PDA

View Full Version : [3.5]If you were an overlord...



arguskos
2009-09-28, 09:24 PM
...and were creating a unique race to serve you, what would you pick?

For the purposes of this conversation, assume that you cannot interact with the world for whatever reason, but you have unlimited resources to make whatever sentient, self-aware, obedient, reproducing race you desire. Further, I'd ask that we keep it to a fairly reasonable creature type (so, no Outsider, Undead, Ooze, or Construct, if you please, though really awesome ideas are always welcome). Last restriction is that ideally, they'd have a very low LA and no HD, so as to better be able to specialize as your whim demands. :smallwink:

Does anyone have any thoughts? Would you create this race in your image? Would you craft them for function? Beauty? War? What would you do if you could make a race?

taltamir
2009-09-28, 09:35 PM
Should I stay out of this thread? :)
I actually have thought about this in the past, a LOT... I figured, humans are the most successful of races... but I want them to be MINE... so make them as versatile and human like in character while still unique in appearance. While naturally you would want to optimize their capabilities where possible, the key would be retaining their flexibility. Maximize their breeding capacity and adaptability.

I wouldn't make them ugly, while more intimidating, it makes them less "trustworthy" to other races, and thus less likely to be useful for insertion into targeted positions in an enemy society. (aka, make sure its one of MY guys who is the mayor, etc). If anything, try to make them APPEAR as cute, fuzzy, and adorable as possible.

Of course, if I was sauron, then i'd go for the "scary orc like" look.

Pie Guy
2009-09-28, 09:38 PM
Changeling, nothing says overlord like ruling the planet from the shadows, just replace a few world leaders with my guys and presto.

Lycanthromancer
2009-09-28, 09:38 PM
Should I stay out of this thread? :)
I actually have thought about this in the past... I figured, humans are the most successful of races... but I want them to be MINE... so make them as versatile and human like in character. While naturally optimizing their capabilities, with a focus on maximizing breeding capacity.

I wouldn't make them ugly, while more intimidating, it makes them less "trustworthy" to other races, and thus less likely to be useful for insertion into targeted positions in an enemy society. (aka, make sure its one of MY guys who is the mayor, etc).

So...halflings, then.

Those hobbitses gets scaaaaary, My Precioussss...

jiriku
2009-09-28, 09:42 PM
Definitely changeling. It's so much easier to conquer from within.

If you removed the LA constraint though, I'd choose a much more powerful race and specialize them into various forms to suit my needs (think of all the mind flayer forms in MMV). Character class levels tend to encourage minions to be...independent and free-willed. Nasty traits! I'd rather be able to say "Biology is destiny, I built you with twelve tentacles and nasty rending claws, so go kill players!"

taltamir
2009-09-28, 09:44 PM
Definitely changeling. It's so much easier to conquer from within.

If you removed the LA constraint though, I'd choose a much more powerful race and specialize them into various forms to suit my needs (think of all the mind flayer forms in MMV). Character class levels tend to encourage minions to be...independent and free-willed. Nasty traits! I'd rather be able to say "Biology is destiny, I built you with twelve tentacles and nasty rending claws, so go kill players!"

If free will is a problem, wouldn't all this effort to individually optimize each subtype to discourage it be better spent directly programming a racial obedience to you and you only?

EDIT: Also, I would set up a religion to worship me, and brainwash them from birth to worship and obey all my edicts (and view me as their god, not as their master). Disobedience results in social ostracizing, not outright execution, I don't want to scare the other races into thinking them as savages. And with the reproduction rates I have in mind, they will be far too numerous for me to individually handle.

RandomNPC
2009-09-28, 10:01 PM
Minions from the Overlord game series of course.

For those of you who aren't the evil overlord type yet, there's four types of minions
Browns: Fighters
Reds: Ranged fire attacks, fireproof
Greens: Stealth, immune to poison
Blues: can't fight, magic resistant, can swim, Resurects other minions.

arguskos
2009-09-28, 10:41 PM
tal, you're fine. This is a thought experiment.

Anyone else have any more ideas? :smallamused:

PairO'Dice Lost
2009-09-28, 10:41 PM
Hmm...half-human/half-amoebas. Adaptable, quickly evolving, scary-looking, able to squeeze through tight spaces (to a degree), and the stuff of nightmares.

