Zaenos
2010-01-07, 02:30 PM
So I'm taking my first steps into the wonderful world of DMing and I have a few unrelated questions on what I'm doing.
1. I'm building my NPCs like PCs. Is this a problem?
I've been PCs for years, but this is my first foray into D&D NPCs. Conciquencially, I'm building my 'important' NPCs the way a PC would be created, using the same rules, limitations, classes, and money allotment that a PC of their level would have. Is this how NPCs usually work? What are the pros and cons of doing this if not?
2. Is it wrong to have NPC enemies 'too appropriately equipped'?
The NPCs I've designed so far come equiped with items that very well suit their positions, environments, and combat styles. Considering that PCs don't always find exactly what they need or want, is it a bad idea to do this?
3. Is this Draconic Claw trick viable?
One of my NPC "villains" is a dragonblood sorcerer with the Draconic Claw feat. I've considered him using guerilla tactics with the Invisibility spell and these claws, sneaking up on opponents invisible with a stored touch spell. Once adjacent to them, he'd begin casting another Invisibility spell on himself, using the Draconic Claw feat to make a swift attack while casting and thus releasing the touch spell (making him visible). He'd then finish casting Invisibility and disappear again. Is this a valid use of the rules or is this twisting them a bit? Would you say this would allow him to avoid attacks of oppurtunity considering he'd only be visible for an instant?
EDIT: If it helps, here's the line in question (from Dragon Magic p.102): "In any round when you cast a spell with a casting time of 1 standard action, you can make a single claw attack at your full attack bonus against as a swift action against an opponent you threaten."
4. Bull rushing into walls or creatures?
That same NPC has the Melf's Unicorn Arrow spell, which comes loaded with a built-in bull rush. Thinking about this character's tactics, I realized that there are no rules I can find that cover what happens if someone is bull rushed into a wall or another creature. Am I just overlooking them?
If not, I was considering a bull rush into a wall dealing some 1d4 or 1d6 damage, perhaps per 5ft left to push when they hit the wall, and/or dazing them.
Bull rishing into another character would be a balance check for each to remain standing. If they succeed, the second creature makes a roll to resist the bull rish that is added to the original 'bull rushee''s roll. Success stops the bull rusher, failure and they both get pushed.
Does this sound fair? Are there some rules I'm just overlooking?
Thank you! :)
1. I'm building my NPCs like PCs. Is this a problem?
I've been PCs for years, but this is my first foray into D&D NPCs. Conciquencially, I'm building my 'important' NPCs the way a PC would be created, using the same rules, limitations, classes, and money allotment that a PC of their level would have. Is this how NPCs usually work? What are the pros and cons of doing this if not?
2. Is it wrong to have NPC enemies 'too appropriately equipped'?
The NPCs I've designed so far come equiped with items that very well suit their positions, environments, and combat styles. Considering that PCs don't always find exactly what they need or want, is it a bad idea to do this?
3. Is this Draconic Claw trick viable?
One of my NPC "villains" is a dragonblood sorcerer with the Draconic Claw feat. I've considered him using guerilla tactics with the Invisibility spell and these claws, sneaking up on opponents invisible with a stored touch spell. Once adjacent to them, he'd begin casting another Invisibility spell on himself, using the Draconic Claw feat to make a swift attack while casting and thus releasing the touch spell (making him visible). He'd then finish casting Invisibility and disappear again. Is this a valid use of the rules or is this twisting them a bit? Would you say this would allow him to avoid attacks of oppurtunity considering he'd only be visible for an instant?
EDIT: If it helps, here's the line in question (from Dragon Magic p.102): "In any round when you cast a spell with a casting time of 1 standard action, you can make a single claw attack at your full attack bonus against as a swift action against an opponent you threaten."
4. Bull rushing into walls or creatures?
That same NPC has the Melf's Unicorn Arrow spell, which comes loaded with a built-in bull rush. Thinking about this character's tactics, I realized that there are no rules I can find that cover what happens if someone is bull rushed into a wall or another creature. Am I just overlooking them?
If not, I was considering a bull rush into a wall dealing some 1d4 or 1d6 damage, perhaps per 5ft left to push when they hit the wall, and/or dazing them.
Bull rishing into another character would be a balance check for each to remain standing. If they succeed, the second creature makes a roll to resist the bull rish that is added to the original 'bull rushee''s roll. Success stops the bull rusher, failure and they both get pushed.
Does this sound fair? Are there some rules I'm just overlooking?
Thank you! :)