I am using aspects of the Astral Plane in my BBEG fight for my campaign and am soon introducing an npc that acts as servant and lure to bring an astral dreadnought type creature to the material plane. A living beacon of you will. But I'm drawing a blank on what way to go about building him. I dont know if I should go caster, martial, or split on his capabilities or what. So I guess I'm looking for suggestions. I can also answer any additional questions to aid if my example is to vague.
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"As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen one's mettle."
I think I’d go caster and have the NPC be able to twist magic. Wizard type to show long hours of experimentation from trial and error, or sorcerer to be able to make use of twisted metamagics. Maybe cleric cleric or warlock if there are the Mars present in the campaign already to support godly interventions and patrons.
I think I’d base the astral dreadnaught being able to go to the material plane on Magic’s.
I’d reverse the astral projection spell and call it “material projection”. Maybe have the NPC be a githyanki that has deviated from the culture for some reason.
The character and the plot device has no inherent relationship, given the available information. Rather, whatever you choose will likely shape the character's other traits.
How intentional do you want the character to be? How did the character become a living beacon? What kind of emotional response do you want the character to evoke?
My first instinct was to suggest a Wild Magic Barbarian. As far as "Living Beacons" go, they make for a great magical force of nature. Casters are in control of their magic, Barbarians struggle to show restraint. However, Bards fill the old "Pied Piper" trope. They naturally resonate with world around them, and that might be more literal for some than others.
Martial characters typically make poor BBEG's because they pretty much have to be backed up by at least one NPC ally who is the big bad evil magic guy anyway. Without access to potent magic, what are their advantages against the PCs? You can make them a warlord of some kind (which is totally legitimate) but even then their power is rooted in commanding their minions rather than individual skill.
For something like this, where they have to use some serious planar magic, they need to be a spellcaster. Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric or some kind of weird astral planar druid could all work.
I’d reverse the astral projection spell and call it “material projection”. Maybe have the NPC be a githyanki that has deviated from the culture for some reason.
I had almost this exact thought. I also thought about pulling from the mystics UA to build him around the nomad mystic.
I really appreciate the responses so far and are giving me some great jumping points.
I also like the idea of the wild magic barbarian, though I'm wanting him a bit my poised. Think the magician that worked for thanos in the infinity wars movies.
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"As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen one's mettle."
Nothing says creepy Astral BBEG like an illithid. I like the idea of an Astral Druid. Maybe a Circle of Stars Druid with illithid racial powers? Some kind of renegade from the illithid hive mind. Oh, and it’s level 20 so it can wild shape every turn to aberrations from the Astral plane and summons on its legendary actions. Have fun with that players!
The servant's astral cord is entangled with the dreadnaught's. Their destiny's are entwined. They could be star crossed lovers, or they could be mortal enemies. Either way, fate will draw them together.
I am using aspects of the Astral Plane in my BBEG fight for my campaign and am soon introducing an npc that acts as servant and lure to bring an astral dreadnought type creature to the material plane. A living beacon of you will. But I'm drawing a blank on what way to go about building him. I dont know if I should go caster, martial, or split on his capabilities or what. So I guess I'm looking for suggestions. I can also answer any additional questions to aid if my example is to vague.
"As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen one's mettle."
I think I’d go caster and have the NPC be able to twist magic. Wizard type to show long hours of experimentation from trial and error, or sorcerer to be able to make use of twisted metamagics. Maybe cleric cleric or warlock if there are the Mars present in the campaign already to support godly interventions and patrons.
I think I’d base the astral dreadnaught being able to go to the material plane on Magic’s.
I’d reverse the astral projection spell and call it “material projection”. Maybe have the NPC be a githyanki that has deviated from the culture for some reason.
The character and the plot device has no inherent relationship, given the available information. Rather, whatever you choose will likely shape the character's other traits.
How intentional do you want the character to be?
How did the character become a living beacon?
What kind of emotional response do you want the character to evoke?
My first instinct was to suggest a Wild Magic Barbarian. As far as "Living Beacons" go, they make for a great magical force of nature. Casters are in control of their magic, Barbarians struggle to show restraint. However, Bards fill the old "Pied Piper" trope. They naturally resonate with world around them, and that might be more literal for some than others.
Martial characters typically make poor BBEG's because they pretty much have to be backed up by at least one NPC ally who is the big bad evil magic guy anyway. Without access to potent magic, what are their advantages against the PCs? You can make them a warlord of some kind (which is totally legitimate) but even then their power is rooted in commanding their minions rather than individual skill.
For something like this, where they have to use some serious planar magic, they need to be a spellcaster. Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric or some kind of weird astral planar druid could all work.
I had almost this exact thought. I also thought about pulling from the mystics UA to build him around the nomad mystic.
I really appreciate the responses so far and are giving me some great jumping points.
I also like the idea of the wild magic barbarian, though I'm wanting him a bit my poised. Think the magician that worked for thanos in the infinity wars movies.
"As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen one's mettle."
Nothing says creepy Astral BBEG like an illithid. I like the idea of an Astral Druid. Maybe a Circle of Stars Druid with illithid racial powers? Some kind of renegade from the illithid hive mind. Oh, and it’s level 20 so it can wild shape every turn to aberrations from the Astral plane and summons on its legendary actions. Have fun with that players!
The servant's astral cord is entangled with the dreadnaught's. Their destiny's are entwined. They could be star crossed lovers, or they could be mortal enemies. Either way, fate will draw them together.
Elder BRAIN!!!!