Duboris
2014-04-21, 10:04 AM
The first NPC to introduce himself in my campaign, as soon as the players arrive to a lodge full of mercenaries taking missions off of a board, is a Katana-wielding fighter named Cid, who, as soon as he meets the PC's, determines which martial member he's going to be tied with. Cid, first and foremost, joined The Lodge in hopes of mastering his swordsmanship with the katana, and has a dark secret in regards to the players. He will be nice to them, up until the plans for introducing the invasion mark are announced, in which case he fears that the PC is going to go and get himself killed. At this point, he'll offer that PC a duel. Should the PC refuse, he announces that he will see him during the invasion.
When this comes to pass, Cid will single out the martial PC to attack during one of the quieter moments, though most likely he will show up the first moment that PC finds himself alone through the glory of "Fate making them run into each other." Cid will not allow the PC to get away, and will actively try to defeat him, complimenting him the entire fight.
Cid will be an equal level of the PC in fighter levels, though he takes a reserved approach into fights if he can, using a mixture of combat expertise and power attack, Improved vital strike, and spring attack, making it a point to waltz around debris from the nearby wreckage to avoid being charged.
Cid will, as a result of his honor, allow the player, and himself, to prepare with whatever potions they deem necessary, though Cid will use none if the player won't; claiming, "Magic is for men of weak arm, but I will not fight you on uneven ground." Should the player try to stall for his allies, Cid will automatically attack after some dialogue about fate and furthering himself and the pc.
"Fate's coy, isn't she? That doesn't matter though. Think about it friend... Whoever leaves this fight alive leaves stronger, yes? All I ask of you is that you bury me with my sword should I lose."
Cid's Katana is a +1 Keen Katana, and his armor is a +2 Armored Coat. He is a Weapon Master Fighter Archetype. His coat is exquisitely crafted like the Katana, but it is magical. His weapon doesn't read as magical in the slightest, but anyone capable of making craft checks that could make such a sword will notice how perfectly crafted it is. It definitely seems masterwork at even a glance, but there's something "more" there.
Cid has a rather long story explaining his sword and it's heritage throughout his family line, but ultimately claims it was wasted on them because they merely looked at it every day. He actually stole it when he left to begin his adventure.
There are, of course, more NPCs, but Cid is the one I'm currently worried about. Against a solo player of equal level, a fighter no less, or a monk, ranger, barbarian, whatever; He is an epic encounter because of the changes to APL. The player is more than welcome to spare him should he win, but I don't want cid to be a pushover during a straight up martial fight. He's not a fan of dirty tricks, and using them against him actually causes him to ditch his combat expertise and make use of his full power attack with furious focus, which as a weapon master, practically guarantees he hits. With a katana and weapon master, without keen a katan has a critical modifier of 18-20, With it, that increases to 16-20, allowing one in 5 of his attacks to land without fail.
Right now he has no magical enhancements. His strength at level 12 is 20, and his dexterity is 18. Not high stats by that point mind you, but Cid has a grand distaste for magic, and compliments on it frequently. He'll admit it has it's uses, but all the same, he avoids it. His Keen Katana is a specially smithed weapon that has no magic cast upon it, and isn't subject to dispel effects, or anything that could possibly sap it of magic. It's just that sharp. (Not Raw, but a flavorful addition)
Cid's ultimate strategy during fights consists of moving about, making use of Improved Vital Strike, Devastating Strike, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Furious Focus, and Combat Expertise all at once. He prefers to move about, unless the martial fighter is a ranger, in which case he will abandon combat expertise to make sure that his AoOs land, rerolling with his reliant strike ability to ensure that it does. He will also use this on crits, should they land.
Fighter Level 12 BAB = +12
Str Mod = +5 (+5 Dam)
Fighter bonuses = +3 (From Weapon Master) (+3 Dam)
Weapon Focus / Weapon Spec = +2 (+ 1 Dam)
+1 from Weapon (+1 Dam)
AB= 23
Power attack = -4 (+8 Dam)
Two Handed Weapon = (+4 Dam)
Combat Expertise = -4
Final to hit and damage = +15/+10/+5 (First attack is +19 because of Furious Focus)
Damage = 1d8+22 with a X2 Crit multiplier
Improved Vital Strike Damage = 3d8+26 (At +19 to hit) (Including Devastating Strike)
His armor class would, including bracers, probably be around 30 or 28 at that point.
