Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
poogie525
11-15-06, 03:07 PM I need some advice for my BBEG. I was thinking warlock but I can go with anything. Any advice?
CharlieRock
11-15-06, 03:11 PM None specific. But, maybe give it a familiar that can escape and cast rez. ;)
Grod_The_Giant
11-15-06, 03:11 PM What's the story? what kind of party do you have?
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I think we need a little more information then you've given us.
RobbyPants
11-15-06, 03:13 PM Depends on the campaign you're running.

I've always found that spellcasters can make some truely annoying and memorable BBEGs. Warlock's an okay choice. Wizard or Psion can be good. I've found Psion (telepath) BBEGs to be fun for creating a lot of "behind the scenes" havoc, but not being too combative.

You can always make a Black Guard "Black Knight" type.

Really, any class can fill the role of BBEG very well. That's about the best I can do without more specific info on your game and/or what you're looking for out of a BBEG.
Whisper_Swiftblade
11-15-06, 03:22 PM with no backround the only thing I can say is that some thing outside of the norm (unlike a litch wizard) might be fun, think of some classes you might not normaly expect as BBEGs. For example a druid might have the right combanation of power and story you are looking for, or maybe a bard who has used his skills in persuation to convince a bunch of powerful foes over to his side.
Balseraph
11-15-06, 03:25 PM In my current game, I've gone with a stereotypical class combo: Paladin/blackguard.

On the other hand, it's likely that some of my players believe he's a fighter with levels in rogue due to his brutality in battle and sneaky disappearances.
He's a complete pyschopath, and, unlike most games I've run, the main antagonist actually has nothing to do with the plot; it's personal!

Basically I think my point is to agree that it depends on your game. If you tailor invocations just right, then a warlock is fine, and has a really great feel to it regardless.
poogie525
11-15-06, 03:35 PM well the campaign has gone now till epic (21) and I decided it is time to wrap up the low level bull. So this is how it works.

The party has been doing odd jobs for there "master" up until a little while ago.(yes they are evil) Well then he announces that he no longer needs them. So when they return from a mission they encounter his body guard. CR 23 10 fighter/10 dwarven defender half-fiend. He mauled them. They are as follows. Goblin pyromancer(wizard/elemental savant),Human shugenja/void disciple, Feral gargun fighter, Catfolk rogue/assassin. So they should have stood a chance. But they barely escaped. ANYWAYS so he doesn't need them anymore any they now are hellbent on finding him and killing him. They have never seen him. He was manipulating them through his dwarf. So he could be of any class.

What book is the Incantrix in?
KurenaiYami
11-15-06, 03:40 PM Make a level 60 Commoner. Nobody will suspect a thing.
Whisper_Swiftblade
11-15-06, 03:53 PM well that could make him any class-or race for that matter- in the game.

you could be redundent and make him a bigger Dwarven defender, i am betting that would get your party hateing them until the end of their days. On the other hand you will probally want something with magic backing it up if things are going to be that high of a level so maybe something like a warmage would be a good idea.

as for race maybe he is the Dwarven defender's feind father, or some other classic baddy like a mindflayer but with class levels

If i where you i would consider the illithid savant from savage species. It is a verry powerful class, and pretty much tells you that as long as you have the right back story for your BBEG he can have whatever class abilities you want as long as they already exist within the game.
Benedictus
11-15-06, 04:03 PM Several questions to keep in mind.

First - Why doesn't the BBEG just kill the PC's?

Second -Why won't the PC's just kill the BBEG?

Third - Why would the BBEG and PC's want to kill/stop each other?

If you make the BBEG powerful enough, smart enough, and evil enough, the first question is hard to answer.

If you don't make the BBEG powerful enough, and smart enough, the second question is hard to answer unless you also leave it ambiguous as to whether or not the BBEG is evil enough.

If you don't build a dynamic conflict between them, the third question is hard to answer.

Start the BBEG off as a "friend". Have the PC's be useful to the BBEG in some way. Fool them into recovering a sacred relic that would be difficult for an evil character to obtain. Guardians with powerful Smite Evil abilities for example. Many lesser guardians with lesser smite evils. A door that requires a turning attempt by a cleric of a specific deity to open.
Nothing says sworn enemy like being taken advantage of and used for evils dirty work.

And it is always easier to allow the BBEG to be a mere minion of a more powerful BBEG.
DarkNick
11-15-06, 04:30 PM Give him a sneer, a few scars, a crew cut, an eyepatch, platform shoes and a 70's suit - now that's evil.......

A cunning twist might be to make the bodyguard the BBEG. The whole unknown master thing is a ruse to protect himself.

How about a classic Lich/Magician?

Another nice twist might be to make your BBEG a woman - a lot of people expect the BBEG to be a man of some sort.
Whisper_Swiftblade
11-15-06, 05:21 PM if you realy want to surprise the PCs have the BBEG be a half-dragon gelatinous cube with the feindish template and the class levels to stop any comment about jello in it's tracks.

:gel: +:dragon:+ :devil:+:mage:=:evillaugh
Ashok_Lal
11-15-06, 05:25 PM Another twist might be a (BNGG) Big Nice Good Guy. He has been using the PCs to further the powers of good. He could be a Paladin. An evil party whos boss is a Paladin that has tricked them into doing things only evil people could do to futher the power of law.:)
I don't think anything would :headexplo as much.
poogie525
11-15-06, 10:04 PM I can't do the good thing since one of the things he dent them to do is kill a guild of paladins. the jello thing is AWSOME! But what class?

