13th Level Knight NPC - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

13th Level Knight NPC

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
scorpions_are_cool_
Apr 20, 2008 19:33:23 OK, I'm designing a NPC Knight to take on the fighter in the party I DM for and I need a good build so it will be a decent encounter. The fighter has huge pluses to hit so I need a good AC also he may come to blows with an Archer-focussed Ranger and a fiery sorcerer.

So the fighter I'm designing him to fight is really specialized in Two-weapon fighting and to a lesser extent, horseback fighting.

I definetly don't have all the books that would be useful in this build. The books I do have to work with here are as follows.

Book of Exalted Deeds
Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide II
Epic Level Handbook
Expanded Psionics Handbook
Fiendish Codex I
Fiendish Codex II
Libris Mortis
Lords of Madness
Magic of Incarnum
Monster Manual
Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook II
Tome of Magic

I don't mind the Knight dipping into other classes or PrC but he should remain primarily a Knight, and he can't be more than Lvl 15, I'm aiming for 13.

As for flavor, he's really basic, he is a LE knight of the dark circle of the castle the PCs (who are evil) rule. He hates Abberations just like the PCs and the reason they'll fight is because the fighter, who was previously cheated out of an Abberation Bane longsword by some Neogi, will see the Knight's Abberation Fiercebane weapon and probably want to steal it (if not they'll fight for some other reason!).

So my idea is that he be really good at sword fighting and also decent with a lance, but maybe that's not all that great.

I can increase it but I rolled his HP at 121. The party he's in consists of a Half-White Dragon Elf Sorcerer 10, a Halfling Rogue 13, and a Gnome Binder 15 who will most likely be there with them and depending on how hostile the PCs are they may step in.

He also has these abilities:

STR 12
DEX 11
CON 15
INT 10
WIS 9
CHA 21

I figure I'll deck him out with a +2 shield and +4 armour, but being fair at 13th level he should only have about 45 000 gp to throw around right? Also a Cloak of Charisma may be useful.
#2
nightfallen
Apr 20, 2008 20:10:55 Ok, I aint a DM, and I aint good at knights, (mine died at the first battle I played ^^; ) but if he's ganna be a mini-boss, shouldn't he be a bitt better in STR?
And I would bust him some gold because he is a enemy, and maybe boss. But honostly, I am not a DM, nor am I good with knights, just giving you some advise for a boss if that is what he is.

Also, is he ganna be a reacering villin?
#3
darksamuari
Apr 20, 2008 20:21:57 How you build him will really depend on how you want to play him and how you want to the players to see him. As it is right now, hes charming but dumb as a stick and wise as a stump. If you wish for him to be a more challenging villain you can sacrifice the 20 in charisma and put those extra points into intelligence (which if you wanted to go for a more defensively aimed fighter, which the knight kinda is...) and wisdom (I like my villains to be partially alright when compared to a commoner)

To combat a two-weapon fighter you'll want this guy to be tactic fully more defensive. I'd suggest trip, disarm, and even maybe sunder if you think he'll be able to get away with it.

If it was me I would have this guy be pulling an unorthodox teqnique/tactic/feature against the players. I always believe being memorable with a villain is more important than being super powerful.
#4
nightfallen
Apr 20, 2008 20:28:43 Oh, I have an Idea, you know hoe every villin sould have an achileas heel, (know I spelled that wrong) Maybe guve him some Flaw's, and step his stuff up a bit, IE: If everyong in the Group have good Stats, boost his up a bit, I have 18, 17, 17, 16, 15, 15 [Dice Roll], and many other player in my campain also rolled goos, so he would boost his starts a little. I mean your the DM, make it so it would be fun, yet challangeing, and if you had to bend the rules a bit to do so, well, you the DM.

Also an Idea, to increase his AC and Att, give him Weapon Fittness, Elvin Courtblade and High Dex. Although I ain't good w/ nights, im good w/ Fitness ^^

