This is the first time for me posting here. I thought I would see what people might suggest for a battle that I have coming up. There are really two things that I am looking for input on. I have looked through the various resources I have available to me and online as well, but I haven't really found what I am looking for.
The Scenario: The characters (5 characters, all of level 5) have entered a haunted mansion of sorts. One of the encounters I would like them to have would draw on their memories of creatures they have faced in the past. (Creatures they would be reasonable to fear or represent bad memories.) These creatures would appear to know them and speak to them as they did before. It would be an illusion however, ideally only discernable by touch. It's more of a stall tactic and something to set the mood for what is to come.
I haven't really found specific spells out there that would allow for triggering a memory from a character become the illusion the party sees. (Because all the characters in that party would need to be seeing the same thing)
I thought I could somehow have it as some sort of triggered lair action, reaction, but I don't know what the most reasonable way of doing this would be.
Also I probably need a homebrewed version of an undead hag, something fitting of a 5 character 5th level battle. I like the direction the Death Hag in DND unleashed was heading, but it probably would need to be a sliver more powerful and a whole lot more dead itself. The hag is someone who died in this house.
Could you use Programmed Illusion in conjunction with a tweaked Dream spell? Have the big bad discover the party's nightmares in a literal nightmare a couple of nights before. It could add a little more story interest to the encounter if you have time to set it up. Otherwise, if you fancy taking a risk, you could split the party up for a short time and have them each individually face their worst nightmare (it is often done in TV shows and movies and can be quite dramatic) using Phantasmal Killer. It's a haunted mansion, so think revolving doors, hidden trapdoors, moving walls, etc. Anyone who wins their saving throw could then make an effort to help their friends, which can add value to the story.
Or, if you're homebrewing the big bad anyway, why not let her be able to affect up to 5 PCs with Phantasmal Killer as a lair action.
I had thought about Programmed illusion, but was trying to figure out a way to make it work with something else in existence in DND to draw on their memories. Maybe something that activated the moment they stepped into the mansion. Phantasmal Killer is a thought. I will have to take a look in to that. Thanks.
Most of the group would go along with that, I just know there is one there though that would be trolling over every book to figure out how it would be possible. They have a hard time accepting things being altered.
If you need to stay inside the lines to satisfy a player you could have a Nothic stalk them through the house and taunt the party by revealing their darkest secrets. Not exactly what you had in mind but solidly inside the MM. I might suggest having a discussion with the players to let them know that in order to make the game fun for everyone you will need to homebrew stuff from time to time, so not everything they encounter will be in a rule book.
Most of the group would go along with that, I just know there is one there though that would be trolling over every book to figure out how it would be possible. They have a hard time accepting things being altered.
Let him troll over every book to try to figure out how it's possible. When he asks you tell him that it's home brewed and isn't in the rule books.
Read through a few modules. Several of them have magic in them that isn't available to PC's. It's very common.
Thanks for pointing me to the Nothic,. If I go off book a little, I may use the Death Hag, or at least an undead variant of it (DND Unleashed) Who perhaps enchanted the house using the souls of (X number of Nothic) To enable it to learn the secrets of any who stay there. (These it can use to torment them until ultimately she gets tired of playing with the adventurers and destroys them.)
I probably won't give it too many lair abilities, as it's pretty formidable on it's own and it's a group of 5 - level 5 characters. But I might make that one.
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Hello!
This is the first time for me posting here. I thought I would see what people might suggest for a battle that I have coming up. There are really two things that I am looking for input on. I have looked through the various resources I have available to me and online as well, but I haven't really found what I am looking for.
The Scenario: The characters (5 characters, all of level 5) have entered a haunted mansion of sorts. One of the encounters I would like them to have would draw on their memories of creatures they have faced in the past. (Creatures they would be reasonable to fear or represent bad memories.) These creatures would appear to know them and speak to them as they did before. It would be an illusion however, ideally only discernable by touch. It's more of a stall tactic and something to set the mood for what is to come.
I haven't really found specific spells out there that would allow for triggering a memory from a character become the illusion the party sees. (Because all the characters in that party would need to be seeing the same thing)
I thought I could somehow have it as some sort of triggered lair action, reaction, but I don't know what the most reasonable way of doing this would be.
Also I probably need a homebrewed version of an undead hag, something fitting of a 5 character 5th level battle. I like the direction the Death Hag in DND unleashed was heading, but it probably would need to be a sliver more powerful and a whole lot more dead itself. The hag is someone who died in this house.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Could you use Programmed Illusion in conjunction with a tweaked Dream spell? Have the big bad discover the party's nightmares in a literal nightmare a couple of nights before. It could add a little more story interest to the encounter if you have time to set it up. Otherwise, if you fancy taking a risk, you could split the party up for a short time and have them each individually face their worst nightmare (it is often done in TV shows and movies and can be quite dramatic) using Phantasmal Killer. It's a haunted mansion, so think revolving doors, hidden trapdoors, moving walls, etc. Anyone who wins their saving throw could then make an effort to help their friends, which can add value to the story.
Or, if you're homebrewing the big bad anyway, why not let her be able to affect up to 5 PCs with Phantasmal Killer as a lair action.
You can create magic that isn’t available to the PCs. Just decide what you want to have happen and describe it to the PCs.
Professional computer geek
I had thought about Programmed illusion, but was trying to figure out a way to make it work with something else in existence in DND to draw on their memories. Maybe something that activated the moment they stepped into the mansion. Phantasmal Killer is a thought. I will have to take a look in to that. Thanks.
Most of the group would go along with that, I just know there is one there though that would be trolling over every book to figure out how it would be possible. They have a hard time accepting things being altered.
If you need to stay inside the lines to satisfy a player you could have a Nothic stalk them through the house and taunt the party by revealing their darkest secrets. Not exactly what you had in mind but solidly inside the MM. I might suggest having a discussion with the players to let them know that in order to make the game fun for everyone you will need to homebrew stuff from time to time, so not everything they encounter will be in a rule book.
Let him troll over every book to try to figure out how it's possible. When he asks you tell him that it's home brewed and isn't in the rule books.
Read through a few modules. Several of them have magic in them that isn't available to PC's. It's very common.
Professional computer geek
Thanks for pointing me to the Nothic,. If I go off book a little, I may use the Death Hag, or at least an undead variant of it (DND Unleashed) Who perhaps enchanted the house using the souls of (X number of Nothic) To enable it to learn the secrets of any who stay there. (These it can use to torment them until ultimately she gets tired of playing with the adventurers and destroys them.)
I probably won't give it too many lair abilities, as it's pretty formidable on it's own and it's a group of 5 - level 5 characters. But I might make that one.