Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mælstrøm 07-13-07, 10:47 AM	Inspired by a thread over at Star Wars by fodigg, I wanted to give you, the GMs, the opportunity to share your BBEGs with each other and maybe get ideas for future BBEGs in your campaign(s). The first BBEG I want to post is an over-the-top clichee bad guy: Background info on my campaign: in my world, the Githyanki do not live on the Astral Plane but have taken over and subdued several material planes as "Protectors" or "Lords" with Hordes of unknown armies doing their bidding. The material plane of the heroes has as yet been untouched... as yet! Lord Kimex Male Githyanki Psion/Psion Uncarnate. Lord Kimex Belagu is a being that, thanks to a special artifact that he (along with a few other Githyanki Lords) has found, is a few thousand years old and VERY powerful (above level 20). As such, he does not know many things that can get in his way. In the good old tradition that absolute power corrupts absolutely, he is as evil and egomaniac as they come. The powerful age-old Githyanki Lords have a very fragile non-aggression pact going that could break at any moment with nothing more than a sneeze at the wrong time, but as long as they keep it, they take care of their various interests. The heroes first incur his wrath as they carelessly slaughter his youngest son who jaywalked through their plane. Since then, they have been on the run and have found out that they are responsible for the fact that Kimex is now very interested in a hostile takeover bid concerning their little corner of the multiverse. They have set in motion a chain of events that, depending on their actions, could bring the downfall of all the civilizations of their material plane. Lord Kimex is moody, nasty and has a very short temper. His underlings live or die by his whim, and he is a very powerful psionic if he ever chooses to deal with a matter himself. The heroes were once at his mercy, that was before he knew that they had slain his son, and he questioned them and tortured them with recalled painful moments of their past, revelling in the strong negative emotions. The heroes barely escaped, and now he is after them with a vengeance. He has sent scouts to every material plane he could find, barring those of his rival Githyanki Lords. The part I enjoy about this BBEG the most is that he is always behind the scenes, rarely (if ever) popping his own head out, but the players just know how powerful he is and that he could find them at any given moment. Keeps them on their toes like nothing else. Plus I can indulge in the utter blackness of his heart, playing him over-the-top (a little like Zykon from OotS, albeit completely different in temper and outlook, of course). So, what are your favorite bad guys? Fire away...
Alexeduardo 07-13-07, 11:05 AM	ok, I havent got the the nitty gritty, but here's the concept: Male Human Winged sorcerer 20 Although I wrote 20 as the level, I plan on him advancing with the party. So that he starts the adventure as nothing more that a simple sorcerer that started stealing corpses, then will become part of a lesser war as a leutenant for the "evil" side, then he will start recruiting an army of necromacers to create an army of undead out of the corpses he hides somewere, then, after some time of hiding, he steal's pelor's power an starts to wreack havoc from his castle. (just picture the PCs fighting alongside a humanised pelor!) I was picturing something like a young vampiric look (dante from devil may cry with dark hair and clothing and with a cape).
Mælstrøm 07-13-07, 07:29 PM	That actually sounds very nasty; I like it!!! You don't happen to have copied the idea from the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, have you? ;) Anyway, I really do like the idea, might use that myself - putting a god into a human!
Alexeduardo 07-13-07, 07:48 PM	That actually sounds very nasty; I like it!!! You don't happen to have copied the idea from the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, have you? ;) I wasnt going to see that movie but I now am since they fight alongside a humanized pelor! Anyway here's another concept: The PCs are on a simple-ish quest, they have to destroy a goblin's army encampent which double-functions as a refugee camp (but they dont know). They, obviously, kill everyone no questions asked. But they forgot one of them, one of the goblins, one of the refugees, one of the brothers in a family of six... He "contacts" nerull that very night and is gifted with magical powers and becomes a cleric of the grim reaper. He sets out to kill the PCs But he rolls a terrible track score So he takes some time to find them. the times he does, he creates really clever schemes to the point that sometimes the goal isnt killing him, but getting away from him. From a goblin!!!! The best part will be when he monologues out the fighter/barbarian and he can do nothing about it :evillaugh
Cormanthor 07-13-07, 08:01 PM	I'm DMing a campaign in which the PC were corrupted by the essence of Bhaal and are now afflicted Bhaalspawn (see Baldur's Gate). I decided that, as Bhaalspawn, Cure XYZ Wounds and other positive energy healing spells will hurt them instead of healing them (in that case, it takes an Inflict XYZ wounds). It was pretty funny to see the paladin trying to heal himself with his lay on hands only to see his wounds becoming uglier (reducing him to 1 HP in the middle of a battle). My main villains are an alliance of 4 Bhaalspawns who were eyeing the source which corrupted the PC and who now wants to capture the PC to steal the essence of Bhaal within them. DACE SONDAN : Halfling fighter/rogue/assassin. The essence of Bhaal made him a very powerful werewolf (Ravenloft Werewolf with every power and more) who is leading a pack of werewolves assassins. They are actually tracking the PC near Highmoon to bring them to Darsidian. Lives in Waterdeep. SVEN ICEBEARD : Frost giant fighter. The essence of Bhaal gave him tremedous leadership qualities and powers (such as charms). He is leading an army of humanoids, giants and monsters against the Silver Marches in the name of Bhaal. JONETH VOLARUNE : Sun elf wizard. The essence of Bhaal gave him even more knowledge and control over demons. He lives in the ruins of his elven city. He recently created a dracolich and owns a mithril hand which blocks enemy spells. DARSIDIAN THE DARK : cleric of Bane. The essence of Bhaal gave him the ability to morph into a beast of huge power (think of an improved Slayer). He's working near Hellgate Keep.
