4 horsemen of the apocalypse characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

4 horsemen of the apocalypse characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
buckeyefan
10-11-03, 01:59 AM I'm thinking of basing characters off the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, and would like some feedback of what monsters would be good for them. I was thinking about making them all black guards, and giving them each a special ability based on the four characters. If anyone has an idea, please feel free to comment
ksbsnowowl
10-11-03, 11:19 AM Death - give this horseman the death touch ability that IIRC is the granted ability of the Death domain. Maybe give it to him 3 times/day or at will depending on how epic these characters will be. maybe also an ability based off of the deathwatch spell.

Pestilence - Give this horseman an ability similar to the spell contagion. Or, for more immediate effects, I think there was a druid spell in Masters of the Wild that was like contagion, but had an instantaneous onset of the disease with no incubation period.

Famine - I can't think of any particular spell effect that does anything like this, but if there is one, base it off of that. Just off the top of my head, give him a touch attack that effects those it hits as though they are starving - (p. 86 in 3.0 DMG) - they take 1d6 subdual damage and must make a constitution check (DC 11) or take an additional 1d6 subdual damage. Victims are fatigued (cannot run or charge, -2 penalty to strength and dexterity, can become exhausted), and cannot heal subdual damage from starvation until they eat adiquate food.

Also, give him a blighting ability similar to the Blighter PrC from Masters of the Wild, or maybe there is spell to base it off of.

War - A touch attack that afflicts the victim with an Emotion (rage and hate) spell, and the victim must attack the nearest creature that is not a Horseman? I don't know, this one is kind of tough.

Maybe these ideas will be acceptable or get you thinking of some other ideas. Enjoy:)

Edit: Just thought of one tweek to my above suggestion to War's ability. Maybe make his Emotion spell-like ability a gaze attack almost like an Eyebite spell. Also added Hate to the Emotion options.
Thaden
10-11-03, 02:20 PM 4x Death Knight Black Guards =)

Replace the Abyssal Blast for approprate effects such as the ones listed above.
Delfedd
10-11-03, 02:51 PM yeah, tell me when you get the stats. i might eventualy use them in my campaign
(the four OTHER horesmen)
Xychotic
10-12-03, 12:00 AM Four horseman,

Read Terry Brooks' Talismans of Shannara.

As for the abilities of each...

Make them all outsiders, possibly undead. Give them at least the following. BTW, this way, they won't dissappoint players with instant kills and other game nerfing abilities.

Death, Pestilance, Famine, War. Mounts should be really nasty, maybe nightmares or some form of venomous reptile; something that freaks people out (not vermin). They all have impressive DR (15/magic, good or something very difficult).

Death: Classic grim reaper figure. However, his attacks (slam and scythe) bestow 1-4 negative levels . He also has true seeing (you can't hide from death).

Famine: This guy has got to be an emaciated bastard. Probably fights nude, though without a discernable gender. His touch causes Strength (or Constitution) damage and that's all he needs to do.

Pestilence: Check out the Worm that Walks from Epic Level Handbook. Basically, he's an intelligent swarm of tiny insects with an anthropomorphic form. When the PCs see him, it looks like a swarm of tiny insects within a glass humanoid. His attacks cause contagion and/or poison. He also is strictly touch. He can change shape from humanoid ooze to swarm.

War: The most nasty fighter you could possibly put together. No really special abilities, just sheer combat prowess. Massive hp, AC, strength, Con, damage; all those things that make PCs scared to fight themselves. Legendary dreadnought (Epic Level) comes to mind.
the Horc
10-12-03, 01:58 PM Death: Grim Reaper style. Use imagination, mine ain't working right now.

Famine: Advanced Famine Spirit with some unique abilities.

War: Death Knight, Blackguard, capable of inciting rage in all nearby guys, and they attack the nearest person to them.

Pestilence: Not sure. Blighter maybe.

And for literary templates: do NOT use the Discworld versions, unless you want a very messed up campaign.
Tickle
10-17-03, 12:52 AM i used the four horsemen once in a campaign and am currently running a second in same world where they are trying to get revived. They were all anthropomorphic heavy warhorse half-fiends

Death-True necromancer lich

War-Blackguard

pestilenece-Verminlord

Famine-Blighter
PhaedrusXY
10-17-03, 01:08 AM Originally posted by Tickle
i used the four horsemen once in a campaign and am currently running a second in same world where they are trying to get revived. They were all anthropomorphic heavy warhorse half-fiends

Death-True necromancer lich

War-Blackguard

pestilenece-Verminlord

Famine-Blighter I like your class selections, but I'm not too sure about all of them being centaur-like beings. I'd say War should have levels of Frenzied Berzerker and a high charisma, and have an aura that produces the effect of the Inspire Frenzy ability, but affects everyone in a large area around him, all the time. If they make their saving throw, they'd be immune to that power for 1 day or some such.

