Need help designing this lich BBEG!
- Thread starter AFGNCAAP
- Start date
AFGNCAAP
First Post
Thanks for the replies! Keep `em coming!
Well, did a bit more reading/tinkering with the character and the concept, & I've nailed down a few things for the BBEG lich I'm developing, Thesek:
So far, I figured that he'd have most of his levels in either sorcerer or wizard, with 1 level (at least) in fighter, and 3 levels in Spellsword (from Complete Warrior/Tome & Blood). At the most, I was going to have Thesek have up to 4 levels in fighter (just enough for the Weapon Specialization feat).
As for his armor, I've decided to go with an enchanted mithral breastplate (which has been blackened, either due to a special armor ability, or just for appearance). The mithral material reduces the Arcane Spell Failure from 25% to 15%, & Thesek's 3 levels in Spellsword cancel out the rest of the ASF %.
Feat-wise, Thesek will at least have Craft Wondrous Item (for his phylactery), Weapon Focus (staff), Two-Weapon Fighting, & Two-Weapon Defense. If I make him a 4th-level fighter, he'll have Weapon Specialization (staff) as well. May even give him Improved Critical (staff), and the Leadership feat. Decided that he wouldn't have a familiar at all, just a special steed/cohort.
As for race, I'm still leaning toward human, but I'm seriously considering any other options--just as long as the race is Medium-sized, & doesn't have either an Int penalty (for a wizard) or a Cha penalty (for a sorcerer). Still would like a few good recommendations for this. A Con penalty won't be an issue for him in his "final" form, since all of his Hit Dice would be bumped up to d12's, & he'd lack any sort of Con score as undead. Ultimately, he should be able to gain as high of a score in the relevant ability as possible--really boost up those save DCs from his spells.
As for his staff, here's a few ideas I've come up for it (property-wise):
* The staff will technically be either a magic staff or a magic rod (just a larger rod that can be used as a staff).
* The staff will provide bonuses as weapon, & may provide AC & saving throw bonuses (ala the staff of power). Maybe it could even provide bonuses to ranged touch attacks with spells (i.e., the spell is channeled through the staff to hit its target).
* The butt end of the staff may work as an immoveable rod--a nifty way for Thesek to stow his staff at times (just standing there on its own), and as a means to anchor himself when he needs it.
* I like the idea of Thesek's staff serving as an arcane focus for his spells--nifty means for him not to have to rely on material components or a spell component pouch for his spells.
* Thought that the eye sockets on the skull at the head of the staff could hold magic gems or the like, & gain the benefit of those items (for example, ioun stones or a stone of luck).
* The staff should have a few weapon-specific enchantments, to better serve as a melee weapon. If Thesek doesn't have the Improv. Crit. (staff) feat, then the staff would at least have the Impact special ability. I was considering of adding some (not all) of these special abilities: Unholy, Speed, Defending, Wounding, Thundering, Ghost Touch. Basically enchantments that would work well against a broad range of opponents.
* Not too concerned about innate spells for the staff (like casting X spell X/day, or using X charges to activate X spell in the staff). If anything, I'd figure it'd have spells that could effect a variety of opponents, or have frequent/broad applications (spells like magic missile, feather fall, wall of force, etc.)
All in all, it's very possible for the staff to be an artifact-level item, but it's not necessary at all for it to be an artifact-level item.
Also, I need a few good ideas for other personal (i.e., wearable) magical items for this villain. Here's the kind of items I'm looking for:
* A pair of boots
* A cloak
* A pair of bracers (went with bracers based off of the illustration)
* A pair of gloves/leather gauntlets
* A belt
* An amulet/pendant/necklace (worn under the armor/clothing)
* 2 rings (so far, considered a ring of protection to boost his AC, & a ring of telekinesis for a means to reach out & grab things; then again, a ring of wizardry may boost his spellcasting power significantly).
Also, I see Thesek carrying a concealable (& enchanted) back-up weapon, like a short sword or dagger. I figure it'd be enchanted (but not necessarily evil--could be something he picked up on his travels or taken from a slain foe). Any ideas?
I also need help determining magical items for his headquarters/lair. I figured he'd at least have a potent/master crystal ball that controls all of the crystal hypnosis balls he has given out/created. Any other good items that would be useful for him? (Ones that he could leave at home/not wear or carry to use, rather than carry around or have it on him all the time.) Heck, it could even be interesting stuff that he just has lying around the place (& thus, potential treasure for the PCs)--perhaps a carpet of flying, folding boat, or a deck of many things, for example.
