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Wyvern_55
2010-02-21, 07:17 PM
I have a need of a villain, and for reasons which I am unable to divulge, I have full license to be completely unfair, I don't want someone that will always win no matter what, but will be very VERY tough to overcome if they do get in a direct confrontation. I am currently faced with too many choices though.

He needs to fill a few requirements though: I want him to be mainly melee, but with a little bit of arcane spell casting. He should be able to take down a decent team of 15th level character, and he must have a very high INT. also he must be an orc or half-orc (I am not opposed to him being reincarnated from a more int-friendly race.) Also he should use a rapier or something similar, as he will carry this hidden in an umbrella.

My initial thought was Factotum, but I don't know the class well enough to make it scary. Can I get some advise from the playground?

ryzouken
2010-02-21, 07:22 PM
1: take a CR 20 or so dragon
2: change its feats and spell list to include spiffy stuff (but leave shapechange/polymorph/PaO)
3: Practice maniacal cackle and BBEG catch phrases
4: ???
5: profit

to take on an entire party, I'd consider action economy as well. If you REALLY want to break him, grab Celerity spells from PhB 2, maybe splash some PrC levels on the beastie, and voila! Instant critical threat.

use Shapechange to fake like you're human(oid)

Glimbur
2010-02-21, 07:22 PM
Sounds like you want a Duskblade. They're melee with a bit of arcane casting, mostly for them to do more damage. Without some fiat and/or cheese he might not last long against competent fifteenth level characters though.

Alternate approach: gish. Wizard with the various PrC's to make him more melee capable. Then he can have various wizard defenses up, as well as Wraithstrike which is just plain mean.

Evard
2010-02-21, 07:23 PM
Make him a half-orc that is a reincarnated elder dragon (or whatever the oldest dragon is) who took levels in X class... :D Maybe even turned himself into a lich after reincarnating? hmmmm

DementedFellow
2010-02-21, 07:27 PM
As far as building gish types I suck. But please draw inspiration from Benjamin Linus of Lost fame.

See this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3g1ZjTfY28)
and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_YFevALgug)
and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMRA61smgG4).

Your players will love you if you can achieve it.

drengnikrafe
2010-02-21, 07:27 PM
When I read "I need something scary", I thought to myself "Ask Lycan 01, he's full of scary stuff". I stand by that, if you want fear.

Wyvern_55
2010-02-21, 07:37 PM
I've got the personality and mannerisms down, I just need the actual stats to make the fears justified in-game.

I'll take a look at duskblade and gish, thanks for the advice.

Goldfly
2010-02-21, 07:51 PM
Have you considered Binder?They have some nice abilites and, if played right, can make for a very creepy character.
Dread Necromancer could work as well, especially if you give it some levels of Walker In The Waste.

Thrawn183
2010-02-21, 08:44 PM
I'm thinking a pretty weak offense with a strong defense, and an aura that does 2 negative levels to everyone within 60 feet every round. No save. If that doesn't make your PC's scramble to take him out quickly, nothing will.

Edit: In other words, make him a 15th level monk with the aura.

Arakune
2010-02-21, 08:49 PM
Toss the Borg Cube. You know you want to.

Thurbane
2010-02-21, 08:55 PM
Throw the Unholy Scion template (HoH) on a 1/2 Orc, and give him X levels in Archivist. This should make for a pretty solid BBEG.

Lycanthromancer
2010-02-21, 09:07 PM
There was a 'scariest/creepiest BBEG' contest some time ago. One guy was a telepath/thrallherd with that armor from the BoVD that lets you chain several children (or other Small humanoids) to you that take your HP damage instead of you whenever someone attacks you. They are all his thralls, so they are utterly devoted to him, and cry and beg aggressors to stop whenever someone attacks him, and get in the way of anyone who is at all aggressive. When he gets close to getting thwacked (through whatever means), he uses powerstones of true mind switch on one of his unchained children, and readies actions to jump to another child when attacked so the party is killing children.

When finally killed, he has an astral seed ready, and will be back in a few days.

With enough descriptive text and enough lovable, loyal, pleading children, this gets downright horrific. Especially if he plays the father-figure to them, and seems to genuinely care for them (but is still willing to use them for his purposes).

Muahahaha...

Arakune
2010-02-21, 09:15 PM
There was a 'scariest/creepiest BBEG' contest some time ago. One guy was a telepath/thrallherd with that armor from the BoVD that lets you chain several children (or other Small humanoids) to you that take your HP damage instead of you whenever someone attacks you. They are all his thralls, so they are utterly devoted to him, and cry and beg aggressors to stop whenever someone attacks him, and get in the way of anyone who is at all aggressive. When he gets close to getting thwacked (through whatever means), he uses powerstones of true mind switch on one of his unchained children, and readies actions to jump to another child when attacked so the party is killing children.

When finally killed, he has an astral seed ready, and will be back in a few days.

