Boss Fight [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Boss Fight [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rathje
06-07-05, 01:01 AM One problem I've always had when DMing D&D is the inevitable Boss Fight. Currently, the group is getting into the following predicament:

They're playing brigands. They're all pretty new members (thus level one). Among the new members that've joined after the group was nearly decimated prior to the campaign starting were some Humans (Level one Fighters) from another nation and a cook (Level one Commoner). The cook's just there for logistics. In addition is Albert King, a Human Fighter of average ability. In actuality, Albert King is merely a fake name used by the Human Paladin Rodger Canocen. Rodger is pretending to be a brigand to keep tabs on the group and decide if it's worth the trouble and potential lost lives to deal with such a small amount of bandits.

Very soon into the game, Rodger will kill the brigand leader in the night by challenging him to a duel. The rest of the bandits aren't aware that this is happening and the fight takes place a good distance from camp to avoid disturbing others. The leader is the over-confident sort who thinks he's good at judging people, but is actually mediocre at it. He thinks Rodger is actually just Albert King. Since Rodger had not been demonstrating his full abilities during the activities he joined, the brigand leader assumed it would be an easy fight.

So, Rodger defeats the leader. In the morning, Albert King is just as surprised that their wondrous leader has been slain and the group is to disbanded. Some brigands are suspicious of one another, but no real accusations are made publicly. The PC's are given the opportunity of taking one of the more trusting brigands along with them for a while. The rest will be NPC's that'll come up every now and then.

Meanwhile, the brigands are debating exactly what to do. They were planning on looking for a lost relic that could touch the minds of those who wielded it and granted them a second mind (it's just an intelligent item). They have the map, and they are quite close to the location, but the group was only held together by their leader, since the rest couldn't decide tactics very well.

Anyhow, Rodger Canocen will be a boss at some point. I don't know what level adjustment to give him relative to the rest of the party for him to be challenging enough all by his lonesome. They could encounter him with more Paladins, but I'd like to be sure in case they catch on and attack him. Any suggestions? They're starting at level one, but they'll (hopefully) get up to at least five before realizing who "Albert King" is.

-Rathje
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe
06-07-05, 01:25 AM So, the party isn't "good", right?
Rathje
06-07-05, 01:54 AM Correct. They're generally Chaotic, with one (maybe two) Evil in there. There are no Chaotic Evil, however. Mostly Chaotic Neutral or Neutral Evil.

Bard: Chaotic Neutral
Cleric: Neutral Evil
Druid: Neutral Evil
Fighter: Chaotic Neutral
Sorceror: Can't remember, I think he's True Neutral
dmbronzedragonbill
06-07-05, 06:38 AM i would give any lone boss 3-5 levels higher then the average party lvl or then the highest member for the encounter with him. so if the party will be 5th lvl then the boss should be between lvls 8-10. this has always worked out in my experiance as a dm.
Szat
06-07-05, 07:08 AM On a side note that's some CRAZY Paladin subterfuge skills....what with paladins being against that at all.

I'd say give him some Shadowbane Inquisitor levels would be appropriate. That would justify his deceit and cloak & dagger stuff. This also gives him an organization to be working for.

Once these "brigands" don't turn to his cause he'll want them arrested or executed. So while the PC's go about adventuring they'll be constantly harried and pursued by this dogmatic foe. It'd be kind of cool to have a re-occuring hero who keeps plaguing the PC's attempts to be "brigands".

Albert King aka. Rodger Canocen would make an excellent 1-20 campaign constant. As the party fights other foes they constantly have to be on the lookout because they're hunted men.
fawr
06-07-05, 08:24 AM i would give any lone boss 3-5 levels higher then the average party lvl or then the highest member for the encounter with him. so if the party will be 5th lvl then the boss should be between lvls 8-10. this has always worked out in my experiance as a dm.

I find that with an enemy (especially a spellcaster) just 1 level higher than my party (of 5 PCs) that one or more of them get very close to death, if the party makes any sort of mistake (like walking down a corridor holding a light, or forgetting to cast Haste/Protection from elements while the group is all within 30').
Rathje
06-07-05, 07:51 PM Thank you very much. I'll aim for around 2-3 levels in the first fight. If they take him to low HP quickly, he can retreat and be upped higher next time. If he's destroying them, I can have something happen to take him away, like a horde of kobolds running in to attack the group of Humans and "big folk" standing around.

On a side note that's some CRAZY Paladin subterfuge skills....what with paladins being against that at all.

I'd say give him some Shadowbane Inquisitor levels would be appropriate. That would justify his deceit and cloak & dagger stuff. This also gives him an organization to be working for.

As a house rule, we've put less restrictions on alignment. For example, Paladins have alignment rules that match Cleric. Well, Good characters are Paladins, while Evil are Blackguards. Neutral character can be either Paladin or Blackguard, depending on the deity. Rodger Canocen follows the Order of Hest, which is a Chaotic Neutral deity. From order to order, methods vary. Hest, being Neutral, isn't exactly opposed to deceit if it's for the greater good.

I also don't have the book with Shadowbane Inquisitor. Complete Adventurer, I think, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I only have PHB and DMG, using SRD for MM until I can buy one.

