I've tried to build a couple DMG2-style Companion Defender-role NPCs using the Essentials format for my upcoming Wilderlands campaign. I'd welcome comments.
NB: As a policy thing I give them +1 items, taken as factored into the baseline stats, so I don't have to deal with metagame queries about why the +1 gear the PCs give them doesn't give them any bonuses.
Kytor the Bald: Level 3 Defender (Fighter) Companion NPC (DMG2), Unaligned.
App: Tall (6’2”) and lean, battle-scarred and tanned. A few wisps of stringy red hair still cling to the back of his bald pate.
Equipment: He wears +1 scale armour & heavy shield, and fights with a +1 bastard sword (Tharbrian Sabre). He has 2 potions of healing (10hp), and a pouch of 38gp in coin.
This veteran Tharbrian mercenary and caravan guard of dry humour and cynical temperament is currently hanging out at the Stone Axe Inn, looking for employment. He is willing to join with a small adventuring party if the rewards are good (at least 1/5 share of all treasure), and the company pleasant. Kytor has an eye for the ladies, and will hit on any attractive (typically CHA 13+) female human or half-elven PCs, otherwise spending his time and gold on the serving-girls.
Medium natural humanoid, (XP 150/na)
HP 43; Bloodied 21 (dies at -21) Healing Surges: 12
AC 20, Fortitude 17, Reflex 15, Will 15
Speed 5 Initiative +4 Perception +1
Traits
Heroic Effort (1/encounter, free): after missing with an attack or save, he may add +4 to the roll.
Power Strike (1/encounter, free): his attack does 2(W) damage.
Defender Aura (aura 1, minor action to create/end): Unmarked enemies within the aura take a -2 penalty to attack rolls that do not include Kytor or an ally with Defender Aura in the attack.
Combat Challenge: If an enemy in his Defender Aura shifts or makes an attack that does not include him, he can make a melee attack against them as an Immediate Interrupt.
Unstoppable (Daily, minor): He gains 2d6+3 temporary hit points.
Weapon
+1 bastard sword Attack + 10 vs AC Hit: 1d10+5 damage (crit 15+1d6)
Power Strike 2d10+5 damage (crit 25+1d6)
Skills: Athletics +10 Insight +6
STR 18 (+5) DEX 12 (+2) CON 16 (+4) INT 10 (+1) WIS 11 (+1) CHA 13 (+2)
Languages: Common, Tharbrian, Altanian
Lady Lucinda deLampton, Paladin of Pelor
Level 4 Defender (Paladin), Defender Companion NPC (DMG2), Al. Good.
App: 5’6”; blonde
Equipment: +1 NPC armour (AC15+DEX mod, useable by female Paladins of Pelor only), heavy shield, lv 1 +1 longsword, lv 1 +1 pearl amulet f/r/w, adventurer’s kit.
Medium natural humanoid (human), (XP 175/na)
HP 43; Bloodied: 21 (dies at -21) Healing Surges: 9. Healing Surge Value: 10
AC 21, Fortitude 15, Reflex 17, Will 19
Speed 6 Initiative +4 Perception +4
Traits
Heroic Effort (1/encounter, free): after missing with an attack or failing a save, she may add +4 to the roll.
Holy Smite (1/encounter, free): Effect: target of attack takes 6 radiant damage. If attack hits, target is also dazed until EoNT.
Defender Aura (aura 1, minor action to create/end): Unmarked enemies within the aura take a -2 penalty to attack rolls that do not include her or an ally with Defender Aura in the attack.
Righteous Radiance: Enemy in Defender Aura shifts or attacks an ally but not her or another ally with DA – they take 7 Radiant damage.
Restore Vitality (Daily, minor): melee 1 – touched target regains 10 hit points, and can make a saving throw.
Weapon
+1 longsword (CHA melee trained) Attack + 11 vs AC Hit: 1d8+7 damage (crit 15+1d6)
Skills: Religion+9 Insight +9 Diplomacy +11
STR 11 (+2) DEX 14 (+4) CON 10 (+2) INT 10 (+2) WIS 14 (+4) CHA 18 (+6)
Languages: Common, Altanian, Giant
Notes: A paladin from a highborn old Nerathi family whose run-down deLampton estate lies near Bisgen; Lady Lucinda is well-spoken, virtuous, and a little naive. Lucinda is also a hopeless romantic and is likely to fall in love with any high-CHA male who shows her any attention.
