-I have a bunch of stuff done already. I'll post it, and then ask everyone else for assistance. With the templates, and the Epic Levels, and all of that, I'm not getting anywhere. What am I missing, what's wrong, what needs to be reformatted, and so on?
*As in, not using any House Rules that are second nature to me, due to always play D&D like that, and/or in the "official" format, and all of that.
Ka'Narlist; CR 30
Drow Lich Wizard 20 / Archmage 4
HP: 153 (24 HD)
Immune: Aging, cold, electricity, polymorph, Mind-Effecting Spells, Magical Sleep
Resist: Spell Resistance 35
Fort +19, Ref +21, Will +30
AC: To be determined with items, Natural Armor +5, Dex +4
BAB: +12/+7
Abilities: STR 9, DEX 18, CON -, INT 27, WIS 20, CHA 20
SQ: Dark Elven traits: +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search (Entitled to a search check when passing within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door), and Spot checks; Darkvision vision 120’, Immune to Sleep, +2 racial bonus on saves against enchantments, Proficient with rapier and shortsword, Proficient with hand crossbow; Lich traits: Turn resistance +4, +8 bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks, Immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mind-affecting spells, Touch attack once per round: Save vs. Fortitude (DC=12 + Half Lich HD + Charisma modifier) or permanently paralyzed and appear dead, Fear Aura, Damage Reduction 15 / Bludgeoning
Skills: Appraise +12, Bluff +5 (+8 with those who know his true identity), Concentration +20, Decipher Script +18, Diplomacy +10 (+12 with Drow Elves and +13 for those who know his true identity), Disable Device +13, Disguise +09, Escape Artist +9, Forgery +08, Gather Information +17, Handle Animal +7, Heal +8, Hide +12, Intimidate +17 (+20 with those who know his true identity), Knowledge (Arcana) +36, Knowledge (History) +18, Knowledge (Local) +13, Knowledge (Nature) +13, Knowledge (Religion) +12, Knowledge (The Planes) +14, Listen +16, Search +23 (+25 for Secret Doors and Similar), Sense Motive +13, Spellcraft +41, Spot +23, Use Magic Device +10
Feats: AncestorDRA354, Craft Wondrous Item, Daylight Adaptation, Wedded to History: Elder of LegendDRA354, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Skill Focus (Evocation)
Wizard Bonus Feats: Maximize Spell, Quicken Spell, Silent Spell, Still Spell, Scribe Scroll
Archmage High Arcana: Arcane Fire, Mastery of Elements, Mastery of Shaping, Spell-Like Ability: Teleport
Epic Feats: Improved Spell Capacity
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 24): 4 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / E
Immunities (Ex): Ka’Narlist is immune to magic Sleep spells and effects.
Spell-Like Abilities: Ka’Narlist can use the following spell-like abilities with a caster level of 24 once per day: Dancing Lights, Darkness, Faerie Fire.
Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light blinds Ka’Narlisr for 1 round. In subsequent rounds, he is dazzled as long as he remains in the affected area. Ka’Narlist’s Daylight Adaptation feat negates this penalty.
Fear Aura (Su): Liches are shrouded in a dreadful aura of death and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-foot radius that look at the lich must succeed on a Will save or be affected as though by a Fear spell from a Sorcerer of the 24th Level. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the aura for 24 hours.
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature a lich hits with its touch attack must succeed on a Fortitude save or be permanently paralyzed. Remove Paralysis or any spell that can remove a curse can free the victim. The effect cannot be dispelled. Anyone paralyzed by a lich seems dead, though a DC 20 Spot check or a DC 15 Heal check reveals that the victim is still alive.
Turn Resistance (Ex): Ka’Narlist has +4 turn resistance.
Damage Reduction (Su): Ka’Narlist’s Undead body is tough, granting him a Damage Reduction 15/Bludgeoning. His Natural Weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming Damage Reduction.
Immunities (Ex): Ka’Narlist has an immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph and mind-affecting attacks.
Arcane Fire (Su): Ka’Narlist gains the ability to channel arcane spell energy into arcane fire, manifesting as a bolt of raw magical energy. The bolt is a ranged attack with long range (560’) that deals 4d6 points of damage, plus 1d6 points of damage per level of the spell channeled, if it hits. This ability cost Ka’Narlist one 9th level spell slot.
