A request for help

Vor'lore · Apr 7, 2002

I am planning to make an epic level campaign, with my PC's starting with 20th level characters. My question is: what monsters should I use, besides npc's created by me? I have 8 PC's ( a bit crazy i know..).. Could you give me a hand?

Thank you

Magus Darkholme · Apr 7, 2002

What's their starting level?

Vor'lore · Apr 7, 2002

They will start at level 20. If there are any more doubts just ask away.

Krishnath · Apr 7, 2002

You really should wait for the Epic Level handbook, but alas, here is a few off the top of my head:

Dragons, and lots of them.
Pit Fiends
Balors
Titans
Solars
The Tarrasque
Liches
Demogorgon
Orcus
and the Death Knight.

Happy Hunting

Magus Darkholme · Apr 8, 2002

Krishnath said:
You really should wait for the Epic Level handbook, but alas, here is a few off the top of my head:

Dragons, and lots of them.
Pit Fiends
Balors
Titans
Solars
The Tarrasque
Liches
Demogorgon
Orcus
and the Death Knight.

Happy Hunting

Also...
Almost any of the other demon lords or devil princes would be a good fight for a epic party (my favorites have always been Orcus and Baphomet).

Moderately powerful monsters (like a frost giant) with alot of levels in any of the core classes, as well as a PrC or two could do some damage if played right.

Any kaiju, a template from dragon mag #288 that can make any animal, beast or magical beast into a godzilla-like monster (I think that's the right issue, although it might be #289).

MythandLore · Apr 8, 2002

Vor'lore said:
I am planning to make an epic level campaign, with my PC's starting with 20th level characters. My question is: what monsters should I use, besides npc's created by me? I have 8 PC's ( a bit crazy i know..).. Could you give me a hand?

Thank you

Since you have 8 players remember they are strong then a CR20 party, they should be fighting CR24 encounters.
Use this EL Calculator to make sure they are fighting strong enough foes.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20010320b

Then uses these to make the stuff to fight, fast and easy.
http://mwtools.thyle.net/d_gen.html
http://www.aarg.net/~minam/npc.cgi

Ouick Example 1:

GREAT WYRM HALF-FIEND BLACK DRAGON
_______________________________________
Gargantuan Outsider (Water, Chaotic, Evil)
Hit Dice: 56d12+504 (868 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 60 ft, fly 200 ft (clumsy), swim 60 ft
AC: 45 (+2 Dex, -4 size, +37 natural)
Attacks: Bite +71 melee, 2 claws +66 melee, 2 wings +66 melee, tail slap +66 melee
Damage: Bite 4d6+19, claw 2d8+9, wing 2d6+9, tail slap 2d8+28
Face/Reach: 20 ft by 40 ft / 15 ft
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, spell-like abilities, corrupt water, charm reptiles, half-fiend spell-like abilities, frightful presence
Special Qualities: Water breathing, immunities, cold resistance 20, electricity resistance 20, fire resistance 20, DR 20/+3, blindsight, keen senses, SR 28
Saves: Fort +39, Ref +32, Will +35
Abilities: Str 48, Dex 14, Con 29, Int 24, Wis 21, Cha 26
Skills: Bluff +64, Concentration +65, Diplomacy +64, Escape Artist +58, Knowledge (arcana, geography, history, nobility, planes, religion) +63, Listen +63, Scry +63, Search +63, Sense Motive +61, Spellcraft +63, Spot +63
Feats: Hover, Flyby Attack, Power Attack, Cleave, Snatch, Improved Initiative, Spell Focus (Evocation), Alertness, Wingover, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Sunder, 4 more

Challenge Rating: 24
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
SA–Breath Weapon (Su): Line of acid, 120 feet long, every 1d4 rounds; damage 24d4, Reflex half DC 47.
SA–Frightful Presence (Ex): Dragons can unsettle foes with their mere presence. This ability takes effect automatically (radius 360 ft) whenever the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead. A potentially affected creature (one with less than 56 HD) that succeeds at a Will save (DC 46) remains immune to that dragon's frightful presence for one day. On a failure, creatures with 4 or fewer HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with more than 5 HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.
SA–Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day - darkness (radius 120 ft) and insect plague; 1/day - plant growth.
SA–Corrupt Water (Sp): Once per day this dragon can stagnate 10 cubic feet of water, making it become still, foul, and unable to support animal life. This ability spoils liquids containing water. Magic items (such as potions) and items in a character's possession must succeed at a Will save (DC 44) or become fouled.
SA–Charm Reptiles (Sp): 3/day, this dragon can use this ability. It operates as a mass charm spell that works only on reptilian animals. The dragon can communicate with any charmed reptiles as though casting a speak with animals spell.
SA–Half-Fiend Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day-darkness, poison, unholy aura; 1/day-desecrate, unholy blight, contagion, blasphemy, horrid wilting, summon monster IX (fiends only), destruction.
SQ–Immunities (Ex): Immune to acid, poison, sleep, paralysis.
SQ–Water Breathing (Ex): This dragon can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapons, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
SQ–Blindsight (Ex): Dragons can ascertain creatures by nonvisual means (mostly hearing and scent, but also by noticing vibrations and other environmental clues); this dragon's range is 360 feet.
SQ–Keen Senses (Ex): Dragons can see four times as well as humans in low-light conditions and twice as well in normal light. They also have darkvision (range 1200 feet).
Spells Known (cast 6/8/8/8/8/7/7/5; as a level 15 sorcerer): 0–detect magic, resistance, detect poison, read magic, dancing lights, ghost sound, mage hand, open/close, mending; 1–endure elements, mage armor, shield, true strike, charm person; 2–bull's strength, cat's grace, blur, endurance, fog cloud; 3–haste, dispel magic, protection from elements, slow; 4–dimension door, improved invisibility, detect scrying, confusion; 5–cloudkill, dominate person, summon monster V, teleport; 6–greater dispelling, disintegrate, programmed image; 7–spell turning, greater scrying.

