so then what class or stat block is best to represent this legend of an trapmaker? is it the kobold inventor? perhaps the artificer class? or would just a normal kobold with big plans and bigger aspirations work, no special gimmics just an vendetta?
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
okay but so do you suggest the grand villain should be some kobold kind or queen, or an dragon, or an kobold hivemind? kobolds are by nature kinda cowardly, they are unlikely to seek the party out, the party comes to the kobolds
Often enough, parties have to confront the BBEG in some kind of a lair any way. The best part about a kobold bad guy is that it works against the players knowledge of what a kobold is and what they're expectations of what a BBEG should be. If the BBEG is a sort of "Brain" character (from "Pinky and the Brain"), then it's possible that the party doesn't directly confront the "Brain" before the final encounter anyway. In fact, the Brain can be "working" for someone else for half the campaign, utilizing the "Boss's" resources to meet their own devious purposes until the party overthrows the "Boss". However, the attacks, incidents, or whatever the "Boss" was targeting continue afterwards, but the MO has changed since the "Brain" no longer has the "Boss's" assets but must use kobolds now that his horde is his only set of assets. This likely means a "several pieces of Macguffin" style of campaign, perhaps to recreate a powerful artifact from lore, or can borrow elements from Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat as the Brain is working to try to release Tiamat back into the material plane. Other possible inspiration points could be Zelda or LoTR. Finally, perhaps the Kobold isn't magical yet. Perhaps its endgame is perform some ritual that will turn the "Brain" into some kind of Ascended being, perhaps a cross between a Lich and a Warlock. Just because the BBEG isn't magical, it doesn't necessarily mean that the threat can't be.
I'd count it, considering the poster used the example of an artificer creating magical war constructs. That's a bit more direct to using magic than a monk.
I'm thinking of a half-dragon kobold with levels in drunken master. He's a cult leader, and his followers are all kobold monks. Their monastery is an old brewery. Sure, they're cowards most of the time, but you get a little beer in 'em and they're absolutely FEARLESS!!!
I would make the Kobold a Fighter, or a Monk with really high Charisma. I would avoid Barbarian because Kobold Barbarian has been done before, Rogues too. But make them a very capable, very charismatic leader of an organization. Like a Kobold Cobra Commander, or a Kobla Khan.
They need Money, Brains, and Ruthlessness. Like a James Bond villain. But one that also happens to be a tough boss fight at the end of the Campaign.
They could even have Lieutenants, like Destro (Artificer), Dr. Mindbender (Wizard?), The Crimson Twins (Rogues), Zartan (Ranger), The Baroness (Fighter), etc.
I'd count it, considering the poster used the example of an artificer creating magical war constructs. That's a bit more direct to using magic than a monk.
yeah but like that is an character who uses a very subtile, ambient type magic that can only really be used to one thing and that is mostly derived from his engineering skills, its not like he is using his ki energy to teleport everywhere, stun opponents and create copies of himself
I'm thinking of a half-dragon kobold with levels in drunken master. He's a cult leader, and his followers are all kobold monks. Their monastery is an old brewery. Sure, they're cowards most of the time, but you get a little beer in 'em and they're absolutely FEARLESS!!!
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
BEER FOR THE BEER GOD!!!
also you dont need to tell me to be afraid becuase i already am, especially if we merge the martial artist and dragonheart kobold stat blocks from volo's guide to monsters
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
This character hates magic in all it’s forms - you can figure out why to flesh out the character.
Just keeping an eye on the party to start off with and not necessarily hostile - but if the party annoys a royal - this badass is sent after them, and attempts to learn about them and then ambush them - ideally one at a time. If not, a part of a cue perhaps?
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D&D, Youth Work and the Priesthood sadly do not typically interact... I do what I can!
I'm a bit late to the party, but I'll give my two cents anyways. Here are some historical examples you could then flavor into the world of D&D. Genghis Khan, a nomad going around uniting tribes under one banner of blood: the party's objective is to prevent him from amassing a horde or recruit enough other kingdoms to oppose him. The crusader kings, a collection of powerful interlopers, who each have massive armies and different tactics: The party's objective is to kill or repel each of these leaders by any means, i.e. force, persuasion, assassination.
The beauty of the doppelganger is you can build almost anything around them. The conspiracy can go on however long you like - potentially, there's always another, higher up, deeper behind the scenes, pulling the strings of the string-puller.
Of course, reading thoughts isn't something that can be done without a bit of magic, so maybe that disqualifies them =(
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Great idea! A goolock with mask of many faces, suggestion, and a few other spells has everything they need to totally topple a kingdom or run one from the outside... but if you want completely nonmagical a rogue could totally do it too. Dr. Mabuse style - he turned out to be a cardboard cutout and a tape recorder. My buddy did a great pirate villain who happened to be a son of Asmodeus. Other than that just a fighter ship captain but he'd zip off to hell when he lost and come back with a bigger boat. Until his dad ran out of patience.
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so then what class or stat block is best to represent this legend of an trapmaker? is it the kobold inventor? perhaps the artificer class? or would just a normal kobold with big plans and bigger aspirations work, no special gimmics just an vendetta?
