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themind · 7th April 2005, 04:59 AM

Ok, we've all been there, whether we like the admit or not. Working on your adventure or campaign and you hit the one thing you thought you'd never hit...the inevitable Writer's Block.
Some people like to talk about their ideas with others to try and get the creative juices going, you would talk to your friends, but then again, they are most often your players, and youdont want to go and ruin plots and junk for them.

So what to do then, well that's what this thread will be about. A place to come and toss a few ideas around and get a fresh perspective on the situation from other GM's.

Got an encounter you need help fleshing out, a story element you really want to implement but you can't figure out how to get to work, got any problem with your campaign, just come here and other GM's can help you out. I mean, who better to help out than other GM's.

I decided to make this thread, cause well, we all need help at times. Myself included.

So come on in, submit a problem you could use help with, help other GM's, or just look around, maybe some of these ideas can help you out even if you weren't looking for any.

themind · 7th April 2005, 05:09 AM

I'll start off i guess, hehe.

I need help creating an NPC. I want to make a recurring Villain for my Eberron game, a Death Knight. I want this guy to be a literal thorn in the PC's side. I'm thinking about having him with Paladin levels and then turned to Blackguard, and be about a CR 17 or 18. Basically one of the main luitenants of the BBEG.

As per Nightcloaks great help, back on the old DMF thread, for the next part of my campaign, as the Pc's are heading to the site of their mission, I would like them to be attacked by the Death Knights legions, just to scare them a little, not to kill them.

Although, they dont know it, the PC's are on a quest to free the Death Knights master from imprisonment. They beleive they are collecting artifacts that will free the Mournland from its current state(those familiar with Eberron know what I'm talking about). So the Death Knight doesn't want them dead, just confuse them a little. Make them think that the Order of the Emerald Claw is after them again.

So what do you think I should do with this Death Knight, what kind of Class levels or skills and such should i give it.

capnfro · 7th April 2005, 02:34 PM

Hmmm... Good question. What kind of master does this death knight have? Blackguards are good for death knights. Hexblades make a nice twist on the common death knight as well, if you are using Complete Arcane. Their hexblade curse makes things real interesting.

If you reallly want to throw their head for a loop make him a rogue turned blackguard. There's nothing like getting stabbed in the back for 7d6 damage and then turning around to see this creature with red glowing eyes and chain armor almost grinning at you.

Rapida · 7th April 2005, 03:17 PM

If you want a cool blackguard I think the Hexblade is good. The mettle ability is really nice especially combined with the blackguard's charisma modifier to saving throws.

Okie Dokie, I need help in choosing some items for my PCs. They are about to go into a crypt where they will find some strong magical items and I want them to get something unique. I want the items to be worth around 10,000 gp.
The party consists of the following:
Half-Gold Dragon Human, Paragon Half Dragon/Fighter
Human, Cleric/Divine Disciple of Shaundukal
Wild Elf, Scout
Middle Aged Human, Wizard//Wild Mage

Any suggestions would be appreciated, but the game is tomorrow night(friday night) so speedy replies would be appreciated.

DungeonmasterCal · 7th April 2005, 03:35 PM

I've been suffering from DM's block for over a year now. I'd hoped getting the chance to be a player might help, but I've played only a handful of times. The real world keeps getting in the way. I have lots of "little" ideas, but I've lost the energy to bring them to life.

Using a hexblade as the basis for the Death Knight is a great idea! Maybe tack on a level or three of blackguard, and voila! Another good choice would be the Warlock, from Complete Arcane. I mean, their whole schtick is gaining their powers from a dark entity!

capnfro · 7th April 2005, 05:39 PM

Rapida, are you looking for a unique item to be given out per character or just one unique item?

DMC, Warlocks are fun. If you really want something sick apply the paragon template from ELH to a warlock. The +15 CL for spell-like abilities applies to the invocations and eldritch blast. Mmmm.... things go BOOM!

DungeonmasterCal · 7th April 2005, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnfro

DMC, Warlocks are fun. If you really want something sick apply the paragon template from ELH to a warlock. The +15 CL for spell-like abilities applies to the invocations and eldritch blast. Mmmm.... things go BOOM!

Hoooweee! That'd blow up REAL GOOD!

Rapida · 7th April 2005, 10:22 PM

I'm looking for one item per person
Right now I'm thinking
Scout gets a bow of radiance from arms and equipment guide, but it can only do daylight 1/day for 5 rounds.
Half Dragon gets some tessilated armor from AEG, with the things that make up the armor be made of dragon statues.
I'm thinking of giving the cleric some kind of sacred shield, a generic good aligned one.
For the wizard I'm probaly gonna throw in a Rod of Wonder

Morbog of Ghetto D · 7th April 2005, 10:55 PM

You cant have Writer's Block for a year...I think your cerebral cortex has liquified...

