Making a kobold villain for my APL 7 PCs

[Mark Hoover 330]

So I've got kobolds in my homebrew. I've been obsessing a lot lately about using a familiar with UMD actively in the build of an NPC and I'm finally pulling the trigger. I've got a kobold Adept 7/Warrior 4, CR 11; he's got an Imp Sage familiar with a UMD of +26 meaning that unless I roll a 1 the imp can successfully use any wand or scroll with a CL of 8 or below.

That's where I'm looking for advice. I'm going to optimize the kobold "cleric" around being tanky and using a sling - a very sub-optimal weapon I know but I don't want to make the creature so powerful that he goes higher than a CR8 since he's not actually the BBEG of the final adventure but the second in command.

So I'm looking for spells to load in scrolls or wands relating to: buffing the kobold's AC or other defenses, general attacks, or specifically attacks using a sling. I'm equipping him as a level 11 Heroic NPC so 6000 GP on weapons, 4500 on protection, 4000 on magic, and 1350 on miscellaneous consumables outside these categories, so putting Magic Weapon on a +1 Corrosive Sling for example isn't helpful.

Any advice on buff spells for a tanky kobold slinger with a CL of 8 or below would be very much appreciated

[Selvaxri]

Kobolds like to use traps. so why not Scrolls of Create Pit?

You don't need to really make him tanky, just evasive and crafty as all get out.
Spells like Vanish, Blur, Blink, Mirror Image combined with Smoke Pellets or Smokesticks could really mess the party as well.

Consider making him proficient in Slingstaffs and even give him a Robe of Needles made to look like a Clergy Vestments.

Sling bullets, Needles, and Darts... maybe even minor poisons to really irk the party.

Hit the Imp up with Shield Other and some wands of Cure Wounds

[TheVillageIdiot]

Here are some techniques I'd consider that are not spell-specific:

Firstly, make sure the kobold has an Alarm spell or similar mechanisms so that he can self-buff in anticipation of the party. Otherwise, have an invisible spy or something tell him when the party is approaching. This could also let him apply spells to the battlefield in preparation. Even standard kobold runners could inform him ahead of time.

Secondly, my next suggestion is don't have him be alone. Standard Kobolds may not seem like much, but they can block charges and such. They can also use Aid Another shenanigans to get a few good hits in on someone if they really pile in.

Thirdly, I would consider using elevation and difficult terrain in this room. You potentially may want him to have a means of traveling from high elevation point to high elevation point, giving him a mobility advantage, not to mention cover from which to fire.

Finally, I'd also consider placing a couple traps in his room. Because why not?

As far as spells go:

Summon Monster scrolls can be really fun. Crocodiles are a favorite. They can grapple the party's caster from the rear and have at it.

Grease is a cheap spell that functions remarkably well with Spiked Pit traps or the like.

A scroll of Heroism would certainly help the little guy out in dealing some damage.

I mean, there's TONS of good spells to use. Others will make far better, more comprehensive lists than me. But definitely consider spells that will last 10 min/level or 1 hour/level.

[Scrapper]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

So I've got kobolds in my homebrew. I've been obsessing a lot lately about using a familiar with UMD actively in the build of an NPC and I'm finally pulling the trigger. I've got a kobold Adept 7/Warrior 4, CR 11; he's got an Imp Sage familiar with a UMD of +26 meaning that unless I roll a 1 the imp can successfully use any wand or scroll with a CL of 8 or below.

That's where I'm looking for advice. I'm going to optimize the kobold "cleric" around being tanky and using a sling - a very sub-optimal weapon I know but I don't want to make the creature so powerful that he goes higher than a CR8 since he's not actually the BBEG of the final adventure but the second in command.

So I'm looking for spells to load in scrolls or wands relating to: buffing the kobold's AC or other defenses, general attacks, or specifically attacks using a sling. I'm equipping him as a level 11 Heroic NPC so 6000 GP on weapons, 4500 on protection, 4000 on magic, and 1350 on miscellaneous consumables outside these categories, so putting Magic Weapon on a +1 Corrosive Sling for example isn't helpful.

Any advice on buff spells for a tanky kobold slinger with a CL of 8 or below would be very much appreciated

One thing about CR for that mix, NPC classes have a -1 CR adjustment to final lvl CR, Kobold innately has a -1CR, assuming you are using the default NPC stat set. Also a given CR is typically 1 less than the total sum of class levels. Assuming NPC class stats, a Kobold Adept 7/Warrior 4 would have an adjusted CR of 8, though for a lvl 7 party, that would be a APL+1 challenge. Bumping up Wealth to Heroic would normally add +1CR, but iirc, it's a recommended bump up on fast track scale for xp, so no CR mod. Given all the feats, try Tail Attack and s tail gear/weapon, maybe even wings for glide. You could probably bump up CR +1 or +2 and add another NPC class lvl or 2, for the bonus +1 attribute raise, with extra feat for extra lvl raise. APL +2 or +3 seems more fitting for a Boss, a APL +1 would more be for a subordinate/sub-boss.