Babale
2012-01-31, 11:01 PM
If you happen to stumble upon this, Eric, don't read this, please. I know you don't frequent the GiantITP forums, but if you somehow drift this way, please keep out.
In my current campaign, I have two characters: A Cleric and a Swordsage. The Swordsage is the unarmed, high AC type. Now, in his background, he has a childhood friend turned friendly rival. Basically, his friend was stated to be "The Chosen One" by the character's mentor. The PC Swordsage trained with the mentor and his friend, until they set off on an adventure and sent him to train.
The PC will be training in all the various forms, while his rival will be focusing on the Desert maneuvers/stances.
In a recent session, the Swordsage met his nemesis again, and proceeded to trounce him in a friendly duel. This gave me an idea... For years (The two have been training since childhood) the Nemesis has been told he was the Chosen One. He's been training in a single style for all these years. And here comes this DABBLER, who was once his childhood friend, and trounces him.
Obviously, this is damaging to his psych.
I want to explore the idea of the nemesis slowly turning to Evil in his quest to reliably trounce the PC. I also came up with the idea that, after being beaten by the PC, his ego will make him believe that he only won because of the second PC, the Cleric (who is a battle cleric of Ilmater), so he'll hire a Cleric of his own.
So, here's what I need: Two builds, one for a Swordsage (preferably pure, PrCs OK, but no dips; must have only Swordsage maneuvers) and one for a Cleric.
The point of the builds, though, is to do what Zz'dtri does to Vaarsuvius: Be built specifically to counter what the others do. Basically, they should both have "NO" buttons that they can push whenever the PCs try things. I know that this is "annoying", but it's meant to get on the PCs nerves. Things that are "unfair" are even more perfect; give the PCs a feel that the bad guys are "cheating".
So you can actually do this, here are specs about the characters (Who are level 4 now): The Cleric has a moderately-high AC, likes too fight by powerattacking with a two-handed morningstar. If she can Enlarge Person first (Strength Domain), all the better. I modified the Strength Domain ability to function Level/2 times per day, so that should be one of the things the evil version should counter. She can cast perfectly well (Maxed Wisdom score), but likes bashing stuff.
The Swordsage's opposite is a kobold. The Swordsage himself is a Gnome, with a huge AC and not-bad damage output. He doesn't put out as much damage as the Cleric, but has a more reliable To Hit. Favorite maneuver is probably Mighty Throw.
To build on the idea of "Was so desperate to beat PC Swordsage that he learned forbidden/dark maneuvers" theme, I'm willing to homebrew (slightly) overpowered maneuvers for the kobold (which the PC might be able to copy as a reward for winning?). If you have suggestions for those (especially as counters for things the Swordsage can do) I'd love to hear them.
In my current campaign, I have two characters: A Cleric and a Swordsage. The Swordsage is the unarmed, high AC type. Now, in his background, he has a childhood friend turned friendly rival. Basically, his friend was stated to be "The Chosen One" by the character's mentor. The PC Swordsage trained with the mentor and his friend, until they set off on an adventure and sent him to train.
The PC will be training in all the various forms, while his rival will be focusing on the Desert maneuvers/stances.
In a recent session, the Swordsage met his nemesis again, and proceeded to trounce him in a friendly duel. This gave me an idea... For years (The two have been training since childhood) the Nemesis has been told he was the Chosen One. He's been training in a single style for all these years. And here comes this DABBLER, who was once his childhood friend, and trounces him.
Obviously, this is damaging to his psych.
I want to explore the idea of the nemesis slowly turning to Evil in his quest to reliably trounce the PC. I also came up with the idea that, after being beaten by the PC, his ego will make him believe that he only won because of the second PC, the Cleric (who is a battle cleric of Ilmater), so he'll hire a Cleric of his own.
So, here's what I need: Two builds, one for a Swordsage (preferably pure, PrCs OK, but no dips; must have only Swordsage maneuvers) and one for a Cleric.
The point of the builds, though, is to do what Zz'dtri does to Vaarsuvius: Be built specifically to counter what the others do. Basically, they should both have "NO" buttons that they can push whenever the PCs try things. I know that this is "annoying", but it's meant to get on the PCs nerves. Things that are "unfair" are even more perfect; give the PCs a feel that the bad guys are "cheating".
So you can actually do this, here are specs about the characters (Who are level 4 now): The Cleric has a moderately-high AC, likes too fight by powerattacking with a two-handed morningstar. If she can Enlarge Person first (Strength Domain), all the better. I modified the Strength Domain ability to function Level/2 times per day, so that should be one of the things the evil version should counter. She can cast perfectly well (Maxed Wisdom score), but likes bashing stuff.
The Swordsage's opposite is a kobold. The Swordsage himself is a Gnome, with a huge AC and not-bad damage output. He doesn't put out as much damage as the Cleric, but has a more reliable To Hit. Favorite maneuver is probably Mighty Throw.
To build on the idea of "Was so desperate to beat PC Swordsage that he learned forbidden/dark maneuvers" theme, I'm willing to homebrew (slightly) overpowered maneuvers for the kobold (which the PC might be able to copy as a reward for winning?). If you have suggestions for those (especially as counters for things the Swordsage can do) I'd love to hear them.