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As an ascetic is Nwm now unable to develop epic spells with a DC higher than 0?
What do Druids spend all the development gold on anyway?
I don't actually charge gold for the development of Epic Spells at all - there simply isn't that quantity of cash around in the campaign, and I want to keep it that way. I use an abstracted system: i.e. a 25th level character has a total resource value of x. This may be in material holdings, magic items, epic spells etc. When one figures in the xp cost to develop spells, it starts to become more complex - for purposes of determining resources, Nwm is currently 25th level, but x thousand xp have been sunk into epic spell development, therefore he is only a 22nd level character. The benefits of the ascetic class - certain perks which assume no magic items for stat boosts etc. - also have to be costed in this light, and subtracted from the whole.
This preserves the numinous bunkum which is game balance.
But where are all of Nwm's [Exalted] feats? Most notably Sacred Vow and Vow of Poverty, which are prerequisites for the ascetic template? And since you note he never had much "stuff," did you allow him to rework the character from 1st level, in which case he would get the bonus [Exalted] feats from the template, or did you disallow them (as you note, ascetics do get viciously powerful very quickly with all the myriad abilities)?
I don't actually charge gold for the development of Epic Spells at all - there simply isn't that quantity of cash around in the campaign, and I want to keep it that way. I use an abstracted system: i.e. a 25th level character has a total resource value of x. This may be in material holdings, magic items, epic spells etc. When one figures in the xp cost to develop spells, it starts to become more complex - for purposes of determining resources, Nwm is currently 25th level, but x thousand xp have been sunk into epic spell development, therefore he is only a 22nd level character. The benefits of the ascetic class - certain perks which assume no magic items for stat boosts etc. - also have to be costed in this light, and subtracted from the whole.
This preserves the numinous bunkum which is game balance.
There shouldn't be that quantity of cash in any campaign world IMO. The epic spell and magic item costs destroy the verisimilitude of a campaign world for people with the briefest understanding of an economy. Glad to see you changed it. I have been contemplating different systems for epic spell development and item creation for sometime (even the gold cost for base item creation is fairly hokey IMO).
Be great if you could post some specific information on your system.
The ascetic (from Book of Exalted Deeds) only accumulates the bonus exalted feats after becoming ascetic. So, if you become an ascetic at > 20th level (as it looks like Nym has done), you lose out on ~10 bonus exalted feats. Poor Nym! (You do, however, gain all the stat bonuses and other power-ups, so don't feel too bad for him.)
However, Creeperman is right about this: Nym would need to have taken Sacred Vow (which is a pre-req for) + Vow of Poverty just to become an ascetic -- and those feats weren't listed in his statblock. Oversight? Mistake? Or DM's decision?
__________________ Still excited about 4th edition!
'If there steady paycheck in it, Krusk rage against anything you say.' - this post
Re: Nwm - I waived the prerequisite feats for the ascetic, mainly because it was so in-character. Like I say, balancing characters at this level is something of an intuitive exercise for me.
Which brings me finally to Ortwin. Ortwin has a technical ECL of 28, and probably an 'effective' ECL of around 24 because of the multiclassing shaft. Gear-wise, he is underpowered for a character of his level, and I'm still trying to contrive something in-story to redress the balance. He is King Ortwin, after all.
Note that Githla now has the adamantine descriptor. Story-wise, the scimitar was supposed to be able to 'cut through anything,' and in its 1e version it was a +3 flying scimitar of sharpness (anybody remember the Flying Scimitar of Tusmit?) - something that obviously had to be somehow translated to 3e terms. With the 3.5 (or 3.25) change, with new DR rules, something had to give, and the adamantine descriptor seemed natural.
Rob insisted on retaining his Perform skill eclecticism, even at the expense of other skills, so I can't fault him for that. I'm allowing stacked synergy bonuses for performance though, and I'll wing these as necessary. E.g.:
Ortwin sings (Sing +31) a comic (+2 Synergy from Perform: comedy) lampoon of Mostin (+2 Synergy from Knowledge: arcana) accompanied by his lute (+2 Synergy from Perform: lute), for a total bonus of +37. Seems reasonable to me. Perform is only somewhat less unsatisfactory now than in 3e.
