I know I have come here before with questions about how to write an awesome villain, but now I am here for the mechanics of the game. I have a fairly loose grasp on challenge ratings and I am trying to create a challenging villain for my lvl 1 party, but I have no idea what kinds of stats I should give him. More importantly, what section of the books should I skip to to understand how to make a challenging villain ( with a couple of lacky's) for my party? I have the core set as well as the guide to everything and the second guide to monsters.
Here's a nice video that, I think, does a nice job of explaining how to take a monster and make it into a challenging villain for your party: Monkeying with Monsters.
Like, The_Federation asked, what's your villains motivation? That can help a lot with deciding how to mechanically play a monster/villain in a combat encounter.
If you wish to make a multi-monster encounter, I'd suggest reading up on Xanathar's Guide to Everything in chapter 2. There is a great table and explanation there for creatures with different CR's.
As asked before: do you want the party to beat the villain in this encounter? Because that would mean a significant drop in power. However, if you want it to be a recurring villain, just go for it: make it a greater demon, a shapeshifting dragon or grand wizard. Have him throw around some insults and then leave the party for his lackeys. That can make an impossible encounter very interesting and you have more options to choose from.
Low level adventures are very lacking in creatures that are mechanically interesting, but you could always make it interesting story wise: an albino Kobold who has a pet Death Dog, or two Orc who just can't get along or decide anything. Perhaps a Silver Dragon Wyrmling who has a strange, purplish glow in his eyes that seems intent on killing everything around it.
Dear DM's,
I know I have come here before with questions about how to write an awesome villain, but now I am here for the mechanics of the game. I have a fairly loose grasp on challenge ratings and I am trying to create a challenging villain for my lvl 1 party, but I have no idea what kinds of stats I should give him. More importantly, what section of the books should I skip to to understand how to make a challenging villain ( with a couple of lacky's) for my party? I have the core set as well as the guide to everything and the second guide to monsters.
Are you trying to have the party beat your baddie or do you just want him to tote his dominance?
Here's a nice video that, I think, does a nice job of explaining how to take a monster and make it into a challenging villain for your party: Monkeying with Monsters.
Like, The_Federation asked, what's your villains motivation? That can help a lot with deciding how to mechanically play a monster/villain in a combat encounter.
If you wish to make a multi-monster encounter, I'd suggest reading up on Xanathar's Guide to Everything in chapter 2. There is a great table and explanation there for creatures with different CR's.
As asked before: do you want the party to beat the villain in this encounter? Because that would mean a significant drop in power. However, if you want it to be a recurring villain, just go for it: make it a greater demon, a shapeshifting dragon or grand wizard. Have him throw around some insults and then leave the party for his lackeys. That can make an impossible encounter very interesting and you have more options to choose from.
Low level adventures are very lacking in creatures that are mechanically interesting, but you could always make it interesting story wise: an albino Kobold who has a pet Death Dog, or two Orc who just can't get along or decide anything. Perhaps a Silver Dragon Wyrmling who has a strange, purplish glow in his eyes that seems intent on killing everything around it.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature