Build for a Dungeon-Builder [Archive] - Wizards Community

Build for a Dungeon-Builder [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
blackjackg
03-28-06, 07:12 PM Hi folks. I'm trying to make myself a MBEG, and having some trouble working out the specifics. The character is an enigma, a mask-wearing weirdo who spends his unlife constructing puzzles and dungeons, filling them with gruesome traps and deadly monsters, then laughing as adventurers die in them. So I'm looking for a basic build for a character who can:

1) Plan and build an elaborate maze-like fortress.
2) Fill it will all kinds of creepy and ghoulish monsters.
3) Construct mundane and arcane traps.
4) Maybe knock together a few golems for good measure.

Now, the character is a vampire, so his innate dominate ability would probably take care of the manpower and even get him a few choice monsters. My question is, what would be a decent set of class skills to have so that he can put together all the rest, without being too powerful (he doesn't need to be particularly combat-ready). I'm a little worried about giving him too many class levels, because I don't want to rocket his CR into the Epic stratosphere. Any suggestions?
DaMullet
03-28-06, 07:19 PM First off, I'd like to know if MBEG is a Mega-Evil bad Guy, or a Moderately Evil Bag Guy.

Secondly, Kobolds love traps, and I'd like to see how a Kobold Vampire would go over with a group of PCs. If he took some levels in Sorcerer, it would probably suit him better than Wizard.

If you need a background, I can't help you. I just do wacky game mechanics.
blackjackg
03-28-06, 07:26 PM First off, I'd like to know if MBEG is a Mega-Evil bad Guy, or a Moderately Evil Bag Guy.
I was actually going for Medium, but Moderately is even better. This would be about the second-most powerful of a small group of vampires that the PC's would face (Ideally, they wouldn't face them all at once but sneak around and get them one at a time). I'm not looking for suggestions on background, I've got a pretty good idea of background all-around. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions regarding what classes he should take in order to do all kinds of cool dungeon-building stuff as outlined above.
Laurengamer20
03-28-06, 07:34 PM you don't really need to build him like that at all. you are the dm, build the dungeon the way you want it and keep it logical. your players will never need to know. build the bad guy as you want him, leave the dungeon to the slaves he makes. he doesn't need to take something like craft (dungeoneering), or whatever. give him some stats, a class like rogue if you want, and put the vampire template on him. designing a dungeon builder character seems pointless to me. have him take over a crypt or something. then modify that if you want. build the dungeon, stock it with bad guy minions, involve the PCs. easy as 1-2-3.
Ryan_Singer
03-28-06, 07:44 PM I was actually going for Medium, but Moderately is even better. This would be about the second-most powerful of a small group of vampires that the PC's would face (Ideally, they wouldn't face them all at once but sneak around and get them one at a time). I'm not looking for suggestions on background, I've got a pretty good idea of background all-around. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions regarding what classes he should take in order to do all kinds of cool dungeon-building stuff as outlined above.

Artificer. Can make any magical trap, and can cast any spell. Have fun.
WCH
03-28-06, 07:54 PM A lvl 12 Warlock can, likewise, craft any item he meets the caster level for, ignoring spell requirements.

Kobold Warlock 12 Vampire would definitely be odd.

Also of note: Dwarven Vampire (from Ravenloft) gets Stonewalk instead of Gaseous Form, as well as having the weakness of cold iron instead of silver, thus making him both unpredictable and more powerful underground (using Stonewalk he can move through walls, after all. That leads to a funky end of the maze, where there isn't actually any hallway which leads to his lair, and he can get around all the traps by moving through the walls). An insane dwarf would certainly be a sight.

