Paul Farquhar
Legend
And this edition blows them all out of the water.I am not sure what you mean by "canon stat block," but there have been official stats for many of the Dark Lords in previous editions (and of course Strahd in most editions).
And this edition blows them all out of the water.I am not sure what you mean by "canon stat block," but there have been official stats for many of the Dark Lords in previous editions (and of course Strahd in most editions).
Don't forget that many Darklords were always pretty weak, even back in the 2e days.CR 1 Dark Lords do sound hella weird
Yeah, not every adventure should be about killing the Dark Lord. But if every other monster in the domain is tougher and half the NPCs could kick the Dark Lord around the block... why are they still in charge?
Honestly, I don't see how. I mean, Ivana and Viktra may be CR 1 or so (probably 2 or 3, once a DM is done statting her out and giving them cool abilities), but they definitely have a lot of very powerful, high CR minions they completely control.The OP is not really trying to deduce a true stat block. They are trying to get an idea of the relative strengths of the Dark Lords and see what that could mean for adventures, based on clues in the text of VRGtR.
@Urriak Uruk , not sure why your getting so much back lash, but I find this a fun speculation based on what the clues give you. Thank you. More importantly, it gave me a place to start when I decide to give them stat blocks!
Honestly, I don't see how. I mean, Ivana and Viktra may be CR 1 or so (probably 2 or 3, once a DM is done statting her out and giving them cool abilities), but they definitely have a lot of very powerful, high CR minions they completely control.
How?And this edition blows them all out of the water.
You are still trying to "deduce" a true stat block that does not exist.
Several reasons: spy is a baseline. it's easier to take a stat block and make it more powerful by adding stuff. It's also another way of saying "has rogue levels". Assassin is a way of saying "has more rogue levels". How many levels is appropriate depends on the level of the party. The other reason not to use the Assassin stat block is it's best move by far is to stab with a knife. Ivana isn't going to stab you with an knife. She is going to poison you. She probably already has poisoned you.
But most of the time, it doesn't matter. She doesn't have a stat block, so she can do whatever the DM says she can do.
Which is meaningless, since there is no reason why low level party would get to meet her, never mind fight her.
Really, does this even need to be said. That is not what the OP is talking about. No need to take the fun out the conversation.The dark lords don't have "relative strengths". They are exactly as strong as the plot and party level requires them to be.
That is the whole point!. The OP put forth their idea and you can put forth yours. Personally, I find the idea of a stat block implied by the text interesting and helpful. The OP then took it further as a means to construct a campaign out of the DoD, but I personally don't care about that.Honestly, I don't see how. I mean, Ivana and Viktra may be CR 1 or so (probably 2 or 3, once a DM is done statting her out and giving them cool abilities), but they definitely have a lot of very powerful, high CR minions they completely control.
What does that even mean? You mentioned "canon," which is an odd fickle thing in D&D. Per "canon" if they didn't change anything (ie no new stat blocks) is the old stat block still "canon?"And this edition blows them all out of the water.
I saw a fanbrew of Saidra on r/unearthedarcana yesterday that seemed very nice, although the formatting was a bit wonky.EDIT: There is also already product on DMs Guild which provides stats for many of the Dark Lords too. I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet, but when I start my Dark Lord project I might.
VGR destroys canon for Ravenloft. It says it doesn't exist, that there are multiple versions of the same domain, the same person, with different histories, and that they can change at any time for no reason.What does that even mean? You mentioned "canon," which is an odd fickle thing in D&D. Per "canon" if they didn't change anything (ie no new stat blocks) is the old stat block still "canon?"
Exactly, there is no real canon. So why are you talking about "canon stat blocks?" This is not something the OP or anyone else is talking about. So why are you talking about it?VGR destroys canon for Ravenloft. It says it doesn't exist, that there are multiple versions of the same domain, the same person, with different histories, and that they can change at any time for no reason.
You haven't really understood. Ivana is not a spy. Or maybe she is. Just like the is no canon explanation for where Azalin is, there is no canon stat block for Ivana (or any other dark lord). "Similar to a spy" is just suggesting where the DM should start if the story they are telling puts the PCs in a position where they might attack that character. The DM can give her any abilities they like, such as Immunity To Charm or Legendary Resistance. Or simply rule that the charm fails and she pretends to be charmed in order to trick the PCs.
The biggest I have with this system was that they only used MM stat blocks, even when better ones like this could exist.I personally think Drakov should probably be a warlord (Volo's, CR 12) instead of a knight (MM, CR 3).
It's policy not to refer to content which isn't in the book or in a core rulebook.The biggest I have with this system was that they only used MM stat blocks, even when better ones like this could exist.
I get that. And it's a pain since that would mean wasting space reprinting them, but it still would have diversified some of those spies and nobles, for example.It's policy not to refer to content which isn't in the book or in a core rulebook.
It's policy not to refer to content which isn't in the book or in a core rulebook.
Do you have Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica? There's the Biomancer (CR 10, with a "Bolstering Life Force" effect that causes people within 30 feet to regain 1d10 hp; you can change that to allies or constructs only, and the spellcasting of a 16th level wizard). You could switch that out for Artificer stuff, if you like.Unfortunately, there really isn't an NPC stat block that's a great fit for Viktra Mordenheim in any of the books thus far. Anyone have a good suggestion from 3rd party stuff?