Comments on the 4th Ed fact thread

[alhoon]

Sotri: I thought about it... we don't have to. Assume a powerhungry giant/fey that murdered his brother and king to take over the throne and now is afraid that his vassals will do the same to him. Assume that the kingdom has a large number of goblins, elves and fey (sylvan not shadow fey) along with some cyclops.
The elves and goblins aren't the stereotypical elves and goblins. They are more like in the myths. Use the abilities for the folkloric elves and goblins from the shadow fey or from the tepest Gaz. Change their usual habits to those expected by a magic-heavy subteranean kingdom.

I would say a population of 30% goblins, 30% elves, 10% gnomes, 10% halflings, 15% fey (sylvan), 5% other is good.
Not that as "fey" are counted the half-fey too.

[alhoon]

About the adventures: By my counting 3 levels means at least 20 encounters. And 20 encounters need more than 2 maps. I guess some of the maps can be re-used but It would be nice if they also included a blank grid.

[alhoon]

I will subscribe to the DDI if only for the character visualizer. Thumbs up wizards.

[Lord Soth]

So any Ravenloft DM's planning to sign up for the virtual tabletop? It's near impossible to find a Ravenloft game where I'm from, so it'd be nice to at least be able to play Ravenloft online. So anyone got plans to run Ravenloft games over the online tabletop?

[Rotipher of the FoS]

I can foresee us hosting some snapshots of Visualizer-created NPC pics here, especially if the finished product's wardrobe options are broad enough to encompass Ravenloft's post-medieval clothing styles.

[Jester of the FoS]

So any Ravenloft DM's planning to sign up for the virtual tabletop? It's near impossible to find a Ravenloft game where I'm from, so it'd be nice to at least be able to play Ravenloft online. So anyone got plans to run Ravenloft games over the online tabletop?

If I get D&DI and like the online table I might.

[alhoon]

I can foresee us hosting some snapshots of Visualizer-created NPC pics here, especially if the finished product's wardrobe options are broad enough to encompass Ravenloft's post-medieval clothing styles.

I will certainly subscribe for the visualizer at first. If I'm content, I'll keep up.

[alhoon]

About the VSpawn.

They are 8th level minions IIRC with 10 hp etc

[Lord Soth]

6th-level Minions, actually. Assuming this is correct, a Vampire Minion is worth 63 XP. So you'd need one Vampire Minion and a 3rd-level Minion in addition to produce a challenge for one 1st-level PC. Interesting.



And here's the Vampire Vizier from the set.

[Jester of the FoS]

Interesting. Apparently undead get Con scores in 4e.

[alhoon]

Succubus:

1. Take form of a teenager girl.
2. kiss a local fighter hero for his/her contribution to the town/village.
repeat until you get him/her. (remember it can last forever with one kiss/day!)

Later:
3. Engage the PCs with some friends and the "bodyguard"
4. Every time the Succubus is target of a ranged/melee attack... the bodyguard takes damage. After the bodyguard is almost dead kiss a foe or even ally!
5. repeat until all foes and allies are dead.

I.e The succubus has 90 hp that it can lose only:
- with bad luck kissing enemies after the bodyguard of the time is killed. (+14 to hit, +12 vs will 9th level chars probably have will defence 14 from level +3-5.). I.e it would get one or two rounds of attacks AT MOST before a bodyguard takes the damage. The bodyguard has many chances to be one of it's attackers...
- From area attacks (fire resistance 20).
- From ranged attacks after the bodyguard is down (unless it dominates someone to come close for a kiss)

All this time it dominates. At will, no recharge.

Easily an elite monster. NOT a common 9! I can't see how a party can take it down if they have spent many of their daylies.

[Mangrum]

All this time it dominates. At will, no recharge.

But each use is a standard action.

[Jester of the FoS]

That does require alot of set-up. Any encounter becomes more challenging if the monsters spend a couple days buttering up the PCs or enchanting them.

How to beat it?
1) Use a knock-back or similar attack to move the bodyguard away. Not adjacent = not taking damage.
2) Pound the succubus with ranged attacks keeping out of the way of its corrupting touch and kiss.
3) Use any powers that boost will defense to avoid domination (the easy command she'd use being "come here and let me kiss you").

I think you underestimate AC for that level. The kiss needs to make an AC attack (high for defenders, low for controllers) then a will attack (low for defenders, high for controllers). It likely needs to nail two good rolls to get the kiss, or blow two standard actions to dominate/kiss.

[alhoon]

Kiss is a minor action, isn't it? And ... what else could it do with it's standart attack? 1d6+6 damage? Nah. Dominate is better.
The corrupting touch isn't anything great for a 9th level critter.

Also I disagree on 2 good rolls to land the kiss. More probably is 1 redicusly easy and one easy roll.

What I have forgot indeed is that most classes have abilities to push others away. So yes, it can be done. Still, it seems like an elite to me.
Can someone playtest the following:

succubus + 1 1st level kobold slinger against 5 1st level chars?
Give the glue bombs to the slingers, the ones that immobilize. Also remember that the kobold shifts as a minor action, i.e it can move near its devil master easier.
NOTE: Dwarves are tougher to move away from their master. Realistically the succubus couldn't know that the dwarf is a paladin, so probably it would target him for a kiss.

succubus +kobold = 500 XP.

You want more? Have the succubus know who the chars are and their motives and have it to be transformed to a "helpless" teenager girl that is adjusted to an evil kobold screaming for the heroes to help her. Then she kisses with combat advantage.

[Mangrum]

Kiss is a minor action, isn't it?

No, it's a standard action.