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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 8030354" data-attributes="member: 6801845"><p>Why is the mage confronting the PCs directly? I agree with not playing gotcha, but that doesn't mean that there can't be red herrings and troops the PCs have to get through, think waves of bad guys with the last wave being the mage. Attrition is going to be your friend here I think, as will misdirection.</p><p></p><p>Not knowing your group, some suggestions. I know you could do the whole fiend thing (and it's not a bad suggestion) I personally get tired of every high level fight being fiends. But there are a lot of other options.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Send in the clones ... err ... simulacrum. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Improved invisibility + counterspell (although this can be annoying if overdone)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A mob of iron golems</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Charm a bunch of innocent NPCs so they have to be dealt with in the middle of the chaos</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have the mage orchestrating everything from behind an impenetrable barrier while in an antimagic zone; make it the goal of forcing him out of safety. Think in terms of multiple goals and paths to achieve those goals.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">He's really an ancient dragon. Surprise!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Other puzzles and traps depending on what the players enjoy.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Throw in mobs of other relatively low level monsters - the DMG has rules for it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Borrow and steal legendary and lair actions from other high level monsters. Dragons have some cool ones. Heck, give him legendary resistance described as a special pendant he has around his neck with glowing crystals that absorb spells and go dim until his next turn.</li> </ul><p>Yes, some of these tactics could be a little annoying so I would play it by ear a bit. Remember, the NPC caster is probably a genius and there are times when I'm flexible on my options. That NPC is smarter than me and probably thought of things I didn't and may have something prepped that will perfectly counter the PC's actions. Again, don't overdo it.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, that's what I can come up with off the top of my head. Challenging high level PCs can be tough, but you know your group better than I do and what will be fun.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 8030354, member: 6801845"] Why is the mage confronting the PCs directly? I agree with not playing gotcha, but that doesn't mean that there can't be red herrings and troops the PCs have to get through, think waves of bad guys with the last wave being the mage. Attrition is going to be your friend here I think, as will misdirection. Not knowing your group, some suggestions. I know you could do the whole fiend thing (and it's not a bad suggestion) I personally get tired of every high level fight being fiends. But there are a lot of other options. [LIST] [*]Send in the clones ... err ... simulacrum. [*]Improved invisibility + counterspell (although this can be annoying if overdone) [*]A mob of iron golems [*]Charm a bunch of innocent NPCs so they have to be dealt with in the middle of the chaos [*]Have the mage orchestrating everything from behind an impenetrable barrier while in an antimagic zone; make it the goal of forcing him out of safety. Think in terms of multiple goals and paths to achieve those goals. [*]He's really an ancient dragon. Surprise! [*]Other puzzles and traps depending on what the players enjoy. [*]Throw in mobs of other relatively low level monsters - the DMG has rules for it. [*]Borrow and steal legendary and lair actions from other high level monsters. Dragons have some cool ones. Heck, give him legendary resistance described as a special pendant he has around his neck with glowing crystals that absorb spells and go dim until his next turn. [/LIST] Yes, some of these tactics could be a little annoying so I would play it by ear a bit. Remember, the NPC caster is probably a genius and there are times when I'm flexible on my options. That NPC is smarter than me and probably thought of things I didn't and may have something prepped that will perfectly counter the PC's actions. Again, don't overdo it. Anyway, that's what I can come up with off the top of my head. Challenging high level PCs can be tough, but you know your group better than I do and what will be fun. [/QUOTE]
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