Help with Inspired Society Mind BBEG [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with Inspired Society Mind BBEG [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
angellis_ater
04-07-07, 09:35 AM Hi everyone!

My Eberron-players are heading off to Sharn (to gather Byeshk to do battle with a disguised Mind Flayer in Wyn in Aundair) and will meet two villains - one will be an Inspired Society Mind of around level 7-9 and I need some help designing her and her retinue (4 Inspired, CR4-6) and tactics since I have never played a Society Mind myself.

The players are:

Khalashtar Psychic Warrior 6 (they're all level 5 right now but they WILL level before meeting the ISM) - extremely focused on doing damage (Deep Crystal Greatsword, Expansion, Psionic Weapon, Dissolving Weapon) to one target at a time.

Gnome Warlock 5/Acolyte of the Skin 1 - might take a 6th level of Warlock and will then be Flying for sure. Specialised on long range (250 feet) combat (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Wild Talent, Psionic Shot)

Half-elf Bard 5/Dragonmark Heir 1 (Lyrandar) - super-supporter of the group, usually starts of a combat with Inspire Courage +3 (boosted by spell) and then proceeds to daze enemies (Bladeweave) or tactically heal.

Shifter Druid 4/Ranger 1/Weretouched Master 1 - tactical warfare in the form of Summon Nature's Ally, Healing spells, uses a Greatsword and will probably go for a secondary Bite attack or 2 claws as Weretouched Master. Close combat/support healer.

Overall they've taken down enemies at EL8 lately, albeit almost being TPK:d. They are well co-ordinated as a group but, as shown above, not "optimised" in the mechanical sense.
JulesCARV
04-07-07, 11:45 AM Is she a Dreaming Dark agent or a Riedran official? That might have an impact one what her retinue might look like. (e.g., whether her bodyguard has elite Harmonius Shield fighters or warforged mercenary fighters)
angellis_ater
04-07-07, 06:47 PM She is officially a Riedran official, but she is also the controller of a Dreaming Dark cell. She will send the DD cell after the PCs because the Khalashtar PsyWar has made herself a name without caring about hiding the fact that she isn't human.

Overall I want her "retinue" to be Riedran/Dreaming Dark/Inspired-themed, so a little more info on those "Harmonious Shields" would be nice!
Deekin
04-07-07, 08:07 PM She is officially a Riedran official, but she is also the controller of a Dreaming Dark cell. She will send the DD cell after the PCs because the Khalashtar PsyWar has made herself a name without caring about hiding the fact that she isn't human.

Overall I want her "retinue" to be Riedran/Dreaming Dark/Inspired-themed, so a little more info on those "Harmonious Shields" would be nice!

Do you have SoS? That details them more. They are basicly the military of the Riedra. Psionic indoctrination has striped them of any emotion, including fear and mercy. They are divided into Stone (Tanks), Air (Ranged), Fire (Shock troops), Water (Scouts, rangers), Bastion Guards (Military Police), Edgewalkers (Elite anti-planar troops), Horned Guard (Ogre Magi), Savage Legion (non-humans-Shifters, Ogres, Half-giants, and enkio), and the Sleeping Sword ( Inspired, tsoreva under the control of a Du'ulora.)

In your case, you would probably be looking at sleeping sword for soldiers. That means Psi-war, soul-blades, kineticists, nomads, and possibly an Ardent.

As of Society Mind tactics, have a look at So you want to be a Society Mind. (http://dreamscarredpress.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=30)
angellis_ater
04-08-07, 01:58 PM No, I don't have Secrets of Sarlona, but it's on our list of books to be shipped from Amazon but that'll take about 2 months.

Sleeping Sword cell sounds really nice, my memory seems to suggest that I've read about tsoreva and du'ulora Inspired somewhere but I can't remember which book - any takers?

The cell is 3 man strong (not including the BBEG) and with the above suggestion I was thinking of having a Psychic Warrior, a Kineticist and possibly a Monk/Fist of Dal Quor if I can find out what the class does. Alot of the info I have on the Fist suggests that it would be a cool enemy for a group of PCs.