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Often enough, parties have to confront the BBEG in some kind of a lair any way. The best part about a kobold bad guy is that it works against the players knowledge of what a kobold is and what they're expectations of what a BBEG should be. If the BBEG is a sort of "Brain" character (from "Pinky and the Brain"), then it's possible that the party doesn't directly confront the "Brain" before the final encounter anyway. In fact, the Brain can be "working" for someone else for half the campaign, utilizing the "Boss's" resources to meet their own devious purposes until the party overthrows the "Boss". However, the attacks, incidents, or whatever the "Boss" was targeting continue afterwards, but the MO has changed since the "Brain" no longer has the "Boss's" assets but must use kobolds now that his horde is his only set of assets. This likely means a "several pieces of Macguffin" style of campaign, perhaps to recreate a powerful artifact from lore, or can borrow elements from Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat as the Brain is working to try to release Tiamat back into the material plane. Other possible inspiration points could be Zelda or LoTR. Finally, perhaps the Kobold isn't magical yet. Perhaps its endgame is perform some ritual that will turn the "Brain" into some kind of Ascended being, perhaps a cross between a Lich and a Warlock. Just because the BBEG isn't magical, it doesn't necessarily mean that the threat can't be.
this is oh so brilliant and i love it, thank you :)
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
I'd count it, considering the poster used the example of an artificer creating magical war constructs. That's a bit more direct to using magic than a monk.
I'm thinking of a half-dragon kobold with levels in drunken master. He's a cult leader, and his followers are all kobold monks. Their monastery is an old brewery. Sure, they're cowards most of the time, but you get a little beer in 'em and they're absolutely FEARLESS!!!
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
BEER FOR THE BEER GOD!!!
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
I would make the Kobold a Fighter, or a Monk with really high Charisma. I would avoid Barbarian because Kobold Barbarian has been done before, Rogues too. But make them a very capable, very charismatic leader of an organization. Like a Kobold Cobra Commander, or a Kobla Khan.
They need Money, Brains, and Ruthlessness. Like a James Bond villain. But one that also happens to be a tough boss fight at the end of the Campaign.
They could even have Lieutenants, like Destro (Artificer), Dr. Mindbender (Wizard?), The Crimson Twins (Rogues), Zartan (Ranger), The Baroness (Fighter), etc.
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Zartan was definitely an Assassin, not a Ranger.
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.
yeah but like that is an character who uses a very subtile, ambient type magic that can only really be used to one thing and that is mostly derived from his engineering skills, its not like he is using his ki energy to teleport everywhere, stun opponents and create copies of himself
also you dont need to tell me to be afraid becuase i already am, especially if we merge the martial artist and dragonheart kobold stat blocks from volo's guide to monsters
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Master of Shadows - Royal Advisor
Changeling, Kensei Monk 6 / Assassin Rogue 4
Strength 10 Dexterity: 18 Constitution: 16 Intelligence: 16 Wisdom: 18 (+1) Charisma: 14
Background: Urban Bounty Hunter
Proficiencies:
Acrobatics
Arcana
Deception (Expertise)
Insight
Persuasion
Sleight of Hand
Stealth (Expertise)
Blowgun, Rapier, Shortsword, Simple Weapons, Whip
Calligrapher's Supplies, Disguise Kit, Dragonchess Set, Flute, Playing Card Set, Poisoner's Kit, Thieves' Tools
Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Thieves’ Cant
Feats: Mage Slayer and Mobile
Equipment:
Weapon of Certain Death, Whip, not actually magical just imbedded with razor sharp dragon-glass and treated with an anti-coagulant.
Blowgun with Drow Poison (Injury) which is disguised as a flute.
Cloak of Displacement which he/she (you don’t know, they have so many guises) got from besting a Displacer Beast.
My thoughts:
This character hates magic in all it’s forms - you can figure out why to flesh out the character.
Just keeping an eye on the party to start off with and not necessarily hostile - but if the party annoys a royal - this badass is sent after them, and attempts to learn about them and then ambush them - ideally one at a time. If not, a part of a cue perhaps?
I'm a bit late to the party, but I'll give my two cents anyways. Here are some historical examples you could then flavor into the world of D&D. Genghis Khan, a nomad going around uniting tribes under one banner of blood: the party's objective is to prevent him from amassing a horde or recruit enough other kingdoms to oppose him. The crusader kings, a collection of powerful interlopers, who each have massive armies and different tactics: The party's objective is to kill or repel each of these leaders by any means, i.e. force, persuasion, assassination.
I have just one word for this: Doppelganger.
The beauty of the doppelganger is you can build almost anything around them. The conspiracy can go on however long you like - potentially, there's always another, higher up, deeper behind the scenes, pulling the strings of the string-puller.
Of course, reading thoughts isn't something that can be done without a bit of magic, so maybe that disqualifies them =(
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Great idea! A goolock with mask of many faces, suggestion, and a few other spells has everything they need to totally topple a kingdom or run one from the outside... but if you want completely nonmagical a rogue could totally do it too. Dr. Mabuse style - he turned out to be a cardboard cutout and a tape recorder. My buddy did a great pirate villain who happened to be a son of Asmodeus. Other than that just a fighter ship captain but he'd zip off to hell when he lost and come back with a bigger boat. Until his dad ran out of patience.