With enough descriptive text and enough lovable, loyal, pleading children, this gets downright horrific. Especially if he plays the father-figure to them, and seems to genuinely care for them (but is still willing to use them for his purposes).

Muahahaha...

That's quite twisted. Good thing thrallherd can kill their followers as they please.

Draz74
2010-02-21, 09:17 PM
I want him to be mainly melee, but with a little bit of arcane spell casting. He should be able to take down a decent team of 15th level character, and he must have a very high INT. also he must be an orc or half-orc (I am not opposed to him being reincarnated from a more int-friendly race.) Also he should use a rapier or something similar, as he will carry this hidden in an umbrella. Can I get some advise from the playground?

Warblade/Wizard/Swiftblade?

OverdrivePrime
2010-02-21, 09:20 PM
For something simple, yet very mean, try Wizard 2/Warblade4/Abjurant Champion 4/ and then go the rest of the way as a Jade Phoenix Mage, reflavored into an evil character (Souldrake Disciple or some such) for the remaining 5 levels. Initiator level 12, BAB 14, casts as a 10th level wizard (with 14th level spell strength if you snag practiced spellcaster).

He'll be a solid warrior with strong spellcasting and some pretty sweet tricks. The only thing you have to worry about is hit points, which shouldn't be much of a problem.

Lycanthromancer
2010-02-21, 09:24 PM
Do we want illusion-of-ability-to-kill-the-party scary, or horrific-ghost-story scary? As in, creepy-scary?

Because putting the aforementioned thrallherd in an orphanage/children's home, and making him their caretaker...

...is especially creepy when you stop to consider that these loving, devoted orphans are likely orphans because he raped, slaughtered, and cannibalized their parents. Every. Single. One.

Greymane
2010-02-21, 09:30 PM
... Aren't mind-controlling abilities simply the best?

Forever Curious
2010-02-21, 09:32 PM
Illithid Savant (from Savage Species). Scariest villain I ever saw played.

Munchkin-Masher
2010-02-22, 03:46 AM
1: take a CR 20 or so dragon
2: change its feats and spell list to include spiffy stuff (but leave shapechange/polymorph/PaO)
3: Practice maniacal cackle and BBEG catch phrases
4: ???
5: profit

to take on an entire party, I'd consider action economy as well. If you REALLY want to break him, grab Celerity spells from PhB 2, maybe splash some PrC levels on the beastie, and voila! Instant critical threat.

use Shapechange to fake like you're human(oid)


Take MetaBreath feats.

Stack all the feats on one breath.

kill rogue with full attack.

pull out books.

Roll new characters.

magic9mushroom
2010-02-22, 04:33 AM
Nigh-unbeatable and creepy? Sounds like an Adamantine Horror.

Most under-CRed monster ever.

Runestar
2010-02-22, 05:00 AM
Warblade with an emphasis on diamond mind seems viable, though take note that with npc crs being notoriously inflated, he may be weaker than his cr lets on (so you need more class lvs).

If you are allowed to keep it generally orc-like (rather than simply being of the orc race), consider using the tanarukk (monsters of faerun) as a base? They are essentially orc-tieflings.

5 outsider HD for cr2 leaves you with room for at least 13 more class lvs (maybe more if you use the non-associated class rules). They don't have an int penalty, so you should be able to boost that to a decent level.

They even come with some nice bonuses like fire resistance and sr.

Maybe something such as tanarukk wizard4/crusader1/jade phoenix mage10/wizard+1? Assuming wizard lvs are non-associated, rounding odd crs down. Cr15, 21HD, IL16, bab+18, 7th lv spells, sr30.

Not much diamond mind though. :smallmad:

Anxe
2010-02-22, 10:45 AM
Hexblade Dual-wield Vampire is another good combo.

Hiisi
2010-02-22, 01:12 PM
Just ignore classes, give him the stats and spells he needs to make an exciting encounter. You're the DM, you're above puny rules. Why restrict yourself?

Melamoto
2010-02-22, 02:04 PM
Just ignore classes, give him the stats and spells he needs to make an exciting encounter. You're the DM, you're above puny rules. Why restrict yourself?
Because the rules exist to be followed. It is agreed that the DM has the power of fiat, but a freeformed creature is a lot harder to balance and manage than a legitimately made one.

I would make him a Phrenic Half-Orc Psion. Preferably a Telepath, so that he can really mess with the party. If you want the fight to be unfair, make him a StP Erudite.

Lycanthromancer
2010-02-22, 03:00 PM
We still don't know if he wants seemingly powerful builds, or if he wants creepy/scary ones.

So far, I'm the only one who has suggested one of the latter.

How about we start coming up with them?

Spoilered for horribleness:
Kender double-specialist transmuter/Io7V

Wyvern_55
2010-02-22, 06:08 PM
Kind of both, I think I might be able to get the effect with personality, but the mechanics would need to justify how scary this guy is.

Thanks for the help so far folks!