Finally, I still need some good ideas/direction on what to do for his phylactery. I want to avoid the usual "inert box" form of one, & make it more of useable item, whether it's a sarcophagus, throne, crown, ring, weapon, etc. If it's a sort of item typical of a "magic item," like a weapon or piece of jewelry, perhaps it could be an intelligent item while Thesek occupies the phylactery?
Thanks for all the suggestions that you're provided so far! Please keep that feedback coming!
Well, did a bit more reading/tinkering with the character and the concept, & I've nailed down a few things for the BBEG lich I'm developing, Thesek:
So far, I figured that he'd have most of his levels in either sorcerer or wizard, with 1 level (at least) in fighter, and 3 levels in Spellsword (from Complete Warrior/Tome & Blood). At the most, I was going to have Thesek have up to 4 levels in fighter (just enough for the Weapon Specialization feat).
As for his armor, I've decided to go with an enchanted mithral breastplate (which has been blackened, either due to a special armor ability, or just for appearance). The mithral material reduces the Arcane Spell Failure from 25% to 15%, & Thesek's 3 levels in Spellsword cancel out the rest of the ASF %.
Feat-wise, Thesek will at least have Craft Wondrous Item (for his phylactery), Weapon Focus (staff), Two-Weapon Fighting, & Two-Weapon Defense. If I make him a 4th-level fighter, he'll have Weapon Specialization (staff) as well. May even give him Improved Critical (staff), and the Leadership feat. Decided that he wouldn't have a familiar at all, just a special steed/cohort.
As for race, I'm still leaning toward human, but I'm seriously considering any other options--just as long as the race is Medium-sized, & doesn't have either an Int penalty (for a wizard) or a Cha penalty (for a sorcerer). Still would like a few good recommendations for this. A Con penalty won't be an issue for him in his "final" form, since all of his Hit Dice would be bumped up to d12's, & he'd lack any sort of Con score as undead. Ultimately, he should be able to gain as high of a score in the relevant ability as possible--really boost up those save DCs from his spells.
As for his staff, here's a few ideas I've come up for it (property-wise):
* The staff will technically be either a magic staff or a magic rod (just a larger rod that can be used as a staff).
* The staff will provide bonuses as weapon, & may provide AC & saving throw bonuses (ala the staff of power). Maybe it could even provide bonuses to ranged touch attacks with spells (i.e., the spell is channeled through the staff to hit its target).
* The butt end of the staff may work as an immoveable rod--a nifty way for Thesek to stow his staff at times (just standing there on its own), and as a means to anchor himself when he needs it.
* I like the idea of Thesek's staff serving as an arcane focus for his spells--nifty means for him not to have to rely on material components or a spell component pouch for his spells.
* Thought that the eye sockets on the skull at the head of the staff could hold magic gems or the like, & gain the benefit of those items (for example, ioun stones or a stone of luck).
* The staff should have a few weapon-specific enchantments, to better serve as a melee weapon. If Thesek doesn't have the Improv. Crit. (staff) feat, then the staff would at least have the Impact special ability. I was considering of adding some (not all) of these special abilities: Unholy, Speed, Defending, Wounding, Thundering, Ghost Touch. Basically enchantments that would work well against a broad range of opponents.
* Not too concerned about innate spells for the staff (like casting X spell X/day, or using X charges to activate X spell in the staff). If anything, I'd figure it'd have spells that could effect a variety of opponents, or have frequent/broad applications (spells like magic missile, feather fall, wall of force, etc.)
All in all, it's very possible for the staff to be an artifact-level item, but it's not necessary at all for it to be an artifact-level item.
Also, I need a few good ideas for other personal (i.e., wearable) magical items for this villain. Here's the kind of items I'm looking for:
* A pair of boots
* A cloak
* A pair of bracers (went with bracers based off of the illustration)
* A pair of gloves/leather gauntlets
* A belt
* An amulet/pendant/necklace (worn under the armor/clothing)
* 2 rings (so far, considered a ring of protection to boost his AC, & a ring of telekinesis for a means to reach out & grab things; then again, a ring of wizardry may boost his spellcasting power significantly).
Also, I see Thesek carrying a concealable (& enchanted) back-up weapon, like a short sword or dagger. I figure it'd be enchanted (but not necessarily evil--could be something he picked up on his travels or taken from a slain foe). Any ideas?
