Asmodeus Unleashed - Level 33 Super-solo

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all!

Just got finished the FIRST HALF (second half next week) of an article on Asmodeus for 4th Edition.

Technically he's a Level 39 solo, but I converted him to a Level 33 Super-solo monster. This is his first (humanoid) form. Level 33 Solo Controller. I'll post the rest next Friday.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: Just to let you know I added another 2 pages to the article on Friday 20th June. Detailing the Death dragon Telocvovim (the dragon trapped within Asmodeus' Ruby Rod).

 

[Pour]

Love it so far. Enjoyed the Asmodeus history and the 4th Rebellion background, as well. Looking forward to part two next week!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Howdy Pour!

Love it so far.

Thanks for the kind words.

Enjoyed the Asmodeus history and the 4th Rebellion background, as well.

I enjoyed writing it, I like these things to make sense in my mind.

...plus I already have the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Rebellions worked out.

Looking forward to part two next week!

Next week won't be for the faint hearted. The current stat-block is just the warm-up.

 

[Pour]

Having just started Epic (my parties are level 21), I can already see the need for these kinds of challenges. Bending, even breaking, the rules can be a powerful tool in the DM's hands if done right. I think Asmodeus hits on all the right key notes, though if I had any commentary it would be to establish earlier on in the campaign the idea of Solo Resilience, and a vague notion that, "Okay, this guy isn't going to buckle until he's taken a few." I believe normally you have Solo Resilience trigger when bloodied? Asmodeus triggering with just a surge-value left seems fitting. He is a greater god, after all.

 

[Obryn]

Wow. I am really, really impressed. Good work.

I was curious about this 18% increase you mentioned in the article. Can you expand on this, or have you elsewhere?

-O

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello again Pour!

Having just started Epic (my parties are level 21), I can already see the need for these kinds of challenges. Bending, even breaking, the rules can be a powerful tool in the DM's hands if done right. I think Asmodeus hits on all the right key notes, though if I had any commentary it would be to establish earlier on in the campaign the idea of Solo Resilience, and a vague notion that, "Okay, this guy isn't going to buckle until he's taken a few."

I think if you are finding condition-locking is a problem at all then definitely give Elite Resilience and Solo Resilience a try.

I believe normally you have Solo Resilience trigger when bloodied? Asmodeus triggering with just a surge-value left seems fitting. He is a greater god, after all.

Originally yes. But I am now thinking that Elite Resilience would be at Bloodied, while Solo Resilience would be at 25% hit points. Reflecting the x2 and x4/x5 approach to their design.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Obryn!

Wow. I am really, really impressed. Good work.

Thanks.

I was curious about this 18% increase you mentioned in the article. Can you expand on this, or have you elsewhere?

I have talked about it elsewhere before, but never at any real length. I don't think there is an exacting level of math backing it up, its more of a guesstimate that I think will be borne out by playtesting.

I have studied so many playthroughs (especially epic tier) and the common factors were that Solo Monsters were getting dropped within 2 rounds. That is twice as quickly as typical encounters (which on average should be about 4-5 rounds). So it seemed to me as if PCs were twice as effective (a +4-5 Level advantage) by the time they reached Level 30. Since the advantage must be a gradual thing over the span of 30 levels I divided it up and noted it was an effective +1 level gain for every 6 levels. That is an 18.3% increase for each level.

Obviously this will vary from party to party. But I do believe that what I am recommending should be the default average, ESPECIALLY at the epic tier.

Levels 21-23 - use encounters +3 levels as the average
Levels 24-29 - use encounters +4 levels as the average
Level 30 - use encounters +5 levels as the average*

*Meaning the full Asmodeus entry (EL 39) would be a 50/50 encounter for a Level 30 party where 35 is the average and +4 is 50/50 chance of TPK.

I do still suggest keeping monsters within 3 levels of the party (wherever possible). Especially Soldiers.

 

[the Jester]

I was curious about the 18% thing too.

I have studied so many playthroughs (especially epic tier) and the common factors were that Solo Monsters were getting dropped within 2 rounds.

Do you know whether those were with pre-MM3 math? That makes a very big difference.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Jester!

I was curious about the 18% thing too.

Do you know whether those were with pre-MM3 math? That makes a very big difference.

It was a mix of both.

Also, I think my recent rereading of Mike Shea's "Running Epic Games" (which I'll assume you've seen...?) simply reinforces my position.

 

[Upper_Krust]

By the way for those people who were wondering about the 18.3% swing per level, check out this thread...

http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4t...6535-final-encounter-rundown.html#post5971599