Challenging Physically overpowered characters

[jade von delioch]

I have a single player character in my Fantasy game who has Strength at 27 and a speed of 42 (part of this is from a magic item). (he also has major psionics) Not my problem really stems from the balancing act i need to do in order to keep the other characters alive while challenging him. Most of the other character have somewhere in the range of 15 sdc and 10 hp. So they die pretty easily in comparison.

So what i would like to do is find ways to challenge him in ways where he will not be able to rely completely on his damage bonus destroying everything in his path. So the long and short of it I am looking for suggestions along these lines. I have been looking through several books for creatures that would challenge him in this way, but it seems that palladium feels that the amount of damage a creature throws is all that really makes them a threat - which is kind of lame.

[eliakon]

It is amazing how useful social interaction is. Not every problem can be solved with a bigger rock after all. Try to do situations where they have to do something besides kill the foe. Mercenaries might have to clear their (or anothers) name by taking some one alive. You might have to save a hostage (straight fight will get them killed), you might have to find a lost kitten (this can be amusing if the person who lost it has critical information you need), or any number of other non combat related issues.

[jade von delioch]

I do need to do this more often. Currently, they have been stuck somewhere full of monsters, so that was not always an option.

[arouetta]

It is amazing how useful social interaction is. Not every problem can be solved with a bigger rock after all. Try to do situations where they have to do something besides kill the foe. Mercenaries might have to clear their (or anothers) name by taking some one alive. You might have to save a hostage (straight fight will get them killed), you might have to find a lost kitten (this can be amusing if the person who lost it has critical information you need), or any number of other non combat related issues.

Puzzle plots and skills heavy games are really good. Examine character sheets to see what skills he is lacking that others have, and make plots requiring them so other players have a chance to shine.

If combat is inevitable, make two sets of bad guys and stats - the lesser ones go for the lesser threats and the big baddy focuses on the PC built like a bodybuilder (plausible storyline for why he always gets the nasty one). Use GM fiat to fudge NPC bonuses so that it's fair per PC, not equal no matter what. Unless you have a mathematical genius at the table, it won't be caught.

[jade von delioch]

It is amazing how useful social interaction is. Not every problem can be solved with a bigger rock after all. Try to do situations where they have to do something besides kill the foe. Mercenaries might have to clear their (or anothers) name by taking some one alive. You might have to save a hostage (straight fight will get them killed), you might have to find a lost kitten (this can be amusing if the person who lost it has critical information you need), or any number of other non combat related issues.

Puzzle plots and skills heavy games are really good. Examine character sheets to see what skills he is lacking that others have, and make plots requiring them so other players have a chance to shine.

If combat is inevitable, make two sets of bad guys and stats - the lesser ones go for the lesser threats and the big baddy focuses on the PC built like a bodybuilder (plausible storyline for why he always gets the nasty one). Use GM fiat to fudge NPC bonuses so that it's fair per PC, not equal no matter what. Unless you have a mathematical genius at the table, it won't be caught.

I have been doing this. Him being a Gladiator makings it easy for the other players to get more spot light in the skills department. And I have for the most part been doing that for combat, unless its one really big bad guy like a Beast dragon or demon where they are all fighting it. Even then i fudge a bit to keep them alive.

[random_username]

The tips offered thus far are quite solid.

Some of the principles and inherent notions/mechanics in the following article may be relevant.

http://palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=129640

[DrStrange]

Also remember that terrain can have some very interesting effects on combat.
I like using options like having the less-combat oriented guys working on a plan to save the day, while the burly guy plays tank to keep the monsters off of the others.

For instance: the players come across a large chasm, and they must get across...
There is a bridge-like structure that can be positioned to get the players across, but suddenly
a big bad sphinx comes along... two choices the players can do: the non-combat guys could ask the sphinx a
riddle to distract it while big guy moves the structure... or: big gladiator guy can take a few hits from the sphinx
while the others work in tandem to move the structure into place. ect. ect. ect...

Another example of terrain would be if you're stuck in a labyrinth... and for some reason the gladiator cannot crush
through the walls. You then have to rely on the others to figure a way out, while big daddy muscle plays harass-the-Minotaur.

Note: A curse of glowing on the gladiator may be more than enough to cause the enemies to see/attack the gladiator first.

[Alrik Vas]

So...defeat the magical item giving this guy his powers? Send a stronger psychic? It's like in Rifts, when there's 3 vagabonds and a demigod. You give the demigod challenges where his strength and power will be a great boon, but they aren't what solves the problem. Like, a forest fire. Pretty much everyone is screwed if you're caught in a forest that's burning down.