Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 nytemare3701 Feb 07, 2009 1:26:18	I'm running a campaign in which the "only" remaining crystal dragon in the realm requires a gauntlet of 6 "Lesser Facets" to be faced. I need some help making 6 consecutive bosses manageable. Ideas so far: 1. Make each portal the players go into between facets rejuvenate them (Extended Rest, NO milestone reset) 2. Each defeated Facet provides a groupwide bonus until they finish the gauntlet I'm leaning more towards the first one, but other ideas are greatly appreciated! The 6 Facets are: Show Light (11 Solo, Regen 10) Nature (11 Solo, Auto-Saves) Chaos (11 Solo, Cannot be Marked) Darkness (11 Solo, Ongoing 5 aura) Elements (11 Solo, Absorbs elements) Strength (11 Solo, +10 Dmg) EDIT: Using the Statblock for Adult Black Dragon, replacing all Cloud and Presence with above.
#2 Mechalibur Feb 07, 2009 9:28:58	I have an idea... Allow the players a total of 2 or 3 extended rests that they can take after any battle. You could also surprise them near the end by having them fight two of the dragons at once (as long as it wouldn't be too difficult...) Also, make sure your bosses don't have ridiculously high HP and defenses otherwise your players will get bored after 2 fights. You also need to make the dragons different enough so the players don't feel like they're doing the same fight over and over again.
#3 nytemare3701 Feb 07, 2009 13:11:06	Thanks! The group is level 11, so each of the fights is going to be hard. I'll add a cumulative +1 atk and dmg bonus per slain dragon, so each one goes down a little easier. Update: One of the players isn't coming, so they will NEED all 6 extended rests + Milestones. Party Makeup: Swordmage (Shielding) Warlord (Inspiring) Paladin (Martyr) Barbarian (No-Show) Cleric (Spellscarred, possible No-Show)
#4 Rhineglade_ Feb 07, 2009 14:53:57	I always like how the "Legend of Zelda" games used to do it. Particulary "A Link to the Past." Each of the boss monsters guarded a crystal that contained a maiden. When the boss was defeated, the crystal was released but with the maiden still trapped inside. She would be able to use some magic to heal the player before transporting the player back outside the dungeon. All the freed crystals then would be used to break the final seal in order to get to the BEBG ("Big Evil Bad Guy.") This notion is actually quite popular in many of the better RPG video games. I just happen to be more familiar to the Zelda series.
#5 nytemare3701 Feb 07, 2009 23:31:26	Hmmm...Interesting Concept... Make the extended rests into 1 use crystal Shards? Facet Shard - Minor Artifact Show Consumable - Non-Combat A Crystal shard taken from one of Glint's Facets. It glows with a massive amount of stored energy Property: Merely keeping a Facet Shard on one's person is enough to absorb residual energy from it, granting a +1 to attack and damage rolls for the whole party. Invoking the power of the Facet Shard restores all powers and surges, but doing consumes the shard's power. Special: The character holding the shard is protected by Crystal Skin, granting immunity to all "Crystal" Effects.
#6 shinikama Feb 08, 2009 11:48:18	Hmmm...Interesting Concept... Make the extended rests into 1 use crystal Shards? Facet Shard - Minor Artifact Show Consumable - Non-Combat A Crystal shard taken from one of Glint's Facets. It glows with a massive amount of stored energy Property: Merely keeping a Facet Shard on one's person is enough to absorb residual energy from it, granting a +1 to attack and damage rolls. Invoking the power of the Facet Shard restores all powers and surges, but doing consumes the shard's power.
#7 Fox_Reeveheart Feb 08, 2009 12:21:28	I'm running a campaign in which the "only" remaining crystal dragon in the realm requires a gauntlet of 6 "Lesser Facets" to be faced. I need some help making 6 consecutive bosses manageable. Ideas so far: 1. Make each portal the players go into between facets rejuvenate them (Extended Rest, NO milestone reset) 2. Each defeated Facet provides a groupwide bonus until they finish the gauntlet I'm leaning more towards the first one, but other ideas are greatly appreciated! The 6 Facets are: Show Light (11 Solo, Regen 10) Nature (11 Solo, Auto-Saves) Chaos (11 Solo, Cannot be Marked) Darkness (11 Solo, Ongoing 5 aura) Elements (11 Solo, Absorbs elements) Strength (11 Solo, +10 Dmg) EDIT: Using the Statblock for Adult Black Dragon, replacing all Cloud and Presence with above.
#8 nytemare3701 Feb 08, 2009 13:20:21	Been playing too much guild wars have we? :3 The entire campaign is built from scratch and GW-based, so yeah. glint as 15 solo? 20 sounds better as she seems more like the character you would have to defeat to break into the epic tier. Done. She's now a 20 solo, but she's keeping her current defenses. You never have trouble HITTING her, just KILLING her. @Shinikama: I changed the shards, how's that?
#9 eshenaleros Feb 08, 2009 13:48:17	this looks really good. explains the use of extended rests without stopping for so long. and hey, really inventive players will be able to heal themselves during combat, if you allow it. if you don't you should have the crystal healing ability take about a minute, maybe two, to cast.
#10 shinikama Feb 08, 2009 16:09:50	NOW it looks workable. I assume that the end boss will have one or two Crystal abilities that it will not be able to use until it forces one to use the healing ability? That makes the combat have depth. "Do I heal to full now and go nova again, or do I use my at-will/crossbow/full attack (depending on version and class) and avoid the horrific attack. Make Glint attack using the Crystal ability first, just so they know what it can do if they don't have a crystal anymore.