Recurring bad guys...

[Oogar]

I have a fighter / rogue who has been pestering my party for the last few levels. I always wanted some kind of continuing bad like that when I was playing, I thought that it would be nice to give my party something like it.

At least one of them does not like it.

I don't fudge rolls, I have him run very early in a fight, as soon as he gets close to half life. He hires people, and is pretty smart about tactics. I have many ideas for him, but am ready to have him killed if my party is clever enough. He started with above average equipment for the level I created him (Cloak of the Mountebank), but is getting close to balanced money-wise. He is a big figure in a reasonable sized town's (3000 people) thieving operation. The party has accidentally, and intentionally crossed him a few times.

Unfortunately he has started to occupy a great portion of the PC's attention. Can you think of any clever ways to de-emphasize him without having the "Final Battle"?

I am thinking of having him hauled off by the larger guild from a bigger city,for his failures in Haven, the base of the PCs at this time. Or just having the other masters of the local guild turning on him, and running him out of town.

Any suggestions?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Never kill off a good bad guy.

Have him disappear for a few games or have him hire someone that will be killed off or better yet have his interest and the parties to be the same and work together.

You can also put him in a public office, he then becomes too powerful to bring down.

One I did was have the villian marry a PC's sister and was the perfect husband, he helped the family, had kids, while leading a major crime ring. He even turned the PC's family against the player, always getting into fights, then there was that tavern fire.

One of the best 'bad guys' I ever created was one of the PC's mother! She wanted the best for him as a noble, a good wife, land, better friends...she worked from the shadows with hirelings. Oh that was fun.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Salutations,

You could have the villian fake his death in some spectacular way- explosions always work for me.

Or.. you could make him a reluctant ally.

Have this larger thief organization come gunning for both the villian and the players- they stumble upon each other as both are fighting their mutual enemies.

If you make it clear this large guild is a more immediate threat (a kidnapping, etc), then have the villian be the one who knows how/where they operate- they could make a deal to help each other out and then go their seperate ways. (As he picks some of the pc's pockets a long the way).

FD

 

[fba827]

Introduce other enemies or scenarios that detract from the villan's focus for a couple games -
for instance bring a bigger threat into town or have the PCs have to go out of town for some reason... something like that.

Or, use the attention as a plot hook - the villan was spotted in town X (to days ride away!) by more than one person. How can he be in two places at once? The PCs (if they are getting really worked up over this villan) may investigate. thus, you can have adventures for their travel and adventures at their new destination. Not to mention whatever is _really_ going on with these sightings - can the guy be in two places at once? does he have a double? a clone? transport magic? all a misunderstanding (though, that last one may be a let down to the players)

 

[Oogar]

Well, tonight is the game. If things work out he will be absent for a few sessions (or dead if the players are very good / lucky). Actually dead would suit me just as well now. I'm having thoughts of him getting Ressed and being REALLY pissed off, and of course, the people who show up to find the body.....

 

[Chimera]

If "the heat is on", then there's nothing wrong with skipping town until things cool down. Perhaps that's what he needs to do. Or perhaps he has pressing business elsewhere that will keep him away from Haven for a few months.

Or, as posted above, it's simply time to move other NPCs and plots to the forefront. Heck, it's never a bad thing to give your players a lot of action from different angles, so that they need to make careful choices. Go after Joe Fighter/Rogue, or head off an even bigger problem?

 

[Darklone]

La ronda muerte en Haven

I have not much to add to the others,...

Do you use that city Haven from the books whatever, I mean: Where do you have it from? I remember a Spanish book I read once about that city and would like to play there too.

As for the bad guy: As the others said: He will go on vacations for some time if there are problems. Perhaps move on to the next city and work there (at best the city where the PCs will move next). If he has already made some friends there, it will be a hearty welcome for the players