Arresting the PCs

[ValhallaGH]

Guard Captain? 12 HP? Am I the only GM who has high level NPCs in sometimes important positions? (Obviously I'm not, it's rhetorical folks)

Not guard captain, random guard.

What the hell kind of training do you put your basic prison guards through that they can solo a level 20? 10th level Barbarian school?

If your setting has enough spare level 14+ characters to spend a few on "generic Prison Guard" then you are running one of the highest power settings I've ever heard of. Which isn't a bad thing, but something to note when asking for (or giving) advice.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Not guard captain, random guard.

What the hell kind of training do you put your basic prison guards through that they can solo a level 20? 10th level Barbarian school?

If your setting has enough spare level 14+ characters to spend a few on "generic Prison Guard" then you are running one of the highest power settings I've ever heard of. Which isn't a bad thing, but something to note when asking for (or giving) advice.

You're correct, it did say guard, not guard captain. That was my fault.

I suppose one guard did slay him... it doesn't mean he wasn't ganged up on. But the odds of even 20 standard guards taking down a 20th level PC in D&D by the books is pretty terrible. Your remark is very valid.

 

[Eman Resu]

I ran 1 campaign where the party was under arrest and lost everything. The players created their pc's & that is all I allowed. They started in prison with nothing. Didnt matter what pc they made, paladin or rogue they were in prison having been caught committing crime X? or were wrongfully accused.

This was fun for them and a new twist to start a campaign, I kept it a secret right up until I said "ok everybody's ready?" Now in your campaign for whatever reason the pc's have to get into prison? And they are innocent of any crime? or guilty? I dont understand the quandry? whats the problem or whats stopping your campaign idea?
If its someone or something in the prison then have a mass jail break prompted by the reading of a earthquake spell. I mean theres got to be more ways to skin this beast.

 

[Rakusia]

You're correct, it did say guard, not guard captain. That was my fault.

I suppose one guard did slay him... it doesn't mean he wasn't ganged up on. But the odds of even 20 standard guards taking down a 20th level PC in D&D by the books is pretty terrible. Your remark is very valid.

so let me get this straight? you guys dont scale prison guards to match the levels of the prison populace? i mean like a town guard sure but this is a highly trained prison guard.

 

[JamesonCourage]

so let me get this straight? you guys dont scale prison guards to match the levels of the prison populace? i mean like a town guard sure but this is a highly trained prison guard.

I find your challenge highly amusing.

 

[ValhallaGH]

so let me get this straight? you guys dont scale prison guards to match the levels of the prison populace? i mean like a town guard sure but this is a highly trained prison guard.

Yep. Highly trained. Warrior 3, 16 Strength. Bad Ass.
+7 attack for 1d10+4 (halberd), AC 16, 20 hp.

That is one beefy dude, able to survive burning alive for over 30 seconds. Only a very strong person could hope to drop him with a single sword blow, and only a very experienced monk could drop him with one punch.

And he's still got nothing on a level 20 PC (assume PC Con 12; average hp 105, with the listed level distribution). Even naked and unarmed, the PC still has something like a +19/+14/+9 attack for 1d3+1, AC 14, and 105 hp.
Give him a prison shank and he's looking at +19/+14/+9 attack for 1d4+1, which doesn't provoke AoO. The guard doesn't stand a chance.

 

[Rakusia]

so how did this all go down anyway