Alexeduardo 07-13-07, 08:32 PM	Osltrimosh Osltrimosh was long ago forced to give up the love of his life by priests of Pelor. Trying to take revenge, he set a temple on fire, he narrowly escaped law enforcement. An old man walked up to him and said that his name was Olstrimosh, he would teach him the secrets of the darkblade. The old man took him to the darkness. pure darkenss. to a realm nothing is meant to enter. deeper than the dominions of nerull Darker than the nine hells Below the dominions of ilithidkind. To the shadows. He gave up his immortal soul and all his memories but one "destroy pelor" But the old Olstrimosh wouldnt teach him all that he wanted. He thaught him slowly, keeping the shadows away until his aprentice learned how to do so by himself. But the apprentice was impatient. He killed his master and took the mantle of the shadows, thus becoming the Osltrimosh. Without his master to keep them away, the shadows entered him and gave him his soul back, thus bringing pain back to him. Horrible pain deeper than the dominions of nerull Darker than the nine hells Below the dominions of ilithidkind. The only way he can stop it is by fulfilling his only ambition in life Destroy pelor He is the harnesser of darkness. He can turn off all forms of light but the sun at will He wears black robes and the mantle of the Osltrimosh. He has no hair People dont dare pronounce his name His skin is white He can transform into a spider swarm a will he can once a day kill any creature but a god or a demon at will He is the harnesser of shadows, all forms of undead obey him. he quests for the darkblade, which can only be forged with the soul of the shadowmarked Fellow DMs, you just read the stat block for the Osltrimosh
Kensan_Oni 07-13-07, 09:00 PM	The only villian that I ever had that survived the scenario that spawned it. The Black Griffion (ECL 10) A Half Feindish 11 HD Griffion (Int 8). Not a lot is really understood about the motivation behind The Black Griffion. Whatever name it was referred to is lost in history after the defeat of it's creator. What is known that this monstrosity was the spawn of a sick experiment into the dark arts. It currently still maintains a pride of it's offspring (Treated as Fiendish griffions), and is still doing terrorizing raids against innocent towns and caravans of the world, for both meat and shining things of interest. (As a villain he's not all that clever, but between normal 11HD Half Fiendish abilities, and being able to do flyby attacks, he was an absolute terror against a 7th level party. Defiantly run him with caution.)
Thrivol 07-13-07, 09:34 PM	I've been working on this one for a little while. The best part is, they are noble and not evil, but can still be BBEGs. The Psionic Triumvirate There has always been a group of three psionically-gifted people who manipulate the governments of the world. One is a warrior, always the leader of armies and the champion of the Triumvirate. Another is a wilder who manipulates governments with their natural charm. The wilder also is trained to be stealthy, as the wilder assassinates enemies who could cause problems. The final member of the Triumvirate is a psion. The psion makes the plans of the Triumvirate and is typically the power behind the throne. The Triumvirate was started by an élan telepath, name unknown. He found a wilder and soulknife to help with his plans. He believed that arcane magic was too powerful for mortals to use, so he sought to regulate it or even destroy it if possible. The Triumvirate remains dedicated to this goal. They do seek personal gain, but they will not commit atrocities for their own gain. The current Triumvirate is led by Haggis, a level 20 bugbear telepath. Haggis’s true name, however, is Sulrun. He is, in fact, the original élan telepath. He has used mindswitch to remain immortal. He has actually died many times, but he always has an astral seed hidden along with a new host for his mind. The wilder in the Triumvirate is Jasii, a level 17 elf wilder. She joined the Triumvirate 23 years ago. She feels she owes Sulrun a debt of gratitude after he saved her entire village from a mad wizard. Jasii has unearthly beauty and literally charm anyone with but a look. She sees magic as reckless and out of control, which is the primary reason she remains in the Triumvirate. She and Damles are currently in a relationship. The warrior of the Triumvirate is Damles, a level 5 fighter/10 pyrokineticist. He knows little about psionics, but he is a strong fighter. He also is charismatic and intelligent. His parents were sorcerers and nearly killed Damles after one of their spells backfired. Sulrun saved Damles from death and taught him how to manipulate fire.
metalmayhem80110 07-14-07, 04:05 AM	I don't have him quite finished yet... But I'm going with him being the twin brother of the king. He has just gone down a very different path.... They were both paladins at the start. He strayed from the path, he became that which he wasn't supposed to. He is basically going to be a Vampire/Half-Fiendish/Pally into Blackguard The standard black armor, long white or black hair, giant flaming sword, bat wings, the works. He is going to be an omfg boss that will take the party a very long time to get to.