Akal Saris
2009-09-28, 10:55 PM
I'd probably create a lower-LA version of draconians, as a nod to Dragonlance. The Dragonarmy did several things right with them:

1. Heavily controlled reproduction - so dependent on you and unattached to family, etc. Eventually will die off, so they won't remain a threat to your eventual dominion of the world.
2. Brainwashed from birth, especially Bozaks
3. Powerful and unusual effects that demoralize opponents - like exploding when they die
4. Weakens your enemies (uses the eggs of good-aligned dragons) while strengthens your side (adds troops)
5. Fits perfectly with the theme of 'we're an army that worships a dragon goddess and rides dragons'
6. Highly mobile and resistant to magical effects. Varying intelligence, but the smart ones are rare and co-opted into the higher echelons. Deference to humans and dragons is brainwashed into them at a young age.

Overall, you get a really kick-ass race - I used those basic qualifiers for the monsters created by another evil overlord in my campaign, who designed 'slime orcs' - essentially brainwashed orcs that can turn into oozes and have varying effects on their death.

arguskos
2009-09-28, 10:59 PM
I've been considering that a quadruped Medium sized race, since they'd be useful for long-distance travel and being beasts of burden. Probably would be great as warriors too.

taltamir
2009-09-28, 11:10 PM
I'd probably create a lower-LA version of draconians, as a nod to Dragonlance. The Dragonarmy did several things right with them:

1. Heavily controlled reproduction - so dependent on you and unattached to family, etc. Eventually will die off, so they won't remain a threat to your eventual dominion of the world.
2. Brainwashed from birth, especially Bozaks
3. Powerful and unusual effects that demoralize opponents - like exploding when they die
4. Weakens your enemies (uses the eggs of good-aligned dragons) while strengthens your side (adds troops)
5. Fits perfectly with the theme of 'we're an army that worships a dragon goddess and rides dragons'
6. Highly mobile and resistant to magical effects. Varying intelligence, but the smart ones are rare and co-opted into the higher echelons. Deference to humans and dragons is brainwashed into them at a young age.

Overall, you get a really kick-ass race - I used those basic qualifiers for the monsters created by another evil overlord in my campaign, who designed 'slime orcs' - essentially brainwashed orcs that can turn into oozes and have varying effects on their death.

1 & 4 means that you have to spend a lot of time micro managing them, and that you are extremely limited in your troop numbers... you would never amass huge armies if you have to personally help breed each and every one of them. This is why the whole "true breeding" thing came up. Besides, if they turn on you, so what, the entire world is already against you, and thats what the brainwashing from death is for... plus you have armies of loyal ones to slay the rebels.
3 & 6 means much greater expense and possible LA... sure, they are better than human commoners... but they are not gonna climb as high as a player class would... a formal education system that includes brainwashing and training can give you level 5-10s of various player classes. not as cool, but far more effective.


I've been considering that a quadruped Medium sized race, since they'd be useful for long-distance travel and being beasts of burden. Probably would be great as warriors too.

Great idea... make them a ruminant too... a centaur comes to mind.
They are fast, they are strong, they make excellent warriors... they make highly mobile troops regardless of class, they have high stamina, and they are cheap to feed since they can just eat grass.

Ernir
2009-09-28, 11:10 PM
For the purposes of this conversation, assume that you cannot interact with the world for whatever reason, but you have unlimited resources to make whatever sentient, self-aware, obedient, reproducing race you desire.

*Sigh*
Due to the part I bolded...

I would make a mostly human-looking race with a racial charisma bonus and naturally strong libidos. Sorry I went there, but it's true.

Since I would of course also be plotting to rule the world once I can get out into it once again, I would train them as Diplomancers. It is likely to be more effective than taking over by brute force anyway.

taltamir
2009-09-28, 11:12 PM
*Sigh*
Due to the part I bolded...

I would make a mostly human-looking race with a racial charisma bonus and naturally strong libidos. Sorry I went there, but it's true.

Since I would of course also be plotting to rule the world once I can get out into it once again, I would train them as Diplomancers. It is likely to be more effective than taking over by brute force anyway.

catgirls, what every lonely wizard needs...

