Warduke

Melkor · Nov 25, 2009

Hi folks,

In my last 3.5 campaign, I was going to use Warduke as a nemesis for the characters, but the campaign stopped for various life reasons around 10th level. At that point, I had the Warduke stats from Dragon magazine, and he had made an appearance once, but the characters didn't have a chance to interact with him.

I am planning for the campaign to pick up again using 4E, and I gave Warduke a shot using the character builder from DDI, but I realized rather quickly that I do not have the knowledge of D&D 4E at any level beyond 3rd or so, so I know my creation wasn't nearly optimized.

That said, have any of you given Warduke a stab in your 4E games? If so, could you post up some stats?

In 3.5, I remember him being rather high level, but I was wanting to keep him in the middle tier...around 16th level for my campaign's purposes. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

deadsmurf · Nov 25, 2009

Melkor said:
Hi folks,

In my last 3.5 campaign, I was going to use Warduke as a nemesis for the characters, but the campaign stopped for various life reasons around 10th level. At that point, I had the Warduke stats from Dragon magazine, and he had made an appearance once, but the characters didn't have a chance to interact with him.

I am planning for the campaign to pick up again using 4E, and I gave Warduke a shot using the character builder from DDI, but I realized rather quickly that I do not have the knowledge of D&D 4E at any level beyond 3rd or so, so I know my creation wasn't nearly optimized.

That said, have any of you given Warduke a stab in your 4E games? If so, could you post up some stats?

In 3.5, I remember him being rather high level, but I was wanting to keep him in the middle tier...around 16th level for my campaign's purposes. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

WHy are you using character builder for an NPC?
The monster builder would be much more appropriate for an NPC. If you don't have a current subscription for DDI, there is a section in the DMG about making monsters (and its a good idea to read the corresponding section of the DMG2 also)

The trick with any NPC is giving them interesting abilities that suit what they are supposed to do. Take
Warduke seems like a level 16 Elite Solider to me so so. Or a Brute. Possibly a solo monster, depending on how he's intended to be used.

renau1g · Nov 25, 2009

I would definitely suggest Solo Soldier, but just make sure not to use him alone.

Melkor · Nov 26, 2009

deadsmurf said:
WHy are you using character builder for an NPC?
The monster builder would be much more appropriate for an NPC.

I am still fairly new to DMing 4E, and I just figured a major re-occurring villain would be created as a character.

The monster builder would be a better solution?

I have a DDI subscription and the Adventure Tools download.

Mustrum_Ridcully · Nov 26, 2009

Melkor said:
I am still fairly new to DMing 4E, and I just figured a major re-occurring villain would be created as a character.

The monster builder would be a better solution?

I have a DDI subscription and the Adventure Tools download.

Generally speaking, as a DM you never want to use player characters for your NPCs. Way too much detail work to care about.

You can use Class Templates (though I think they are not yet in the Adventure Tools) to replicate classed PCs, but the best choice - I think - is to create an Elite or Solo monster of the desired level and give it powers that are inspired by either other monster powers or by class powers.

pawsplay · Nov 26, 2009

If you wanted to be really awesome, you would give him a shield that freezes people.

Tazawa · Nov 26, 2009

Here's my attempts at Warduke as a level 18 soldier. I went back to the critical threat in Dungeon 105 for inspiration. I made elite and solo versions. I've uploaded the monster builder files as .txt files. Change them to .monster to import them into the monster builder.

Warduke doesn't have a shield that freezes opponents but his fearsome eye stops them in their tracks. I'm hoping I've captured the fealing of Warduke. He should be a fairly tough opponent, hard to lock down. And his death knell attack is just nasty.

Melkor · Nov 26, 2009

Tazawa said:
Warduke doesn't have a shield that freezes opponents but his fearsome eye stops them in their tracks. I'm hoping I've captured the fealing of Warduke. He should be a fairly tough opponent, hard to lock down. And his death knell attack is just nasty.

Awesome Tazawa. Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving!

Tazawa · Nov 27, 2009

Happy thanksgiving to you too! let us know how it works out.

If your looking for a good encounter for the elite version of Warduke, I think Warduke plus 5 ogre bludgeoneers (level 16 minions) and 2 vrock warwings (level 17 skirmishers) would make a good battlefield encounter for 5 16th level adventurers.

Amphimir Míriel · Nov 27, 2009

Beautiful job Tazawa!

The whole "Create NPCs as monsters" thing is one of my favorite parts of 4E!

...and the fact that I can't run the D&Di tools in Linux is my least favorite, but I digress

Warduke

Melkor

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deadsmurf

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renau1g

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Melkor

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Mustrum_Ridcully

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pawsplay

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Tazawa

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Melkor

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Tazawa

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Amphimir Míriel

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