CotN: Werebeasts - Vladimir Nobriskov.

[Epically]

So I'm having a read through and I've come across this adventure. Keep in mind I really like this adventure and I plan to use it, but there's one thing that's bugging me; the opening on the adventure. Lady Monique faints, leading to the puncture wounds and the introduction to the adventure. But how did they get there to begin with? Vampires will charm a person into, but how the hell does a werebat do it? To my understanding, Werecreatures will do their hunting/feeding in hybrid/beast form - not human. I've read and re-read, but they're doesn't seem to be any indication into how he pulls this off - apart from his natural charm, but I don't think that's enough...

[The Lesser Evil]

Nobriskov could have charm person or some similar ability from class levels or a psionic wild talent. A philter of love or other magic items or even mundane mind-influencing drugs might be other options.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

There's so much wrong with Nobriskov, I never noticed this problem.

My personal beef was the "I'm going to make people think I'm a vampire" schtick which means people will arm themselves with more powerful weapons. It's not like a werebeast can ignore a wooden stake through heart, after all.

[Epically]

There's so much wrong with Nobriskov, I never noticed this problem.

My personal beef was the "I'm going to make people think I'm a vampire" schtick which means people will arm themselves with more powerful weapons. It's not like a werebeast can ignore a wooden stake through heart, after all.

It can if it's not silvered or magical.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

There's so much wrong with Nobriskov, I never noticed this problem.

My personal beef was the "I'm going to make people think I'm a vampire" schtick which means people will arm themselves with more powerful weapons. It's not like a werebeast can ignore a wooden stake through heart, after all.

It can if it's not silvered or magical.

I'm not sure what edition you are playing. I'd impose DR, but not fully ignoring it.

My point is, Nobriskov plays at being a stronger creature than he actually is. So, fooled hunters will come at him with extra firepower. Sure, they might fail with holy symbols, mirrors and garlic, but any actual weapons they bring will be more than enough to kill him.

I guess in order to make this schtick work, Nobriskov should have a system set up where he appears to sleep during the day...and then trap the heck out of the coffin where he would be sleeping. That would make a lot more sense than the tactics he's written up with, which basically count on adventurers freaking out when their holy symbols don't work on him.

[Five]

There's so much wrong with Nobriskov, I never noticed this problem.

My personal beef was the "I'm going to make people think I'm a vampire" schtick which means people will arm themselves with more powerful weapons. It's not like a werebeast can ignore a wooden stake through heart, after all.

It can if it's not silvered or magical.

I'm not sure what edition you are playing. I'd impose DR, but not fully ignoring it..

http://www.mojobob.com/roleplay/monstrousmanual/

Lycanthrope, Werebat

[ewancummins]

It looks to me as if the trick works better in AD&D 2E than in D&D 3E

[Epically]

I'm not sure what edition you are playing. I'd impose DR, but not fully ignoring it.

I'm playing 5th currently, but the point still stands in 2e.

[Five]

5E as well, with/through damage immunity to "bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren't silvered" (5E Monster Manual). Though werebat isn't specified, all lycanthropes that are listed share this trait, so one can assume it is indeed a carry over from 2E.

Not to sidetrack the original post. I need to re-read the adventure before I can add anything even remotely useful. Heh

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

I feel like the vampire shtick is assuming a world where adventurers and magic are rare. He wants to fool the mobs or brave lone villagers that would come at him with garlic and holy water and strongly presented holy symbols. As long as they don't bring silver weapons, he's safe. He's not expecting this to work against people with access to magic weapons or spells, if he even knows those exist.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

I feel like the vampire shtick is assuming a world where adventurers and magic are rare. He wants to fool the mobs or brave lone villagers that would come at him with garlic and holy water and strongly presented holy symbols. As long as they don't bring silver weapons, he's safe. He's not expecting this to work against people with access to magic weapons or spells, if he even knows those exist.

Yeah, I can see that work, too. It merges well with my trapped coffin tactic above, which is designed for a weak adversary taking advantage of him during the day.

[Epically]

My point is, Nobriskov plays at being a stronger creature than he actually is.

I think that acts as a deterrent so people won't go after him.

I feel like the vampire shtick is assuming a world where adventurers and magic are rare. He wants to fool the mobs or brave lone villagers that would come at him with garlic and holy water and strongly presented holy symbols. As long as they don't bring silver weapons, he's safe. He's not expecting this to work against people with access to magic weapons or spells, if he even knows those exist.

Yeah, I can see that work, too. It merges well with my trapped coffin tactic above, which is designed for a weak adversary taking advantage of him during the day.

It does mention that he has access to a numerous bats under his control. Perhaps, and to add a little more to the theatrics, the coffin trap could be the coffin is filled with bats.

[Five]

I feel like the vampire shtick is assuming a world where adventurers and magic are rare. He wants to fool the mobs or brave lone villagers that would come at him with garlic and holy water and strongly presented holy symbols. As long as they don't bring silver weapons, he's safe. He's not expecting this to work against people with access to magic weapons or spells, if he even knows those exist.

