Low Level Bad Guy with a High Level Scroll

[Kafkonia]

It's a pre-written adventure. Anyway, the guy's probably part of some big death cult with a much higher-level leader.

Of course, just because it's explainable doesn't mean it'll actually be fun at the table. Hell, are save-or die experiences ever fun?

Sure. When they happen to the bad guys. Or so my players would tell you.

*grumble grumble*

 

[Dracorat]

Just as a point of order, since you plan on using this spell.

If you use this spell, it can be deadly to yourself as well if you use it at a range sufficient to catch yourself in the burst. I have oft-seen this spell misused in this manner, you don't want to be caught by an astute player on this.

Make sure you cast it at range.

 

[painandgreed]

*edit*

Nevermind. Figured it out.

 

[Voadam]

Anyway, I'm curious what others think. Is this too mean? Would you be okay with this as a player if you ran into it?

Thanks,
-Scot

In my game there is a house rule that save or die effects are actualy save or dying. I hate immediate death and with some of the party dying there are interesting dynamics of fight the bad guy or save your buddy. Incapacitated for the fight and must be healed is much better for the game than instantly dead PC. Since instituting the house rule I don't mind throwing save or die effects at the PCs, whereas before I swapped them out for different similar CR encounters.

As a PC I might or might not be OK with it. I'd probably hate dying from a single die roll if it ended up that way.

 

[ScotMartin]

Thanks for the help everyone. Interestingly enough, I've reviewed that area of the adventure again (my earlier posts were from work where I made a guess about the domain), and the NPC in question actually can *not* cast Circle of Death normally. However, casting the spell is clearly what the author has intended as they give an explanation of how he ended up with the scroll, indicate specifically that he'll use it on the first round, and then provide the DC of the caster level check and the DC of the Wisdom check in case he fails.

Add that to the fact that several posters have backed up my original inclination (that it wouldn't be much fun for the party to face), and I think I'll find a different spell to change it to.

Thanks,
-Scot

 

[airwalkrr]

I like the idea of a low-level cleric with a scroll of circle of death. It is very reminiscent of deadly 1e adventures.

The only issue I would take with it is whether or not it is reasonable for the cleric to want to use it. Why does he think he has to fight the adventurers? Why does he think he has to use what is probably his most valuable magical item in a fight that will still probably leave him outnumbered and outgunned? If those questions were answered to my satisfaction, I think it is awesome.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Can the pcs buy items like this? If so, the npc should be able too as well. Let him blast them with it, if everyone dies, they can chalk it up as a learning experience.

 

[Corsair]

It'd be pretty easy to just give him the Magic domain, and he could fire off the scroll no problem.

I personally don't see a big issue with it, though I might bump the CR of the encounter up to reward the players for the added danger.

 

[Quartz]

I vote against using it. It simply won't be fun for the players. Note that in a level or two, I'd have no problem with the BBEG using Disjunction on the PCs.

Actually, there's one nice way you could use it, but it requires fudging: have him read the scroll and have it automatically fail, with a nasty side-effect in that he gets turned into an undead monster which attacks the PCs.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Out of interest, what adventure is this from?

Olaf the Stout