Lycanthromancer
2010-02-22, 06:26 PM
Hit-and-run changeling factotum/chameleon. He can be anyone, any time, anywhere. You never know when he'll strike. Is he that little girl on the street corner, begging for scraps? Is he that cleric you paid to give you a much-needed restoration? Is that hound archon really an altered assassin, ready to hit you with a Flick of the Wrist sneak attack?

The guy has a grudge against you, and he's ready, willing, and able to murder everyone you love and destroy everything you care about, making ambushes against you out of nowhere, and leaving creepy little notes in places he should NOT be able to reach, before finally going in for the kill. He leaves calling cards whenever he shows up, ratcheting up the paranoia as high as he can.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[edit] Also, barmaids and whores.

Volkov
2010-02-22, 06:29 PM
Take a Daemon from Warhammer (Fantasy or 40,000, it matters not.) D20fy it, your players will not be sleeping for a while.

Noedig
2010-02-22, 06:46 PM
I think reincarnated/polymorphed/shapechanged Elder (insert color) Wyrm is the way to go with this guy.
The build lycanthromancer suggested is awesome.

Failing that, Daemons from WH40k or WH fantasy, are pretty damn scary. Nurglites, while being my least favourite, are especially so what with their grandfatherly attitude. You could do a Slanneshi daemon if you want more of a subtle approach or Tzeentch if you're looking for a caster.

Combine that whole thrall master build that was suggested earlier, and the nurglites already fatherly attitude, and you have a serious horror walking around, blighting the populace, and feasting on small children when he gets hurt...or annoyed.

Lycanthromancer
2010-02-22, 07:02 PM
If you have a polymorphed/etc dragon, make his sanctum inside a lair of kobolds.

Tucker's kobolds.

I can give you tips on how to take on level 8-12 parties with kobolds of no more than 4th level.

Arcane_Secrets
2010-02-22, 07:12 PM
Make a half-fiendish orc with marilith parentage...but it can hide the marilith aspects until it's ready to enter combat. This way, it could lash out with a tail at the worst possible time, or reveal extra arms (and it possesses the proper multiweapon fighting feats to match). You could even make it more reptilian and give it the ability to spit venom, and have glowing eyes.

Jack_Simth
2010-02-22, 07:35 PM
I have a need of a villain, and for reasons which I am unable to divulge, I have full license to be completely unfair, I don't want someone that will always win no matter what, but will be very VERY tough to overcome if they do get in a direct confrontation. I am currently faced with too many choices though.

He needs to fill a few requirements though: I want him to be mainly melee, but with a little bit of arcane spell casting. He should be able to take down a decent team of 15th level character, and he must have a very high INT. also he must be an orc or half-orc (I am not opposed to him being reincarnated from a more int-friendly race.) Also he should use a rapier or something similar, as he will carry this hidden in an umbrella.

My initial thought was Factotum, but I don't know the class well enough to make it scary. Can I get some advise from the playground?

Let's see...

Step 1:
Villain is Gestalt (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/gestaltcharacters.htm).

Step 2:
Villain is ... oh... Sorcerer // Barbarian (PrC and template to taste - if you don't like Gestalt, just make him a Fighter-1/Sorcerer-6/Eldritch Knight-Whatever)

Step 3:
Villain has Magic Jar (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicJar.htm), Teleport (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/teleport.htm) (or the Greater (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/teleportGreater.htm) version), Greater Dispel Magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagicGreater.htm), and some nice blasting spells on his spell list, and has a Third Eye Sense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#sense) and a way to survive without air (such as a Necklace of Adaptation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#necklaceofAdaptation)).

Step 4:
Villain only fights in carefully prepared areas. The villain is on a completely different floor than the PC's, but there's a lot of crystals everywhere (which he placed, so he knows exactly where the crystals are). There's a coffin buried in the floor of each and every room, with the air pre-tainted so that it is not breathable.

Step 5:
Villain has a lot of high-HP roughly humanoid mooks, who basically just sit there playing cards until needed (they do NOT have orders to attack intruders. Nope. They're just playing cards).

How this plays out:
Villain is in his villainous hideout, "patrolling" by way of his Third Eye Sense. When he sees the PC's, he teleports to the stone coffin in the floor of a neighboring room, casts Magic Jar on a crystal in the room where the PC's are located, and attempts to possess a PC.

If he successfully possesses a PC, well and good; he teleports the PC to a nearby coffin, empties the body's lungs, and releases the PC (going back to the Jar) to try again (until he runs out of PC's on whom that trick will work).

If he stops being able to posses PC's (they all make their will saves, they wise up and cast Magic Circle Against Evil, whatever), he instead possesses a minion, and "comes out to kill them personally" - play that aspect up; "must I do everything myself" and such lines - making heavy use of Greater Dispel Magic (to wipe away buffs), and Spellcraft to find out what they're casting.

After they kill him... the first time ... he does it again (Sorcerer, after all). And again. And again. And again. If he actually runs low on spell slots, he returns to his own body, and uses Teleport to run away. To wait a bit, regroup, and do it again, later.