What CR are you thinking of?
blackjackg
03-29-06, 01:08 AM I haven't settled on a CR for certain yet. I'd like to keep it out of Epic levels. Maybe somewhere in the 14-16 level. I wouldn't mind his being technically a little higher than the players should be able to handle since he wouldn't be optimized for combat and in a toe-to-toe fight he'd be a lot less dangerous than his dungeon would be.
WCH
03-29-06, 01:12 AM Dwarven Warlock 12 Mature Vampire would be CR 15, have been a vamp for a 100 years or so, be able to craft anythign up to caster lvl 12, etc. Would work well, I think.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
blackjackg 03-28-06, 07:12 PM	Hi folks. I'm trying to make myself a MBEG, and having some trouble working out the specifics. The character is an enigma, a mask-wearing weirdo who spends his unlife constructing puzzles and dungeons, filling them with gruesome traps and deadly monsters, then laughing as adventurers die in them. So I'm looking for a basic build for a character who can: 1) Plan and build an elaborate maze-like fortress. 2) Fill it will all kinds of creepy and ghoulish monsters. 3) Construct mundane and arcane traps. 4) Maybe knock together a few golems for good measure. Now, the character is a vampire, so his innate dominate ability would probably take care of the manpower and even get him a few choice monsters. My question is, what would be a decent set of class skills to have so that he can put together all the rest, without being too powerful (he doesn't need to be particularly combat-ready). I'm a little worried about giving him too many class levels, because I don't want to rocket his CR into the Epic stratosphere. Any suggestions?
DaMullet 03-28-06, 07:19 PM	First off, I'd like to know if MBEG is a Mega-Evil bad Guy, or a Moderately Evil Bag Guy. Secondly, Kobolds love traps, and I'd like to see how a Kobold Vampire would go over with a group of PCs. If he took some levels in Sorcerer, it would probably suit him better than Wizard. If you need a background, I can't help you. I just do wacky game mechanics.
blackjackg 03-28-06, 07:26 PM	First off, I'd like to know if MBEG is a Mega-Evil bad Guy, or a Moderately Evil Bag Guy. I was actually going for Medium, but Moderately is even better. This would be about the second-most powerful of a small group of vampires that the PC's would face (Ideally, they wouldn't face them all at once but sneak around and get them one at a time). I'm not looking for suggestions on background, I've got a pretty good idea of background all-around. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions regarding what classes he should take in order to do all kinds of cool dungeon-building stuff as outlined above.
Laurengamer20 03-28-06, 07:34 PM	you don't really need to build him like that at all. you are the dm, build the dungeon the way you want it and keep it logical. your players will never need to know. build the bad guy as you want him, leave the dungeon to the slaves he makes. he doesn't need to take something like craft (dungeoneering), or whatever. give him some stats, a class like rogue if you want, and put the vampire template on him. designing a dungeon builder character seems pointless to me. have him take over a crypt or something. then modify that if you want. build the dungeon, stock it with bad guy minions, involve the PCs. easy as 1-2-3.
Ryan_Singer 03-28-06, 07:44 PM	I was actually going for Medium, but Moderately is even better. This would be about the second-most powerful of a small group of vampires that the PC's would face (Ideally, they wouldn't face them all at once but sneak around and get them one at a time). I'm not looking for suggestions on background, I've got a pretty good idea of background all-around. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions regarding what classes he should take in order to do all kinds of cool dungeon-building stuff as outlined above. Artificer. Can make any magical trap, and can cast any spell. Have fun.
WCH 03-28-06, 07:54 PM	A lvl 12 Warlock can, likewise, craft any item he meets the caster level for, ignoring spell requirements. Kobold Warlock 12 Vampire would definitely be odd. Also of note: Dwarven Vampire (from Ravenloft) gets Stonewalk instead of Gaseous Form, as well as having the weakness of cold iron instead of silver, thus making him both unpredictable and more powerful underground (using Stonewalk he can move through walls, after all. That leads to a funky end of the maze, where there isn't actually any hallway which leads to his lair, and he can get around all the traps by moving through the walls). An insane dwarf would certainly be a sight. What CR are you thinking of?
blackjackg 03-29-06, 01:08 AM	I haven't settled on a CR for certain yet. I'd like to keep it out of Epic levels. Maybe somewhere in the 14-16 level. I wouldn't mind his being technically a little higher than the players should be able to handle since he wouldn't be optimized for combat and in a toe-to-toe fight he'd be a lot less dangerous than his dungeon would be.
WCH 03-29-06, 01:12 AM	Dwarven Warlock 12 Mature Vampire would be CR 15, have been a vamp for a 100 years or so, be able to craft anythign up to caster lvl 12, etc. Would work well, I think.