Incompetent DM seeks help with powerful PC

[Warren Okuma]

Okay, let's face it. As a DM I suck with strategy. I'm a great storyteller (so they tell me) and I'm good at running the table, adjudicating, and keeping the pace quick and the encounters fair. However, I stink at making my monsters and villains behave intelligently. More than that, really. I just can't seem to get the knack of using a creatures' abilities to their full advantage.

That said...I'm having a challenge with one of my players' new character. His last character died unexpectedly, and being rather disappointed, he thought to himself, "Danged if I'm going to let that happen again soon." So he's used all his considerable DnD savvy to make a potent level 9 character. He's a gestalt Paladin/Rogue with the half-fiend template.

They faced a modified Roper last night. It wasn't supposed to be a majorly deadly encounter, but it was patently obvious that with a +17 Fort save, Resistance 10 to acid, and DR 10 (without equipment), he could have faced the thing alone and come out without a scratch.

I know level 9-12 characters are supposed to be capable handling a lot. I know that he's paid a level penalty to get that half-fiend template. And I know that a better DM would know how to challenge him without using cheap tricks. But I can't helping being a bit frustrated.

Anything that would challenge his character would outright kill the rest of the party (one of whom is only level 7). I could throw Enchanters or Beguilers at him to take advantage of his measly +9 Will save--but that feels so cheap.

Right now the party is in the Nocturnium (sort of a cross between the Abyss and the Plane of Shadow). Any ideas on an encounter that could challenge this guy, but not kill the party? Or just DM advice in general.

Muchas Gracias,
R

Beef up the other characters. Via duels. NPC's magic gear will compensate. Never take away, just give to others.

 

[blargney the second]

He then pointed out that if a character is level 3 or 4, then that character would get no benefit from gestalt levels and would therefore be weaker than the non-templated characters. Is that the case?

That's what level adjustment DOES. You choose to have lower hit dice and everything that goes with them in exchange for better abilities. You typically end up with a glass cannon, especially with some of the bigger LA races.

Gestalt lets you choose two standard classes and take the better parts of either one. A race with a level adjustment isn't a standard class, so you can't take it as one side of the gestalt.
-blarg

 

[Nifft]

Do the gestalt rules overtly explain that the level adjust to templates applies to both gestalt classes? I approached the player about lowering his character to a pal5/rog5, and he said that the rules are rather ambiguous on this point.

There are two interpretations. One interpretation is balanced, the other is broken. Your call -- but if you're smart, you'll go for the non-broken interpretation.

Just like there's an "interpretation" of magic item creation rules which would allow a use-activated true strike effect on every attack.

D&D's rules are written to help a DM run a game, not to be the bedrock of jurisprudence for a nation. They assume someone with a bit of common sense is wielding the NO stick.

He then pointed out that if a character is level 3 or 4, then that character would get no benefit from gestalt levels and would therefore be weaker than the non-templated characters. Is that the case?

If that's how he feels, he should be free to make a normal (non-template, non-gestalt) PC which would clearly be stronger. Right?

But even that is a bit of a straw-man. He'd be 5//5 + template, not 3 or 4.

Overall, I think he's taken umbrage at being nerfed.

I think he may have taken umbrage at being caught.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I think he may have taken umbrage at being caught.

Cheers, -- N

I think Nifft has hit dead-centre on this one.

He's absolutey right - but he needs to understand that taking a template means that he has to have fewer characters levels as a result.

 

[Warren Okuma]

I think Nifft has hit dead-centre on this one.

He's absolutey right - but he needs to understand that taking a template means that he has to have fewer characters levels as a result.

Yup. However in his defense the rules are ambiguous and the DM could rule either way. Either way, it's my advice that you don't play a nerfed character, because it's never fun after that.