I'm looking for

[Urizen]

An alternative to a Lich as a "Billy Badass" antagonist.

I had thought of doing something like a priest variant of a Lich, but then I'm just walking down that same old road, I just have different socks on.

Does anyone have suggestions for a new type of Evil Antagonist that might be fun to see in a setting?

If it turns out that I use your ideas, maybe we can work out some deal where you get a publishing credit in the book.

 

[mr_outsidevoice]

Does anyone have suggestions for a new type of Evil Antagonist that might be fun to see in a setting?

High level rogues can be good for an intrigue/mystery style of game. Multi-class w/ Aristocrat and they can have a foe who can control both sides of the law to make the characters' lives hell.

Using a monk can be good to. Have one lead a faction of a church. Not all members and ordained ministers of a church need to cast spells. A rigid, uncompromising sect of a church with fanatical followers can be a great challenge, especially if a character is a cleric or paladin or monk of the same faith, but different faction. The monk can start out neutral, but as he progresses, he can slip towards evil. Killing him might make a martyr and fuurther split the church.

Instead of a Lich or other undead, have a wizard (or psion or possibly a cleric) simply posses via mind jar or similar magics people down through the years. He(or she) could have a child and at a certain point in time (say prime of their youth) the big bad takes over, leaving the displaced soul to a bad fate.

Evil Druid slowly preparing the region for a distater(s) to wipe out most settlements.

A dragon creating 2 or 3 rival groups to set up a devestating war.

If undead are your thing, a newly awakened ancient mummy or vampire decide to restore their long banished or dead diety. Mass sacrafice of thousands might be needed.

Any of these make you go "ooohhhh"?

 

[Teneb]

Does anyone have suggestions for a new type of Evil Antagonist that might be fun to see in a setting?

Bottled Imp Games has two products out, Lords of the Night:Vampires and :Liches, both of which take a new look at these two bad guy staples. The system is very modular, allowing you to make them as powerful as you'd like. I'd suggest checking them out.

 

[Urizen]

hey

Thanks guys, the ideas and suggestions for chekcing out Bottled Imp games are much appreciated.

 

[Treebore]

Thanks guys, the ideas and suggestions for chekcing out Bottled Imp games are much appreciated.

The fighter based lich by Goodman games is pretty nasty.

 

[d20books]

An alternative to a Lich as a "Billy Badass" antagonist.

I had thought of doing something like a priest variant of a Lich, but then I'm just walking down that same old road, I just have different socks on.

Does anyone have suggestions for a new type of Evil Antagonist that might be fun to see in a setting?

If it turns out that I use your ideas, maybe we can work out some deal where you get a publishing credit in the book.

1. Dragons in Human form (shapeshifting).
2. Benevolent rulers to their own people, savage warmaker to other nations. (Had entire campaign around this idea.)
3. Ruthlessly powerful guilds, councils, or other organizations (multi-headed by multiple badguys, not just a single bad-ass).
4. Epic [insert class here]
5. Demons/Devils/Daemons
6. Opposing "Adventurers" with opposing goals.

These are off the top of my head and after a 16 work shift and 1am in the morning where I am. Email me off-list if something doesn't make sense.

 

[Blacksad]

Does anyone have suggestions for a new type of Evil Antagonist that might be fun to see in a setting?

A lich bard... you did not meant fun that way?
(Though, it's an interesting concpet, Ravenloft 2nd ed had a great many such character, the bard lich having lost some of its abilities to touch people feeling, or a ranger transfered in a golem who lost his empathy with animals).

The trolls in the monsternomicon are kinda fun (either the PC race, or the monster, with its ability to cut some part of its body who grow in a degenerate troll), that's for wilderness adventures.

A dwarven crafter (his weak golems replace the standard undead minion), and he borrow deeper ancient magic/secret/monster as the adventure goes, that's for dungeon delving.

A winged PC race (especialy feather wing), just that, the doubt whether its an aasimar, an angel or ereny(sp?) or some other monster is useful. Plus the ability to fly can give many interesting encounter at low level. Crossed with a mundane class (fighter, rogue, aristocrat) it can make a good evil leader, who has an easy bescape route (multiple identity in different cities, etc...), that's for city adventure (open ceiling).

 

[JimAde]

How about a highly intelligent, conniving, scheming, machiavellian...Expert! Such a character would have very high ranks in a set of useful skills like Knowledge (Politics, Nobility, Underworld, etc.), diplomacy, intimidation and so on. Ideally, he would project an air of being harmless and even a bit of a buffoon. But behind the scenes he's got high nobles, crime lords and powerful spell-casters all dancing to his tune through bribery, blackmail and threats.

 

[Urizen]

wow

lot's fo really good stuff!

Thanks agian for your input!