What challenges would you put in front of a level 100 party?

[domino]

As you may remember, there was recently discussion about a level 100 campaign. While I personally think that such a campaign is effectively impossible, the idea does interest me as a one-shot.

But I'm not as good as I'd like to be with the role playing aspects to just make it worth having only RP challenges.

So, my question, is how would you challenge them? GOBS of enemies? Advanced Dragons all around? Gods? Multiple epic baddies?

The other problem being that we'd run into certain problems with some characters being unhittable by the weaker fighters, or automatically hittable by the fighter types.

Suggestions?

 

[Goolpsy]

Well it does require alot of work from the dm's side.. if you want... say that they are staying in this very obscure land... with killer beetles ... mega beasts.. and colosal goblins thats are very well trained.. so u just make the monsters.. add hd's and abilities.. and use them as a sketch... so u can use it like watching in the mosnter manual... now jsut make some dragon advancements.. or let thme play vs gods.. for one time fun experiences

 

[winterwolf]

You can go the cheap route and have them fight opponents from the plane of mirrors (page 204 in the 3.0 Manual of the planes). Said opponents are exact copies of the players, but have diametrically opposed alignments, and have to kill the players to escape the plane of mirrors.
The problem with level 100 characters is that the spellcasters can pretty much kill anything, using epic spells. A spellcaster could theoretically create a spell that is almost guaranteed to kill anything the spellcaster decides to kill (vengeful gaze of god, anyone? Fortitude save for 1/2 damage, but even half of 305d6 dmg is going to hurt...).
Even the gods aren't level 100 (although a DM could jack them up to that) according to deities and demigods (but that book came out before the epic handbook, and still has not been converted to 3.5 as far as I know).

 

[two]

Level 100?

It's unplayabe.

It's rock-paper-scissors.

PC's will be immune to everything except A, B, C.

Monster immune to everything except D, E, F.

Who can figure out what vulnerbility first?

Honestly, it sounds deathly dull.

 

[domino]

Like I said, major issues. Which are exactly those issues. That's not the point.

And while gods aren't technically that high level, Divine Rank makes up for a lot.

 

[Jdvn1]

Other level 100 characters? Level 101 characters? Quarreling deities? Having to evactuate a country? Having to level a mountain? Puzzles?

 

[two]

To be honest with you -- and helpful this time, I hope --

I would run it diceless.

Seriously. It's all about story. A d20 roll here or there won't matter anyway, not at level 100.

If the party does smart stuff and outthinks the enemy, they win.

If they are foolish, the enemy wins and kills them, they lose a level.

That's how I would handle it. Make them figure out an epic solution to an epic problem and just talk through the actions.

They can do anything they want: go anywhere, know anything. So, the challenge is figuring out what to know, and where to go.

Throw away the dice.

 

[Jack Simth]

You can go the cheap route and have them fight opponents from the plane of mirrors (page 204 in the 3.0 Manual of the planes). Said opponents are exact copies of the players, but have diametrically opposed alignments, and have to kill the players to escape the plane of mirrors.
The problem with level 100 characters is that the spellcasters can pretty much kill anything, using epic spells. A spellcaster could theoretically create a spell that is almost guaranteed to kill anything the spellcaster decides to kill (vengeful gaze of god, anyone? Fortitude save for 1/2 damage, but even half of 305d6 dmg is going to hurt...).

Yes, but the 200d6 backlash.... with no save for half.... for a class with d4 (or even d8) hit dice is going to hurt, too. That, and it's a spellcraft DC of 419. At level 100, you skill ranks cap is 103, no? How high can you boost your Int? 300? At 300, you have an Int bonus of 140. A +160 spellcraft item would cost, what, 25,600,000 gp? That get's you... 140+103+160=403. On a roll of 16, you could then make it.... and that's assuming you can manage an int of 300.... which is pretty big. Of course, with an int of 300, who can manage the save vs. your wizard's Trap the Soul spell? (DC 158).

As to what you throw at them.... why, an epic ghost, of course! An evil Sorceror who has crafted a way around death for good (died under a contingent Animate Dead (Ghost)... on himself, cast by himself), and is raising a ghostly army (again, Animate Dead) who just keep coming back when killed (they have lots of hit dice). Make sure to give him Plane Shift, Gate, or a basic Quickened Planar Transport Epic spell (so he can pretend to still be alive by going to the Prime Material). Have him pump charisma and use lots of Malevolence (ditto for his ghostly slaves - a paladin recalled from his eternal reward by this sorceror and forced to do evil could be an interesting plot hook). As an NPC, you don't have to be strict about how much xp and gp he spent crafting those spells....

 

[winterwolf]

I would have to agree with two. In fact, now that he talks about it like that, that is exactly how I would deal with it. Having a D&D game that was JUST roleplaying would rock...after all, at level 100, you don't really need experience.
Deities and Demigods suggests that you make a series of quests to make players into gods (like the tasks of Hercules) if you want to make the characters into gods at all. You could set up several non-combat quests that require the players to think rather than cast spells/hack up enemies. These tasks would eventually lead to godhood (giving the players a non-exp goal). Maybe have each character set up ways for him to get worshipers (and the worship would have to be voluntary...no charm/dominate to force them into it, though i guess intimidating them into worshiping you would work).
I think it takes a certain kind of DM to run this, and a certain kind of player to play this.

 

[winterwolf]

Lol Jack...I didnt say the wizard would survive but you have a point. However, the vengeful gaze of god was just an example. I agree with you...I would go with the spell that DOESN'T kill me...
As a note, wish (or even limited wish, with DM approval) might allow you to cast the spell. After all, limited wish allows a person to automatically hit with an attack, so why not let wish automatically succeed with a skill check? (i know...letting you flawlessly cast any epic spell is a bit broken, but a dm of a lvl 100 group might let you...after all...he is already lenient enough to allow you to play a lvl 100 char). As a note, a 1 action casting time epic spell with the destruction seed that deals 70d6 points of damage but drains 2000 exp would have a spellcraft check of 129 (according to the epic level handbook...i don't think the 3.5 ed. DMG changes that though). If you had it drain 5000xp, you could add another 15d6 points of damage...if you had it drain 10000 exp, you could make the spell deal 110d6 points of damage (if my math is correct). And really...what is 10000xp to a lvl 100 char? Since you could cast that (if memorized) over 10 times (with a 100+ spellcraft score) you can do some serious damage.