My party has "befriended" a lone ogre as a temporary companion, mostly through the promise of food (and he was lost and alone when they found him).
They have since discovered a headband of intellect and want to give it to the ogre. My mind immediately lit up with all the possibilities of an intelligent (evil leaning, though not necessarily chaotic) ogre who was more intelligent than anyone else (including the party)--how he might begin manipulating the party toward his own ends. Maybe enlisting their help in getting him installed as the chief of his tribe? The possibilities...
Thoughts?
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C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
I do not think an ogre with a headband of intellect would want to be the chief of his tribe if he had human allies. In D&D Ogre Magi are intelligent, magic using Ogres. In 5e, they are officially called "Oni", although in the Planeshift Zendarik module they are called an Ogre Channeller. I think the Ogre would look for a community of Oni, not his old tribe.
If he cannot find them, I think an Evil Ogre would more likely try to find a way to fit into human society where he can buy things like silk clothing, high quality wine, feather beds, etc.
He is intelligent. Play him that way. What would you do if aliens came along and made you a genius? They have super advanced technology capable of creating D&D games with holograms - but only on their space ship. Would you stick around with a bunch of losers that do not even understand the duality of Photonic Wave-Particle interactions? Or would you hang out with the people with all the fancy toys and electronics?
The ogre, (Lets call him Steve) now possessing enhanced intellect, begins to subtly manipulate the party towards his own goals. Initially, he may feign gratitude and loyalty, but beneath the surface, his ambitions stir. Perhaps he desires to reclaim his position as the chief of his tribe, seeking vengeance against a former employer (Maybe a hill giant or some other higher CR threat) who wronged him. Alternatively, Steve may have grander schemes, such as amassing power over a specific area.
Steve employs his newfound intelligence to manipulate situations to his advantage. He may offer seemingly innocent suggestions that gradually steer the party towards actions that benefit his agenda. For instance, he could convince them to undertake quests that weaken his enemies or secure resources crucial for his plans.
He will likely realize it’s the headband making him smart, and fear the party taking it back. He sneaks off into the night. Then he returns one day however you need him to. Maybe he became an artificer and heads a tribe of steampunk powered ogres using things he invented. Ogres and hobgoblins with rifles (re-skinned longbows). Or becomes a powerful spell caster
But, he has a soft spot for the party that gave him this gift. He will work with them if their interests align. He might even be willing allow them to join his band as a privileged group of henchmen.
It could elevate its consciousness with this new high intellect, rally the tribe like a true guru and influence them to abandon evil ways and adopt more neutral alignment and good tendencies, start trading with nearby human communities in exchange for protection against orcs descending often by the mountain pass etc
My party has "befriended" a lone ogre as a temporary companion, mostly through the promise of food (and he was lost and alone when they found him).
They have since discovered a headband of intellect and want to give it to the ogre. My mind immediately lit up with all the possibilities of an intelligent (evil leaning, though not necessarily chaotic) ogre who was more intelligent than anyone else (including the party)--how he might begin manipulating the party toward his own ends. Maybe enlisting their help in getting him installed as the chief of his tribe? The possibilities...
Really, you could take the NPC in any direction you want. Maybe just have him respond in kind to how the party treats him -- do they view him as more of a pet, or a real person and trusted companion? Is he ordered around and told to do grunt tasks that rely on his strength instead of his new smarts, or do they ask for his opinion and perspective on things?
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Yeah, I'd question if ogres are actually evil, or if their low intellect makes them operate on a fight or flight instinct all the time (similar to how a wild wolf isn't evil for attacking things that threaten/scare it). So maybe his alignment changes and they now have Smart Hulk on their team of Avengers?
Eh, not sure I’d want to open that particular can of worms. Alignment has a lot more to with personal values and background in any case. It is worth noting that 19 INT doesn’t necessarily track to “literal genius”, as 5e runs the numbers.
Honestly, I’d run a creature that suddenly got a big intelligence boost as more a “so sharp they keep cutting themselves” type, especially if you’re sticking with some of the other ogre characteristics of impulsiveness and aggression. Especially as INT and WIS are two separate abilities; maybe the ogre is suddenly having big ideas, but they’re still lacking the judgement to sift the good ones from the bad.
