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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Garnfellow" data-source="post: 1747818" data-attributes="member: 1223">Scopas and BrygusWell, my low-magic campaign finally hit a wall last session. Up until now, I’ve relied on a greatly reduced NPC gear budget to limit the magic goodies carried by my NPCs. So far it’s worked: I’ve kept permanent items fairly rare and wonderful, and certainly much rarer than would be seen in a standard D&D campaign.And while this made the average Frilond NPC somewhat weaker than an out-of-the-DMG NPC of the same level, the difference was small enough that I could easily compensate: I created balanced encounters by slightly increasing the number of NPCs, upping levels, building extra-challenging environments and circumstances, etc.But the PCs have finally reached a point where they are whipping the pants off these low-magic NPCs despite my tinkerings: last session they completely schooled Orestes, his son, and his band of troopers. (I’m also willing to believe that the Marshall core class may be somewhat underpowered.)So what to do? I could just start throwing more magic items at my NPCs, but I really hate to start escalating everything now. And besides, the average ruck-man officer shouldn’t be packing a +5 sword of sharpness.So I’m going to try using d20 Modern to build a few NPCs. d20M uses class defense bonuses, extra feats, and talent trees to boost characters in a way that does not require magic. (If I had to restart my campaign tomorrow, I’d probably use d20M, or its cousin Grim Tales, as the core system, rather than D&D.)So the following NPCs are an experiment; they were designed using a hybrid of d20M and some 3.5 feats. The mix is not exactly perfect yet, and I haven’t played these guys in a game yet, so any suggestions, ideas, or observations would be most welcome.The Cataphracts are the elite guard of King Tereus, feared throughout the Frounter for their iron discipline and training. The generals Scopas and Brygus played prominent roles during the siege of Antace and are now two of Tereus's most trusted cpmmanders.=====Scopas and Brygus, Cataphract Captains (2) CR 15 Male ruck Strong hero 5/soldier 10Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Listen +10, Spot +10Languages Common, Ruckish-----AC 25, touch 20, flat-footed 23hp 126 (15 HD)Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +4-----Spd 20 ftMelee mwk ruckblade +18/+13/+8 (2d8+11 plus poison/17-20) or mwk ruckblade +15/+10/+5 (2d8+17 plus poison/17-20)Ranged mwk javelin +15/+10/+5 (1d6+3 plus poison)Base Atk +12; Grp +15Special Atk advanced melee smash, critical strike, poison (DC 16, 1d6 Str/1d6 Str)Atk Options Heroic Surge, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Resounding BlowCombat Gear potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of greater magic weapon +4 -----Str 17, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14SQ improved reaction, critical strike, weapon familiarity (ruckblade)Feats Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (light), Armor Proficiency (medium), Cleave, Great Cleave, Greater Weapon Focus (ruckblade), Greater Weapon Specialization (ruckblade), Heroic Surge, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (ruckblade), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Resounding Blow, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus (ruckblade), Weapon Specialization (ruckblade)Skills Climb +2, Intimidate +20, Jump +2, Knowledge (tactics) +18, Listen +10, Spot +10, Survival +10Possessions masterwork ruckblade, chainmail, 3 masterwork javelins, masterwork short sword, 8 days rations, 6 flasks of ruckish fire, 2 doses of greater black-blade venom.-----Advanced Melee Smash (Ex): The Cataphract captain receives a +3 bonus on melee damage.Tactical Aid (Ex): As a full-round action, the Cataphract captain provides tactical aid to all of his allies (including himself) within sight and voice range of his position. This use of tactical aid requires an action point. This aid provides a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls. The bonus lasts for 5 rounds.Improved Reaction (Ex): The Cataphract captain gains a +2 competence bonus on initiative checks.Critical Strike (Ex): The Cataphract captain gains the ability to automatically confirm a threat as a critical hit when attacking with the weapon he has applied weapon specialization to, eliminating the need to make a roll to confirm the critical hit.</blockquote>

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