Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lostone 01-10-05, 09:43 AM	I'm planning on having my group trying to quell Ashbound uprisings. The group is completely comprised of Warforged, nearly all close to level 20 after the most impressive run-in with a Deck of Many Things I've ever witnessed. I've never seen so many Comet, Sun and Jester pulls in my life, all pulled a Comet and several pulled Sun &/or Jester. If the deck hadn't been mine and in my possession the entire time I'd have thought it was stacked with nothing but good cards. Only one person had a bad draw (Imprisoned). Anyway, the group is warforged, about level 20, so I'm looking for high level Ashbound leader NPCs to eventually fight the group. I've never played a Druid, and while I have read about their awesome wild shaping abilities on the optimization boards I'd appreciate some basic stats and wild shaping suggestions. Also mid-low level NPCs generic stats for the ashbound army of minions to throw at the group in large numbers, and various tactics they would employ.
Ricohard_Draconis 01-10-05, 02:03 PM	lvl 20 isn't that a wee' bit high for ebberon? since even the highest level NPC's are only 12 or 13
lostone 01-10-05, 02:22 PM	That is completely off topic, yes it's a bit high for eberron, but all I have to do is increase the CR of enemies. Your post has been covered repeatedly in all sorts of FR vs Eberron threads.
stone_dog 01-10-05, 02:25 PM	lvl 20 isn't that a wee' bit high for ebberon? since even the highest level NPC's are only 12 or 13 Key word in here is NPC. PCs have no more of a level limit or expectation set to them than in any other setting. And there are at least a few 18th level NPCs in the setting. They just aren't in a position to be party saving saftey nets. Way too busy/reclusive and creepy/nigh immobile. For a 20th level campaign against the Ashbound though... you just might be declaring war on most of the Eldeen Reaches. Sure the Ashbound are a pretty violent sect of Druids, but they are STILL druids and there is only so much slaughter they will take before they start coming after you. Gatekeepers, Wardens and all. A dragon ally or two, mighty treants. Druids can turn the forest itself against you. Sure, that may not mean much to 20th level characters, but when they can't heal all that well it can wear them down. Might be worth some thought though...
Ricohard_Draconis 01-10-05, 02:32 PM	double post
Ricohard_Draconis 01-10-05, 02:33 PM	sorry, i had meant to add a whole bit on topic, but i couldn't work out how to word it. now i have. And i didn't mean to sound snotty just curious. Namely this given an average party at twentieth level they need to face an enemy of equal CR you want a druid? okay a twentieth level druid, since you want ashbound make it a shifter and other than the Ashbound feat pick up virtually any Feats you want. He can then exist with out feats in the form of a huge elemental for 20 hours at a time or any other animal he chooses. and his summon natures ally spells last for 400 rounds or 40 mins (i think thats the right maths). or perhaps just armies of Elementals (druids in wildshape leading summoned allies) or other large numbers of beings
stone_dog 01-10-05, 02:49 PM	Yeah, that is the ticket. many many elementals and summoned critters. Elemental Swarm, Summon Natures Ally (with the ashbound feat +3 to attack!), shambler, creeping doom, animate plants, changestaff, liveoak. All the while the actual druid hangs back as a monkey in some tree and just lets his summoned things wear down the party. Ir-ri-tate-ing. Oh, and don't forget rusting grasp! 3d6+15 touch attack with no save. Five of those makes for a minimum of 90 points of damage. Sure to crimp at least one PCs style a bit!
fizzbang 01-10-05, 04:11 PM	An important thing to realize here is that when the party is 20th level in Eberron, they should be dealing with some of the biggest forces in the world, if not the bigger ones outside of the world. Even if they're not looking for new enemies, their status as new superpowers guarantees that everyone with a desire or a grudge will be looking at them. No matter how low-key they are, their sudden burst of power is likely to be noticed by the more observant forces, like the Chamber (you can bet that the Prophecy would mention someone suddenly getting an influx of power like that!). By this point, the Ashbound should be the least of their concerns. If they really want to, they could probably destroy the most powerful figures of the Ashbound, but by doing so, they'd make enemies of the rest of the Druidic orders. And that pulls in Oalian. And that pulls in the original Druidic dragons, extra-planar enemies from a variety of planes (the biggest and baddest of the lycanthropes and fairies and elementals). And, of course, those figures will be supported by anyone else who has a grudge against the heroes. On the other hand, the heroes might get support by any of a large number of people who have a vendetta against the druids. Say, any figures that are looking for very powerful figures who can help them get back at the druids and undo their works. And before they know it, the heroes have played right into the plans of the Lords of Dust, and there's a new Age of Demons on the horizon. Maybe the warforged heroes will be given a nice parting gift for all their help. And the lesson of this is that it's very dangerous to be a 20th level character in Eberron. You might not get stomped by a powerful NPC, but suddenly you can't trust anyone's motives...
Korhal_IV 01-10-05, 04:46 PM	Don't forget Aundair and House Vadalis. Both of them would like to see the Ashbound go down, and if Aundair could get the PCs to weaken the Wardens long enough to reconquer its lost province, well, hey, win-win for the throne!
kisama 01-10-05, 05:07 PM	One thing you might want to try is building on the idea that the PC's have become "super-heroes" litterally overnight. As such, they should find themselves being flooded by requests for help, tasks to perform for various organizations as well shadow groups trying to manipulate the group for their own evil deeds. Also, considering that a group of level 20 players could now pose a threat to just about anyone in the world, their old friends and commrades might not be so inclined to associate with them. Think of Connor McCloud in Highlander and he first comes back from death. His family, friends, and village cast him out as a freak. The players could run into the same difficulties, or even not be allowed to enter certain cities any more because they could litterally waltz right through the city's best defenses on a moment's notice without breaking a sweat. Eventually, you could build on the idea that the players have no idea anymore who they can trust which makes their new power a curse as well as a gift. Going back to the druid theme, just to make things interesting, when the Ashbound learn the players are gunning for them, they might approach other organizations for help. And play off mass paranoia to gain aid from unlikely sources. Something along the lines of "Hey it's us now, but these guys could come after you next!"
fizzbang 01-10-05, 06:05 PM	One thing you might want to try is building on the idea that the PC's have become "super-heroes" litterally overnight. As such, they should find themselves being flooded by requests for help, tasks to perform for various organizations as well shadow groups trying to manipulate the group for their own evil deeds. Definitely. Level 20 means you're a tremendous force to be reckoned with, and especially in Eberron, it means that you're a global superpower. Suddenly, it's not a matter of kicking in dungeon doors, it's a matter of politics and alliances. Everyone's watching your moves and trying to either get on your good side or just get you out of the picture. No one will accept them as a neutral force, because they're just too dangerous as unknown agents. Better to know they're against you and prepare than it is to be uncertain and get caught by surprise when they level your organization. Figures that desire stability will be especially distrustful of such rampantly powerful forces: every nation will worry they'll ally with an opposed nation, Dragonmarked houses will fear their interference in their business and rivalries, and every dragon will be very concerned that such uncontrolled elements could interfere witht he Prophecy. Such characters will almost certainly never have another moment of peace in their lives, as everyone tries to make pacts with them or plots against them. It's the reason why powerful people end up trying to find reclusion and just live normal lives...