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View Full Version : DM Help Your Input Appreciated: Designing a Few Bosses



Antipode
2015-06-19, 06:17 PM
Hey there Playground! I'm presently working on a few bosses for a campaign that I'm running, and my thoughts on the matter are to make them, admittedly, a little bit gimmicky. I've got concepts and an overall idea of what I'm doing with this (this isn't my first time making monsters), but I'm in a bit of a slump and I'd rather somebody else give me a good idea as to what I should be working with here, as in a base framework.

For some background, I'm working with 20 HD constructs. They're Medium sized and appear generally humanoid, though there are some alterations possible there. My themes are more concerned about special abilities/qualities and fitting feats I might be able to lump in here, though some of them might be taking class levels as well (it really depends on what works for the build). They're a bit of loosely designed critters mostly meant to be customized to whatever fits their ballpark, so I'm not sure how much more information I can provide. They are meant to be confronted in tandem, but difficulty isn't an object. Not to toot my horn, but I'm pretty alright at gauging what my party can/can't handle and making minute adjustments if that becomes absolutely necessary.

OKAY! So onto the critter types.

The build ideas that I'm looking for include...

#1. Someone who snags things off people. You know the thief in RPGs who you can have filch an item off an enemy like an obnoxious prat in the middle of battles? Like that, except ideally any little item or even their weapons. I was thinking about (somehow) boosting Sleight of Hand to high levels and going with the Improved Disarm-Snatch Weapon combo for part of it, but I figure there are other methodologies out there, maybe some of them niche, that might accomplish this kind of thing or help it be all the more fluid/cooler.

#2. An archer-healer type, kind of the stereotypical clerical figure. The oddball here was that I kind of wanted her to do her healing not via spells, but some form of alchemical substances or potions applied to people from afar. I was thinking about using some of the stuff from Paizo's technology guide to help with this, but I haven't familiarized myself with it well enough to think of apt combos to use there. The archery part is less crucial for help, I'm really, really integrated with the Archery Handbook, but if there are ways to pastiche both together, it would be gold. Methods of boosting damage at range would really help, though, too.

#3. Something defensive. I think that the best way I came up with here was loading up a bunch of interesting spell-likes for containment and walling off people like Prismatic Wall and so on, but I could use some defensive tips here.

#4. An unarmed combatant/grappler type. Somebody with heck'a grabs that can possibly constrict/crush/whatever newfangled thing the kids are calling it while doing unreal pummeling damage. Obviously needs some survivability tips.

Whatever headway you guys can provide me on this would be amazing.

EDIT: To clarify, I'm not asking anyone to build me a character! I mean, if you want to give me a whole build idea, then wow, thanks, but I'm mostly just concerned with some pushes in the right direction to get some inspiration flowing.

Geddy2112
2015-06-19, 07:46 PM
#1, Any good rogue with improved steal will do. For more of the Final Fantasy style thief, try the Cutpurse (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/archetypes/paizo---rogue-archetypes/cutpurse) archetype. If you want a kender with sticky fingers, they have that too (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/core-races/halfling/filcher-rogue-halfling). Both only need 3-4 class levels to get their steal on.

#2 A Grenadier (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---alchemist-archetypes/grenadier) alchemist with healing bomb (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/discoveries/paizo---alchemist-discoveries/healing-bomb) seems pretty good. Also have a flask thrower and while there is not a lot of healing things you can throw, wing oil, frost ward gel, fire ward gel, alchemical grease and troll styptic are okay buffs that can be applied by covering somebody with it.

#3 Any decent conjuration wizard to create pits, explosions, walls, etc. will do.

#4 Tetori monk (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/tetori) with all three kraken style feats (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kraken-style-combat-style) is about as nasty as you can get when it comes to grappling. Other than your standard boost armor/CMB gear, take body shield (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/body-shield-combat) to protect your grappler and have the party hit their allies instead. And plenty of ropes of climbing or chain to tie people up.

Antipode
2015-06-19, 08:12 PM
Hey, thanks! All of those look and sound great.

I made a major blunder in my opening post and forgot to specify, like a dunderhead, I'm mostly playing 3.5, but Pathfinder materials pretty much factor in wherever I feel relevant, so handwaving that stuff in is certainly an option!