-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Running an evil one shot
- Thread starter Gargoyle
- Start date
Okay, here's something.
One of the Goodly god's churches is having a ceremony, holy day, whatever. Perhaps one of the high powered priests is being elevated to a saint. Perhaps it's a big festival. Whatever.
The point is, the PCs are there to Destroy it.
Bring Firey Hell down onto the participants, assassinate the clergy's leaders, desecrate the church... Whathaveyou. Basicly, they lay siege to this thing.
I have lots of Evil ideas, just not for so high a level.
One of the Goodly god's churches is having a ceremony, holy day, whatever. Perhaps one of the high powered priests is being elevated to a saint. Perhaps it's a big festival. Whatever.
The point is, the PCs are there to Destroy it.
Bring Firey Hell down onto the participants, assassinate the clergy's leaders, desecrate the church... Whathaveyou. Basicly, they lay siege to this thing.
I have lots of Evil ideas, just not for so high a level.
William Ronald
Explorer
You could have the evil PCs raid a sancturary that is guarding an evil artifact and the soul object of a colleague (A colleague that a patron of the PCs wants revived.) However, the PCs do not know anything about the artifact and should be shocked on finding it. Let's say that the PCs will be VERY AFRAID to discover the artifact and may wish they never began their raid. (A great way to bring an epic villain into the campaign.)
The regular PCs may be shocked to learn that something horrible has been unleashed on the world.
The regular PCs may be shocked to learn that something horrible has been unleashed on the world.
jollyninja
First Post
the party is hounded by a paladin throughout their adventure. that's all i've got. this is a rare occasion where you get to show them how great that smite ability is. use it on the tank sfter it hurts him a good one, let him use it again (DotF feat called multiple smite i think allows this) and watch them run. let them raze some villiages and gain plunder. evil with no point is the best one shot evil. give the paladin that as his only feat repeatedly.
Keep it a good-ish mission... with a twist.
A powerful artifact is waking up, blah blah blah blah blah... it'll destroy the world, kill legions of paladins, uglify the women and make the men impotent, I dunno. So it's vital to all the good people to get this thing destroyed. In fact, it's vital to everyone, good AND evil, although some stupid evil folks think they can control it. But by and large, it's generally accepted, even by evil people, that if the artifact wakes up, everyone is gonna die.
The bad news... The temple has an aura that unfailingly kills any creature who is not evil as soon as they enter.
So we run it... Dirty Dozen Style.
They're evil, they're on a mission, they were all captured or paid or tricked into accepting a geas that says they'll go after it. There's nothing preventing them from killing each other. In fact, if it helps the cause, so be it -- but the geas helps keep things on track, to make sure that it doesn't immediately degenerate into a party infight.
At the beginning of the night, hand out post-it notes or 3x5's to everyone, and have them read them in secret. One guy is immune to the geas and has been given a mission by an evil organization, to steal it for EEEEEEVIL. Another guy is a secret agent of good with a rare amulet that completely masks his alignment. Or maybe he underwent an Atonement to evil, so he's evil, but still committed to his former cause out of honor (Lawful Evil, perhaps). Hand out decoy cards to everyone else.
In the middle of the night, if it hasn't come up yet, pop in a divination or something that lets people on to the traitor or two in their midst.
This'll get you party conflict, but HELPFUL party conflict, instead of people just trying to be stupid badasses and killing each other over who gets to walk in front. And combined with the geas, and the fact that the artifact will have consequences for them as well (let them know this -- if they fail, they get blowed up), make people REALLY into getting that artifact... but without the morals that would slow down a good-aligned party.
-Tacky
A powerful artifact is waking up, blah blah blah blah blah... it'll destroy the world, kill legions of paladins, uglify the women and make the men impotent, I dunno. So it's vital to all the good people to get this thing destroyed. In fact, it's vital to everyone, good AND evil, although some stupid evil folks think they can control it. But by and large, it's generally accepted, even by evil people, that if the artifact wakes up, everyone is gonna die.
The bad news... The temple has an aura that unfailingly kills any creature who is not evil as soon as they enter.
So we run it... Dirty Dozen Style.
They're evil, they're on a mission, they were all captured or paid or tricked into accepting a geas that says they'll go after it. There's nothing preventing them from killing each other. In fact, if it helps the cause, so be it -- but the geas helps keep things on track, to make sure that it doesn't immediately degenerate into a party infight.