I've read the "So you want to be a Society Mind" article.
angellis_ater
04-10-07, 04:14 AM Anyone else care to share?
angellis_ater
04-10-07, 10:21 AM Speaking of which - does a person know whether or not a Society Mind tries to include them into their worldthought network? What constitutes a "willing" or "friendly" person - if the target doesn't know that the SMind is an enemy or dangerous?
Bacris
04-10-07, 10:14 PM Basically, you have to declare yourself willing:

"Declaring yourself as a willing target is something that can be done at any time (even if you’re flat-footed or it isn’t your turn). Unconscious creatures are automatically considered willing, but a character who is conscious but immobile or helpless (such as one who is bound, cowering, grappling, paralyzed, pinned, or stunned) is not automatically willing."

Regarding Soulbinding Gaze:

"Succeeding on a Saving Throw: A creature that successfully saves against a power that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted power you sense that the power has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area powers."

I'd say the same applies despite it being a Su effect instead of a power.
angellis_ater
04-11-07, 09:55 AM Ok, I'm thinking of some nasty tactics now that the players won't know the SMind is targeting them for inclusion into her Worldthought Network. Harmonic Resonance means that I can use the Psychic Warrior and Kineticists to get a few extra powers into my SMind.

At the moment she looks like this:
Inspired Society Mind 7/Metalink 2 (you don't need to care about the Metalink, it's for playtesting purposes)

She is possessed by a Tsucora Quori - giving her the following Psi-Like abilities:
1/day—body adjustment, id insinuation (DC 17), mindlink, psionic charm (DC 15), recall agony (DC 17);
3/day—body equilibrium, far hand, inertial armor, psionic scent. Manifester level 6th.

Feats (6 - house rules for feat at every uneven level): Harmonic Resonance, Psicrystal Affinity (for Solicit Psicrystal in combat), Quori Dread, Overchannel

Does anyone have any suggestions for the remaining featslots?

Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 20, Cha 21

Power Points: 87 power points total, 79 points left at beginning of combat
HP: 34 hp, 32 hp left at beginning of combat (she manifested Empathic Adaption with Overchannel +1 for 1d8 of damage, she takes half her psicrystal half)

Powers (for a combat) ML8:

Solicit Psicrystal (3rd level)
Strike as One (3rd level)
Battlesense (3rd level)
Empathic Adaption (3rd level)
Sense as One (2nd level)

Harmonic Resonance powers (5):

Empathic Transfer (2nd level - from Egoist)
Biofeedback (1st level - from PsyWar)
Vigor (1st level - from either PsyWar or Egoist)
Share Pain (2nd level - from Egoist)
Crystal Shard (1st level - from Egoist)

She starts out with Empathic Adaption up at 50 minutes of time left, mindlink with her retinue (for Metalink abilities) and Inertial Armor (psi-like, +6 AC) for a few hours, since she is the one orchestrating the ambush. She will manifest Vigor (and has Share Pain manifested before the combat with her Psicrystal buddy) as a start and then either heal her retinue or boost them via Metalink abilities or SMind powers.
---

Her retinue will be a Psychic Warrior 4 (using Mindblade feats), Egoist 3 / Rogue 1 and a Halo Knight (playtest) 4. Their main tactics are to focus attacks on a single enemy, all three of them being boosted by the Metalink class abilities and the Society Mind powers. If anyone takes damage, the Society Mind will heal them via Empathic Transfer - otherwise she'll have two concentration powers going via Solicit Psicrystal. They'll start focusing on the Khalashtar, but aren't afraid of changing targets to take down a more dangerous foe.

Part of the Metalink ability is that once one person has been attacked, all other members of the worldthought network will count as "flanking" against that person, which I will utilize with the Egoist/Rogue who comes armed with a crossbow, Point Blank Shot, Psionic Shot and Precise Shot and knows Crystal Shard for good measure. The Egoist starts off by manifesting Animal Affinity (Dexterity) and will act as ranged support - 1d8 (crossbow) + 1d6 sneak attack +1 PBS is the base attack. On occassion when he needs to "blast away" he'll do 4d6 (Crystal Shard touch attack) +1d6 sneak attack +2d6 Psionic Shot for a scary 7d6+1 damage.

