Villan

[Spectre]

I have started a new campaign with a group of three with a fourth character being my GMPC (In order, Wolfen Gladiator, Elven Palladin, Elven Trickster Mage, and a Gnome Priest of light). They have recovered one of two tomes of great power that tell of riches and power around the world. The problem is they have to decipher the ever changing script.

The villan has found the second. My players are getting to know my villans styles. I need someone/something they would never expect.

[Northern Ranger]

Hard to give you such advice when we don't necessarily know your villains styles. What do you normally go with? Mages, warriors, godlike beings? What? Give us something to work with there boss.

[Marcethus]

Personally I design my villians much like I do when my PC's. As I build the character I come up with his goals and plans. The difference is his goals are a bit more evil. Such as planning to make a kingdom his whether this be due to him feeling wronged by those in power or just sheer ambition, or trying to gain an extreme amount of mystic power to become a god, and so on and so forth.
For a truly vile villian that even the most selfish of player characters must feel the need to put down give him some trait that makes him dark and evil. Though this will be dependent on the Rating of your game. I tend to run more mature level games.

[Spectre]

Hard to give you such advice when we don't necessarily know your villains styles. What do you normally go with? Mages, warriors, godlike beings? What? Give us something to work with there boss.

Sorry, I was frustrated that the GM idea pool was running dry. I never really use the god like beings. Many times its someone they have trusted in the begnning who betrays them later. Mage or Warrior, doesn't matter. I also use the direct force method too often. A powerful character that can meet the players head on, blow for blow.

In writing this, I realized what I need. A Magnificant Bastard. Let's modify this to help me design a manipulator and schemer that never has to get his own hands dirty.

[Northern Ranger]

I've always been partial to the idea of having the characters release a great evil onto the world, unsuspectingly of course ( ) and then be stuck with the responsibility of sending it back to where ever it came from. That's what happened in my own campaign, the Vampire Wars, in which they released a vampiric entity on a level with Vald Tegor who wanted to be the new vampire God. He nearly succeeded too, if not a for a well placed arrow shot by my wife's character!

[Aramel]

if you want it, i have a Lizard Mage complete and ready to play... or you can make one yourself... they are the perfect back room schemers and string pullers. let me know if you want him, and i will send him. but i will warn you... your PC's will need to either have alot of luck on their side, or wait till they are at least level 4 or so to beat him.

[Aramel]

i will send him by PM... i only ask that you change the name because i still use him in games from time to time. just cut and paste him to a wordpad document.

[bigbobsr6000]

My villians have used a "Reflect Damage" spell. Any damage they take is directed back to the attacker. It acts as a magic armor with deflection to the attacker. Ranged or mele or magic damage. The AR/SDC and mechanics I'll let you work out.

EX: AR 16 with 50 + 10 per level SDC. Lasts 1 minute/level of caster. Any attack rolls under the AR hits the magic armor and does same damage to attacker. Cost 10 PPE.

Or, I have just used it without an AR. Covers the target in xSDC protection and all attacks reflect back to the attacker until depleted.

Just something different and not expected by the PCs

[Aramel]

there is a spell in Federation of Magic called House of Glass that does the same thing.. any damage done to the spellcaster is also done to the person dealing the damage.

[Aramel]

oops.. i am watching so many topics thatgi sometimes forget who has posted or asked for what..., keep him to use as a villian or delete him.. your choice, but thanks for correcting me on it.

[Aramel]

no i didnt.. but i believe i sent it to you though

[Aramel]

dont be.. i was the one who was confused and sent it to the wrong person...

[Aramel]

at least you helped me get to the next rank... lol

[Northern Ranger]

My villians have used a "Reflect Damage" spell. Any damage they take is directed back to the attacker. It acts as a magic armor with deflection to the attacker. Ranged or mele or magic damage. The AR/SDC and mechanics I'll let you work out.

EX: AR 16 with 50 + 10 per level SDC. Lasts 1 minute/level of caster. Any attack rolls under the AR hits the magic armor and does same damage to attacker. Cost 10 PPE.

Or, I have just used it without an AR. Covers the target in xSDC protection and all attacks reflect back to the attacker until depleted.

Just something different and not expected by the PCs

I do the same kind of thing. Except I don't stop at damage. I also have armor enchantments that can redirect magic or psionic attacks back on the caster. My players like it, because I won't give my villains anything I won't make available to them too. I don't make it cheap mind you, but I do make it available.

[Jerell]

I do the same kind of thing. Except I don't stop at damage. I also have armor enchantments that can redirect magic or psionic attacks back on the caster. My players like it, because I won't give my villains anything I won't make available to them too. I don't make it cheap mind you, but I do make it available.

That sounds interesting. I think when I get home, I'll play test some different magical enhancements to armor. I don't know if I like armor that reflect's a full amount of damage automaticaly though. In a campaign I've been running for years, I did create a rune shield however, that is capable of reflecting certain spells... It's worked out well over the years.

[KillWatch]

Master vampire, age 13. Had a natural son before she was turned and raised him to be a terrible warrior, or powerful mage. She has the book and he is the go between. However she may set it up tha the players must rescue her from the terrible brute, endearing heself to them. She would be small, sleight, cute and burgeoning on a beautiful woman. She will have nearly perfected her innocence act. She may have attained items of magic theat hie her vampire nature such as something with alter aura etc

Perhaps the child has found or has been given undeath as well, at some point in her service he fell and he was raised then as a vampire, or just at the height of his power.

She may give them some reward or bit of information for their daring deed. She may lead them to rue bad guys who have worthy items, who are also her rivals. Then as they begin to trust them, she may lead them to a very manipulative and conniving priest or witch who wears the mask of a servent of good. And he really is, but the players slay an upstanding ctizen or even beloved hero.

One thing I have notied over the years is that players want in on everyone's business, whether they have a right or need to know or not. No one is JUST going to the docotr, or JUST picking up groceries, or JUST seeing their girlfriend. Everyone MUST be doing something that has to do with the players and their quests, or why else would they be there?

When they finally rough up or even kill the wrong person, they become hunted and everything becomes much harder as they try no tto kill the good guys, pursue the bad guys and complete their mission.