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I'm getting ready to start running RotRL. I'm also currently playing in two RotRL games in book 4 and book 3. Fairly familiar with the material.
One of my players is also starting a RotRL game for an on-line group, as the GM. So he's moderately familiar with the material. So I'm looking for little change ups that will throw him for a bit of a loop without disrupting the actual story line.
The first one I've come up with is to flip the motivations and roles of Lonjiku and Tsuto without really changing their family backgrounds or origins. Lonjiku will be the villainous co-conspirator of Nualia's team and Tsuto is really trying to get his sister's help stopping their father when he stumbles onto what is going on. He doesn't trust the heroes though, because they didn't get along as children (I have at least one local PC, and it's the one that is starting to GM the other game so I can play up bad feelings between them in childhood). The encounter between Ameiko and Lonjiku should still work too, since this Lonjiku still wants control of his daughter.
In this idea, it will be Tsuto that is found encased in glass, Lonjiku who is sneaking the goblins into the city, kidnapping Ameiko, and trying to escape to Thistletop when the PCs catch up to him. With this change in dynamic I will likely make Orik into Nualia's sick love interest (changes the notes found in the Glassworks, but I can cope with that) and Lyrie a slightly more sympathetic character who pines for Orik who she can't have. But those are minor edits.
What I would like help with is making Lonjiku into a threat comparable to what Tsuto normally is. But different enough to stand out to the one player who will notice. Tsuto is normally a Monk 2/Rogue 2. I'm thinking something like Ronin Samurai 2/Ninja 2 for Lonjiku; but am open to advice. What do all of you think? We play session zero this Saturday, and will be playing once a month, so I have some time.
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Other things equal, a Samurai 2 seems likely to be more dangerous than a Monk 2. Unless the group needs more challenge, I'd suggest only one level of Samurai, granting the same BAB and a similar balance of AC (more if fully equipped) and hit points (slightly less).
Good point. And the levels of Ninja will pretty much make him just as capable in hand to hand.
As this party is mostly new players I will keep this in mind.
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I guess my question would be "What is Lonjiku's motivation for helping to destroy Sandpoint?" He's a very successful businessman whose Glassworks is the pride of the town. Why would he want to burn it all down?
I will say it would be interesting, if you go this route, if Lonjiku's fighting style is all about beating the snot out of you with his cane. (I'm out of the loop on most of the current rules as my group has converted over to 5E, so I don't know what the best build for that would be.)
Ohhh, good idea. I hadn't thought of having him be a specialist with his cane.
As for motivation, Lonjiku wants respect. Any respect for his family in general. and Lonjiku in particular, has deteriorated over the years since his wife bore him a bastard child so obviously not his. Lonjiku could not control his wife, and could not control his step-son. When his own daughter turned her back on him and ran away to become an adventurer it enraged him. When the runewell activated it pushed that anger to a peak and Lonjiku threw his own wife off the Cliffside balcony of the Lonjiku estate; then broke his bastard step-son's jaw in a dispute over it.
That anger didn't go away. It has smoldered. When Ameiko returned to Sandpoint, bought a low life dive tavern and inn for wayward adventurers Lonjiku had had enough. He contacted old acquaintances in Magnimar in a private club (The Seven) and began plotting his revenge on the town that had corrupted his family and turned them against him. They sent him a fellow conspirator who hated the town every bit as much as he does. Nualia Tobin.
In Nualia Lonjiku has found a daughter that will listen, and who has goals similar to his own bitter and destructive goals.
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Man, I can't ever catch a break.
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Man, I can't ever catch a break.Life is rough, my friend. But don't count yourself out.
I usually see myself out before I count myself out.