You do have a point DarkNick since the bodyguard is a beast as it is.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
poogie525 11-15-06, 03:07 PM	I need some advice for my BBEG. I was thinking warlock but I can go with anything. Any advice?
CharlieRock 11-15-06, 03:11 PM	None specific. But, maybe give it a familiar that can escape and cast rez. ;)
Grod_The_Giant 11-15-06, 03:11 PM	What's the story? what kind of party do you have? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: I think we need a little more information then you've given us.
RobbyPants 11-15-06, 03:13 PM	Depends on the campaign you're running. I've always found that spellcasters can make some truely annoying and memorable BBEGs. Warlock's an okay choice. Wizard or Psion can be good. I've found Psion (telepath) BBEGs to be fun for creating a lot of "behind the scenes" havoc, but not being too combative. You can always make a Black Guard "Black Knight" type. Really, any class can fill the role of BBEG very well. That's about the best I can do without more specific info on your game and/or what you're looking for out of a BBEG.
Whisper_Swiftblade 11-15-06, 03:22 PM	with no backround the only thing I can say is that some thing outside of the norm (unlike a litch wizard) might be fun, think of some classes you might not normaly expect as BBEGs. For example a druid might have the right combanation of power and story you are looking for, or maybe a bard who has used his skills in persuation to convince a bunch of powerful foes over to his side.
Balseraph 11-15-06, 03:25 PM	In my current game, I've gone with a stereotypical class combo: Paladin/blackguard. On the other hand, it's likely that some of my players believe he's a fighter with levels in rogue due to his brutality in battle and sneaky disappearances. He's a complete pyschopath, and, unlike most games I've run, the main antagonist actually has nothing to do with the plot; it's personal! Basically I think my point is to agree that it depends on your game. If you tailor invocations just right, then a warlock is fine, and has a really great feel to it regardless.
poogie525 11-15-06, 03:35 PM	well the campaign has gone now till epic (21) and I decided it is time to wrap up the low level bull. So this is how it works. The party has been doing odd jobs for there "master" up until a little while ago.(yes they are evil) Well then he announces that he no longer needs them. So when they return from a mission they encounter his body guard. CR 23 10 fighter/10 dwarven defender half-fiend. He mauled them. They are as follows. Goblin pyromancer(wizard/elemental savant),Human shugenja/void disciple, Feral gargun fighter, Catfolk rogue/assassin. So they should have stood a chance. But they barely escaped. ANYWAYS so he doesn't need them anymore any they now are hellbent on finding him and killing him. They have never seen him. He was manipulating them through his dwarf. So he could be of any class. What book is the Incantrix in?
KurenaiYami 11-15-06, 03:40 PM	Make a level 60 Commoner. Nobody will suspect a thing.
Whisper_Swiftblade 11-15-06, 03:53 PM	well that could make him any class-or race for that matter- in the game. you could be redundent and make him a bigger Dwarven defender, i am betting that would get your party hateing them until the end of their days. On the other hand you will probally want something with magic backing it up if things are going to be that high of a level so maybe something like a warmage would be a good idea. as for race maybe he is the Dwarven defender's feind father, or some other classic baddy like a mindflayer but with class levels If i where you i would consider the illithid savant from savage species. It is a verry powerful class, and pretty much tells you that as long as you have the right back story for your BBEG he can have whatever class abilities you want as long as they already exist within the game.
Benedictus 11-15-06, 04:03 PM	Several questions to keep in mind. First - Why doesn't the BBEG just kill the PC's? Second -Why won't the PC's just kill the BBEG? Third - Why would the BBEG and PC's want to kill/stop each other? If you make the BBEG powerful enough, smart enough, and evil enough, the first question is hard to answer. If you don't make the BBEG powerful enough, and smart enough, the second question is hard to answer unless you also leave it ambiguous as to whether or not the BBEG is evil enough. If you don't build a dynamic conflict between them, the third question is hard to answer. Start the BBEG off as a "friend". Have the PC's be useful to the BBEG in some way. Fool them into recovering a sacred relic that would be difficult for an evil character to obtain. Guardians with powerful Smite Evil abilities for example. Many lesser guardians with lesser smite evils. A door that requires a turning attempt by a cleric of a specific deity to open. Nothing says sworn enemy like being taken advantage of and used for evils dirty work. And it is always easier to allow the BBEG to be a mere minion of a more powerful BBEG.
DarkNick 11-15-06, 04:30 PM	Give him a sneer, a few scars, a crew cut, an eyepatch, platform shoes and a 70's suit - now that's evil....... A cunning twist might be to make the bodyguard the BBEG. The whole unknown master thing is a ruse to protect himself. How about a classic Lich/Magician? Another nice twist might be to make your BBEG a woman - a lot of people expect the BBEG to be a man of some sort.
Whisper_Swiftblade 11-15-06, 05:21 PM	if you realy want to surprise the PCs have the BBEG be a half-dragon gelatinous cube with the feindish template and the class levels to stop any comment about jello in it's tracks. :gel: +:dragon:+ :devil:+:mage:=:evillaugh
Ashok_Lal 11-15-06, 05:25 PM	Another twist might be a (BNGG) Big Nice Good Guy. He has been using the PCs to further the powers of good. He could be a Paladin. An evil party whos boss is a Paladin that has tricked them into doing things only evil people could do to futher the power of law.:) I don't think anything would :headexplo as much.
poogie525 11-15-06, 10:04 PM	I can't do the good thing since one of the things he dent them to do is kill a guild of paladins. the jello thing is AWSOME! But what class? You do have a point DarkNick since the bodyguard is a beast as it is.