Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Tweaking a Villain
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="darkbard" data-source="post: 7551285" data-attributes="member: 1282"><p>Thanks for the comprehensive feedback, [MENTION=22362]MoutonRustique[/MENTION]! Similarly, I appreciate the invitation for open dialogue; these parts have become rather bristly lately, though I wouldn't expect such from you.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>For sure, this is something I have been thinking about and was considering addressing through terrain features. That said, without the mobility to make use of said features....</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I thought of giving Kalarel an Immediate Interrupt or I Reaction teleportation power since his "living" iteration had a rechargeable teleportation move action. Rather than a Shift for your option A above, perhaps a teleportation would suit. I like the idea of attaching a Slow effect as well, though I'm less enamored of the Wall iteration; perhaps a Burst, similar to Cloud of Darkness for Drow?</p><p></p><p>Further, I'm not sure what your thoughts are regarding the auto-damage minor action element on Kalarel's turn, not just as the Wall's effect.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>For my game, since we don't abuse Dominated for multiple OAs, etc., I don't think there's a huge difference between the PCs' AWs and BAs, especially since each of the PCs has a fully functional MBA for granted attacks, etc.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>In our case, it's a moot point, since none of the PCs have necrotic or radiant attacks. Just standard undead abilities here. But a cool idea for future encounters, methinks!</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think it's just a kind of double tap if the offender damages the Oath Wight in melee. Yet another way to discourage melee engagement (along with the aura).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I very much like the idea of using this as a Curse on the Disease track! So -4 penalty to surge value until healed, right? It would be fun to consider further stages as the Disease progresses.... [/evilgrin]</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>I suspect the designers set this up this way to use the Oath Wight without Minions, etc. as, effectively, a Healing Surge mechanic.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I have been going back and forth about this since I first conceived the idea. In the initial encounter with Kalarel, there were 8 Wisp Wraiths (plus 3 Zombies). It would be repetitive, I think. Also, it made sense with regard to the fiction (Undead streaming across the portal Kalarel had opened to the Shadowfell) for there to be other enemies in play.</p><p></p><p>I have a harder time imagining a fictional rationale for Orcus's raising Kalarel after he drowned and adding Minions to the encounter along a stony riverbank. Perhaps having them manifest as shadow essence or some such as you indicate does make sense, though.</p><p></p><p>Essentially, the encounter does need some Minion mechanic to take the heat off Kalarel as the sole focus of attention.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>And they're good ones! That said, the previous encounter with Kalarel included 2 embedded Skill Challenges, and the PCs just succeeded at ANOTHER SC in escaping the collapsing Keep. Again, I worry a little about construction encounters along too similar lines.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I like this idea! Leveling down a Wraith and reworking the Spawn Wraith ability would add variety to the encounter. I think I would have to use <em>either</em> this or the Minion spawn above, though.</p><p></p><p>Also, I would like for there to be a possibility that Kalarel escapes again (without forcing the issue); events have set him up to be an interesting recurring villain. That said, I don't want to rely overly on the "Orcus raises his servant" trick. Further, the PC who was formerly Kalarel's student, betrayed and being offered up as a sacrifice to Orcus by his master, chose The Raven Queen's Shroud as a reward at the end of the first session. (This is a Divine Boon that as a Minor action allows the PC to Mark an enemy once/encounter and then reroll one damage die against the Marked enemy; more significantly, as a Daily Minor action, the PC can teleport adjacent to the Marked enemy, which makes enacting an escape (as Kalarel did in the first encounter) that much more difficult.)</p><p></p><p>In any event, thanks for so many fruitful ideas already!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="darkbard, post: 7551285, member: 1282"] Thanks for the comprehensive feedback, [MENTION=22362]MoutonRustique[/MENTION]! Similarly, I appreciate the invitation for open dialogue; these parts have become rather bristly lately, though I wouldn't expect such from you. For sure, this is something I have been thinking about and was considering addressing through terrain features. That said, without the mobility to make use of said features.... I thought of giving Kalarel an Immediate Interrupt or I Reaction teleportation power since his "living" iteration had a rechargeable teleportation move action. Rather than a Shift for your option A above, perhaps a teleportation would suit. I like the idea of attaching a Slow effect as well, though I'm less enamored of the Wall iteration; perhaps a Burst, similar to Cloud of Darkness for Drow? Further, I'm not sure what your thoughts are regarding the auto-damage minor action element on Kalarel's turn, not just as the Wall's effect. For my game, since we don't abuse Dominated for multiple OAs, etc., I don't think there's a huge difference between the PCs' AWs and BAs, especially since each of the PCs has a fully functional MBA for granted attacks, etc. In our case, it's a moot point, since none of the PCs have necrotic or radiant attacks. Just standard undead abilities here. But a cool idea for future encounters, methinks! I think it's just a kind of double tap if the offender damages the Oath Wight in melee. Yet another way to discourage melee engagement (along with the aura). I very much like the idea of using this as a Curse on the Disease track! So -4 penalty to surge value until healed, right? It would be fun to consider further stages as the Disease progresses.... [/evilgrin] I suspect the designers set this up this way to use the Oath Wight without Minions, etc. as, effectively, a Healing Surge mechanic. I have been going back and forth about this since I first conceived the idea. In the initial encounter with Kalarel, there were 8 Wisp Wraiths (plus 3 Zombies). It would be repetitive, I think. Also, it made sense with regard to the fiction (Undead streaming across the portal Kalarel had opened to the Shadowfell) for there to be other enemies in play. I have a harder time imagining a fictional rationale for Orcus's raising Kalarel after he drowned and adding Minions to the encounter along a stony riverbank. Perhaps having them manifest as shadow essence or some such as you indicate does make sense, though. Essentially, the encounter does need some Minion mechanic to take the heat off Kalarel as the sole focus of attention. And they're good ones! That said, the previous encounter with Kalarel included 2 embedded Skill Challenges, and the PCs just succeeded at ANOTHER SC in escaping the collapsing Keep. Again, I worry a little about construction encounters along too similar lines. I like this idea! Leveling down a Wraith and reworking the Spawn Wraith ability would add variety to the encounter. I think I would have to use [I]either[/I] this or the Minion spawn above, though. Also, I would like for there to be a possibility that Kalarel escapes again (without forcing the issue); events have set him up to be an interesting recurring villain. That said, I don't want to rely overly on the "Orcus raises his servant" trick. Further, the PC who was formerly Kalarel's student, betrayed and being offered up as a sacrifice to Orcus by his master, chose The Raven Queen's Shroud as a reward at the end of the first session. (This is a Divine Boon that as a Minor action allows the PC to Mark an enemy once/encounter and then reroll one damage die against the Marked enemy; more significantly, as a Daily Minor action, the PC can teleport adjacent to the Marked enemy, which makes enacting an escape (as Kalarel did in the first encounter) that much more difficult.) In any event, thanks for so many fruitful ideas already! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Tweaking a Villain
Top