Ortwin the Satyr
Male satyr fighter 6 / rogue 8 / bard 7; CR 25; Medium fey; HD 5d6+20 plus 6d10+24 plus 8d6+32 plus 7d6+28; hp 210; Init +10; Spd 40ft.; AC 28, touch 16, flatfooted 22; Base Atk +18; Grp +19; Atk +29 melee (1d6+7/12-20, +4 adamantine keen returning throwing scimitar); Full Atk: +29/+24/+19/+14 (1d6+7/12-20, +4 adamantine keen returning throwing scimitar; SA bardic music, pipes (charm, fear or sleep), sneak attack, spells; SQ damage reduction 5/cold iron, evasion, improved uncanny dodge, low-light vision, trap sense, uncanny dodge; SV Fort +15 Ref +24 Will +15; AL CG; Str 13 Dex 23 Con 18 Int 16 Wis 12 Cha 24. Skills and Feats: Bluff +49, Climb +8, Disguise +27 (+29 acting), Hide +30, Knowledge (Arcana) +8, Listen +25, Move Silently +30, Open Lock +16, Perform (comedy) +16, Perform (string instruments) +21, Perform (oratory) +21, Perform (sing) +31, Perform (wind instruments) +21, Search +13, Sleight of Hand +18, Spot +25, Swim +7, Use Magic Device +27; Alertness, Brew Potion, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Epic Skill Focus (Bluff), Improved Critical (Scimitar), Improved Initiative, Mobility, Skill Focus (Bluff), Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Scimitar), Weapon Specialization (Scimitar), Whirlwind Attack.
Spells: (3/5/4/2 spells per day; Save DC 17+ spell level). Spells known: 0 - Dancing Lights, Daze, Flare, Light, Read Magic, Prestidigitation; 1st – Sleep, Charm Person, Cure Light Wounds, Alarm, Ventriloquism; 2nd – Silence, Cat's Grace, Glitterdust, Detect Thoughts; 3rd – Major Image, Scrying. The Save DCs are Charisma-based.
Bardic Knowledge: Ortwin may make a special bardic knowledge check with a +10 bonus to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. He may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random.
Bardic Music: Ortwin has the bardic music ability of a 7th level bard.
Evasion (Ex): Ortwin can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Ortwin can no longer be flanked. This defense denies another rogue the ability to sneak attack Ortwin by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than Ortwin does.
Pipes (Su): Ortwin can play a variety of magical tunes on his pan pipes. When he plays, all creatures within a 60-foot spread (except satyrs) must succeed on a DC 18 Will save or be affected by charm person, sleep, or fear (caster level 10th; Ortwin chooses the tune and its effect). In the hands of other beings, these pipes have no special powers. A creature that successfully saves against any of the pipe’s effects cannot be affected by Ortwin’s pipes for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Sneak Attack: If Ortwin can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from his attack, he can strike a vital spot for 4d6 extra damage. Ortwin’s attack deals extra damage any time his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when he flanks his target. Should Ortwin score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.
Trapfinding: Ortwin can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. He can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. If he beats a trap’s DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check, he can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it without disarming it.
Trap Sense (Ex): Ortwin has an intuitive sense that alerts him to danger from traps, giving him a +2 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +2 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Ortwin can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. He still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Skills: Ortwin benefits from a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, and Spot checks.
Possessions: +4 adamantine keen returning throwing scimitar, +5 studded leather armor, +1 (+3 mighty) composite longbow of enervation, 12x +3 arrows, cloak of displacement (major), +4 collar of charisma, winged boots, satyr’s pipes, hat of disguise, masterwork lute. [Other stuff not included to avoid spoilers].