Mastery of Elements: Ka’Narlist can alter an arcane spell when cast so that it utilizes a different element from the one it normally does. For example, Ka’Narlist can create a Fireball that does sonic damage, instead of fire damage. This ability only alters spells with acid, cold, fire, electricity or sonic descriptors. The spell’s casting time is unaffected. Ka’Narlist may decide whether or not to alter the spell’s energy type and chooses the new energy type when he begins casting. This ability cost Ka’Narlist one 8th level spell slot.
Mastery of Shaping: Ka’Narlist may alter area and effect spells that use the following categories: burst, cone, cylinder, emanation and spread. The alteration consists of creating spaces within the spell’s area or effect that are not subject to the spell. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a five-foot cube. Furthermore, any shapeable (S) spells have a minimum dimension of 5 feet instead of 10 feet. This ability cost Ka’Narlist one 6th level spell slot.
Spell-Like Ability: Teleport (Su): Ka’Narlist can permanently cast Teleport twice per day. This ability cost Ka’Narlist one 5th level spell slot.
1) This is more a quark than anything but you haven't listed the drow spell-like abilities. We all know they are there and if your not listing them to save room then ignore this but you have everything else up so thought I'd list it anyhow.
2) I believe his SR should be 35 (11+CL) unless there is some house rule or other technicallity I'm missing.
3) Drow only gain proficiency with the rapier, short sword and hand crossbow according to the Underdark source book.
That's it, otherwise it's a nice write up. I actually when and dug up which book he was in so I can possibliy read it later.
1) This is more a quark than anything but you haven't listed the drow spell-like abilities. We all know they are there and if your not listing them to save room then ignore this but you have everything else up so thought I'd list it anyhow.
...
3) Drow only gain proficiency with the rapier, short sword and hand crossbow according to the Underdark source book.
-OK, I didn't even realize it. That's why I'm posting my futile efforts for "peer review".
2) I believe his SR should be 35 (11+CL) unless there is some house rule or other technicallity I'm missing.
-I'll go over the math. I'm sure I did that wrong.
1) This is more a quark than anything but you haven't listed the drow spell-like abilities. We all know they are there and if your not listing them to save room then ignore this but you have everything else up so thought I'd list it anyhow.
I thought this guy was a Dark Elf, not a Drow Elf. This guy was BEFORE the Descent right?
Anyway, he misses bab, grapple, and melee and ranged attacks.
Ahja, and Archmage has some requirements that are not met at the moment.
I thought this guy was a Dark Elf, not a Drow Elf. This guy was BEFORE the Descent right?
Oh yeah. So I'd think he should be a moon elf stat-wise. But then, I always visualized him as more of a modern Drow. So... I don't really know.
LK, may I make my own version of him and later post it here based on your build?
-Sure, go right ahead.
Ahja, and Archmage has some requirements that are not met at the moment.
-Spellcasting: 7th Level. With 20 Levels of Wizard, he's got this.
-Knowledge (Arcana) +36 and Spellcraft +38. The prerequisites are 15 and 15, respectfully.
-Skill Focus (Spellcraft) and Spell Focus in Two schools needs to be added. I'll remove 'Combat Casting', 'Improved Initiative' and 'Deceitful'.
-I did a little more cleaning up on the OP.
-I actually finished writing out his (what I think, anyway) "correct" stats and format and everything. Does anyone mind checking it out and letting me know if I have more errors?
I suggest focusing his build towards optimised use of genetic engineering spells (like Lifeblend and Evolve from Pages from the Mages). Perhaps Spellfocus transmutation instead of evocation?
Daylight adaptation is not needed if he's considered a dark elf (i.e. stats of a moon elf).
For ease of use you could fill his daily spells with his favorites.
Equipment of note to add is that magnificent belt of sea elven soulpearls. It must have held some sort of contingent trap the soul spell triggered on Ka'Arnalist's death i.e. a necromantic major wondrous item.
I suggest focusing his build towards optimised use of genetic engineering spells (like Lifeblend and Evolve from Pages from the Mages). Perhaps Spellfocus transmutation instead of evocation?
-I haven't worked out any spells that he would have prepared. I was just going to skim the PHB and pick out ones that would fit the character. That type of thing is unimportant to me. He can change his daily prepared spells at any time, so I never really cared too much about showing what he had prepared "right now". That said, though, if you want to suggest some good ones, let me know, and I'll add them.
Daylight adaptation is not needed if he's considered a dark elf (i.e. stats of a moon elf).
-Dark Elves would have the stats of "Wild" Elves, not Moon Elves. That said, all Dark Elves were transformed by the power of the Descent of the Drow curse. In keeping with the theme that he still exists (un)live, somewhere, he, too, would have been affected.
Equipment of note to add is that magnificent belt of sea elven soulpearls. It must have held some sort of contingent trap the soul spell triggered on Ka'Arnalist's death i.e. a necromantic major wondrous item.
-I was envisioning those pearls as the Pearls of Powers that he has. They contain within them the spirits and magic of the Sea Elves, and it is this magic that allows him to recast spent spells, as per how Pearls of Power work.
-Thus far, the possessions I have given him include. Like before, any interesting items, suggestions are fine:
9th Level Pearl of Power x2
8th Level Pearl of Power x2
7th Level Pearl of Power x2
Robe of the Archmagi (Black)
Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
Bracers of Arcane Freedom
Ring of Freedom of Movement
Ring of Mind Shielding
-I actually finished writing out his (what I think, anyway) "correct" stats and format and everything. Does anyone mind checking it out and letting me know if I have more errors?
Ok, so how do you calculate his CR? If wizard20/archmage4 is still correct 30 is way too high. It should be 26 (27 if he's got a +1 to CR like a drow).
Archmage 4 = CR 4
Lich = CR 2
Drow = CR 2
-It should be 28, not 30. Why did I think Lich was +3 and Drow was +3?
Since I'm not a huge fan of the 3.0 way of maxing out classes I gave him a few Prestige Classes instead, though I had a hard time finding some appropriate ones.
Anyway, I've to admit that this is a rather sub-optimal build, for various reasons. 1) I didn't know his alignment, his weapon, and his gear (it's not very elfish at the moment. 2) Because of running short of feats I had to include the two feats found in Dragon #354 in one special ability. 3) I'm sure there was something else but I can't remember.
Ka’Narlist CR 28
Male Dark Elf Lich Wizard 13/Archmage 4/Void Disciple 7/Arcane Devotee 2
NE Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid, Elf)
Init +4; Senses arcane sight, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +21, Spot +21
Aura Fear Aura (60 ft., DC 28)
Languages Common, Abyssal, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Orc
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AC 35, touch 22, flat-footed 31
(+8 armor, +4 dex, +5 natural, +8 deflection)
hp 169; HD 26d12; DR 15/bludgeoning and magic; moderate fortification
Immune to ability drain, cold, critical hits, disease, death effects, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, and stunning
Resist energy 30; SR 37
Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +27 (+29 vs. spells & spell-like abilities); (+1 vs. divine spells & spell-like abilities)
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +11 touch (1d8+5 or by Weapon)
Ranged +16 touch (by Spell)
Base Atk +12; Grapple +11
Atk Options & Special Actions Altering the Course, Arcane Fire, Mastery of Elements, Mastery of Shaping, Moment of Clarity, Paralyzing Touch, Reach of the Holy, Sense Void; Enlarge Spell, Epic Spellcasting, Heighten Spell
Combat Gear wand of magic missiles (9th), wand of lightning bolt (10th), wand of fireball (10th), wand of stoneskin (10th), wand of mage armor (9th), wand of neutralize poison (7th), wand of dispel magic (10th), wand of fear (9th), wand of wall of ice (10th), potion of cure critical wounds x1, potion of cure serious wounds x2, potion of cure moderate wounds x3, potion of cure light wounds x4, scroll of word of recall, scroll of antimagic field, scroll of undeath to death, 2 gems of Mordenkainen’s disjunction, rod of absorption x2, crystal ball with telepathy (scry on command, suggestion 1/day), various other minor, major, and unique magic items
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 24th; 1d20+26 to overcome SR): 4/7/7/7/6/5/5/6/4/4
Spell Save DCs (21 + spell level, +1 for Evocation & Necromancy)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th):
At-will – detect evil/good, detect magic
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 26th):
1/day – dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire
Contingent Spells chain contingency (ghostform and greater ironguard if physically attacked), detect scrying, mind blank, reverse arrows
Permanent Spells comprehend languages, detect magic, nondetection, read magic, tongues
Epic Spells per Day: 2
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Abilities Str 9 (-1), Dex 18 (+4), Con –, Int 32 (+11), Wis 19 (+4), Cha 21 (+5)
SQ Dark Elf Traits, Undead Traits; Ancestor of Legend, High Arcana: Spell Power, Sacred Defense
