(Cydra Rogues' Gallery-My Players STAY OUT)

[Cheiromancer]

Maybe the glass jaw makes fighter non-associated?

 

[Quartz]

Now, my normal fix for low-hp undead is to slap that brilliant ability called Unholy Toughness on them, jack the CR up by 1 and call it a day. But deathbringers only have a Charisma score of 7! Whoops, even if I push that up with their every four level stat bump, it won't be all that high.

How about using some of their treasure for an Inherent+5 bonus and an item of Cha +6 (or more)? That brings their Cha to a minimum of 18.

 

[the Jester]

Hmmm... you both have good ideas there.

Mulling.

 

[the Jester]

Despite the fact that deathbringers are clearly melee-oriented, I have decided that this:

Maybe the glass jaw makes fighter non-associated?

...makes too much sense to ignore.

Now, the cool thing about that is, I can layer 10 more fighter levels on top and maintain the same CR- and that should end up making the CR "feel" right.

Will post those guys after I revise 'em.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

I don't have the MM II on me, but why don't you just increase their HD by 4 for +1 CR? They pretty much get 1-2 feats every CR you tack on (better than Fighter) and +2 BAB (also better than Fighter). They even have better Fort saves and are harder to turn, not to mention an average of +26 hp per level.

 

[the Jester]

I don't have the MM II on me, but why don't you just increase their HD by 4 for +1 CR? They pretty much get 1-2 feats every CR you tack on (better than Fighter) and +2 BAB (also better than Fighter). They even have better Fort saves and are harder to turn, not to mention an average of +26 hp per level.

That was my initial plan, but they advance by character class.

I thought about just "cheating", but I'm already feeling a little guilty about certain sloppy design decisions I've made lately.

Anyway, here they are:

Deathbringer Fighter--- CR 27
Deathbringer (MM2 55) fighter 20
NE large undead
Init +7 plus Quickstrike; Senses Listen +35, Spot +40
Languages Giant, Infernal

AC 44 (-1 size, +3 dex, +16 natural, +13 armor, +3 deflection), touch 15, flat-footed 43
Hit Dice 30d12 + 20d10 (305 hp)
Immune undead traits
Fort +26, Ref +23, Will +29

Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee heavy flail +35/30/25/20 (2d6+12/17-20 plus 2d6 unholy); and heavy flail +35/30 (2d6+12/17-20 plus 2d6 unholy); Devastating Critical, Overwhelming Critical
Base Atk +25 plus Epic Prowess x2; Grp +37
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Atk Options Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Cleave, Hold the Line, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack, Quickdraw, Quickstrike, Two-Weapon Fighting
Special Actions negative burst, trample 2d4+9
Spell-like Abilities (CL 20): at will- greater dispel magic.

Str 22, Dex 17, Con -, Int 11, Wis 14, Cha 8
Feats Ambipotency, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Hold the Line, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (heavy flail), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack, Quickdraw, Quickstrike, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (heavy flail), Weapon Specialization (heavy flail)
Epic Feats Devastating Critical (heavy flail), Epic Fortitude, Epic Prowess (x2), Overwhelming Critical (heavy flail)
Skills Intimidate +52, Listen +36, Move Silently +35, Spot +45
Possessions +5 full plate, +4 unholy heavy flails (2), ring of protection +3

Negative Burst (Su): A deathbringer can release a silent burst of negative energy at a range of up to 100’. The burst has a 20’ radius and inflicts 1d8+10 points of negative energy damage to each living thing in the area, healing undead for a like amount (Will DC 24 half).

 

[Quartz]

No Melee Weapon Mastery?

 

[the Jester]

No Melee Weapon Mastery?

LOL, I can't super-optimize everything!

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Death Bringers are real fun, I used a trio of them mixed in with some other undead against my PCs back when they were around 17th level, nasty fight

I'm not sure if this helps, but check the Desecrate spell. IIRC, undead created within one get +1 hp/HD permanently, 2 hp/level if it was tied to an unholy altar (they don't retain the other bonuses, though). That'd be +100 more hp there.

 

[the Jester]

Here's another treat from the forthcoming Beyond Bile Mountain adventure. Though "only" CR 20 (! I can't believe I just wrote that), my theory in this case is, with enough of them, they'll be a threat.

GREATER SHADOW ROGUE--- CR 20
Greater shadow rogue 11 with unholy toughness
CE medium undead (incorporeal)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60’; Listen +23, Spot +23
Languages understands Giant

AC 16 (+2 deflection, +1 dodge, +3 dex), touch 15, flat-footed 12; Mobility, improved uncanny dodge; +3 vs. traps
Miss Chance 50% (incorporeal)
Hit Dice 9d12 + 11d6 +40 (136)
Resist +2 turn resistance
Immune incorporeal, undead
Fort +8, Ref +13 (+16 vs. traps), Will +10; evasion

Speed fly 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee incorporeal touch +15 (1d8 str damage)
Base Atk +12; Grp -
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Atk Options crippling strike, sneak attack +6d6 and 2 str, Spring Attack
Special Actions create spawn

Str -, Dex 17 Con -, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 14
Feats Alertness, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Skill Focus (hide), Spring Attack
Skills Hide +41, Listen +23, Search +17, Spot +23, Tumble +16

*Goes down by 14 in a brightly lit area.

A close look at their stat block (and notes) will tell you a little bit about their tactics, and, actually, give you a clue as to their surroundings. Incorporeal creatures with Spring Attack rule.