Ravens_cry
2009-09-28, 11:14 PM
Hmm...half-human/half-amoebas. Adaptable, quickly evolving, scary-looking, able to squeeze through tight spaces (to a degree), and the stuff of nightmares.
So like Senator Kelly from the X-Men movie after he was mutantized.

Hmm, I agree with the changeling choice of jiriku. Only I would make them fast reproducing as well. Many would actually become the part, copying the mind over, mostly forgetting their former lives, yet with a strong, seemingly inexplicable, loyalty to me.

Yukitsu
2009-09-28, 11:15 PM
I'd call them "vicarious". Being that are much like humans, but which may perfectly transmit the experience of life from memories to another. Then I'd have them gain as much knowledge, experience and have as much fun as possible, taking it all into myself.

Using that collective knowledge, I'd find a way to break out of that hellish prison and terrorize the populace by pointing out their most lurid secrets and weaknesses.

Edit: Of course, when I start prancing about the streets, I'd be bat **** insane, and not likely to actually conquer anything.

Ceridan
2009-09-29, 12:19 AM
I would be the Psychic overlord, and my human seeming aberrations would infiltrate all levels of society through out the various kingdoms. So yes, the Elan would be my minions. Reliant? Yes. Versatile? Yes. Able to sustain themselves without food and water? Yes. LA? Heh, NO. I would use whole kingdoms as pawns in a chess game that only I am aware of, and no one would be the wiser. Whahahahahaha.

PairO'Dice Lost
2009-09-29, 12:25 AM
So like Senator Kelly from the X-Men movie after he was mutantized.

Haven't seen that movie, actually...

*google google google*

Mmm, kinda, though less "Aaaaargh, I'm turning into liquid!" and more "Mwahahaha, your puny 'door' won't protect you from me!"

Ravens_cry
2009-09-29, 12:29 AM
Haven't seen that movie, actually...

*google google google*

Mmm, kinda, though less "Aaaaargh, I'm turning into liquid!" and more "Mwahahaha, your puny 'door' won't protect you from me!"
I couldn't find a picture, but there is part where he literally squeezes through the bars of Magnetos prison cell for him and escapes. It was fairly squickiblizing.:smalleek:

Superglucose
2009-09-29, 12:30 AM
Strong Heart Halfling.

Dixieboy
2009-09-29, 12:30 AM
@Ravens Cry:Then turns into water and DIES.

PairO'Dice Lost
2009-09-29, 12:31 AM
I couldn't find a picture, but there is part where he literally squeezes through the bars of Magnetos prison cell for him and escapes. It was fairly squickiblizing.:smalleek:


Then turns into water and DIES.

Yeah, his death scene was the only excerpt I could find, and I wouldn't necessarily want my minions to be unstable or anything, just...really mutable.

Ravens_cry
2009-09-29, 12:38 AM
@Ravens Cry:Then turns into water and DIES.
Reverse that and that's pretty much what we all do.

taltamir
2009-09-29, 01:00 AM
so... basically the cylons seem to be high on people's list :)

KellKheraptis
2009-09-29, 01:08 AM
Take a dragon, give it a nice Dex, full (as in per HD, just like their BAB) triple casting, Mo9 initiation with Warblade refresh mechanism, natural telepathy, and the ability to change form at will, and watch them infiltrate everything. And if they are found out, each one individually is an utter nightmare to face down, but since they are natural triple casters and telepathic, they'll never be entering major conflict solo. Yes, I have built this race of uberdragon with an epic spell before :P

Fishy
2009-09-29, 01:16 AM
Communication is important. I'd want a race that can ping each other telepathically, share information with the Fortress of Doom across long distances, ideally in a manner that no one else can intercept.

Scratch that, ideally in a manner than no one but me can intercept.

Crafty Cultist
2009-09-29, 01:33 AM
My minions would be a race with an empathic link to each other that would cause newborns to quickly come to terms with their traditions and allow easy communication but allowing enough freedom to gain individual personalities and preferences(overspecialize and you breed in weakness)

other than that they would have different castes, each caste having a unique ability(wings, shapeshifting, energy attacks or natural wepons)

random11
2009-09-29, 02:40 AM
I'd go for either undead creatures or golems.
What can I say? I'm lazy. Any race that does not require my direct attention or maintenance is good.