Thank you!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rathje 06-07-05, 01:01 AM	One problem I've always had when DMing D&D is the inevitable Boss Fight. Currently, the group is getting into the following predicament: They're playing brigands. They're all pretty new members (thus level one). Among the new members that've joined after the group was nearly decimated prior to the campaign starting were some Humans (Level one Fighters) from another nation and a cook (Level one Commoner). The cook's just there for logistics. In addition is Albert King, a Human Fighter of average ability. In actuality, Albert King is merely a fake name used by the Human Paladin Rodger Canocen. Rodger is pretending to be a brigand to keep tabs on the group and decide if it's worth the trouble and potential lost lives to deal with such a small amount of bandits. Very soon into the game, Rodger will kill the brigand leader in the night by challenging him to a duel. The rest of the bandits aren't aware that this is happening and the fight takes place a good distance from camp to avoid disturbing others. The leader is the over-confident sort who thinks he's good at judging people, but is actually mediocre at it. He thinks Rodger is actually just Albert King. Since Rodger had not been demonstrating his full abilities during the activities he joined, the brigand leader assumed it would be an easy fight. So, Rodger defeats the leader. In the morning, Albert King is just as surprised that their wondrous leader has been slain and the group is to disbanded. Some brigands are suspicious of one another, but no real accusations are made publicly. The PC's are given the opportunity of taking one of the more trusting brigands along with them for a while. The rest will be NPC's that'll come up every now and then. Meanwhile, the brigands are debating exactly what to do. They were planning on looking for a lost relic that could touch the minds of those who wielded it and granted them a second mind (it's just an intelligent item). They have the map, and they are quite close to the location, but the group was only held together by their leader, since the rest couldn't decide tactics very well. Anyhow, Rodger Canocen will be a boss at some point. I don't know what level adjustment to give him relative to the rest of the party for him to be challenging enough all by his lonesome. They could encounter him with more Paladins, but I'd like to be sure in case they catch on and attack him. Any suggestions? They're starting at level one, but they'll (hopefully) get up to at least five before realizing who "Albert King" is. -Rathje
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe 06-07-05, 01:25 AM	So, the party isn't "good", right?
Rathje 06-07-05, 01:54 AM	Correct. They're generally Chaotic, with one (maybe two) Evil in there. There are no Chaotic Evil, however. Mostly Chaotic Neutral or Neutral Evil. Bard: Chaotic Neutral Cleric: Neutral Evil Druid: Neutral Evil Fighter: Chaotic Neutral Sorceror: Can't remember, I think he's True Neutral
dmbronzedragonbill 06-07-05, 06:38 AM	i would give any lone boss 3-5 levels higher then the average party lvl or then the highest member for the encounter with him. so if the party will be 5th lvl then the boss should be between lvls 8-10. this has always worked out in my experiance as a dm.
Szat 06-07-05, 07:08 AM	On a side note that's some CRAZY Paladin subterfuge skills....what with paladins being against that at all. I'd say give him some Shadowbane Inquisitor levels would be appropriate. That would justify his deceit and cloak & dagger stuff. This also gives him an organization to be working for. Once these "brigands" don't turn to his cause he'll want them arrested or executed. So while the PC's go about adventuring they'll be constantly harried and pursued by this dogmatic foe. It'd be kind of cool to have a re-occuring hero who keeps plaguing the PC's attempts to be "brigands". Albert King aka. Rodger Canocen would make an excellent 1-20 campaign constant. As the party fights other foes they constantly have to be on the lookout because they're hunted men.
fawr 06-07-05, 08:24 AM	i would give any lone boss 3-5 levels higher then the average party lvl or then the highest member for the encounter with him. so if the party will be 5th lvl then the boss should be between lvls 8-10. this has always worked out in my experiance as a dm. I find that with an enemy (especially a spellcaster) just 1 level higher than my party (of 5 PCs) that one or more of them get very close to death, if the party makes any sort of mistake (like walking down a corridor holding a light, or forgetting to cast Haste/Protection from elements while the group is all within 30').
Rathje 06-07-05, 07:51 PM	Thank you very much. I'll aim for around 2-3 levels in the first fight. If they take him to low HP quickly, he can retreat and be upped higher next time. If he's destroying them, I can have something happen to take him away, like a horde of kobolds running in to attack the group of Humans and "big folk" standing around. On a side note that's some CRAZY Paladin subterfuge skills....what with paladins being against that at all. I'd say give him some Shadowbane Inquisitor levels would be appropriate. That would justify his deceit and cloak & dagger stuff. This also gives him an organization to be working for. As a house rule, we've put less restrictions on alignment. For example, Paladins have alignment rules that match Cleric. Well, Good characters are Paladins, while Evil are Blackguards. Neutral character can be either Paladin or Blackguard, depending on the deity. Rodger Canocen follows the Order of Hest, which is a Chaotic Neutral deity. From order to order, methods vary. Hest, being Neutral, isn't exactly opposed to deceit if it's for the greater good. I also don't have the book with Shadowbane Inquisitor. Complete Adventurer, I think, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I only have PHB and DMG, using SRD for MM until I can buy one. Thank you!