Pathfinder 1E Some advice on Demon-fighting Druids and other related matters

[Olive]

I'm an idiot. I introduced a major NPC largely as a plot device and my PCs are (entirely predictably) trying to fight it.

The NPC is a half-fiendish nymph (CR9). The PCs are 2nd level, but likely to be third by the time the fight happens. They are trying to enlist the help of a famed druid called the Fiend Tearer. I sort of made him up on the spot and I can make a decent melee druid but I'm at a bit of a loss about what might make him good versus fiends. Any thoughts? Otherwise, I will just do something like a wondrous item that keeps magic fag going, or something similar.

Similarly, if anyone has any advice on how to make the nymph survive longer - I thinking some sort of cape of the mountebank or similar - so I can keep her alive until the PCs can beat her fairly. I want to make them pay for their insolence but not have her go down in two rounds...

 

[Kinak]

Depending on a picky point of how you work DR in your game, the Planar Wild Shape feat from Ultimate Combat would be perfect. Failing that, Eldritch Claws (a feat from the APG) would help against some fiends.

Here's the picky point, if you're curious: DR X/good can be penetrated by any creature with the "good" subtype, but the celestial template doesn't actually grant the good subtype. I just handwave that it grants the subtype and call it a day, but your mileage may vary.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Olive]

Depending on a picky point of how you work DR in your game, the Planar Wild Shape feat from Ultimate Combat would be perfect. Failing that, Eldritch Claws (a feat from the APG) would help against some fiends.

Thanks - I think Eldrich Claws looks pretty good.

Is there a good guide to wild-shaping and the available shapes around?

 

[Kinak]

Thanks - I think Eldrich Claws looks pretty good.

Glad to help

Is there a good guide to wild-shaping and the available shapes around?

TreantMonk has a good one. It's core only, but that's probably fine for an NPC. The wildshape section is towards the bottom of the guide here.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Wolf72]

If you want to throw some danger sense at your players (good luck!) you can have the half-fiend nymph totally tear your druid npc apart ...

I'd probably be one of those players who would suggest running ... but charge as the rest of the party would charge too. I enjoy a good TPK now and then.

 

[Olive]

If you want to throw some danger sense at your players (good luck!) you can have the half-fiend nymph totally tear your druid npc apart ...

This is more or less the plan.

I'd probably be one of those players who would suggest running ... but charge as the rest of the party would charge too. I enjoy a good TPK now and then.

And this is more or less the fear... I don't want a TPK, but if it happens, then I'm going to have them all reincarnated. That'll dump them back to level 1 so they can either keep the PCs or roll up new ones...

 

[Herobizkit]

If the NPC Druid is going to die as part of the plot, you don't even need stats for him.

If the nymph is going to be attacked, just have her flee at 50-75% of her HP total. Assuming you're using the Pathfinder write-up (since you posted with a PF tag but quoted CR, which PF did away with), she should have a number of ways to elude capture.

Summon Nature's Ally IV is great for getting some blocking minions up and about. D4+1 small lightning elementals, fr'ex.
Blinding Beauty and Stunning Glance are lovely incapacitating attacks.

Having her run will drive the players insane, plus you can show she means business by Blinding the Druid instead of killing him outright.