Honestly, I’d run a creature that suddenly got a big intelligence boost as more a “so sharp they keep cutting themselves” type, especially if you’re sticking with some of the other ogre characteristics of impulsiveness and aggression. Especially as INT and WIS are two separate abilities; maybe the ogre is suddenly having big ideas, but they’re still lacking the judgement to sift the good ones from the bad.
Yeah, I was going to suggest going "smart in a Wile E Coyote way." It can institute complex plans, but with a bad tendency toward Rube Goldberg complexity without realizing why the complexity is causing them to blow up in its face.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
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I need some ideas...
My party has "befriended" a lone ogre as a temporary companion, mostly through the promise of food (and he was lost and alone when they found him).
They have since discovered a headband of intellect and want to give it to the ogre. My mind immediately lit up with all the possibilities of an intelligent (evil leaning, though not necessarily chaotic) ogre who was more intelligent than anyone else (including the party)--how he might begin manipulating the party toward his own ends. Maybe enlisting their help in getting him installed as the chief of his tribe? The possibilities...
Thoughts?
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
I do not think an ogre with a headband of intellect would want to be the chief of his tribe if he had human allies. In D&D Ogre Magi are intelligent, magic using Ogres. In 5e, they are officially called "Oni", although in the Planeshift Zendarik module they are called an Ogre Channeller. I think the Ogre would look for a community of Oni, not his old tribe.
If he cannot find them, I think an Evil Ogre would more likely try to find a way to fit into human society where he can buy things like silk clothing, high quality wine, feather beds, etc.
He is intelligent. Play him that way. What would you do if aliens came along and made you a genius? They have super advanced technology capable of creating D&D games with holograms - but only on their space ship. Would you stick around with a bunch of losers that do not even understand the duality of Photonic Wave-Particle interactions? Or would you hang out with the people with all the fancy toys and electronics?
The ogre, (Lets call him Steve) now possessing enhanced intellect, begins to subtly manipulate the party towards his own goals. Initially, he may feign gratitude and loyalty, but beneath the surface, his ambitions stir. Perhaps he desires to reclaim his position as the chief of his tribe, seeking vengeance against a former employer (Maybe a hill giant or some other higher CR threat) who wronged him. Alternatively, Steve may have grander schemes, such as amassing power over a specific area.
Steve employs his newfound intelligence to manipulate situations to his advantage. He may offer seemingly innocent suggestions that gradually steer the party towards actions that benefit his agenda. For instance, he could convince them to undertake quests that weaken his enemies or secure resources crucial for his plans.
He will likely realize it’s the headband making him smart, and fear the party taking it back. He sneaks off into the night. Then he returns one day however you need him to. Maybe he became an artificer and heads a tribe of steampunk powered ogres using things he invented. Ogres and hobgoblins with rifles (re-skinned longbows). Or becomes a powerful spell caster
But, he has a soft spot for the party that gave him this gift. He will work with them if their interests align. He might even be willing allow them to join his band as a privileged group of henchmen.
It could elevate its consciousness with this new high intellect, rally the tribe like a true guru and influence them to abandon evil ways and adopt more neutral alignment and good tendencies, start trading with nearby human communities in exchange for protection against orcs descending often by the mountain pass etc
There's an ogre wearing a headband of intellect at Candlekeep that rejected his alignment once he got a little perspective on things and became CG
Really, you could take the NPC in any direction you want. Maybe just have him respond in kind to how the party treats him -- do they view him as more of a pet, or a real person and trusted companion? Is he ordered around and told to do grunt tasks that rely on his strength instead of his new smarts, or do they ask for his opinion and perspective on things?
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Eh, not sure I’d want to open that particular can of worms. Alignment has a lot more to with personal values and background in any case. It is worth noting that 19 INT doesn’t necessarily track to “literal genius”, as 5e runs the numbers.
Honestly, I’d run a creature that suddenly got a big intelligence boost as more a “so sharp they keep cutting themselves” type, especially if you’re sticking with some of the other ogre characteristics of impulsiveness and aggression. Especially as INT and WIS are two separate abilities; maybe the ogre is suddenly having big ideas, but they’re still lacking the judgement to sift the good ones from the bad.
Yeah, I was going to suggest going "smart in a Wile E Coyote way." It can institute complex plans, but with a bad tendency toward Rube Goldberg complexity without realizing why the complexity is causing them to blow up in its face.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.