I also need help determining magical items for his headquarters/lair. I figured he'd at least have a potent/master crystal ball that controls all of the crystal hypnosis balls he has given out/created. Any other good items that would be useful for him? (Ones that he could leave at home/not wear or carry to use, rather than carry around or have it on him all the time.) Heck, it could even be interesting stuff that he just has lying around the place (& thus, potential treasure for the PCs)--perhaps a carpet of flying, folding boat, or a deck of many things, for example.
Finally, I still need some good ideas/direction on what to do for his phylactery. I want to avoid the usual "inert box" form of one, & make it more of useable item, whether it's a sarcophagus, throne, crown, ring, weapon, etc. If it's a sort of item typical of a "magic item," like a weapon or piece of jewelry, perhaps it could be an intelligent item while Thesek occupies the phylactery?
Thanks for all the suggestions that you're provided so far! Please keep that feedback coming!
Inconsequenti-AL
Breaks Games
I reckon a good last resort would be the spell 'Tensers Transformation'? - with this guy, that's just going to be plain ugly.
Klaus
First Post
First of all, thanks for liking Thorskel, I really enjoyed doing that picture.
I did stat Thorskel a while ago and, although I don't remember the details, here's an overview of what I gave him:
- Originally Human
- Enough Sorceror levels to become a lich.
- Blackguard prestige class (he studied under Dakhor, the demon lord, before imprisoning him - two faced bastich!)
- Armor: +5 Shadow Silent Mithral Breastplate
- Cloak: Cloak of Charisma +6
- +2 Unholy Keen longsword
- Staff: Has the abilities of a Ring of the Ram and a Crystal Ball, plus can be used as a +5 Unholy Thundering Greatclub (one end only).
- Mount: Fiendish Dire Panther (as Dire Lion) with a +3 Light Fortification Hide Barding. Thoskel used Permanency to cast Greater Magic Fang on Thorpan.
- Casting Spells in Armor: Thorskel has Still Spell, so he could take his time to cast any spell he knew as a Still Spell and not worry about Arcane Failure.
- Phylactery: A gem hidden deep in his castle (which actually is the petrified remains of a waaaay-colossal Yuan-ti godling).
I did stat Thorskel a while ago and, although I don't remember the details, here's an overview of what I gave him:
- Originally Human
- Enough Sorceror levels to become a lich.
- Blackguard prestige class (he studied under Dakhor, the demon lord, before imprisoning him - two faced bastich!)
- Armor: +5 Shadow Silent Mithral Breastplate
- Cloak: Cloak of Charisma +6
- +2 Unholy Keen longsword
- Staff: Has the abilities of a Ring of the Ram and a Crystal Ball, plus can be used as a +5 Unholy Thundering Greatclub (one end only).
- Mount: Fiendish Dire Panther (as Dire Lion) with a +3 Light Fortification Hide Barding. Thoskel used Permanency to cast Greater Magic Fang on Thorpan.
- Casting Spells in Armor: Thorskel has Still Spell, so he could take his time to cast any spell he knew as a Still Spell and not worry about Arcane Failure.
- Phylactery: A gem hidden deep in his castle (which actually is the petrified remains of a waaaay-colossal Yuan-ti godling).
Magic Missile
First Post
Uh, what's to stop you just arbitarily saying he's got some special, unique feats and/or magic items that mean he's not subject to ASF? Why is there such a desperate need to only use rules that have been published? Can a DM not invent crazy new things for his unique epic supervillain?
Offhand though, I can recall the Dread Emperor in BOVD being an epic level wizard in full plate armour; he has a magical ring that totally negates his ASF for 24 hours if he has killed a 10HD humanoid...
Offhand though, I can recall the Dread Emperor in BOVD being an epic level wizard in full plate armour; he has a magical ring that totally negates his ASF for 24 hours if he has killed a 10HD humanoid...
Jolly Giant
First Post
Sounds like you've got the makings of a great villain there! 
As to his race, how about thiefling? (-2 WIS, +2 CHA) Should fit your concept of low WIS, high CHA perfectly...
As to his race, how about thiefling? (-2 WIS, +2 CHA) Should fit your concept of low WIS, high CHA perfectly...
eryndel
Explorer
Jolly Giant said:
Now that's a cute typo.
And for a shameless self plug, I included several options for reducing ASF in the Player's Guide to Fighters and Barbarians for Sword and Sorcery. The simplest is some magical enhancements to reduce ASF in armor (-5/-10/-20 at +1/+3/+5 IIRC) and an exotic material and a prestige class (that likely wouldn't be appropriate for the BBEG you got.) as well.
Werner Hager