NB: As a policy thing I give them +1 items, taken as factored into the baseline stats, so I don't have to deal with metagame queries about why the +1 gear the PCs give them doesn't give them any bonuses.
Kytor the Bald: Level 3 Defender (Fighter) Companion NPC (DMG2), Unaligned.
App: Tall (6’2”) and lean, battle-scarred and tanned. A few wisps of stringy red hair still cling to the back of his bald pate.
Equipment: He wears +1 scale armour & heavy shield, and fights with a +1 bastard sword (Tharbrian Sabre). He has 2 potions of healing (10hp), and a pouch of 38gp in coin.
This veteran Tharbrian mercenary and caravan guard of dry humour and cynical temperament is currently hanging out at the Stone Axe Inn, looking for employment. He is willing to join with a small adventuring party if the rewards are good (at least 1/5 share of all treasure), and the company pleasant. Kytor has an eye for the ladies, and will hit on any attractive (typically CHA 13+) female human or half-elven PCs, otherwise spending his time and gold on the serving-girls.
Medium natural humanoid, (XP 150/na)
HP 43; Bloodied 21 (dies at -21) Healing Surges: 12
AC 20, Fortitude 17, Reflex 15, Will 15
Speed 5 Initiative +4 Perception +1
Traits
Heroic Effort (1/encounter, free): after missing with an attack or save, he may add +4 to the roll.
Power Strike (1/encounter, free): his attack does 2(W) damage.
Defender Aura (aura 1, minor action to create/end): Unmarked enemies within the aura take a -2 penalty to attack rolls that do not include Kytor or an ally with Defender Aura in the attack.
Combat Challenge: If an enemy in his Defender Aura shifts or makes an attack that does not include him, he can make a melee attack against them as an Immediate Interrupt.
Unstoppable (Daily, minor): He gains 2d6+3 temporary hit points.
Weapon
+1 bastard sword Attack + 10 vs AC Hit: 1d10+5 damage (crit 15+1d6)
Power Strike 2d10+5 damage (crit 25+1d6)
Skills: Athletics +10 Insight +6
STR 18 (+5) DEX 12 (+2) CON 16 (+4) INT 10 (+1) WIS 11 (+1) CHA 13 (+2)
Languages: Common, Tharbrian, Altanian
Lady Lucinda deLampton, Paladin of Pelor
Level 4 Defender (Paladin), Defender Companion NPC (DMG2), Al. Good.
App: 5’6”; blonde
Equipment: +1 NPC armour (AC15+DEX mod, useable by female Paladins of Pelor only), heavy shield, lv 1 +1 longsword, lv 1 +1 pearl amulet f/r/w, adventurer’s kit.
Medium natural humanoid (human), (XP 175/na)
HP 43; Bloodied: 21 (dies at -21) Healing Surges: 9. Healing Surge Value: 10
AC 21, Fortitude 15, Reflex 17, Will 19
Speed 6 Initiative +4 Perception +4
Traits
Heroic Effort (1/encounter, free): after missing with an attack or failing a save, she may add +4 to the roll.
Holy Smite (1/encounter, free): Effect: target of attack takes 6 radiant damage. If attack hits, target is also dazed until EoNT.
Defender Aura (aura 1, minor action to create/end): Unmarked enemies within the aura take a -2 penalty to attack rolls that do not include her or an ally with Defender Aura in the attack.
Righteous Radiance: Enemy in Defender Aura shifts or attacks an ally but not her or another ally with DA – they take 7 Radiant damage.
Restore Vitality (Daily, minor): melee 1 – touched target regains 10 hit points, and can make a saving throw.
Weapon
+1 longsword (CHA melee trained) Attack + 11 vs AC Hit: 1d8+7 damage (crit 15+1d6)
Skills: Religion+9 Insight +9 Diplomacy +11
STR 11 (+2) DEX 14 (+4) CON 10 (+2) INT 10 (+2) WIS 14 (+4) CHA 18 (+6)
Languages: Common, Altanian, Giant
Notes: A paladin from a highborn old Nerathi family whose run-down deLampton estate lies near Bisgen; Lady Lucinda is well-spoken, virtuous, and a little naive. Lucinda is also a hopeless romantic and is likely to fall in love with any high-CHA male who shows her any attention.