Do you guys have any suggestions?
When this comes to pass, Cid will single out the martial PC to attack during one of the quieter moments, though most likely he will show up the first moment that PC finds himself alone through the glory of "Fate making them run into each other." Cid will not allow the PC to get away, and will actively try to defeat him, complimenting him the entire fight.
Cid will be an equal level of the PC in fighter levels, though he takes a reserved approach into fights if he can, using a mixture of combat expertise and power attack, Improved vital strike, and spring attack, making it a point to waltz around debris from the nearby wreckage to avoid being charged.
Cid will, as a result of his honor, allow the player, and himself, to prepare with whatever potions they deem necessary, though Cid will use none if the player won't; claiming, "Magic is for men of weak arm, but I will not fight you on uneven ground." Should the player try to stall for his allies, Cid will automatically attack after some dialogue about fate and furthering himself and the pc.
"Fate's coy, isn't she? That doesn't matter though. Think about it friend... Whoever leaves this fight alive leaves stronger, yes? All I ask of you is that you bury me with my sword should I lose."
Cid's Katana is a +1 Keen Katana, and his armor is a +2 Armored Coat. He is a Weapon Master Fighter Archetype. His coat is exquisitely crafted like the Katana, but it is magical. His weapon doesn't read as magical in the slightest, but anyone capable of making craft checks that could make such a sword will notice how perfectly crafted it is. It definitely seems masterwork at even a glance, but there's something "more" there.
Cid has a rather long story explaining his sword and it's heritage throughout his family line, but ultimately claims it was wasted on them because they merely looked at it every day. He actually stole it when he left to begin his adventure.
There are, of course, more NPCs, but Cid is the one I'm currently worried about. Against a solo player of equal level, a fighter no less, or a monk, ranger, barbarian, whatever; He is an epic encounter because of the changes to APL. The player is more than welcome to spare him should he win, but I don't want cid to be a pushover during a straight up martial fight. He's not a fan of dirty tricks, and using them against him actually causes him to ditch his combat expertise and make use of his full power attack with furious focus, which as a weapon master, practically guarantees he hits. With a katana and weapon master, without keen a katan has a critical modifier of 18-20, With it, that increases to 16-20, allowing one in 5 of his attacks to land without fail.
Right now he has no magical enhancements. His strength at level 12 is 20, and his dexterity is 18. Not high stats by that point mind you, but Cid has a grand distaste for magic, and compliments on it frequently. He'll admit it has it's uses, but all the same, he avoids it. His Keen Katana is a specially smithed weapon that has no magic cast upon it, and isn't subject to dispel effects, or anything that could possibly sap it of magic. It's just that sharp. (Not Raw, but a flavorful addition)
Cid's ultimate strategy during fights consists of moving about, making use of Improved Vital Strike, Devastating Strike, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Furious Focus, and Combat Expertise all at once. He prefers to move about, unless the martial fighter is a ranger, in which case he will abandon combat expertise to make sure that his AoOs land, rerolling with his reliant strike ability to ensure that it does. He will also use this on crits, should they land.
Fighter Level 12 BAB = +12
Str Mod = +5 (+5 Dam)
Fighter bonuses = +3 (From Weapon Master) (+3 Dam)
Weapon Focus / Weapon Spec = +2 (+ 1 Dam)
+1 from Weapon (+1 Dam)
AB= 23
Power attack = -4 (+8 Dam)
Two Handed Weapon = (+4 Dam)
Combat Expertise = -4
Final to hit and damage = +15/+10/+5 (First attack is +19 because of Furious Focus)
Damage = 1d8+22 with a X2 Crit multiplier
Improved Vital Strike Damage = 3d8+26 (At +19 to hit) (Including Devastating Strike)
His armor class would, including bracers, probably be around 30 or 28 at that point.
Do you guys have any suggestions?