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The 4e Solo Thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6251742" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>The idea of condition-proofing a solo's damage is of a lot of interest to me because how you answer this question (and to what extent, or even if you answer it) says a lot about the monster's story. </p><p></p><p>For example, I just wrote up The Red Knight (15 elite brute) for an upcoming adventure, drawing on some solo design guidelines: action recovery & condition-proofing his damage. The adventure is designed around a split party, with some facing the Red Knight and some simultaneously exploring his lair, so he will feel like a mini-solo. I gave the Red Knight a feature which solved two birds in one stone when paired with his double attack at-will and improved critical damage:</p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"></span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"><strong>Strength of Seven Men:</strong> When the Red Knight is knocked prone or suffers a condition besides marked, increase the damage his basic attacks deal by +1d10 until the end of the encounter. This is cumulative, with a max +5d10, bringing his total basic attack to 7d10.</span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange">Also, when the Red Knight would be weakened, his basic attacks instead lose their miss damage.</span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"></span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"><strong>Cruel Precision:</strong> The Red Knight scores critical on a 19-20 with a spear.</span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"></span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"><strong>Basic Attack: Longspear (at-will):</strong> Melee 2; Attack +18 vs. AC (+19 vs. bloodied); Hit 2d10+18 damage (crit 38+3d10), against bloodied enemies the Red Knight deals +10 damage; Miss: half damage.</span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"></span></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"><strong>Double Attack (at-will):</strong> The Red Knight makes two basic attacks.</span></p><p></p><p>This reflects the story about the Red Knight being physically incomparable, but also a sadistic brutal bastard who impales foes on spears and leaves them on display, and that he is an easily frustrated/infuriated opponent.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 6251742, member: 20323"] The idea of condition-proofing a solo's damage is of a lot of interest to me because how you answer this question (and to what extent, or even if you answer it) says a lot about the monster's story. For example, I just wrote up The Red Knight (15 elite brute) for an upcoming adventure, drawing on some solo design guidelines: action recovery & condition-proofing his damage. The adventure is designed around a split party, with some facing the Red Knight and some simultaneously exploring his lair, so he will feel like a mini-solo. I gave the Red Knight a feature which solved two birds in one stone when paired with his double attack at-will and improved critical damage: [color=DarkOrange] [b]Strength of Seven Men:[/b] When the Red Knight is knocked prone or suffers a condition besides marked, increase the damage his basic attacks deal by +1d10 until the end of the encounter. This is cumulative, with a max +5d10, bringing his total basic attack to 7d10. Also, when the Red Knight would be weakened, his basic attacks instead lose their miss damage. [b]Cruel Precision:[/b] The Red Knight scores critical on a 19-20 with a spear. [b]Basic Attack: Longspear (at-will):[/b] Melee 2; Attack +18 vs. AC (+19 vs. bloodied); Hit 2d10+18 damage (crit 38+3d10), against bloodied enemies the Red Knight deals +10 damage; Miss: half damage. [b]Double Attack (at-will):[/b] The Red Knight makes two basic attacks.[/color] This reflects the story about the Red Knight being physically incomparable, but also a sadistic brutal bastard who impales foes on spears and leaves them on display, and that he is an easily frustrated/infuriated opponent. [/QUOTE]
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