{EDIT}
also, I though 10 was average. Dumb as a stick would be like 3 or 4.
#5
swiftblu
Apr 20, 2008 21:00:03 Dip into Blackguard for Charisma to saves. Get the Intimidating Strike feat (PHBII, I believe), max his ranks in Intimidate, and look into the Avenging Executioner Prc from CS. Executioner will give him a lot of fear based abilities, and you can stack fear effects (Shaken + Shaken = Frightened, etc.). What you end up with is a boss that pulls a one-man battlefield control operation with a pile of fear effects.
#6
nightfallen
Apr 20, 2008 22:07:58 LMAO, you are VERY like my DM. He did that once, by any chance, you not the manager of a Game Daves that hosts a DnD game once a week? Lol, just loking, it just sounds like somthing my DM did in my campain, all the PrC's, other then the Wizard and Celric, were running away.
#7
scorpions_are_cool_
Apr 20, 2008 23:21:28 I like the idea of dipping into Blackguard, this will increase his saves against the Sorcerer.
I also like the idea of him using fear affects but I don't have Complete Scoundrel for the Avenging Executioner, however I might be able to get the fear effects from other sources such as magic items. I'm not sure which ones though.
And the idea of him specializing in disarming is great, I will definetly give him some feats for sundering too, thanks, that's great.
I was not planning on him being a recurring villain. He is part of a group (look at the post above) with the same initiatives as the PCs group (hunting Abberations), he isn't even the leader of the group, the Binder is.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 scorpions_are_cool_ Apr 20, 2008 19:33:23	OK, I'm designing a NPC Knight to take on the fighter in the party I DM for and I need a good build so it will be a decent encounter. The fighter has huge pluses to hit so I need a good AC also he may come to blows with an Archer-focussed Ranger and a fiery sorcerer. So the fighter I'm designing him to fight is really specialized in Two-weapon fighting and to a lesser extent, horseback fighting. I definetly don't have all the books that would be useful in this build. The books I do have to work with here are as follows. Book of Exalted Deeds Dungeon Master's Guide Dungeon Master's Guide II Epic Level Handbook Expanded Psionics Handbook Fiendish Codex I Fiendish Codex II Libris Mortis Lords of Madness Magic of Incarnum Monster Manual Player's Handbook Player's Handbook II Tome of Magic I don't mind the Knight dipping into other classes or PrC but he should remain primarily a Knight, and he can't be more than Lvl 15, I'm aiming for 13. As for flavor, he's really basic, he is a LE knight of the dark circle of the castle the PCs (who are evil) rule. He hates Abberations just like the PCs and the reason they'll fight is because the fighter, who was previously cheated out of an Abberation Bane longsword by some Neogi, will see the Knight's Abberation Fiercebane weapon and probably want to steal it (if not they'll fight for some other reason!). So my idea is that he be really good at sword fighting and also decent with a lance, but maybe that's not all that great. I can increase it but I rolled his HP at 121. The party he's in consists of a Half-White Dragon Elf Sorcerer 10, a Halfling Rogue 13, and a Gnome Binder 15 who will most likely be there with them and depending on how hostile the PCs are they may step in. He also has these abilities: STR 12 DEX 11 CON 15 INT 10 WIS 9 CHA 21 I figure I'll deck him out with a +2 shield and +4 armour, but being fair at 13th level he should only have about 45 000 gp to throw around right? Also a Cloak of Charisma may be useful.
#2 nightfallen Apr 20, 2008 20:10:55	Ok, I aint a DM, and I aint good at knights, (mine died at the first battle I played ^^; ) but if he's ganna be a mini-boss, shouldn't he be a bitt better in STR? And I would bust him some gold because he is a enemy, and maybe boss. But honostly, I am not a DM, nor am I good with knights, just giving you some advise for a boss if that is what he is. Also, is he ganna be a reacering villin?
#3 darksamuari Apr 20, 2008 20:21:57	How you build him will really depend on how you want to play him and how you want to the players to see him. As it is right now, hes charming but dumb as a stick and wise as a stump. If you wish for him to be a more challenging villain you can sacrifice the 20 in charisma and put those extra points into intelligence (which if you wanted to go for a more defensively aimed fighter, which the knight kinda is...) and wisdom (I like my villains to be partially alright when compared to a commoner) To combat a two-weapon fighter you'll want this guy to be tactic fully more defensive. I'd suggest trip, disarm, and even maybe sunder if you think he'll be able to get away with it. If it was me I would have this guy be pulling an unorthodox teqnique/tactic/feature against the players. I always believe being memorable with a villain is more important than being super powerful.
#4 nightfallen Apr 20, 2008 20:28:43	Oh, I have an Idea, you know hoe every villin sould have an achileas heel, (know I spelled that wrong) Maybe guve him some Flaw's, and step his stuff up a bit, IE: If everyong in the Group have good Stats, boost his up a bit, I have 18, 17, 17, 16, 15, 15 [Dice Roll], and many other player in my campain also rolled goos, so he would boost his starts a little. I mean your the DM, make it so it would be fun, yet challangeing, and if you had to bend the rules a bit to do so, well, you the DM. Also an Idea, to increase his AC and Att, give him Weapon Fittness, Elvin Courtblade and High Dex. Although I ain't good w/ nights, im good w/ Fitness ^^ {EDIT} also, I though 10 was average. Dumb as a stick would be like 3 or 4.
#5 swiftblu Apr 20, 2008 21:00:03	Dip into Blackguard for Charisma to saves. Get the Intimidating Strike feat (PHBII, I believe), max his ranks in Intimidate, and look into the Avenging Executioner Prc from CS. Executioner will give him a lot of fear based abilities, and you can stack fear effects (Shaken + Shaken = Frightened, etc.). What you end up with is a boss that pulls a one-man battlefield control operation with a pile of fear effects.
#6 nightfallen Apr 20, 2008 22:07:58	LMAO, you are VERY like my DM. He did that once, by any chance, you not the manager of a Game Daves that hosts a DnD game once a week? Lol, just loking, it just sounds like somthing my DM did in my campain, all the PrC's, other then the Wizard and Celric, were running away.
#7 scorpions_are_cool_ Apr 20, 2008 23:21:28	I like the idea of dipping into Blackguard, this will increase his saves against the Sorcerer. I also like the idea of him using fear affects but I don't have Complete Scoundrel for the Avenging Executioner, however I might be able to get the fear effects from other sources such as magic items. I'm not sure which ones though. And the idea of him specializing in disarming is great, I will definetly give him some feats for sundering too, thanks, that's great. I was not planning on him being a recurring villain. He is part of a group (look at the post above) with the same initiatives as the PCs group (hunting Abberations), he isn't even the leader of the group, the Binder is.