NPC Too Much?

[Diarmuid]

I'm going to be running a short adventure for my group this week, any of my players stay out.


The little module has a Spirit Naga that's been given 3 additional Sorceror levels to make it a CR12, and subsequently it casts as a 10th level Sorc.

It's a short adventure, and the party is going to be 5 12th level PC's as opposed to the 4 that it's likely intended for. With the extra person, and the fact that it's a 1-shot adventure (no worries about blowing all resources), I'm concerned the Spirit Naga is going to get trounced.

I'm considering replacing the Spirit Naga with a Banelar (CR8) and adding 4 levels of Mystic Theurge giving it Cleric 10 and Wizard 10 casting along with the bonus rider of being able to cast a spell as a free action each round while attacking.

Is this too much? I know this technically is still a CR12...but I dont want to completely hose the players. Thoughts?

[ThiagoMartell]

It depends largely on party composition, how much you optimize it and how much your players optimize.

[Diarmuid]

So far I know of a Diviner Specialist Wizard/Harper Mage/Loremaster, a non-spellcasting Ranger, and a Cleric. The last 2 slots are still in the air.

I wouldnt be going for crazy buffs/BFC...I more just want the fight to go more than 2 rounds as the party brings action economy to bear on it.

[hobo386]

Protip: If you want to even out the action economy, use minions. I'm a bad judge of balancing an encounter though, so I'll leave that up to the others.

[ThiagoMartell]

If you are set on only using this dude, make sure to give him Streamers as a spell known.

[Slipperychicken]

If you are set on only using this dude, make sure to give him Streamers as a spell known.

Oh god, the Streamers :smalleek:. Remember each streamer swings every time its target takes any action. Even free actions, which are usually glossed over.

Talking? Swing for 5d10.

Draw a weapon? Swing for 5d10.

Moving? 5d10.

Casting a spell? Interrupted, with 5d10 damage. Same goes for your Quickened spells, too.

Drawing an arrow? You just earned 5d10 damage.

Firing that same arrow? Another shot for 5d10.

Oh, that spell had a material component? Another 5d10.

Attacking a Streamer? 5d10.


And then you can stack multiple Streamers on the same guy...

[Diarmuid]

That seems like a pretty generous interpretation of the spell. Why stop there, why not simply make then take 5d10 every time the target takes a breath?

While certainly powerful, I would likely limit it to at most going off when the target did a move, swift, standard, or full round action. I would consider Free actions exempt, as they are often classified as "not actions at all".

Not terribly helpful here as the caster level is only 10, so it's only a single streamer per casting and the adventure pretty much necessitates the NPC having Dominate Person as a 5th level spell.

[Flickerdart]

If the party is 5 12th level characters, a single CR12 isn't a boss fight, it's a speedbump. Minions are a must in this encounter.

[Gerrtt]

I'd give him a body guard and two lackeys who either rain arrows or spells on the party.

Or make sure the fight happens on the bosses terms. Don't just have him sit there where he's physically accessible (IE easily surrounded); have him up on a ledge or flying in some way.

Or, heck, go all out and do both. 5 level 12s will find a way to stomp him all alone.

[Drynwyn]

While certainly powerful, I would likely limit it to at most going off when the target did a move, swift, standard, or full round action. I would consider Free actions exempt, as they are often classified as "not actions at all".
Not so. On the "actions in combat" table (or something like that) 5-foot step is listed as "no action". This in turn establishes that "free action" and "no action" are distinct.
On the plus side, it means that 5 foot stepping doesn't proc streamers.

[Roguenewb]

Spellcaster BBEGs have a serious problem, their hitpoints suck, and they are super screwed on action economy. Either have him pre-summon a dude, and a contingency a second, or...beater mooks. Someone who can hit hard enough that getting away from the mook becomes as desirable a goal as hitting the BBEG.

[Slipperychicken]

That seems like a pretty generous interpretation of the spell. Why stop there, why not simply make then take 5d10 every time the target takes a breath?


AFAIK, breathing is not an action at all :smalltongue:. I have seen Streamers on tournament ban lists. Even excluding Free and Immediate actions it is a massive middle finger to any spellcasters who can't make an average Concentration DC of 27, which can be nice if you want non-casters to shine.