---

Now, does this sound TOO good for an ECL 6 party of 4 to meet? They'll most probably have been through 2 easier combats before this combat so they will be slightly exhausted.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
angellis_ater 04-07-07, 09:35 AM	Hi everyone! My Eberron-players are heading off to Sharn (to gather Byeshk to do battle with a disguised Mind Flayer in Wyn in Aundair) and will meet two villains - one will be an Inspired Society Mind of around level 7-9 and I need some help designing her and her retinue (4 Inspired, CR4-6) and tactics since I have never played a Society Mind myself. The players are: Khalashtar Psychic Warrior 6 (they're all level 5 right now but they WILL level before meeting the ISM) - extremely focused on doing damage (Deep Crystal Greatsword, Expansion, Psionic Weapon, Dissolving Weapon) to one target at a time. Gnome Warlock 5/Acolyte of the Skin 1 - might take a 6th level of Warlock and will then be Flying for sure. Specialised on long range (250 feet) combat (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Wild Talent, Psionic Shot) Half-elf Bard 5/Dragonmark Heir 1 (Lyrandar) - super-supporter of the group, usually starts of a combat with Inspire Courage +3 (boosted by spell) and then proceeds to daze enemies (Bladeweave) or tactically heal. Shifter Druid 4/Ranger 1/Weretouched Master 1 - tactical warfare in the form of Summon Nature's Ally, Healing spells, uses a Greatsword and will probably go for a secondary Bite attack or 2 claws as Weretouched Master. Close combat/support healer. Overall they've taken down enemies at EL8 lately, albeit almost being TPK:d. They are well co-ordinated as a group but, as shown above, not "optimised" in the mechanical sense.
JulesCARV 04-07-07, 11:45 AM	Is she a Dreaming Dark agent or a Riedran official? That might have an impact one what her retinue might look like. (e.g., whether her bodyguard has elite Harmonius Shield fighters or warforged mercenary fighters)
angellis_ater 04-07-07, 06:47 PM	She is officially a Riedran official, but she is also the controller of a Dreaming Dark cell. She will send the DD cell after the PCs because the Khalashtar PsyWar has made herself a name without caring about hiding the fact that she isn't human. Overall I want her "retinue" to be Riedran/Dreaming Dark/Inspired-themed, so a little more info on those "Harmonious Shields" would be nice!
Deekin 04-07-07, 08:07 PM	She is officially a Riedran official, but she is also the controller of a Dreaming Dark cell. She will send the DD cell after the PCs because the Khalashtar PsyWar has made herself a name without caring about hiding the fact that she isn't human. Overall I want her "retinue" to be Riedran/Dreaming Dark/Inspired-themed, so a little more info on those "Harmonious Shields" would be nice! Do you have SoS? That details them more. They are basicly the military of the Riedra. Psionic indoctrination has striped them of any emotion, including fear and mercy. They are divided into Stone (Tanks), Air (Ranged), Fire (Shock troops), Water (Scouts, rangers), Bastion Guards (Military Police), Edgewalkers (Elite anti-planar troops), Horned Guard (Ogre Magi), Savage Legion (non-humans-Shifters, Ogres, Half-giants, and enkio), and the Sleeping Sword ( Inspired, tsoreva under the control of a Du'ulora.) In your case, you would probably be looking at sleeping sword for soldiers. That means Psi-war, soul-blades, kineticists, nomads, and possibly an Ardent. As of Society Mind tactics, have a look at So you want to be a Society Mind. (http://dreamscarredpress.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=30)
angellis_ater 04-08-07, 01:58 PM	No, I don't have Secrets of Sarlona, but it's on our list of books to be shipped from Amazon but that'll take about 2 months. Sleeping Sword cell sounds really nice, my memory seems to suggest that I've read about tsoreva and du'ulora Inspired somewhere but I can't remember which book - any takers? The cell is 3 man strong (not including the BBEG) and with the above suggestion I was thinking of having a Psychic Warrior, a Kineticist and possibly a Monk/Fist of Dal Quor if I can find out what the class does. Alot of the info I have on the Fist suggests that it would be a cool enemy for a group of PCs. I've read the "So you want to be a Society Mind" article.
angellis_ater 04-10-07, 04:14 AM	Anyone else care to share?