I think Death should be a Cleric3/Necromancer3/MysticTheurge10/TrueNecromancerX lich. This would give him an absolutely insane caster level for necromancy spells, and great power over undead also. Worm That Walks would be a cool template for Death also, instead of Lich.

For Famine, there is an undead called a Famine Spirit in the Monster Manual 2. Maybe you could use that for inspiration, or maybe have any creature killed by him turned into one, or into a ghoul.

For Pestilence, a druid with the ability to take the shape of a swarm (locusts or something similar) like the Master of Flies in Savage Species would be cool. Levels of Blighter (Masters of the Wild) or Talontar Blightlord (Unnapproachable East) would be appropriate also.
Tickle
10-17-03, 01:32 AM not centaurs, anthropomorphic, in the savage species, the story had them members of an ancient (almost) extinct race. i like your class ideas though. i didn't have access to the theurge, should of thought of the berserker. instead i gave him leadership and between that and Death's obvious "recruiting" methods made an incredible army.
bradjob
10-17-03, 01:50 AM I'd try to based them off of the Horsemen in 'Good Omens'... but you guys seem to be doing a better job.
Lankin the Mad Mage
10-17-03, 05:46 AM Death: Wis/Clr / True Necromancer / Pale Master

Pestilence: Half-dragon (Rust) Blighter/ Cancer Mage

Famine: Intelligent famine spirit OR Worm that Walks (insects eating crops) Blighter (destroying crops), with acess to a spell (can't remember name) in newest Dragon Mag. Makes target starve really quickly, no matter how much he eats. Target soons dies of starvation. Must also have ability to raise and command skeletons (REALLY thin people...)