I think it is funny that in your 'human centric' which it got labeled back in a thread somewhere that all of the PC's are outsiders/fey/funky templated. Not a criticism...i just found it amusing
Ainhorr was the first bad guy converted to 3.5. Any worries that I may have had regarding his suitability as a foe were quickly dispelled - I must say I really like the 3.5 balor, although I've capped the advancement at around 40 HD. Several spell-like abilities have been retained from 3e.
The sword, Heedless, was originally developed for a death slaad villain that I intended to throw at the party at some point, but decided against. More on this in the next SH update.
Ainhorr, Graz’zt’s Majordomo.
Male advanced balor; CR 26; huge outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar); HD 32d8+384; hp 528; Init +10; Spd 40ft., fly 90ft. (good); AC 48, touch 14, flatfooted 42; Base Atk +32; Grp +52; Atk +52 melee (2d8+21/17-20, huge +5 anarchic vorpal longsword); Full Atk: +50/+45/+40/+35 melee (2d8+21/17-20, huge +5 anarchic vorpal longsword) and +48/+43/+38 melee (1d6+9, huge +1 flaming whip); SA Death throes, entangle, spell-like abilities, summon demon, vorpal sword; SQ Damage reduction 15/cold iron and good, darkvision 60 ft., flaming body, immunity to electricity, fire and poison, resistance to acid 10 and cold 10, spell resistance 28, telepathy 100 ft., true seeing; SV Fort +30 Ref +24 Will +25; AL CE; Str 43 Dex 23 Con 35 Int 24 Wis 24 Cha 26. Skills and Feats: Bluff +38, Concentration +45, Diplomacy +47, Hide +41, Intimidate +45, Knowledge (history) +37, Knowledge (local, abyss) +42, Knowledge (planes) +42, Knowledge (religion) +37, Listen +45, Move Silently +36, Search +42, Sense Motive +42, Spellcraft +42 (+44 scrolls), Spot +45, Use Magic Device +38 (+40 scrolls); Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Critical (huge longsword), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-like Ability (telekinesis), Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (huge longsword).
Ainhorr’s flaming whip is a long, flexible weapon with many tails tipped with hooks, spikes, and balls. The weapon deals bludgeoning and slashing damage, in addition to fire damage. Ainhorr’s natural weapons, as well as any weapons he wields, are treated as chaotic-aligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Death Throes (Ex): When killed, Ainhorr explodes in a blinding flash of light that deals 100 points of damage to anything within 100 feet (Reflex DC 32 half). This explosion automatically destroys any weapons he is holding. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Entangle (Ex): Ainhorr’s +1 flaming whip entangles foes much like an attack with a net. The whip has 30 hit points. The whip needs no folding. If it hits, the target and Ainhorr immediately make opposed Strength checks; if Ainhorr wins, he drags the target against his flaming body (see below). The target remains anchored against Ainhorr’s body until it escapes the whip.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will— blasphemy (DC 25), deeper darkness, desecrate, dominate monster (DC 27), greater dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), insanity (DC 25), power word stun, symbol (any, DC varies) telekinesis (DC 23), unhallow, unholy aura (DC 26); 1/day—fire storm (DC 26), implosion (DC 27). Caster level 20th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Summon Demon (Sp): Once per day, Ainhorr can automatically summon 4d10 dretches, 1d4 hezrous, or one nalfeshnee, glabrezu, marilith, or balor. This ability is the equivalent of a 9th-level spell.
Flaming Body (Su): The body of Ainhorr is wreathed in flame. Anyone grappling him takes 6d8 points of fire damage each round.
True Seeing (Su): Ainhorr has a continuous true seeing ability, as the spell (caster level 20th).
Skills: Ainhorr has a +8 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
Possessions: huge +4 full plate armour, ‘Heedless’ (see below), huge +1 flaming whip, ring of mind blanking.
Heedless:Huge +5 anarchic vorpal longsword; AL CN; Int 20, Wis 12, Cha 24; Semiempathy, 60 ft. vision and hearing, Ego score 30. Languages: Heedless understands Abyssal and Slaadi. Lesser Powers: Wielder has free use of Mobility, Combat Reflexes and Evasion Greater Power: Clairaudience/clairvoyance at will.