At the beginning of the night, hand out post-it notes or 3x5's to everyone, and have them read them in secret. One guy is immune to the geas and has been given a mission by an evil organization, to steal it for EEEEEEVIL. Another guy is a secret agent of good with a rare amulet that completely masks his alignment. Or maybe he underwent an Atonement to evil, so he's evil, but still committed to his former cause out of honor (Lawful Evil, perhaps). Hand out decoy cards to everyone else.
In the middle of the night, if it hasn't come up yet, pop in a divination or something that lets people on to the traitor or two in their midst.
This'll get you party conflict, but HELPFUL party conflict, instead of people just trying to be stupid badasses and killing each other over who gets to walk in front. And combined with the geas, and the fact that the artifact will have consequences for them as well (let them know this -- if they fail, they get blowed up), make people REALLY into getting that artifact... but without the morals that would slow down a good-aligned party.
-Tacky
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
Hmm. Evil? If psion are allowed, I would try a lawful evil Telepath (for a twist, maybe a Gnome)
The guy might be physically weak, but mentally very strong, and use skills & powers to controll other ones, steadily working on plots how to make himself more powerful... He might even have the Leadership feat, and as a cohort, he could have a psionic warrior...
Stats could be (25 point buy, +4 ability points due to lvl16):
Str8, Dex12, Con12, Int14, Wis12(starting 11), Cha18 (starting with 15), no racial adjustments or equipment modifiers
Equipment:
Belt of Giant Strength +4 (To be able to manifest "Animal Affinty", which, at least as I can see it in the book, is NOT an enhancementbonus)
Glove of Dexterity +4 (to be able to cast Teleport, or IMproved Teleport if "If Thought Could Kills" is allowed"
Amulet of Health +4 or Periapt of Wisdom +4
Ion Stone of ??? (+2 to Constitution or +2 to Wisdom)
Cloak of Charisma +6 (Charisma is now 24)
Consider buying a Mithral Chain Shirt of Moderate Reeinforcement (Ectoplasmic armor will later make the "AC" job, but protecting against criticals, especially from blessed weapons, is very useful. Don`t waste an Armor PRofiency Feat on this...)
Feats:
Power Penetration and Greater Power Penetration
Psionic Focus (Telepathy), Greater Psionic Focus (Telepathy)
(The other 2 Feats as fit, maybe Heighten Power, to increase effectiveness of some Powers, or Extend Power / Quicken Power)
(Save DC against Telepathy Power: 21+power level)
Powers:
"Must Have":
Shield of Prudence, Ectoplasmic Armor, Charm Monster, Conceal Thoughts, Remote View, Negate Psionics, Nondetection, Any Dominate power (the higher level, the better), any Teleport spell.
Damaging Spells: Inflict Pain (allows a Save) or Burning Ray (Ranged Touch Attack, Metacreativity)
(I am not sure if all of these powers can be "discovered", I did it from memory)
"Crisis of Breath" gives a nice darth vader effect...
So far, I made this character like a player character, so, if you want him "more dangerous" against a PC group, the Penetration powers are often unneccessary
Tactics:
Mind Blasting, Charming or Dominating. If his enemies use spells like protection from evil, he will have no negate them to use his best powers. (The Protection spells can block these powers)
If he is low on hitpoints (hey, Teleport Trigger or Contingency could really help here, he could have manifested them from a stone), he should teleport to safety, using nondetection to avoid beeing followed.
Alternatives:
You could try the same with an Enchanter, if you don't want (or can't) use psions.
Other ideas:
A high level Druid, Neutral Evil. He is against technological advancement, and tries to force the people out of the cities, using contagion or similar spells.
Animal Companions:
Maybe a Snake (Giant Constrictor, Viper - the next villain of my group will be a druid with a Giant Constrictor). Consider making it a Dire snake (none out yet, so make her up - I would have done it for my Druid, but the group is only 4th level...).
For combat tactics:
Use snake to constrict or poison enemies. Wild Shape into any dangerous animal (Dire Bear and similar ones). (Import Stats when generating: Wisdom & Constitution).
Mustrum Ridcully
The guy might be physically weak, but mentally very strong, and use skills & powers to controll other ones, steadily working on plots how to make himself more powerful... He might even have the Leadership feat, and as a cohort, he could have a psionic warrior...