War: Strifeleader prhaps? Barbarian/ Fighter/ Blackguard? There was a CE paladin-variant in the same Dragon mag. Could use that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
buckeyefan 10-11-03, 01:59 AM	I'm thinking of basing characters off the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, and would like some feedback of what monsters would be good for them. I was thinking about making them all black guards, and giving them each a special ability based on the four characters. If anyone has an idea, please feel free to comment
ksbsnowowl 10-11-03, 11:19 AM	Death - give this horseman the death touch ability that IIRC is the granted ability of the Death domain. Maybe give it to him 3 times/day or at will depending on how epic these characters will be. maybe also an ability based off of the deathwatch spell. Pestilence - Give this horseman an ability similar to the spell contagion. Or, for more immediate effects, I think there was a druid spell in Masters of the Wild that was like contagion, but had an instantaneous onset of the disease with no incubation period. Famine - I can't think of any particular spell effect that does anything like this, but if there is one, base it off of that. Just off the top of my head, give him a touch attack that effects those it hits as though they are starving - (p. 86 in 3.0 DMG) - they take 1d6 subdual damage and must make a constitution check (DC 11) or take an additional 1d6 subdual damage. Victims are fatigued (cannot run or charge, -2 penalty to strength and dexterity, can become exhausted), and cannot heal subdual damage from starvation until they eat adiquate food. Also, give him a blighting ability similar to the Blighter PrC from Masters of the Wild, or maybe there is spell to base it off of. War - A touch attack that afflicts the victim with an Emotion (rage and hate) spell, and the victim must attack the nearest creature that is not a Horseman? I don't know, this one is kind of tough. Maybe these ideas will be acceptable or get you thinking of some other ideas. Enjoy:) Edit: Just thought of one tweek to my above suggestion to War's ability. Maybe make his Emotion spell-like ability a gaze attack almost like an Eyebite spell. Also added Hate to the Emotion options.
Thaden 10-11-03, 02:20 PM	4x Death Knight Black Guards =) Replace the Abyssal Blast for approprate effects such as the ones listed above.
Delfedd 10-11-03, 02:51 PM	yeah, tell me when you get the stats. i might eventualy use them in my campaign (the four OTHER horesmen)
Xychotic 10-12-03, 12:00 AM	Four horseman, Read Terry Brooks' Talismans of Shannara. As for the abilities of each... Make them all outsiders, possibly undead. Give them at least the following. BTW, this way, they won't dissappoint players with instant kills and other game nerfing abilities. Death, Pestilance, Famine, War. Mounts should be really nasty, maybe nightmares or some form of venomous reptile; something that freaks people out (not vermin). They all have impressive DR (15/magic, good or something very difficult). Death: Classic grim reaper figure. However, his attacks (slam and scythe) bestow 1-4 negative levels . He also has true seeing (you can't hide from death). Famine: This guy has got to be an emaciated bastard. Probably fights nude, though without a discernable gender. His touch causes Strength (or Constitution) damage and that's all he needs to do. Pestilence: Check out the Worm that Walks from Epic Level Handbook. Basically, he's an intelligent swarm of tiny insects with an anthropomorphic form. When the PCs see him, it looks like a swarm of tiny insects within a glass humanoid. His attacks cause contagion and/or poison. He also is strictly touch. He can change shape from humanoid ooze to swarm. War: The most nasty fighter you could possibly put together. No really special abilities, just sheer combat prowess. Massive hp, AC, strength, Con, damage; all those things that make PCs scared to fight themselves. Legendary dreadnought (Epic Level) comes to mind.
the Horc 10-12-03, 01:58 PM	Death: Grim Reaper style. Use imagination, mine ain't working right now. Famine: Advanced Famine Spirit with some unique abilities. War: Death Knight, Blackguard, capable of inciting rage in all nearby guys, and they attack the nearest person to them. Pestilence: Not sure. Blighter maybe. And for literary templates: do NOT use the Discworld versions, unless you want a very messed up campaign.
Tickle 10-17-03, 12:52 AM	i used the four horsemen once in a campaign and am currently running a second in same world where they are trying to get revived. They were all anthropomorphic heavy warhorse half-fiends Death-True necromancer lich War-Blackguard pestilenece-Verminlord Famine-Blighter
PhaedrusXY 10-17-03, 01:08 AM	Originally posted by Tickle i used the four horsemen once in a campaign and am currently running a second in same world where they are trying to get revived. They were all anthropomorphic heavy warhorse half-fiends Death-True necromancer lich War-Blackguard pestilenece-Verminlord Famine-Blighter I like your class selections, but I'm not too sure about all of them being centaur-like beings. I'd say War should have levels of Frenzied Berzerker and a high charisma, and have an aura that produces the effect of the Inspire Frenzy ability, but affects everyone in a large area around him, all the time. If they make their saving throw, they'd be immune to that power for 1 day or some such. I think Death should be a Cleric3/Necromancer3/MysticTheurge10/TrueNecromancerX lich. This would give him an absolutely insane caster level for necromancy spells, and great power over undead also. Worm That Walks would be a cool template for Death also, instead of Lich. For Famine, there is an undead called a Famine Spirit in the Monster Manual 2. Maybe you could use that for inspiration, or maybe have any creature killed by him turned into one, or into a ghoul. For Pestilence, a druid with the ability to take the shape of a swarm (locusts or something similar) like the Master of Flies in Savage Species would be cool. Levels of Blighter (Masters of the Wild) or Talontar Blightlord (Unnapproachable East) would be appropriate also.
Tickle 10-17-03, 01:32 AM	not centaurs, anthropomorphic, in the savage species, the story had them members of an ancient (almost) extinct race. i like your class ideas though. i didn't have access to the theurge, should of thought of the berserker. instead i gave him leadership and between that and Death's obvious "recruiting" methods made an incredible army.
bradjob 10-17-03, 01:50 AM	I'd try to based them off of the Horsemen in 'Good Omens'... but you guys seem to be doing a better job.
Lankin the Mad Mage 10-17-03, 05:46 AM	Death: Wis/Clr / True Necromancer / Pale Master Pestilence: Half-dragon (Rust) Blighter/ Cancer Mage Famine: Intelligent famine spirit OR Worm that Walks (insects eating crops) Blighter (destroying crops), with acess to a spell (can't remember name) in newest Dragon Mag. Makes target starve really quickly, no matter how much he eats. Target soons dies of starvation. Must also have ability to raise and command skeletons (REALLY thin people...) War: Strifeleader prhaps? Barbarian/ Fighter/ Blackguard? There was a CE paladin-variant in the same Dragon mag. Could use that.