacherous nature, I will not hire a minion that can completely overpower me and my other minions should it be taken over by a charm, dominate, negative energy channel, or the offer of snausages from the druid.

[Jiggy]

43) If I'm 6th level or lower, I'll consider the possibility of fighting with weapons. If I'm 7th level or higher, I will be a spellcaster, no questions asked. Apparently.

[Dhjika]

43) I will know arcane mark as a cantrip (or better a minion who knows it) and liberally use it all over my lair and belongings to make it harder for the foes to find my magic traps and other special items.

[Dylos]

44) I will have prepared Explosive Runes this morning, and placed it on every doorway.

[Jiggy]

45) I will not attempt to threaten 10th-level PCs by holding a dagger over an unconscious person and readying an action to slash for 1d4–2 damage when I could instead ready an action to cast shocking grasp or magic missile or something else that's actually capable of reducing someone to negative CON.

[Drake Brimstone]

46) I will check to see if the group of perspective new followers are carrying Holy Weapons before I start the initiation rites.

[WalterGM]

Jiggy wrote:

45) I will not attempt to threaten 10th-level PCs by holding a dagger over an unconscious person and readying an action to slash for 1d4–2 damage when I could instead ready an action to cast shocking grasp or magic missile or something else that's actually capable of reducing someone to negative CON.

I had an evil NPC do this in [redacted], but with his foot ready to kick an unconscious PC into a magical pit, instead of with a dagger to their throat. Tastefully wicked.

[Dhjika]

47) If my big power is fog clouds and other concealment effects - I will not hire minions who do damage by sneak attack unless they ignore the concealment

(I can think of two games I recently GM'ed where the bad guy specials was all clouds and the others were all rogues)

[Mattastrophic]

48. Just as every Runelord knew about the power of Divination, so do I. I will not be caught unaware of the meddling adventurers. I will make sure I know when they are coming, and I will cast my buff spells right before they do, just as I know they are casting theirs right before they meet me.

49. I will commission dispel magic traps in my sanctum, which will target those up-to-no-good Pathfinders.

50. I will always have a way to escape. I know that the Pathfinders are coming, and they always kill anything with a statblock (and some things without!). I will not trust them when they say they don't mean to kill me, because they do.

[godsDMit]

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

Walter Sheppard wrote:

27) If I am an evil enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster, I will be aware of what a wayfinder is and its interaction with a clear spindle ioun stone's resonance ability. I will not target Pathfinder's wearing such objects without destroying or removing that wayfinder first.

In response to the above:

51. I will be trained in Knowledge: Local so that I may make apprpriate checks to identify a group of Pathfinders as Aasimar and Tieflings, so I dont bother casting spells that have 'person' in their name.

52. I will be trained in Perception, so that I might hear the party coming.

53. I will take Improved Initiative, so that I might stand a better than average chance of getting to act before the last party member.

54. I will NOT employ other people who are classes such as 'Warrior' or 'Adept'. I will find real Fighters and casters.

[godsDMit]

55. I will not have the room of my lair be so far removed from the rest of my hideout, that I cannot hear what is going on in the rest of the aforementioned hideout.

[godsDMit]

56. I will have a good Will save.

57. I will invest in good, quality locks for all doors in my hideout.

[Jiggy]

58) I will never ever ever ever ever take the Fleet feat. Not even if I'm a half-orc monk.

[Magical_Beast]

59. I will not wait until my hit points are ridiculously low before using my cure items or abilities thereby causing me to die from an average melee attack and leaving my cure items, unused, for the murder-hobos to consume at their leisure.

[andreww]

59) If I want anyone to take me seriously as a BBEG I will not be a half orc Monk!

[Jiggy]

60) I will fight as though I intend to win, not as though I knew that I was going to die and just wanted to make sure the next guy wins.

[andreww]

61) If I am a major enemy in a 7-11 module then I will have the ability to accomplish the following, especially my high tier version:

a) Flight, even if it is just levitation
b) Detecting invisible foes
c) Have an effective ranged attack
d) Have some form of defence against compulsion and enchantment effects
e) Possess some form of usable consumables and then actually make sure to use them
f) Have a means of seeing in the dark
g) Have an escape plan in the event that things go south
h) If I am a spellcaster then my stat block shall actually list components pouches and holy symbols and I shall carry back ups in the event of annoying sunder happy PC's
I) If I am a spellcaster I shall have a plan for dealing with grapple, even if it is just some alchemical grease
J) If I am on a ship or near the sea I shall have some way to swim and/or breathe underwater.

These may sound familiar to those of you who have read Painlords PFS expectations thread. The opposition should be at least as well prepared as we might expect the PC's to be.

[Jokon Yew]

62.) If I insist on save or suck, I will have some method of improving my chances.

[Dylos]

63) The PCs aren't the only ones with a slumber witch friend.

[joe kirner]

I will allow the gm to rebuild me so I too can be an uber optimized character like those damn pathfinders.

I will immediately use my save or suck spells on summoners, gunslingers and zen archers,

[Finlanderboy]

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

"What makes a man turn neutral ... Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?"

[WalterGM]

Finlanderboy wrote:

Walter Sheppard wrote:

26) I will be a neutral, not evil, enchanter, charmer, or compultionist caster.

"What makes a man turn neutral ... Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?"

"If I don't make it, tell my wife I said hello."

[ElyasRavenwood]

I will have a 9 year old point out all of the holes in my egomaniacal plans, and plug them.