Avatar of Kokusho 07-14-07, 08:40 AM	I have several intersting ones, but the one I will share is this... Rahl, the Mindlord 7 Enchanter/10 Master Specialist/10 Mindbender Half-fiendish (human) with the soullocked trait (Heroes of Horror) Particulars, if you wish to use this guy, are up to you. He has access to two artifacts, though- an orb of dragonkind (red) and a Staff of the Magi. Due to his soullocked status, he may only be killed in a specific way. For the background I wrote up for him, he had been wronged by an old lover, so he made her his mind-slave, tortured her, and she eventually died. She cursed him at her death, with words to the effect of "May you ever live in suffering until one who can find true forgiveness for your deeds strkes you down!". He bound himself with a demon, giving him the half-fiendish template, and proceeded to wreak havoc for the next two hundred years. His alignment is obviously chaotic evil, and I used him as a recurring villain in a high-level campaign...until they finally figured out how to make him go away.
Ross 07-14-07, 12:07 PM	A psion that can't block other people's thoughts from his mind. He wear's an iron mask to try to stem the tide. He believes humans are evil, that all they think about it sex, and other people's wanton thoughts never leave his mind. He want's to kill everyone so he can be alone with his thoughts. He's a great villian because he's totally evil; he want's everyone to die! Also, he's got a dramatic enough reason behind his actions that when he dies, before he croaks he can say something like "The voices, they've stopped...I can think..." and the party can have the opritunity to be good and not feel too guilty about killing an insane man by saying something like "There, there. There, there."
DwarfPcfan 07-14-07, 04:16 PM	My favorite villain in DnD campaign so far was this Guy for an Eberron Campaign. Nallcryatizeth, Perverter of Destiny:Male Ultroloth wizard18/Dragonmark heir of Cannith 3 (yes dragonmark heir 3, I'll explain with this piece from his own words (it was a game that was planned into going epic so his levels would improve): Well mortal, You've come far. A truly spectacular display you've made. And now you have layed eyes on me. Few have done so in the millenia of my life, well few that have lived anyway. By now you hate me. Yes I understand how the foolish sensibilites of you're own useless morality would make you hate. What am I? An ultimately useless question as you're minds could not possibly comprhend it. And why? why have I stirred the cyran refugees into a futile rebellion to be crushed? Why have I sowed discontent amongst the Nations to the brink of war? why have I pillaged, murdered and stolen from the dragonmark houses? why am I scouring Xendrix? To all these question one answer. Destiny, it was by only the slimmest of chances that I escaped from the shackles of Planar law. Yes arranging for the death of a dragonmark heir and consuming his soul was proved useful as my body shows. It was only by Destiny, that I found the chains by wich to shape the future and it is only by my will that what exists shall continue in anyform. Why am I doing this, Because I can, because I will it, because I will find no satisfaction till every other creatures in every world grovels at my feet in misery to placate me with sacrifice, worship and sorrow. fight now!? Of course but you do realize that unless you can go back in time afterwards, it won't change anything. My plan succeeded 2 days ago...
Mælstrøm 07-14-07, 09:04 PM	Oh wow, so any cool (and evilly funny) ideas and characters! Great!! Another one of mine was from the same campaign as the first, another Githyanki, BUT a ghost! He dwelled in an old castle that has long since been burned to the ground, but he is reluctant to leave. As the characters entered, they fended off and disbanded a large group of kobolds, for which the ghost Githyanki thanked them as he had his eerie appearance/entrance. He began quite absent-mindedly, melancholic, and just eerie/quaint. When they did not respect his wishes and refused to bow before him, he was taken aback and shuddered in disbelief, too shocked to fight them. As they continued their disrespectfulness, he fled with the words: "I will... have to... see... the..." and then he was gone. When next they saw him, they were in a small town making friends with the townsfolk. He came down upon them at night, stopping everybody in their tracks with his ghostly appearance, thrusting his etheral hand into the first townsman, dropping him quite dead, entering the next one's body, moving through the rows of unmoving horrified people, literally twisting heads indiscriminately, coming every closer to the heroes. I can tell you, they didn't like him one bit! Especially when they found out that they cannot simply kill him but rather had to find out why he was still around and "help" him deal with it to be rid of him, and even less when they began to understand that this ghost would play a part in their plan to defeat Lord Kimex... Ooo how I love these wicked plot twists ;)