Yeah, reads to me like he was written as more of a Gothic villain than a fantasy (D&D) villain. I'll get into a bit more more later but right now I will say that this guy has great potential, IMO. Both in a more Gothic than Fantasy Ravenloft, and in a 50/50 Ravenloft. If you look closer, read in-between the lines, he's actually insulated himself against even a more traditional party of PCs...

[Five]

First, let's take a look at Vladimir Nobriskov's abilities. As previously noted, keep in mind that he is framed in 2E, so if you are thinking from a 3E platform then you probably won't be doing this guy any justice if you don't update him to that ruleset. If you're thinking from a 5E perspective then you should be good without too much tinkering. From 4E, you're on your own so you tell me. I only had a brief layover with that edition, to see what got done to Dark Sun. Anyway,:

Strength 15
Dexterity 16
Constitution 14
Intelligence 17
Wisdom 16
Charisma 18

Let's throw in Domains of Dread's Table 39: Ability Score Descriptions, to better put this guy in context.

0 = Not applicable to the character
1 = So low as to be almost unmeasurable
2 = Below human minimum
3 = Functional human minimum
4 = Impaired in a major fashion
5 = Impaired in a minor fashion
6 = Well below human average
7 = Below human average
8 = Low human average
9 = Human average
10 = Human average
11 = High human average
12 = Above human average
13 = Well above human average
14 = Among the best in the village
15 = Among the best in the city
16 = Among the best in the region
17 = Among the best in the nation
18 = Among the best in the world
19 = Beyond the limits of normal man
20 = Beyond the limits of heroic man
21 = Surpassing superhuman levels
22 = The equal of the demigods
23 = The equal of the lesser gods
24 = The equal of the gods
25 = The equal of the greater gods

So physically we have:

Strength 15, or, "among the best in the city". This guy is, literally, no pushover. He has the power to really mess-up all but the stoutest of warriors.

Dexterity 16, or, "Among the best in the region". He's quick. He can bend, dodge, and has it in him to be able to tumble like an acrobat (The Complete Thief's Handbook tells us that an Acrobat's minimum Dexterity score is 14).

Constitution 14, or, "Among the best in the village". He's healthy, fit, and can teach a farmhand foreman a thing or two about work ethic. He can take about as good as he gives. He's no Marciano, but he's very far from having a glass jaw. We won't include the werebat damage immunity just yet, which skyrockets this guy's toughness into a whole other stratosphere!

Mentally we have:

Intelligence 17, or, "Among the best in the nation". Wherever he goes, he stands shoulder to shoulder with the brightest minds. He is a certifiable genius. He can be a challenge for Azalin or Victor Mordenheim in a game of chess (both have an 18 Intelligence score), can learn pretty much anything he puts his mind to, and knows how to analyse, compartmentalise, and thus create effective contingencies.

Wisdom 16, or, "Among the best in the region". His intuition is spot-on, he can accurately read the 'writing on the wall", and he has the willpower to push through most obstacles. It takes a LOT to rattle this guy.

Charisma 18, or, "Among the best in the world". Women (and some men) swoon when they receive this guy's smile, and rivals stand mute when he speaks. He can manipulate people about as easily as shuffling a deck of cards, can inspire greater loyalty than most generals, and is one of the elite "rock stars" of Ravenloft. He is more charismatic than even the Black Widow herself (Charisma 17), and even more so than the "first vampyr" himself, Count Strahd von Zarovich (Charisma 16)!

Now, what the hell does all that mean?

Statistically, Vladimir Nobriskov has the potential within him to become any class he so chooses. This might not mean much in and of itself, but if you equate PC classes as roles beyond the reach of most people, then this is a huge statement. He's superbly well-rounded, and given time, his mental abilities enable him to adapt to any situation or group of heroes. In fact, his ability scores would grant him the 10 percent Prime Requisite bonus in all classes but the Warrior group (Fighter, Ranger, and Paladin). This is particularly noteworthy, IMO. He stands above even the average Adventurer...!

Let's throw in some werebat (Man-Beast) stats.

Strength 15 becomes Strength 18/01, according to Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts. Or, "Among the best in the world". Suddenly, the warrior of the group has a good, solid physical challenge. Hopefully they can soak up the initial barrage and recover enough to contain this...thing. Any humanoid can now be physically tossed about, with the majority rag-dolled.

Dexterity 16 becomes Dexterity 19, or, "Beyond the limits of normal man". Now, your hawkeyed and steady-handed rogue seems off their game. A few too many pints? Strange, you never saw them drink that much when you first drew up the battle plans...

Throw in "harmed only by silver or +1 or better magical weapons", and now the physical capabilities of Nobriskov, or, their previous "limitations" (in regards to their B+ warrior comparison ratings) becomes a surprise advantage that can be sustained throughout extended combat, especially if this "dandy" did his homework (of course he did).

All that assuming the PCs got past Vladimir's mental and social hedgerows...

WIP

[ewancummins]

Yup.

That ability score table is one of the best little bits in that book.