30th-level PC versus kingdom--who wins?

[loseth]

3e/d20

1. So, first let's take a typical starter town, like Threshold or Hommlet. If a single evil PC wanted to destroy such a town by himself, what level would he need to be to have a good chance at success? 4th? 7th?

EDIT: Suggestions so far: 12th; 7th-level spellcaster, 3rd-level divine caster with a good plan & best-case scenario;


2. Next, let's take a powerful city like Baldur's Gate or Luskan in FR. Perhaps Wroat or Fairhaven in Eberon. What level evil PC opponent would you give even odds on? 15th? 20th?

EDIT: Suggestions so far: 17th to 21st+ level spellcaster;

3. How about a supercity like Waterdeep or Sharn? Would 25th level do the trick?

EDIT: Suggestions so far: 17th to 21st+ level spellcaster;

4. OK, now for the heavyweight championship. Take a kingdom like Cormyr or Breland. What level of Evil lone PC would be needed to do the job? 30th? 40th? Higher?

EDIT: Suggestions so far: 30th to do the job, 40th to do it and survive the retribution;

5. Well, OK, one more just for fun. Evil PC versus minor deity. What level for even odds?

 

[Nifft]

Size of community is irrelevant.

Relevant:
- Class of PC (Druid vs. Ranger, for example).
- Highest level NPCs in community, and their classes & numbers.

Thus, the setting matters more than the settlement size.

Cheers, -- N

 

[loseth]

Size of community is irrelevant.

Relevant:
- Class of PC (Druid vs. Ranger, for example).
- Highest level NPCs in community, and their classes & numbers.

But surely, the average size of a community and the level of NPCs available are strongly correlated. Sure, we can all think of examples like Shadowdale, but these are a-typical (at least in Eberron--not an FR player). Alternatively, just take the typcial examples I gave (each of whose high-level NPCs are known), and place your bets on those specific communities. So, keeping the average community in mind, what level PC would you be tempted to bet on.

 

[LostSoul]

If you took Hommlet from RttToEE, I'd say 12th or so.

 

[Slife]

Also relevant: How min/maxed the character is.

Virtually any character can do it from level 1. They just shouldn't be allowed to.

 

[loseth]

If you took Hommlet from RttToEE, I'd say 12th or so.

OK, our first bet! OP updated.

 

[loseth]

Also relevant: How min/maxed the character is.
QUOTE]

Good point. Let's assume that the PC has not been min-maxed for this specific purpose, but is instead a general-purpose evil PC.

 

[Nifft]

(each of whose high-level NPCs are known)

Would you mind listing them? (Class, level & approximate wealth.) I don't have those books.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Darklone]

Resources might matter. A char with endless firepower and healing abilities will have a rather easy time with anything that he can run from to come back a few minutes later.

Get a warlock with good damage and Fast healing, some items like cape of the mountebank and level 20 is more than enough.

But still: the limiting factor are the NPCs of the kingdom. If one of them can take the PC one on one and the PC has no escape route (e.g. Dimensional anchor and the other dude is way faster), then the PC needs more levels.

And what about the dragons ?

 

[loseth]

Would you mind listing them? (Class, level & approximate wealth.) I don't have those books.

Cheers, -- N

For Eberron, according to demographic info given by Keith Baker, we might expect the following top-level NPCs:

'Starter town' of 1,000: 9th level warrior, 7th-level aristocrat, 7th-level magewright, 6th-level adept, a few 3rd level NPCs with PC classes

'Powerful city' of 15,000: 16th-level magewright, 13th-level adept, 13th level expert, 13th level warrior, several NPCs with PC classes in the 9th-12th level

'Supercity' of 250,000: 19th-level warrior, 18th-level expert, 18th-level adept, several PC-classed NPCs in the 10th-13th range.

A kingdom will probably have slightly more NPCs of the 'supercity' magnitude, and a lot more of a lower magnitude.

However, not all of these high-level NPCs would be willing to defend any of the above communities. I'd guess that something like 2/3 would on average. Let's assume standard wealth in line with the DMG.