Of course, I will need some female necromancers/mechanics in minimal cloths to avoid necrophilia...

Farlion
2009-09-29, 02:58 AM
First, I'd go for a race that applies the R-strategy. Nothing reproduces faster than egg laying insects!

Cockroaches. Yes, cockroaches. Insatible hunger, awesome reproduction and can live in the fiercest places with little food. Give them dominate person, dominate monster, telepathic link, fire- and poisonresistance and you have your awesome invasion race!

First let them spread throughout the whole land, then on your command, dominate the leaders and take over the world!


MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


Cheers,
Farlion

Greymane
2009-09-29, 03:15 AM
While I'm not exactly a fan of anime, I'd have to say that making them mostly human with some MINOR animal features is how I would make them.

Catgirls are perfect, and I'll explain why.

You want a humanoid-like race, because those function best with other humanoids out in the world, traditionally, and that way they also serve a variety of functions by virtue of that physiology. The animal features (and subsequently animal-like tendencies), help for you to remove yourself from them, so you can more comfortably think of them as pets, toys or lesser beings. It's important not to think of them as anything more, or you might grow a conscience at some point and tell them the truth. Which would be bad.

I might even use sexual dimorphism, making the men much larger then the women, so as to make them naturally better warriors. I'd make the men aggressive to suit that warrior shtick, too, and the women to be nurturers to raise the many young for this very virile race. While it would be tempting to have children in litters, I'm by nature a vain man, and wouldn't want to have to alter the women to suit that.

That was longer then I anticipated...

Blacky the Blackball
2009-09-29, 03:22 AM
Two words: Winged Monkeys

golentan
2009-09-29, 03:53 AM
I'd probably go with a hive society.

Traits: Always Lawful Good, Small, fast reproductive cycle.
Abilities: +2 dex, -2 Str
Racial Features: +2 bonus on Craft (mechanical) checks, +1 additional bonus to aid another checks.
Venerable: Probably 200 or so. Don't want old fogies holding back innovation, don't want people to die before they learn enough to contribute.

I would then order these creatures to differentiate into a useful array of specialists. I would ignore farming, a small number of clerics can do just as much good if not more. After spending a few centuries perfecting their war machines and tucker's kobolds style traps, and winning a war with extreme prejudice, they would be ready to say...

"Hello, we can't help notice that you are living in poverty. Have some food. Would you like clothing? And you like cooperating with us far more than dying on the spines of our war machines, yes? Pass our information on to your neighbors, we'll give them food too."

Because nothing says "don't try to commit genocide" like the combination of an obvious ability to commit countergenocide and free stuff as long as you play nice.

taltamir
2009-09-29, 04:31 AM
lawful GOOD minions? for an evil overlord bent on conquest?

golentan
2009-09-29, 04:51 AM
I don't read anything in the OP saying it was for an evil overlord. Heck, I'd use my minion creating power to make them in the image of good then hand over any controls I had on them to avoid power temptation.

Plus, they have an ambitious goal: Take over the universe. I don't see how big a difference it makes if they're killing people while shouting "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" vs "FOR THE GREATER GOOD!" The only real difference is what they do on their days off. :smallamused:

Dixieboy
2009-09-29, 05:29 AM
Reverse that and that's pretty much what we all do.

We don't melt, we rot.

Laurellien
2009-09-29, 07:07 AM
Greater Doppelgangers
Failing that, changelings
Failing that, a race of perfect humans that I could slake my unnatural lusts and desires on while using them to subvert or conquer the world.

Vizzerdrix
2009-09-29, 08:21 AM
Hmm... I'd start with something hardy. Something that is a natural survivor. Honestly, I'd start with cockroaches. I'd change some into small four armed humanoids and grant them longer lives than their natural kin. with faces that are less buggy and more cute. Cute things live longer.

Hmm... I think I'll create them :)

Eloel
2009-09-29, 08:28 AM
Catgirls are perfect


Unless someone goes on the internet, and tries to apply logic. Their numbers diminish rapidly with logic.

Pika...
2009-09-29, 08:31 AM
Kobolds and Urds.

Then I would rename myself either kurtulmak or Vor.