The updated version of the Enforcer - I don't recall whether I posted the original or not. The spell-like abilities were originally tweaked somewhat from the ELH: charm person became charm monster, hold person became hold monster etc. Hellball was dropped and replaced with damnation - a few other nips and tucks merited a +1 CR increase above the +5 given by advancement. CR32 feels about right on balance. Like the textbook infernal, SR and caster level for spell-like abilities are tied to CR.
Gihaahia, the Enforcer
Female advanced infernal; CR 32; large outsider (evil, extraplanar, lawful ); HD 50d8+450; hp 850; Init +15; Spd 80ft.,fly 240ft. (perfect); AC 50, touch 16, flatfooted 43; Base Atk +50; Grp +70; Atk +67 melee (4d6+16 plus 1 vile, claw); Full Atk: +67 melee (4d6+16 plus 1 vile, 2 claws), +65 melee (4d8+8 plus 1 vile, bite), +65 melee (2d6+8 plus 1 vile, 2 wings), +65 melee (4d8+8 plus 1 vile, tail slam); SA improved grab, spell-like abilities, spell suck, summon fiend ; SQ abomination traits, damage reduction 15/good and epic, fast healing 15, learned spell immunity, regeneration 15, spell resistance 44; SV Fort +36 Ref +34 Will +35; AL LE; Str 43 Dex 25 Con 28 Int 22 Wis 26 Cha 29. Skills and Feats: Bluff +49, Concentration +62, Diplomacy +66, Disguise +49 (+51 acting), Escape Artist +60, Hide +47, Jump +56, Knowledge (arcana) +57, Knowledge (the planes) +59, Knowledge (religion) +46, Listen +48, Move Silently +47, Search +46, Sense Motive +61, Spellcraft +61, Spot +61; Alertness, Blinding Speed, Cleave, Corrupt Spell-Like Ability, Dark Speech, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (blasphemy), Quicken Spell-Like Ability (symbol), Power Attack, Sunder, Superior Initiative, Tenacious Magic (improved invisibiity), Vile Natural Attack, Violate Spell-Like Ability (meteor swarm), Weapon Focus (claw).
Abomination Traits: Gihaahia is immune to polymorphing, petrification, or any form-altering attack; she is not subject to energy draining, ability draining, or ability damage; she is immune to mind-affecring effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects). She has fire and cold resistance 20. Gihaahia resists detection, and is treated as if affected by a nondetection spell (caster level 50th). She has the spell-like ability to use true seeing at will; she is not subject to death from massive damage, and has the blindsight extraordinary ability to 500 ft.. Gihaahia can communicate telepathically with any creature within 1,000 feet that has a language.
Improved Grab (Ex): If Gihaahia hits with a claw, it deals normal damage and she may attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. She can use this ability on size Large and smaller creatures. Gihaahia has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use her claw to hold her opponent. Each successful grapple check she makes during successive rounds automatically deals standard claw, in addition to automatic spell suck damage.
Learned Spell Immunity (Su): If Gihaahia is affected by a spell cast by a particular spellcaster, she thereafter becomes completely immune to that spell when cast by the same spellcaster.
Regeneration (Ex): Gihaahia takes normal damage from good-aligned epic weapons and from spells with the [good] descriptor.
Spell Suck (Su): If Gihaahia bites an enemy, it loses one of its highest level prepared spells or unused spell slots. The victim chooses the prepared spell to lose. If the victim has no prepared spells or unused spell slots (either because it has exhausted its spellcasting for the day or because the victim is not a spellcaster), the bite instead drains 2 points of the victim’s Intelligence.
