Voluntary Failing of a Saving Throw [BobRoe Stay OUT!]

[Gregor]

Adam, Dave, Darcy, Issy, Jer, Jamie...you know better than to read my posts!






I had a quick question regarding the voluntary failing of saving throws. I am trying to come up with a way in which a BBEG spellcaster could heighten his chances of scrying a bunch of pesky adventurers without really knowing anything about them. Normally, without the BBEG having any previous knowledge, the PCs would get a +10 to their Will save when he/she blindly tried to spy on them. Odds are the bad guy isnt going to see or hear much.

However, take this example: At the entrance of or at an important area in the BBEG's base, he/she has placed a silent alarm spell. When the PCs cross the area they set off the alarm that only the BBEG can hear. At the entrance or in the particular alarmed area, the BBEG has left one or two guards (naturally) which have been instructed to voluntarily fail their will saves when he scrys them.

Now say the BBEG is lounging in his personal lair / sanctum, tapping his fingers together and laughing maniacally in the dark as he ponders his evil deeds. When the alarm goes off he looks into his silver mirror / pool of water and casts the spell on his guard. Presumably, the guards will be fighting the invading adventurers and the BBEG will be able to view 10ft around them in all directions. Assuming they are fighting in hand to hand combat, he now has a good idea of what some of them look like, their armaments etc. Moreover he was able to scry them automatically without knowing anything about them!

What do you think? Is this a smart way for a BBEG to guard himself or is it a pretty cheesy meta way for the DM to ensure his boss is ready for the heroes?

My thanks in advance for all your suggestions / opinions!

 

[Gregor]

All excellent points, my thanks!

I just took a look at the Scry spell and as Ridley's Cohort stated, its basically impossible given the 1 hour waiting period The BBEG is level 10 so a 42,000gp crystal ball is a little too much for him to afford!

The Clairvoyance option is MUCH better as the BBEG can use it in 1/6th the casting time and he doesnt need someone to voluntarily ditch their saving throw. He could always cast it on some major area in the dungeon that the PCs must pass while alarming the front entrance and giving him (hopefully) time to spare casting while the heroes make their way to said point (run on sentence to the extreme ).

Anyone have any other clever ideas for d&d security systems?

Cheers

 

[Humanophile]

The macguffin that lets the BBEG scry on the party unawares is a pretty common trope in fantasy, be that macguffin an item the party drags around or a lackey who serves as his "eyes and ears". (Or a lackey with an item, whatever.) So in that sense, it sounds like a pretty smart trick.

But remember. The party probably won't be pulling out all their stops on some lackeys. So while the big bad should probably have a minder what he's up against, keep in mind as a DM that he won't know what tricks the party has up their sleeves they pull them out in that one battle. (Whether the big bad is smart enough to realize the difference between resources spent and potential resources saved is up to you, but most people would assume that the party will use the same tricks in both battles... possibly a lethal mistake when against a wizard or cleric.)

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

It is well nigh impossible to pull this off in 3.5 without a cystal ball due to the casting times of the scrying spells. If you can work around that technical detail, this plan could well work. It could also fail for a number of reasons including:
(1) PCs bypass the Alarm without triggering it.
(2) PCs kill key lackey in a single round and BBEG gets no useful info.
(3) PC casts Hold Person on lackey who was instructed to fail Will saves during surprise round.

(4) PCs all go invisible and sneak past lackey.
(5) PCs Dimension Door past lackeys.
etc.

A party strong enough to go up against a BBEG who can scry can always surprise you...

 

[LightPhoenix]

It is well nigh impossible to pull this off in 3.5 without a cystal ball due to the casting times of the scrying spells. If you can work around that technical detail, this plan could well work.

If he's a high enough level, cast Greater Scrying, whose casting time is only one standard action. Of course, if you know the day they're coming, you're just as well off casting it beforehand, what with a 1 hour/level duration.

 

[Goobermunch]

Another alternative was recently discussed on the Wizard's Website. Check this link for an article on "double-agent weaponry." http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040301a


Here's how it works. Send a moderately competent assassin after the party. Arm said assassin with a decently powerful magic item for their level. Make said weapon distinctive enough for your magic-user to scry on its location (this is just my idea . . . as a DM I'd rule that an unattended item can be scried upon). Also, enchant the item with the eavesdropping ability.

The party kills the assassin, finds the magic item and keeps it (even if only for a short period of time). The wizard scries on the weapon, allowing her to observe the party. The wizard also uses the eavesdropping ability to listen in on their evening discussions around the campfire. This allows the wizard to be more familiar with the party for subsequent scrying attempts.

--G

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

If he's a high enough level, cast Greater Scrying, whose casting time is only one standard action. Of course, if you know the day they're coming, you're just as well off casting it beforehand, what with a 1 hour/level duration.

Good point. But if the BBEG is 13th+ level, I definitely would not gamble on the PCs tripping the Alarm spell or not waltzing right by the lackeys.

Now that I think about it, there is an easier way if the BBEG is high level and there is only one entrance to the lair. Have toad familiar hide in favorite hidey spot near the entrance. (+21 Hide + Take 20 = DC 41 vs Spot) The toad empathically notifies the BBEG. Then the master can Scry on Familiar.

 

[Seravin]

However, take this example: At the entrance of or at an important area in the BBEG's base, he/she has placed a silent alarm spell. When the PCs cross the area they set off the alarm that only the BBEG can hear. At the entrance or in the particular alarmed area, the BBEG has left one or two guards (naturally) which have been instructed to voluntarily fail their will saves when he scrys them.

Now say the BBEG is lounging in his personal lair / sanctum, tapping his fingers together and laughing maniacally in the dark as he ponders his evil deeds. When the alarm goes off he looks into his silver mirror / pool of water and casts the spell on his guard. Presumably, the guards will be fighting the invading adventurers and the BBEG will be able to view 10ft around them in all directions. Assuming they are fighting in hand to hand combat, he now has a good idea of what some of them look like, their armaments etc. Moreover he was able to scry them automatically without knowing anything about them!

What do you think? Is this a smart way for a BBEG to guard himself or is it a pretty cheesy meta way for the DM to ensure his boss is ready for the heroes?

My thanks in advance for all your suggestions / opinions!

How about Clairaudiance/Clairvoyance when the alarm goes off instead? Probably from a wand would be best given the casting time. This would allow the BBEG to see in all directions to line of sight, or to 10 feet if it's pitch black.

edit: Just noticed that there's a range to it (though line of effect isn't needed), but it's long - so at minimum caster level the BBEG could see a location up to 600ft away.

 

[glass]

How about Clairaudiance/Clairvoyance when the alarm goes off instead? Probably from a wand would be best given the casting time.

How does a wand help?


glass.

 

[Hypersmurf]

How does a wand help?

It doesn't

What he needs is to be a Cleric with the Knowledge domain, and the Craft Infusion feat from Masters of the Wild, so he can activate an infusion of a Divine spell as a standard action regardless of casting time.

-Hyp.