Stats could be (25 point buy, +4 ability points due to lvl16):
Str8, Dex12, Con12, Int14, Wis12(starting 11), Cha18 (starting with 15), no racial adjustments or equipment modifiers
Equipment:
Belt of Giant Strength +4 (To be able to manifest "Animal Affinty", which, at least as I can see it in the book, is NOT an enhancementbonus)
Glove of Dexterity +4 (to be able to cast Teleport, or IMproved Teleport if "If Thought Could Kills" is allowed"
Amulet of Health +4 or Periapt of Wisdom +4
Ion Stone of ??? (+2 to Constitution or +2 to Wisdom)
Cloak of Charisma +6 (Charisma is now 24)
Consider buying a Mithral Chain Shirt of Moderate Reeinforcement (Ectoplasmic armor will later make the "AC" job, but protecting against criticals, especially from blessed weapons, is very useful. Don`t waste an Armor PRofiency Feat on this...)
Feats:
Power Penetration and Greater Power Penetration
Psionic Focus (Telepathy), Greater Psionic Focus (Telepathy)
(The other 2 Feats as fit, maybe Heighten Power, to increase effectiveness of some Powers, or Extend Power / Quicken Power)
(Save DC against Telepathy Power: 21+power level)
Powers:
"Must Have":
Shield of Prudence, Ectoplasmic Armor, Charm Monster, Conceal Thoughts, Remote View, Negate Psionics, Nondetection, Any Dominate power (the higher level, the better), any Teleport spell.
Damaging Spells: Inflict Pain (allows a Save) or Burning Ray (Ranged Touch Attack, Metacreativity)
(I am not sure if all of these powers can be "discovered", I did it from memory)
"Crisis of Breath" gives a nice darth vader effect...
So far, I made this character like a player character, so, if you want him "more dangerous" against a PC group, the Penetration powers are often unneccessary
Tactics:
Mind Blasting, Charming or Dominating. If his enemies use spells like protection from evil, he will have no negate them to use his best powers. (The Protection spells can block these powers)
If he is low on hitpoints (hey, Teleport Trigger or Contingency could really help here, he could have manifested them from a stone), he should teleport to safety, using nondetection to avoid beeing followed.
Alternatives:
You could try the same with an Enchanter, if you don't want (or can't) use psions.
Other ideas:
A high level Druid, Neutral Evil. He is against technological advancement, and tries to force the people out of the cities, using contagion or similar spells.
Animal Companions:
Maybe a Snake (Giant Constrictor, Viper - the next villain of my group will be a druid with a Giant Constrictor). Consider making it a Dire snake (none out yet, so make her up - I would have done it for my Druid, but the group is only 4th level...).
For combat tactics:
Use snake to constrict or poison enemies. Wild Shape into any dangerous animal (Dire Bear and similar ones). (Import Stats when generating: Wisdom & Constitution).
Mustrum Ridcully
trimeulose
First Post
Which campaign setting? Faerun, Greyhawk, Scarred Lands, Hell, Ravenloft, the Abyss???
remember gods dont intervene with evil PCs anymore than good PCs.
remember gods dont intervene with evil PCs anymore than good PCs.
Inconsequenti-AL
Breaks Games
I always like those sort of one-off's, they can be a really good side track for a few sessions. The most important thing is to give the PC's a reason to work together as a lot of players think that now they're evil they are obliged to pick fights over really meaningless stuff.
The idea I've been mulling over is having the PC's as the key figures in a really minor Drow noble house. They've got to crush their enemies, avoid being killed and, most importantly, keep Lloth happy! Thought it might run for a month or two before it got too silly. Given that it's the underdark there's scope for all sorts of villans and heroes for the party to deal with.
The idea I've been mulling over is having the PC's as the key figures in a really minor Drow noble house. They've got to crush their enemies, avoid being killed and, most importantly, keep Lloth happy! Thought it might run for a month or two before it got too silly. Given that it's the underdark there's scope for all sorts of villans and heroes for the party to deal with.
If you've ever read the book "Villains by Necessity" by Eve Forward you have a great one shot plot (or hell, even a campaign).
There is too much good in the world, and it has upset the cosmic balance. The world is slowly being eaten away by the powers of light and eventually the balance will shift so far the world will be destroyed. The few remaining "badguys" in the world join together to trying to restore the balance by bring a little evil back into the planet.
You could make this serious if you wanted, the book was a comedy full of puns and slapstick, but you could work that angle any way you like.
There is too much good in the world, and it has upset the cosmic balance. The world is slowly being eaten away by the powers of light and eventually the balance will shift so far the world will be destroyed. The few remaining "badguys" in the world join together to trying to restore the balance by bring a little evil back into the planet.
You could make this serious if you wanted, the book was a comedy full of puns and slapstick, but you could work that angle any way you like.
Last edited:
