Help me with my bad guy?

[IamTheTest]

Ok, my newbcore party of 4 lvl 2 PCs (Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Monk) are, in my opinion, ready for their very first encounter with the bad guy. Arch Jester Thomas Arttrou.
Arch Jester Thomas Arttrou
lvl4 Human Bard
Str +0 BAB 3
Dex +3 HP 21
Con +0 AC 18
Wis +0
Int +2
Cha +4

Extend Spell, Acrobatic, Widen Spell
Weapon: Composite Longbow +1 1d8+1 20x3

Basic Strategy is to cast Glitterdust, spam arrows, and let his pet sea cat take the party out.

The question is this: Can my party handle this encounter? They are all very new to the game and this will be our third session. Also, are there any auxiliary items that I should add on to my bad guy? Thanks for the help.

 

[Jdvn1]

I think they could handle the encounter. With as few hit points everyone has, don't expect it to be a long and epic battle. Did you use the NPC gold-by-level thing to figure out what items he has? He might be able to afford more, like a better weapon, some armor, or a boost to Con.

 

[Danor]

I think u should think about the ac,hp and attack bonus of the players and if, they could handle it with average dice rolls.And im sure u have an idea about what tactics they will possibly use...

 

[Bryin]

Is it their first or only encounter? If its their first make it a half-gargoyal/half-drow with 1 bard level, 1 fighter level and 2 cleric or wizard levels; and make it a champaign. If its their only time encountering this person, give it one rogue or barbarian level.

 

[IamTheTest]

Here is the deal, I have very little experience with RPGs but my friends wanted to play so I said Id try to DM. I dont really know how to make anything but the most basic characters. So I suppose that you could call my campaign basic or lackluster. I want this guy to be a challenge but I dont want to overload my party. If they get off too easy I'll start to fudge dice a little to make it more exciting. If anyone would like to post a sample bard (jester?) villain Id love to see your ideas. As far as my PCs tactics are concerned, it is run up and hit the bad guy. We dont have a spell caster yet (maybe I could get them a wand of magic missle?). Any help is appreciated.

 

[monboesen]

At low levels (about 1-4lvl) combat is always dangerous and unpredictable. It can turn its course with one lucky hit or missed save. That said your bad guy is not that dangerous or optimized.

I can't really see how he is going to get any use from Extend spell and Widen spell. Remember that metamagic feats increase the level of the base spell, Widen spell by three levels, so a 2nd lvl glitterdust is suddenly a 5th level spell. The bard will not be able to cast any of his spells altered with the Widen spell feat.

As a Bard his main strengths are good skills and increasing allies’ abilities with songs. As it does not seem that he will be able to put those abilities to much use they should be able to defeat him.

The following stat block is how I would likely make your bad guy. To be effective he needs to have more allies than a sea cat. Maybe some hired muscle (2*warrior 1). He could even have the protection of wealthy and influential patrons; he is a charming devil after all. In general people will like him, probably more than they will like the PC’s.

His main strength is still skills. He should be able to find out many details about the players. He could seek them out in disguise and talk to them. He could charm one of them and ask questions. He could plant false rumours about them or do evil deeds disguised as one of them. Steal from them or plant stolen items on them for others to find.

In short his agenda should be to mislead the PC’s, get others to perceive the PC’s in a bad light (and perhaps dealing with them without him having to do anything) or even persuade the PC’s to work for him (by misleading, lying and so on.). Direct confrontation should be his last resort.

That’s a bit complicated to pull off, but it will be rewarding when the PC’s finally face down the guy who has been so troublesome.

Human Bard 4; CR 4; Size M; HD 4d6+4; Hp 22; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18 (+2dex, +4armor, +2shield); BAB/Grapple +3/+3; Rapier +3 (1d6 18-20*2), Longbow +5 (1d8 20*3); SV Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 16.

Class abilities: Bardic music, bardic knowledge +5, countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1, Inspire competence

Skills: Bluff +10, Concentration +8, Diplomacy +10, Disguise +7, Gather information +8, Hide +4, Jump +7, Listen +3, Perform +10, Sleight of hand +9, Tumble +9;.

Feats: Spell focus (enchantment), Point blank shot, Rapid shot

Possessions: Longbow +1, Chain shirt, Medium shield

Spells known 0/Dancing lights, Daze, Detect magic, Ghost sound, Prestidigitation, Read magic, 1/Charm person, Cure light wounds, Hideous laughter, 2/Glitterdust, Mirror image

Spells/day: 3/3/1
DC 10+spell level+cha modifier (+1 for enchantments) 13/14/15

Attack with longbow while inspiring courage and within 30 ft. of target

Longbow +6/+6 (1d8+2 20*3)

His combat plan should be firing off the glitterdust if most of his enemies are within area of effect, if not use the mirror image instead. The he should use charm person or hideous laughter on the enemy that seems to be the best fightertype. This should be followed up by inspire courage and attacking with the bow.

 

[IamTheTest]

As far the game goes, you are absolutely correct. I think that in my campaign Im trying to make a bard something that it isnt exactly. I guess that Im trying to make a jester and that a bard is as close as I could find. I know that alone a bard is hardly fearsome (at least at lvl5) so I am putting him in a very trapped lair. I suppose that is kinda like giving him a couple warriors. Also, hopefully, this situation will end up being a diplomatic encounter rather than a combat. In such a case a bard is quite formidable, as was pointed out. So, is there A. a better way to make a jester or B. a better way to set up a diplomatic encounter, other than beating up on my PCs so they dont want to fight? Thanks for the input.

 

[monboesen]

PC's will normally respond to a beating by fighting back. They are likely to think that you will not use encounters they can't beat, so they will assume they can win.

If you want a diplomatic encounter you probably need to let the jester start of talking. Once weapons are drawn few PC's back down.

As for a Jester I'm not sure what you mean. To me a Jester is a laughable person that lives by telling jokes and performing. That could easily be a bard or a an expert.