GallóglachMaxim
2009-09-30, 02:05 AM
Step 1) I'd create a humanoid race that can hold up against similar species in a fight (better than human fighting ability, balanced against being less inventive) but have them able to eat any organic material. Then, tinker with their hormones so that access to a large source of food makes them extremely fertile, develop faster, and hyperagressive to all other species.

Step 2) Set them up to win a few battles in carefully-chosen locations, numbers increase exponentially in a short time after each success.

Step 3) Watch them eat the world.

(This, for the record, is very close to the origins of Orcs for my homebrew campaign world, and it'd be interesting to see it from the 'this is a good thing' perspective)

arguskos
2009-09-30, 08:49 AM
Well, thanks for the ideas folks. I finally decided on a ""Vuffi Ra" (http://www.starwars-holonet.com/holonet/dictionnaire/photos/droid_vuffi_raa_1.jpg)-style critter. They have four limbs instead of five and are squarish, but the idea is the same. Each one can hold many times it's own weight, they can link together to form larger structures, and they have a limited hive mind, so their masters can read their mind at any time.

It seems like this is a good idea for a species. They are bred en masse for work and war, not to ask questions or think on a higher level, and I think such a species would succeed at that well. Thoughts?

PairO'Dice Lost
2009-09-30, 10:06 AM
It seems like this is a good idea for a species. They are bred en masse for work and war, not to ask questions or think on a higher level, and I think such a species would succeed at that well. Thoughts?

Well, Vuffi Raa worked well, so I think your servitor species should as well. Hive minds are always useful.

Kris Strife
2009-09-30, 10:26 AM
Wow, didn't think posts would be added that fast, also, ninja'd on why cat girls are a bad idea.



Edit: Of course, when I start prancing about the streets, I'd be bat **** insane, and not likely to actually conquer anything.

Kefka says otherwise. :smalltongue:

Speaking of, an army of deranged, psychotic, magic wielding clowns sounds like a decent force. Start with brainwashing at children's parties and circuses and move on from there.

Yukitsu
2009-09-30, 12:10 PM
I thought Kefka blew it all up, but I could be misremembering. Still, yeah, that would pretty much be me. :smalltongue:

Hadrian_Emrys
2009-09-30, 05:35 PM
You people are just not thinking like an evil overlord at all...

Here's a rough draft suitable for evil overlords AND horror games:

Taraxacum (Air, Swarm)
-8 Str, +8 Dex
* Plant: Taraxacum are not subject to spells or effects that affect humanoids only, such as charm person or dominate person.
* Fine: As Fine creatures, Taraxacum have a +8 bonus to Armor Class, +8 bonus to attack rolls, +16 bonus to Hide, lifting and carrying limits 1/8 those of medium creatures.
* Taraxacum base fly speed is 30 feet (perfect).
* Naturally Psionic: Taraxacum gain 2 bonus power points at 1st level. This benefit does not grant them the ability to manifest powers unless they gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
* Repletion (Su): Taraxacum can sustain themselves without need of food or water. If they spend 1 power point, the Taraxacum does not need to eat or drink for 24 hours.
* Tongues (Su): Taraxacum can use psionic energy to speak with any creature that has a language. If they spend 1 power point, the Taraxacum is treated as though using a Tongues, Psionic power (Manifester level equal to Taraxacum’s Hit Dice) with a duration of 24 hours.
* Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a Taraxacum in its space must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC=10+1/2 Taraxacum hit dice+Con modifier) or be nauseated for 1 round.
* Inhabit (Ex): A Taraxacum can enter the body of a helpless or dead creature by flying into its mouth and other orifices. Inhabiting requires 1 Full-Round Action, and the victim must be Small, Medium, or Large (although swarms working together can inhabit larger creatures if there are enough present to do so at a rate of 4 swarms times the number of size categories above Large the target creature is). The swarm can abandon the body at any time, although doing this takes 1 full round. Any attack against the host deals half damage to the Taraxacum as well, although the swarm’s resistances and immunities may negate some or all of this damage.

If a Taraxacum inhabits a dead body, it can restore animation to the creature and control its movements, effectively transforming it into a zombie of the appropriate size for as long as the swarm remains inside. If a Taraxacum inhabits a living victim, it can control the victim’s movement and actions as if using Dominate Monster.

