Help Design a BBEG: Spellfire and Living spells

[Three_Haligonians]

Hey all,

I'm looking for some suggestions on an upcoming villain in my campaign. The concept may be somewhat lengthy, so I'll try to be concise:

This is for an Epic Game - the party is 8 characters, in the 30-32 level range. One of them has the Leadership feat so there is also a 28th lvl cohort. Like many epic level characters, they have world-spanning resources, allies, contacts and other such things they can go to for aid or assistance.

My basic concept for this antagonist is thus: a Spellweaver [MMII] with the Axiomatic template [Plnr Hndbk.] with many levels in Wizard and Wizard-esque PrCs.

I want the weaver to be a "Master of Magic" in a pure sense; the Archmage PrC, lots of abjuration spells that deal with the manipulation of magic itself as an energy, that kind of thing. Part of this is giving it the Spellfire Wielder feat - something I've never touched upon in my homebrew and so should be a new and unique thing for my players to deal with.

The other part is living spells [MMIII] and the PrC in the latest Dragon. I think it fits with the theme and gives me a source of minions and extras for the party to deal with. In another thread I talked a little bit about this: the spellweaver will also have a Staff Familiar.

What thoughts and suggestions can you give for this build? The party can handle just about anything now - I've stopped paying attention to CR mechanics at this point because it just isn't worth it.

The living spell familiar can a spell of up to 4th level. What are some good choices? An epic-level wizard starts giving some of its spells to its familiar as spell-like abilities, what is a good equivalent for a living spell familar? Perhaps it starts gaining metamagic feats?

What are some other really neat choices for living spells? Either for lethality, or just coolness?
Are there any other feats or PrCs that jump out at you as being particularily fitting?

Lastly, I would like the PCs to run into some minions who are not obviously living spells. The idea that they deal with what they think is a person in the employ of the Spellweaver only to find out that it is actually a spell seems very cool. If you told me a way to make this happen, I'd be much obliged. Technically, at this level I could just handwave it/make my own epic spell/just do it but I'd like to have some semblance of crunch or rules to it.

Oh, I should mention that the E in BBEG isn't true. The spellweaver is actually lawful neutral

I'm interested in all feedback

Thanks

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Zurai]

4th level spell as a living spell? That screams out to be a Shadow Conjuration. It gets to be any 3rd-level or lower Conj(Summoning) or Conj(Creation) it wants to be. Never need to cast Greater Mage Armor again - just have your familiar engulf you! It can also spoof the lesser orbs, Regal Procession, etc. Sure, it's only 40% effective if they pass a Will save, but there's ways to improve that (Enhanced Shadow Reality from one of the Dragon magazines, for example), and if you use it as a buff on yourself that doesn't apply.

Other potentially neat living spells:
Reaving Dispell (targetted dispel magic/break enchantment up to +20 on the dispel check, and it gains whatever buffs it dispells - on each slam attack)
Solipsism (target made helpless if it fails a will save)
Sword of Darkness (a black blade of negative energy that gives 1 negative level per hit, 2 on a crit)

Non-obvious living spells: That's easy. You can combine more than one spell into the Living Spell template (it even gives an example of such). So, simply combine a Programmed Image with whatever other spell you want. Have the living spell use the Programmed Image to shape its appearance as some servant of the spellweaver, and the other spell(s) be the actual bite to its bark.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

My first thought is that if you want crunch to go with some unique spell effects.. you need Elements of Magic. At the epic level you can do some very interesting things...

One of which is to create illusions that look, feel, smell, and act as if they are alive.. complete with 'programmed' response similar to a decent AI construct. Or Transform and infuse intelligence so the doorman is actually a mouse

Of course, the crunch in EoM takes some getting used to, and starting epic level would be a bit harsh.

As to the living spell familiar.. why not give it spell like abilities? That could be interesting

Regarding the Spellfire Weilder, I prefer D(20)Liberation's Magefire

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Thanks for your suggestions,

I've found a few PrCs and the like for the build so I'm pretty good there - feats as well.

As for the Living Spells; it turns out there is a spell called Veil in the PHB that is exactly what I need. Go figure.

Some choices I thought of for Living Spells include:

meteor swarm
horrid wiliting
prismatic spray
Mord's Disjunction

But, if you think of some others, I'd like to hear about them. Also - since some of these have the potential to be intelligent I was wondering what classes could a Living Spell take to be even more memorable? An 18th lvl prismatic spray fighter would be kinda cool.

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Nifft]

Style, people! Think style!

Otto's Irresistible Dance - The clear winner.

Vampiric Touch + Ray of Enfeeblement - Ah, the joy of Necromancy.

Enervation - Mmmm, negative levels!

Dominate Person - "Ouch, that... th... thank you, master!"

Cheers, -- N

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Style, people! Think style!

Otto's Irresistible Dance - The clear winner.

Vampiric Touch + Ray of Enfeeblement - Ah, the joy of Necromancy.

Enervation - Mmmm, negative levels!

Dominate Person - "Ouch, that... th... thank you, master!"

Cheers, -- N

If only...

Sadly, the Living Spell template can't go on "Targeted" Spells. Only those that have areas or effects (that are not already creatures, like summoning) are legitimate choices.

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Nifft]

If only...

Sadly, the Living Spell template can't go on "Targeted" Spells. Only those that have areas or effects (that are not already creatures, like summoning) are legitimate choices.

Ooooo....

Must go back and read that template again. Sorry! -- N

 

[Kmart Kommando]

Living Waves of Exhaustion, have it grapple everyone.

Living Cloudkill, Best. Ever.

Living Blasphemy. really mean.

Living Antimagic Field. game over man, game over..

Living Enervation should take the fight out of them pretty quick.

Living Symbol of Insanity, make them kill each other instead.

Living Blade Barrier. it slices, it dices..

 

[Quartz]

Living Evard's Tentacles? (of Forced Intrusion)

 

[blargney the second]

Rusting Grasp and Baleful Polymorph stick out as amazingly cruel.

Modify Memory would be really funny.