Ouick Example 2:
Name: Bruukr
Alignment: Chaotic neutral
Gender: Male
Race: Ogre mage
Height: 10' 1"
Weight: 567 lbs

Strength: 30 (+10)
Dexterity: 14 (+2)
Constitution: 22 (+6)
Intelligence: 16 (+3)
Wisdom: 22 (+6)
Charisma: 18 (+4)

Hit Points: 5d8+30 + 19d12+114 (305)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 Dex, -1 Size, +5 Natural)
Speed: 40 ft.
Initiative: +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved initiative)
CR: 27
Total Gear Value: 170,000 gp

Classes:
Barbarian 19

Saving Throws:
Fortitude: +21 (+11 Base, +6 Con, +4 Racial)
Reflex: +11 (+6 Base, +2 Dex, +2 Lightning reflexes, +1 Racial)
Will: +13 (+6 Base, +6 Wis, +1 Racial)

Attack Bonuses:
Melee: +31/+26/+21/+16/+11 (+19 Base, +10 Str, -1 Size, +3 Racial)
Ranged: +23/+18/+13/+8/+3 (+19 Base, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +3 Racial)

Languages:
Common
Giant
Goblin
Infernal
Undercommon

Skills Points:
Barbarian 154

Skills:
Alchemy +5 (+2 Rank, +3 Int)
Climb +27 (+17 Rank, +10 Str)
Concentration +9 (+6 Con, +3 Racial)
Craft +16 (+13 Rank, +3 Int)
Gather information +7 (+3 Rank, +4 Cha)
Handle animal +25 (+21 Rank, +4 Cha)
Hide -2 (+2 Dex, -4 Size)
Intimidate +23 (+19 Rank, +4 Cha)
Intuit direction +26 (+20 Rank, +6 Wis)
Jump +30 (+20 Rank, +10 Str)
Listen +9 (+6 Wis, +3 Racial)
Move silently +2 (+2 Dex)
Spellcraft +5 (+3 Int, +2 Racial)
Spot +9 (+6 Wis, +3 Racial)
Swim +27 (+17 Rank, +10 Str)
Wilderness lore +26 (+20 Rank, +6 Wis)

Feats:
Blind-fight
Combat reflexes
Dodge
Endurance
Improved critical (sling)
Improved initiative
Leadership
Lightning reflexes

It only took a minute to make these to examples.
I sugjest adventuring in the Outer Planes.
Have Fun.

Vor'lore · Apr 8, 2002

Thank you for all your replies! I'll wait for the Epic Level HB, but I want to start doing somework! If anyone has more suggestions, please post them! Thank you!

Krishnath · Apr 8, 2002

I'll tell you what.

Tell me what 3E books from WotC you have, name any dragon type in it and what Challenge Rating you're aming for, and I'll tell you it's:

Name (Truename and common name)
Gender
Age Category
and what classes/templates to add to it.

Then you'll have a good recurring villain for epic level campaigns.

(personal favourite a Juvenlie Black Dragon/Vampire Wiz 20)

Vor'lore · Apr 9, 2002

Krishnath said:
I'll tell you what.

Tell me what 3E books from WotC you have, name any dragon type in it and what Challenge Rating you're aming for, and I'll tell you it's:

Name (Truename and common name)
Gender
Age Category
and what classes/templates to add to it.

Then you'll have a good recurring villain for epic level campaigns. (personal favourite a Juvenlie Black Dragon/Vampire Wiz 20)

Well I have the PHB, DMG, MM, FRCS, Monsters of Faerûn, Magic of Faerûn, Sword & Fist, Tome & Blood, Song & Silence, Defenders of Faith, and i'm going to have access to Manual of the Planes, and will purchase Deities & Demigods, Faiths & Pantheons (i think this is the name) and the Epic Level Handbook.

Krishnath · Apr 9, 2002

Good, now tell me a dragon type and what CR you're aming at, and I'll whip up a dragon that will make your players beg for mercy

even if they have an average level equal to the dragons CR...

Also I suggest you purchase the Psionics Handbook. The Psionic rules are well balanced, the Psionic Template is pure evil, and the 3E Neothelid is a force to be reckoned with... Not to mention the Gem Dragons are in the Web Enhancement