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Do you build NPCs to live or to die?
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<blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 4766768" data-attributes="member: 63"><p>It's usually hard to get high enough to punch someone mounted on the back of a dinosaur.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>When I expect a fight, I try to design encounters that will be fun and winnable. Variety is key, so while about 60% of enemies will be aggressive, and 30% will be reactive, 10% will be highly defensive. Occasionally it's really satisfying to crack the shell of a tenacious foe.</p><p></p><p>For example, once I had a whacky multiclassed foe back in 3.5, something like a swordmage/psion/sorcerer/fighter with superior expertise, and one arm. He fenced, with a defensive weapon, adding his Wisdom and Dexterity to AC, along with psychic insight bonuses, a ring of protection, magic mithral chain shirt, a shield spell, an ioun stone, and the kitchen sink. I got his AC up to around 40 against a 13th level party of PCs. He had spell turning, evasion, and swordmage maneuvers to let him get crazy Will saves.</p><p></p><p>He was part of a large combat, where he acted as bodyguard to the main villain, and while a bunch of kung-fu mooks got roasted by the party magic-users, the party's spiked chain-wielding fighter tried ineffectually to take this guy down. The guy had a locked gauntlet, so no disarming. He had a high Dex and improved trip, so no tripping. The fighter got irritated, and called for the mages to help out, but they could barely hurt the guy.</p><p></p><p>But the PC fighter had Improved Sunder, which he'd never had good reason to use. Until now. He was so happy, he didn't even mind that he'd destroyed hundreds of thousands of gold pieces worth of treasure. He just really enjoyed breaking that guy's sword, and then tearing him to pieces.</p><p></p><p>That's not the kind of enemy I'd use often, though.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RangerWickett, post: 4766768, member: 63"] It's usually hard to get high enough to punch someone mounted on the back of a dinosaur. When I expect a fight, I try to design encounters that will be fun and winnable. Variety is key, so while about 60% of enemies will be aggressive, and 30% will be reactive, 10% will be highly defensive. Occasionally it's really satisfying to crack the shell of a tenacious foe. For example, once I had a whacky multiclassed foe back in 3.5, something like a swordmage/psion/sorcerer/fighter with superior expertise, and one arm. He fenced, with a defensive weapon, adding his Wisdom and Dexterity to AC, along with psychic insight bonuses, a ring of protection, magic mithral chain shirt, a shield spell, an ioun stone, and the kitchen sink. I got his AC up to around 40 against a 13th level party of PCs. He had spell turning, evasion, and swordmage maneuvers to let him get crazy Will saves. He was part of a large combat, where he acted as bodyguard to the main villain, and while a bunch of kung-fu mooks got roasted by the party magic-users, the party's spiked chain-wielding fighter tried ineffectually to take this guy down. The guy had a locked gauntlet, so no disarming. He had a high Dex and improved trip, so no tripping. The fighter got irritated, and called for the mages to help out, but they could barely hurt the guy. But the PC fighter had Improved Sunder, which he'd never had good reason to use. Until now. He was so happy, he didn't even mind that he'd destroyed hundreds of thousands of gold pieces worth of treasure. He just really enjoyed breaking that guy's sword, and then tearing him to pieces. That's not the kind of enemy I'd use often, though. [/QUOTE]
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