A Taraxacum-inhabited creature can be difficult to spot as they share with the host creature their Elan-like, effective immortality. Taraxacum, however, are intelligent enough to attempt to remain as inconspicuous as possible regardless. The swarm can attempt a Disguise check to conceal its in-habitation of a host with a -4 penalty to the check for every age category older than Adult the victim was before it was inhabited.

A remove disease or heal spell cast on an inhabited victim forces the Taraxacum to abandon their host.

* Hive Mind (Ex): Taraxacum with at least 1 hit point per Hit Die forms a hive mind, giving them a typical Intelligence score. When Taraxacum are reduced below this hit point threshold, they become mindless.
* Automatic Languages: Common, Druidic. Bonus Languages: Any
* Favored Class: Any.
* Level Adjustment: +X.


Plant Type Traits:
* Low-light vision.
* Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
* Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning.
* Not subject to critical hits.
* Proficient with its natural weapons only.
* Proficient with no armor.
* Plants breathe and eat, but do not sleep.

Air Subtype traits:
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against creatures of the earth subtype, including extraplanar creatures from the Elemental Plane of Earth.
* -2 penalty on all saving throws against spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities with the earth subtype or used by creatures of the earth subtype, including extraplanar creatures from the Elemental Plane of Earth.
* Breathless (Ex): Members of air races do not breathe, so they have immunity to drowning, suffocation, and attacks that require inhalation (such as some types of poison).

Swarm Subtype traits:
A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or lower causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.

A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.

Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds such as that created by a gust of wind spell. For purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

Swarm Attack:

Swarm HD Swarm Base Damage
1-5 1d6
6-10 2d6
11-15 3d6
16-20 4d6
21 or more 5d6

Creatures with the swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. A swarm’s statistics block has “swarm” in the Attack and Full Attack entries, with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a swarm deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown in the table.

A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, and other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, poison, blood drain, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.

Swarms do not threaten creatures in their square, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy, as described below.
Distraction (Ex)

Any living creature vulnerable to a swarm’s damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ swarm’s HD + swarm’s Con modifier; the exact DC is given in a swarm’s description) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check.

arguskos
2009-09-30, 05:43 PM
You people are just not thinking like an evil overlord at all...
Uh, that stuff was great (really, it was!) but I never said evil. Just overlord. :smalltongue:

Technically, the best way to describe the overlords in question would be: uncaring.

Hadrian_Emrys
2009-09-30, 05:57 PM
O_O

What madness is this!?

A non-evil overlord is like a meatless burger, only less caustic on one's pallet.

Kris Strife
2009-09-30, 06:04 PM
I thought Kefka blew it all up, but I could be misremembering. Still, yeah, that would pretty much be me. :smalltongue:

Well, he became a diety, then blew it all up.

Korivan
2009-09-30, 07:22 PM
If it hasn't been suggested yet, google "Things to do as an Evil Overlord". Its meant to be a comedy, but seriously, has some interesting stuff in it. Also, don't be afraid to show compasion in the form of good benefits for working for you. How many times do we see in the movies minions rising up cause they are mistreated? Give a good health plan and pay. Make them WANT to choose you over the good guys.

Also, if I were an overlord, I'd be evil.

KellKheraptis
2009-09-30, 07:28 PM
Also, if I were an overlord, I'd be evil.

QFT. I always warned people if my hair suddenly spikes way up (and it's halfway down to my arse as is) and goes bright blonde, they need to get out of town :P At-will wish fulfillment...yeah, I'd make Darth Vader and Atila the Hun combined look like girl scouts. Vlad would be proud!

Volkov
2009-09-30, 07:32 PM
I'd create constructs, they are superior to undead as there isn't a huge list of spells meant specifically to kill them, and theres the fact that there is only a repair construct spell group, not a damage construct one from what I remember. I'd of course make deals with creatures like Mind flayers and Aboleths, and enslave the clockwork horrors, so I can have more constructs still, until I have an unstoppable army of machines which I will augment with undead. Until I have both an unstoppable shambling horde of doom and a unstoppable whirring horde of doom.