angellis_ater 04-10-07, 10:21 AM	Speaking of which - does a person know whether or not a Society Mind tries to include them into their worldthought network? What constitutes a "willing" or "friendly" person - if the target doesn't know that the SMind is an enemy or dangerous?
Bacris 04-10-07, 10:14 PM	Basically, you have to declare yourself willing: "Declaring yourself as a willing target is something that can be done at any time (even if you’re flat-footed or it isn’t your turn). Unconscious creatures are automatically considered willing, but a character who is conscious but immobile or helpless (such as one who is bound, cowering, grappling, paralyzed, pinned, or stunned) is not automatically willing." Regarding Soulbinding Gaze: "Succeeding on a Saving Throw: A creature that successfully saves against a power that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted power you sense that the power has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area powers." I'd say the same applies despite it being a Su effect instead of a power.
angellis_ater 04-11-07, 09:55 AM	Ok, I'm thinking of some nasty tactics now that the players won't know the SMind is targeting them for inclusion into her Worldthought Network. Harmonic Resonance means that I can use the Psychic Warrior and Kineticists to get a few extra powers into my SMind. At the moment she looks like this: Inspired Society Mind 7/Metalink 2 (you don't need to care about the Metalink, it's for playtesting purposes) She is possessed by a Tsucora Quori - giving her the following Psi-Like abilities: 1/day—body adjustment, id insinuation (DC 17), mindlink, psionic charm (DC 15), recall agony (DC 17); 3/day—body equilibrium, far hand, inertial armor, psionic scent. Manifester level 6th. Feats (6 - house rules for feat at every uneven level): Harmonic Resonance, Psicrystal Affinity (for Solicit Psicrystal in combat), Quori Dread, Overchannel Does anyone have any suggestions for the remaining featslots? Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 20, Cha 21 Power Points: 87 power points total, 79 points left at beginning of combat HP: 34 hp, 32 hp left at beginning of combat (she manifested Empathic Adaption with Overchannel +1 for 1d8 of damage, she takes half her psicrystal half) Powers (for a combat) ML8: Solicit Psicrystal (3rd level) Strike as One (3rd level) Battlesense (3rd level) Empathic Adaption (3rd level) Sense as One (2nd level) Harmonic Resonance powers (5): Empathic Transfer (2nd level - from Egoist) Biofeedback (1st level - from PsyWar) Vigor (1st level - from either PsyWar or Egoist) Share Pain (2nd level - from Egoist) Crystal Shard (1st level - from Egoist) She starts out with Empathic Adaption up at 50 minutes of time left, mindlink with her retinue (for Metalink abilities) and Inertial Armor (psi-like, +6 AC) for a few hours, since she is the one orchestrating the ambush. She will manifest Vigor (and has Share Pain manifested before the combat with her Psicrystal buddy) as a start and then either heal her retinue or boost them via Metalink abilities or SMind powers. --- Her retinue will be a Psychic Warrior 4 (using Mindblade feats), Egoist 3 / Rogue 1 and a Halo Knight (playtest) 4. Their main tactics are to focus attacks on a single enemy, all three of them being boosted by the Metalink class abilities and the Society Mind powers. If anyone takes damage, the Society Mind will heal them via Empathic Transfer - otherwise she'll have two concentration powers going via Solicit Psicrystal. They'll start focusing on the Khalashtar, but aren't afraid of changing targets to take down a more dangerous foe. Part of the Metalink ability is that once one person has been attacked, all other members of the worldthought network will count as "flanking" against that person, which I will utilize with the Egoist/Rogue who comes armed with a crossbow, Point Blank Shot, Psionic Shot and Precise Shot and knows Crystal Shard for good measure. The Egoist starts off by manifesting Animal Affinity (Dexterity) and will act as ranged support - 1d8 (crossbow) + 1d6 sneak attack +1 PBS is the base attack. On occassion when he needs to "blast away" he'll do 4d6 (Crystal Shard touch attack) +1d6 sneak attack +2d6 Psionic Shot for a scary 7d6+1 damage. --- Now, does this sound TOO good for an ECL 6 party of 4 to meet? They'll most probably have been through 2 easier combats before this combat so they will be slightly exhausted.