Converting the Dukes of Hell

[Aspect of BOZ]

Wow! I wasn’t even aware of that. Have we ever really remembered to use that before?

And hey, look at me, I actually had some free time and was able to post in the morning! Am I not feeling well?

Common Feats Assuming 25 HD, Mal gets 9, 2 of which can be epic.

Common: Combat Expertise, Dark Speech, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Weapon Focus

Less Common: Combat Reflexes, Dilate Aura, Negotiator, Spring Attack, Violate Spell-Like Ability

Uncommon: Ability Focus, Improved Critical, Improved Disarm, Vile Natural Attack

I think I had said somewhere before that I’d like Ability Focus (fear touch). I also like Combat Expertise for him, and Combat Reflexes. Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack sounds good too.

I could see some feats from the Combat Expertise tree (Improved Disarm, maybe Improved Feint – we never see that one in use do we!), maybe Acrobatic or Negotiator, maybe Persuasive, or something like Power Attack/Cleave/Improved Sunder.

 

[Mortis]

It'd the additional +2 synergy for every 25 ranks kicking in.

That's not quite correct.

It's +2 for the first 5 ranks of a skill, then an additional +2 for every 20 ranks after that.

So 25 ranks would give +4, 45 ranks would give +6 etc.

Here's a link to the relevant bit of the SRD.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Mortis -- good catch! I knew 25 was a magic number (since my character just hit 22nd-level, and thus can get 25 ranks now).


How about this?

Ability Focus (fear touch), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Disarm or Improved Feint, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack.

 

[Mortis]

Mortis -- good catch! I knew 25 was a magic number (since my character just hit 22nd-level, and thus can get 25 ranks now).

That's ok - the only epic character I've played was fighter/weapon master/legendary dreadnaught that was about level 50 when then campaign collapsed - the dm had constantly given out far too much gear for our level.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Kain Darkwind]

Mortis -- good catch! I knew 25 was a magic number (since my character just hit 22nd-level, and thus can get 25 ranks now).


How about this?

Ability Focus (fear touch), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Disarm or Improved Feint, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack.

Are we allowed to suggest noncore feats such as those from PHB2? I'd go with Bounding Assault before Whirlwind Attack. Or Improved Combat Expertise.

As for Imp Dis vs Imp Feint, I would go with Feint if those were the choices. If he was fighting a rival, say an ambitious pit fiend, the pit fiend's natural attack is far nastier than any weapon it can hold. Thus, he is likely facing an 'unarmed' foe. Improved Feint is actually worth something in such a combat, Improved Disarm is not. However, I'd reccomend Improved Initiative over either of those.

What about Dark Speech? Every single Lord of Hell has it. Wouldn't most Dukes?

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

i'm absolutely in favor of Improved Feint. Dark Speech is definitely a feat for more than a few of the Dukes, and the Dukes of Avernus for certain.

not sure if i'd go with anything from PHB2, as that is inaccessible for DMs who don't have it (like myself). we usually skip non-core books unless it's something that we simply can't ignore - which seems rare enough.

 

[Shade]

we usually skip non-core books unless it's something that we simply can't ignore - which seems rare enough.

Like the malebranche.

I'm cool with Improved Feint, and Dark Speech could replace WW Attack.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

i'm both finicky and unpredictable - don't ya love it?

how about this setup?

Ability Focus (fear touch), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dark Speech, Dodge, Improved Feint, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack

 

[BOZ]

OK, assuming that i've got it right with the above feat set... updating in homebrews.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

any thoughts on CR? 21 like Amduscias?