Feats Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous Item, Enlarge Spell, Heighten Spell, Scribe Scroll {B}, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Evocation, Necromancy), Spell Penetration
Epic Feats Epic Spellcasting
Skills Appraise +16, Bluff +19 (+22 with those who know his true identity), Concentration +29, Craft (Alchemy) +25, Decipher Script +25, Diplomacy +19 (+21 with Dark Elves and +22 for those who know his true identity), Disable Device +16, Gather Information +20, Handle Animal +12, Hide +15, Intimidate +15 (+18 with those who know his true identity), Knowledge (Arcana) +50, Knowledge (History) +40, Knowledge (Local) +40, Knowledge (Religion) +40, Knowledge (the Planes) +40, Move Silently +17, Listen +21, Search +35, Sense Motive +24, Spellcraft +57, Spot +21
Possessions combat gear plus Ka’Narlist’s Robe (+8 armor bonus, +5 to Intelligence, +10 insight bonus on Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft checks, 75 % chance that a critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally), bracers of armor +8, ring of resistance +5, ring of universal major energy resistance, 18 greatbooks (spellbooks made of mithral and copper foil, guarded by major resistance, blindness, and spelltrapped with enervation), infinite quill. As the ruler of Attornash, Ka’Narlist has access to many other items, both mundane, magical, and epic.
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High Arcana: For each level of Archmage Ka’Narlist takes, he can select one high arcana.
Arcane Fire (Su): Ka’Narlist can change arcane spell energy into arcane fire. The bolt is a ranged touch attack with Long range that deals 4d6+1d6/spell level used points of damage.
Mastery of Elements: Ka’Narlist can alter an arcane spell when cast to utilize a different element from the one it normally uses.
Mastery of Shaping: Ka’Narlist can alter area and effect spells that use burst, cone, cylinder, emanation or spreads by creating spaces within the spell’s area or effect that are not subject to the spell.
Spell Power: Ka’Narlist’s effective caster level has been increased by 1.
Sense Void (Su): 4/per day, Ka’Narlist’s consciousness actually departs his body and extends into the world, allowing him to use his normal senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) and magical senses to perceive whatever area, person, or thing he directs his attention to. Ka’Narlist must make a Spellcraft check, with the DC determined by distance, not familiarity.
Moment of Clarity (Su): Twice per day, Ka’Narlist can grant an ally the temporary ability to perform any skill or feat (with the exception of ancestor feats). Ka’Narlist must use a standard action to touch the target. The target gains either one feat or a number of ranks in one skill equal to his relevant ability modifier for that skill. The effect lasts for 7 rounds.
Altering the Course (Su): Once per day, Ka’Narlist can add a +20 bonus on any single attack roll, skill check, or ability check she makes. He cannot transfer this bonus to another character by any means. This supernatural ability requires no action, and lasts only the duration of the single check.
Reach of the Holy (Ex): Ka’Narlist may apply the effects of the Enlarge Spell feat to any spell he casts. He does not need to prepare it as an enlarged spell in advance, and the use of this ability does not increase the casting time or use a higher-level spell slot. Ka’Narlist may use this ability a 6 times per day.
Sacred Defense (Ex): Ka’Narlist gains a +1 bonus on saving throws against divine spells, as well as the spell-like and supernatural abilities of outsiders.
Ancestor of Legend (Ex): Whenever Ka’Narlist makes a Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check against a target who knows his true identity he may add +3 to the roll. Having this frame, however, comes with a price. Those who know of his past often call upon him to aid their cause or side with them in conflicts. In addition, Ka’Narlist can shift the initial attitude of anyone of his race one step closer to helpful. Also, Ka’Narlist receives a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks to further shift the attitudes of anyone of his race.
Wizard 20 = CR 20
Archmage 4 = CR 4
Lich = CR 2
Drow = CR 2
-It should be 28, not 30. Why did I think Lich was +3 and Drow was +3?
Drow get +1 to CR.
Drow get +1 to CR.
-Not according to Underdark, which is where I drew the Drow stats from.
-Not according to Underdark, which is where I drew the Drow stats from.
Isn't Underdark 3.0? Anyway, in 3.5 they get a +1, read it here.
You know... For Unlawful Ka'Narlistic Knowledge? :D
Suppose the descent took place somewhere else, and the Imaskari Godwall was already erected.... would a curse of the Seldarine be able to penetrate through such a shield, designed to block-out ALL godly powers?