DungeonmasterCal · 7th April 2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morbog of Ghetto D

You cant have Writer's Block for a year...I think your cerebral cortex has liquified...

Listen... y'hear that? It's some sort of sloshing noise.....

Morbog of Ghetto D · 7th April 2005, 11:06 PM

I just created a "Deth Knight" using the black guard template...from DMG
He has 8 levels of fighter and 4 lvels of B.G.

I needed something "cool" so I gave him 2 weapon fighting with magic battle axes with a "chill" affect. He Also has a enchanted Falchion, with wounding. (Improved critical is like 17-20!) and weapon focus.
Spell capabilites are "limited" but he can cast a "Shocking Grasp" (40% arcane failure)

Most intersting I have provided an Armoured Wyvern as a mount. The creature is equipped with a blade attached to its tail. So it gets poison and a 1d10 +Str attack. (choice of one)
The creature has a amulent that remders it invisible, and I have giving it a Sneak Attack like its master...So using move silently and Invis...I should get a nasty attack in on a PC..
I have placed acurse on the amulet that afffects "good" aligned characters... That way they will be reluctant to "keep it " as treasure . PCs with Invisiblity items gets tooo old.
We had a party where the rogue was "invisble at all times unless I say different"

I just kept remebering the scene in Aliens, where Bishop the Android is attacked by the queen alien from behind, and gets torn in half...

themind · 8th April 2005, 12:56 AM

Sweet, this actually worked... I mean, I'm glad people are using this... heh heh.

Mmm..intereesting ideas. The master of the Death Knight is a Lich Wizard, big patron of the Mark of Death. He couldn't be defeated by normal means a couple millenia ago, so the heroes of the time were able to imprison him in an orb.

The PC's have been given a task to finish finding the Dragonshard's that is needed to free him from his prison. However, they believe they are retreiving the shards to help the Mournland.

Oh and I was thinking of using the Death Knight from Dragonlance. It has a few nice abilities that the normal one doesn't have.

Mr_GrinReaper · 8th April 2005, 01:03 AM

Yeah, but one problem about DL death knights- fire!

A flaming weapon, fireball spell, alchemists fire, all of those are the bane of a DL death night, so I really wouldn't advise that, especially with a cleric in your party, all of those "divine fire" spells creep me out...

themind · 8th April 2005, 01:46 AM

where do you get that? I didnt read anywhere that they are vulnerable to fire.

Mr_GrinReaper · 8th April 2005, 02:00 AM

hmmmmm.... well.. I dunno, i read it somewheres... About a little kender who accidentally set a death knight on fire with a special alcemist pebble thingie.... The death knight promptly died....

but i dunno, if it dosn't say it anywheres, maybe im just having brain freeze...

themind · 8th April 2005, 02:07 AM

I dont think they are vulnerable to fire. that may have been a coincidence to help a plot point in the book.

Nightcloak · 8th April 2005, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themind

The PC's have been given a task to finish finding the Dragonshard's that is needed to free him from his prison. However, they believe they are retreiving the shards to help the Mournland.

Nice twist. Very nice. Can't wait to see (ah, hear about) the look on the players faces when you drop that bomb shell on them.

And for my 2 CP. Since the Death Knight is going to be a reaccuring character. I'd give him some good skill bonuses like Bluf (so the characters don't figure out he is lying to them) and maybe spot/listen so no one gets the drop on him. It would be worth a level or 2 of rogue to skill him up (plus the evasion never hurts).

capnfro · 8th April 2005, 05:43 PM

Rapida, You may want to look at giving the cleric a +1 Angelic shield (BoED). +1 AC vs evil and +4 saves vs. evil spells.

Tessilated armor idea is nice and the bow of radiance is cool. I personally have a problem with rod of wonder (Something about having a wizard in the party who loved to play around with his, all sick connotations aside.

) Maybe also think about giving him a rod of Lesser Empower, Still, and Silent or a +3 Vest of Resistance (CArcane)

themind · 15th April 2005, 07:11 AM

I've going over my options for this Death Knight. I think I will go with CR 19, by the DL DK entry, that means 15 Class levels.

I like the idea of at least 2 levels of Rogue for evasion. Then i was thinking 8 levels of Fighter, then 5 of Blackguard for the Smite good 2/day.

Is it worth it to go to level 5 in blackguard though?

I'm thinking of a 2 weapon fighter type.

capnfro · 15th April 2005, 02:56 PM

I think that it is. Smite Good can be a real difference maker. If you are going two weapon fighting make sure you take weapon focus (primary weapon) and Oversized two weapon fighting (Complete Adventurer) It allows you to use the same size weapon in both hands without penalties to two weapon fighting. Gotta love it when you have a death knight bearing down on you with twin battle axes.

Also if all you want from rogue is the evasion also think about taking a ring of evasion instead. Allows you to use those class levels for other things if you want.