shadowfox
2009-01-18, 08:37 PM
Devoted Defenders were a prestige class from the Sword and Fist book (yeah, back from version 3). A few years back, me and a friend created a character pair, both of us taking different routes but taking Devoted Defender.
And now I'm reviving them as NPCs meant to challenge the PCs.
Both are 12th level, taking 8 levels in either Fighter or Barbarian, and then 4 levels in Devoted Defenders. The Fighter is Dexterity-based, and dual-wields kusari-gamas, while the Barbarian is currently dual-wielding Bastard Swords (with help from Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting), though I'm thinking of choosing something more generic-Barbarian: maybe a Greatsword...
Now, the Devoted Defender is focused around the basis that the character is a sort of bodyguard, and gets bonuses and extra options when protecting his "charge." So, as a tactic that I devised when I made the characters three years ago, they would generally select each other as their charge, and stick close together, since all of the abilities really revolve around being within 5 feet of your charge. Their updated versions are a bit more specialized.
Fighter: "Jack the Reaper" (originally dual-wielded scythes thanks to version 3's Monkey Grip; now he's a throwback to when the Grim Reaper used a sickle). Dual-wields kusari-gamas, took Weapon Finesse (kusari-gama), and all of the Two-Weapon Fighting feats in the PHB, plus Improved Buckler Defense from Complete Warrior. Lower HP, will be easier to hit. Will take advantage of Devoted Defender's Defensive Strike (get AoO against an opponent who just attacked your charge) -- thanks to Combat Reflexes -- and Deflect Attack (Reflecx DC 20 + magic modifier of attacking weapon) which negates an attack altogether (usable 1/round).
Barbarian: "Jack the Ripper" (the player was reading a book on Jack the Ripper; plus, "the Ripper" can refer to his brutal attacks). Could only afford Two-Weapon Fighting due to his Dex, but thinking of swapping out TWF feats and his Bastard Swords for a Greatsword. Will be much more heavily armored, has more HP, and can dish out more damage than Jack the Reaper. Will take advantage of Harm's Way (after an attack against his charge is declared, but before the attack roll, he can put himself in the way of the attack, as long as he's within 5 feet of his charge; no specified use limitation), and, to a lesser extent, Defensive Strike (also gave him Combat Reflexes, but only gets two extra AoO per round; thinking of swapping Combat Reflexes for something else).
As you can see, these NPCs are built around defending each other. This is supposed to be a tough encounter for the PCs, who should be level 8-10 at the time. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them died from this encounter. (The campaign's main plot is riding on it, or else I need to think of another reason for them to go to Cania, the eighth layer of Baator (Hell), and I'd probably need to rewrite the entire campaign after that. I do have a backup plan, but it's not as good.)
My question is this, however: is it too much? I know they're not optimized, but I didn't want that. I just wanted enough to give them a serious challenge, one that they're highly unlikely to win. And when the party will consist of one Fighter (he's planning on going into Occult Slayer), one Binder (no idea what he's planning for the future of his character), and one Truenamer (she's planning on going into Fiendbinder (making it Truenamer friendly), and will have a custom-made unique devil at her command (counts as "half a PC," as I like to say)), I'd think that they don't have much of a chance. In my mental plan of the campaign, they might have a couple of low-level NPCs assisting them at the time, but they're likely to get wiped out early in the fight.
Opinions? Suggestions?
Edit: The campaign world is a medium-low magic setting. In my own words, divine magic is the most common, but still rare (when NPCs say "cleric," they're most likely to be referring to a normal, non-magical priest); magic is uncommon. There are arcane schools, but they're for the rich, and few such schools exist. Magic is still vibrant on other planes, however.
In short, they might have a magic weapon each, which would most likely be a gift from a divine power. Overall ability won't be less than a party in a "normal" game universe.
And now I'm reviving them as NPCs meant to challenge the PCs.
Both are 12th level, taking 8 levels in either Fighter or Barbarian, and then 4 levels in Devoted Defenders. The Fighter is Dexterity-based, and dual-wields kusari-gamas, while the Barbarian is currently dual-wielding Bastard Swords (with help from Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting), though I'm thinking of choosing something more generic-Barbarian: maybe a Greatsword...
Now, the Devoted Defender is focused around the basis that the character is a sort of bodyguard, and gets bonuses and extra options when protecting his "charge." So, as a tactic that I devised when I made the characters three years ago, they would generally select each other as their charge, and stick close together, since all of the abilities really revolve around being within 5 feet of your charge. Their updated versions are a bit more specialized.
Fighter: "Jack the Reaper" (originally dual-wielded scythes thanks to version 3's Monkey Grip; now he's a throwback to when the Grim Reaper used a sickle). Dual-wields kusari-gamas, took Weapon Finesse (kusari-gama), and all of the Two-Weapon Fighting feats in the PHB, plus Improved Buckler Defense from Complete Warrior. Lower HP, will be easier to hit. Will take advantage of Devoted Defender's Defensive Strike (get AoO against an opponent who just attacked your charge) -- thanks to Combat Reflexes -- and Deflect Attack (Reflecx DC 20 + magic modifier of attacking weapon) which negates an attack altogether (usable 1/round).
Barbarian: "Jack the Ripper" (the player was reading a book on Jack the Ripper; plus, "the Ripper" can refer to his brutal attacks). Could only afford Two-Weapon Fighting due to his Dex, but thinking of swapping out TWF feats and his Bastard Swords for a Greatsword. Will be much more heavily armored, has more HP, and can dish out more damage than Jack the Reaper. Will take advantage of Harm's Way (after an attack against his charge is declared, but before the attack roll, he can put himself in the way of the attack, as long as he's within 5 feet of his charge; no specified use limitation), and, to a lesser extent, Defensive Strike (also gave him Combat Reflexes, but only gets two extra AoO per round; thinking of swapping Combat Reflexes for something else).
As you can see, these NPCs are built around defending each other. This is supposed to be a tough encounter for the PCs, who should be level 8-10 at the time. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them died from this encounter. (The campaign's main plot is riding on it, or else I need to think of another reason for them to go to Cania, the eighth layer of Baator (Hell), and I'd probably need to rewrite the entire campaign after that. I do have a backup plan, but it's not as good.)
My question is this, however: is it too much? I know they're not optimized, but I didn't want that. I just wanted enough to give them a serious challenge, one that they're highly unlikely to win. And when the party will consist of one Fighter (he's planning on going into Occult Slayer), one Binder (no idea what he's planning for the future of his character), and one Truenamer (she's planning on going into Fiendbinder (making it Truenamer friendly), and will have a custom-made unique devil at her command (counts as "half a PC," as I like to say)), I'd think that they don't have much of a chance. In my mental plan of the campaign, they might have a couple of low-level NPCs assisting them at the time, but they're likely to get wiped out early in the fight.
Opinions? Suggestions?
Edit: The campaign world is a medium-low magic setting. In my own words, divine magic is the most common, but still rare (when NPCs say "cleric," they're most likely to be referring to a normal, non-magical priest); magic is uncommon. There are arcane schools, but they're for the rich, and few such schools exist. Magic is still vibrant on other planes, however.
In short, they might have a magic weapon each, which would most likely be a gift from a divine power. Overall ability won't be less than a party in a "normal" game universe.