Volkov
2009-09-30, 07:36 PM
I'd also get the leadership feat, and combine the minions I get with that of the minions a villain can get automatically as according to his CR and charisma score. And I'd get many of them to get the leadership feat, while having lots of clerics and wizards, to further swell my horde of minions, skeletons, and golems. And I'd also summon outsiders, magical beasts, animals, elementals, and what have you to do my bidding, while recruiting conjurers, clerics, and druids to even further boost this pool. And the druids would allow me to control the animals and magical beasts to join my horde, while others would coerce the dragons, forming an unstoppable army!

Zaydos
2009-09-30, 07:36 PM
I'd go with a race of dragonic humanoids who have a racial tendency towards wizardry and whose sole purpose is to bring me entirely into the world, with the ability to cooperatively cast spells. Give them long lifespans and a high fecundity rate, and extreme curiosity. Make them small or even tiny to boot just because I can... i.e. wizard-kobolds.

Ravens_cry
2009-09-30, 07:48 PM
We don't melt, we rot.
With how much water there is in the human body, I see little difference for the soft bits.

Hadrian_Emrys
2009-09-30, 07:49 PM
Dragons were my initial pick too, but then I considered the joys of using pumped up hellwasps to (instead) control ALL creatures.

Volkov
2009-09-30, 07:52 PM
Amphibious, Flying Box Jellyfish ten times the size of the Lion's Mane jellyfish with 1,200 foot long tentacles and poison with initial damage nauseated from pain/secondary damage death with a extremely high saving throw, and also affects creatures immune to poison. It's the end of the world as we know it!

Assassin89
2009-09-30, 08:33 PM
I would make either a race of glowing fairies or a race of talking owls. The purpose of each group? Annoy.
The fairies have high pitched voices and do not stop talking.
The owls never say anything useful and ask for help more often than giving help.

arguskos
2009-09-30, 09:12 PM
O_O

What madness is this!?

A non-evil overlord is like a meatless burger, only less caustic on one's pallet.
They're overlords because they choose to be. They aren't "evil" though they don't have morality as we understand it really. They ARE overlords though. :smallwink:

waterpenguin43
2009-09-30, 09:19 PM
Awakened penguin mages with the half-water elemental template.

taltamir
2009-09-30, 09:25 PM
am I the only one who wants my minions to be wizards and clerics? it seems a lot here thinks that would make them... uppity...
Although, a few rebels are a small price to pay for an army of high level wizards and clerics methinks.

Hadrian_Emrys
2009-09-30, 11:08 PM
I would make either a race of glowing fairies or a race of talking owls. The purpose of each group? Annoy.
The fairies have high pitched voices and do not stop talking.
The owls never say anything useful and ask for help more often than giving help.

Someone had been playing too much Zelda as of late...

Drat, now I must craft a 'Navi' race.

Octopus Jack
2009-10-01, 12:45 PM
It should be obvious... Gnomes! Or telekinetic octopus

Zaydos
2009-10-01, 01:06 PM
am I the only one who wants my minions to be wizards and clerics? it seems a lot here thinks that would make them... uppity...
Although, a few rebels are a small price to pay for an army of high level wizards and clerics methinks.

Exactly why I'd choose draconic wizards you only need 1 to take over high level wizard to conquer a country and with an army of them? Now I want a BBEG which engineers a race of dragon-mages.

Randel
2009-10-01, 02:30 PM
Personally, I'm thinking as far as a minion race I would want them to be more like ants or automatons than sapient beings. Sure, they would be stupid, but I could just hardwire into them to need to serve me and then promote my intelligent servants from other races.

So, my ant-like ceations wouldn't rebel against me or potentially produce mutant 'adventurers' in their ranks. Then, all the other evil overlords would want my creations working for them and fight wars with them... then the second someone acctually conquores the world with these things I just activate a hidden signal and have them all turn to my side.


The Rossums (Replicating Omivorous Self-Sustaining Universal Monsters)

Ant-like humanoids. Workers are about the same size as goblins, soldiers are about the size of orcs, super-soldiers are the size of trolls.

The queens are massive things that lay eggs at a rate of about one every second, they are tended by special workers who feed her regularly. The eggs grow into workers, soldiers, queens, or kings depending on what they are fed.