Spell-like Abilities: At will - animate dead, blasphemy (DC 26), blur, charm monster (DC 23), create greater undead, deeper darkness, desecrate, detect chaos, detect good, detect law, detect magic, fear (DC 20), fireball (DC 22), greater dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 1000 pounds only), hold monster (DC 23), improved invisibility, magic circle against good, major image (DC 22), produce flame, polymorph (self only, no limit on duration), pyrotechnics (DC 21), read magic, scrying, suggestion (DC 22), symbol (any, Save DC varies), telekinesis (DC 24), unholy aura (DC 27), unholy blight (DC 23), unhallow, and wall of fire; 1/day – firestorm (DC 27), damnation (DC 44), implosion (DC 28), and meteor swarm (DC 28). Caster level 32nd. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Summon Fiend (Su): Gihaahia can summon 4 pit fiends per day.
Last edited by Sepulchrave II; 18th November 2003 at 06:16 AM..
I'm really enjoying these updates to the Rogue's Gallery. Though your Story Hour is enjoyable when read as a novel, the fact that it records a DnD campaign adds a whole other dimension of appreciation. The DnD aspect is really enhanced by the provision of NPC statistics and the game mechanics for what has happened in the story.
One questions: Have you changed how Violate Spell-like Ability works? In the BoVD it can be applied to each spell-like ability twice per day. Similarly, Quicken Spell-like ability allows each ability to be quickened once per day.
Last edited by Cheiromancer; 18th November 2003 at 05:24 PM..
Learned Spell Immunity (Su): If Gihaahia is affected by a spell cast by a particular spellcaster, she thereafter becomes completely immune to that spell when cast by the same spellcaster.
Holy cow, that sucks. You don't get a 2nd chance when fighting this guy. He either goes down the first time out or you're screwed.
He'd make a good head of the Outsider Mafia. You take a shot at him. . .well, you'd better not miss.
One questions: Have you changed how Violate Spell-like Ability works? In the BoVD it can be applied to each spell-like ability twice per day. Similarly, Quicken Spell-like ability allows each ability to be quickened once per day.
I think that was the BoVd versions, but the 3.5 quicken SLA is different and the Violate SLA has probably been changed to reflect that.
__________________ Mostly Geek - the gaming and other nerd stuff blog my sister and I do
Holy cow, that sucks. You don't get a 2nd chance when fighting this guy. He either goes down the first time out or you're screwed.
He'd make a good head of the Outsider Mafia. You take a shot at him. . .well, you'd better not miss.
That's why she was a good choice to be made the enforcer who has to track down and punish wizards, I imagine This is a standard power for infernals, from the ELH.
That's why she was a good choice to be made the enforcer who has to track down and punish wizards, I imagine This is a standard power for infernals, from the ELH.
Deadly. I've never much looked through the ELH, though I do own it. Never fealt the need to progress into Epic levels.
I'm a little surprised that the Enforcer doesn't have Spellcasting Harrier, or the feat from the Miniatures Handbook that's even better, but similar. I'd have thought it would be the obvious choice.
--Seule
__________________ "I'll remember it my way, and you all remember it the right way."
Mind you, with a few minor modifications to the spell (pump the save DC and bonus against SR, drop the '4 targets' thing to compensate), Nwm's She is tired of your interference would rapidly turn Gihaahia into a decorative Christmas tree ornament...
Mind you, with a few minor modifications to the spell (pump the save DC and bonus against SR, drop the '4 targets' thing to compensate), Nwm's She is tired of your interference would rapidly turn Gihaahia into a decorative Christmas tree ornament...
Dang, you're right. But, I think, only if she were currently in the Green. Then again, that part could be dropped too (raising he DC by 4ish from the Ad Hoc). And it would require DM approval.
Which would only mean that Motsin would have to summon something and set her off first. Question is, would G just return to her home plane upon death?
SepII: Upon reading the spell a couple times I think I see something that looks a little ambigious. Does it affect a total of 80HD (with up to four targets) or four targets who can each have an individual total of 80HD each (possibly hitting 240HD worth of Outsiders). I would assume the former but I thought I'd mention it.
This is a standard power for infernals, from the ELH.
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