Just a thought.
But then those Dark Elves would have to stay on whatever 'closed world' they were on, because once they left their protective magics, the curse would kick-in.
Being a Sharn can't possibly be the only way to avoid the transformation.
Nice work on Ka'Narlist, BTW. I'm not a big fan of the guy, but the write-up looks good.
Canonicallly, you are correct, but in theory, its possible.
....
Being a Sharn can't possibly be the only way to avoid the transformation.
-In theory, any and every possible combination can be possible. But, we have yet to see any evidence that suggests that there were alternative ways to not transform into a Drow, so, until then...
-In theory, any and every possible combination can be possible. But, we have yet to see any evidence that suggests that there were alternative ways to not transform into a Drow, so, until then...
OK. I got the point.
So he's supposed to be living in post-Descent Realms, not the pre-Descent ones?
OK. I got the point.
So he's supposed to be living in post-Descent Realms, not the pre-Descent ones?
-He'd be "living" in both. I made him a Lich to ignore any aging conundrums. I think the text alluded to him wanting to be a Lich, anyway, so...
Though I'm not sure Lloth would be entrirely happy with his existing still and at all ;)
Or has be been in stasis somewhere?
Was it the same spell that performed the 'sundering' and created Evermeet (forward and backward in time, if I remember correctly) is it possible that whatever means he used to escape is partly responsible for him being around now? Say...a few hundred years of time lapsed before he was able to work his way out of some stasis field or other and he comes out to discover 10 000+ years have passed.
Since he has been around since before the descent of the Drow, doesn't 24 class levels (even with CR adjustments) seem a little low?
-Not necessarily. If he's been sitting around on the couch and watching TV for the last 10,000 years, why would he go up levels? Being old doesn't necessarily automatically mean being "super" or whatever.
Or has be been in stasis somewhere?
-Since the entire concept of him surviving the Sundering is something that is only vaguely alluded to, but never actually mentioned one way or the other, we've got no clue as to:
(A) If he actually survived or not.
(B) What he actually is, if he has.
(C) What he's been doing all this time.
Was it the same spell that performed the 'sundering' and created Evermeet (forward and backward in time, if I remember correctly) is it possible that whatever means he used to escape is partly responsible for him being around now? Say...a few hundred years of time lapsed before he was able to work his way out of some stasis field or other and he comes out to discover 10 000+ years have passed.
-Not particularly, no.
-With "official" NPC stat blocks, do you need to list the spells the person has prepared, or is it alright if I list what spellslots he has, but don't actually list the spells?
*Just a joke
-With "official" NPC stat blocks, do you need to list the spells the person has prepared, or is it alright if I list what spellslots he has, but don't actually list the spells?
List both spells and spellslots. I hope you have access to various sources like the Spell Compendium. And make sure to include some metamagic-enhanced spells.
List both spells and spellslots. I hope you have access to various sources like the Spell Compendium. And make sure to include some metamagic-enhanced spells.
-Ah, okay. I wasn't fully sure that was how it was supposed to be done, but I was 75% sure. Anyone have any interesting suggestions for spells? I'll flip through the books, but I figure...
Anticipate Teleport: Sense and delay teleporations
Aura of Terror or Evil Glare: Inspire terror in the surrounding creatures.
Probe Thoughts: Read surface thoughts.
Ironguard: Become immune to iron
Energy Immunity: Become immune to one energy of your choice.
Emerald Fire Fist: Evoke a large flaming hand to deal damage.
Glass Strike: Turn subject to glass.
Blackfire: Release blackfire to harm foes con damage.
Avascular: Reduce target to half HP and stun.
Absoprtion: Absorb spells to fuel your own.
Eye of Power: Arcane Eye that can cast spell through.
Black Blade of Disaster: Floating magic weapon disintegrates subjects.
Sphere of Ultimate Destruction: Black sphere that disintegrates.
Flensing: Skin creature.
These are just flavorful for Archmages, but the levels are all pretty high but picking up seven or eight will do nicely. Besides every wizard worth his sand has an ultimate protection, destruction, and utility spells.
Ex. 1) Ironguard, Blackfire, Eye of Power
Ex. 2) Energy Immunity, Black Blade of Disaster, Probe Thoughts
Ex. 3) Absorption, Flensing, Anticipate Teleport
Always nice to have.