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Post by janewalksfar on Jan 15, 2016 23:32:41 GMT
My PCs just arrived at a ramshackle desert town run by Cuthbert's Boys--mercenaries who pay homage to St. Cuthbert, but mostly just strong arm the locals now that the mayor hired them to handle the town's goblin problem. The Boys also participate in the slave trade & run a pit fighting ring behind the saloon. The combatants are a mix of slaves, independent prize fighters, and folks seeking to pay off their debt to the "law."
My cleric PC turned himself over to the Boys and since he can't pay his fines, "volunteered" for the fights. After discovering their friend's fate, the ranger and tinker gnome decided to enter the ranger in the fights to make money off the gambling and try to win back the pair of guns taken by the leader of Cuthbert's Boys.
I'm not going to run all the combats at the table, but I am rolling up NPCs and facing them off to create parts of the bracket beforehand. I'll run the cleric and ranger's combat in-game.
Using a standard bracket for 4 rounds, I need 14 NPCs. I'm running D&D 3.5. Sooooo, toss me some ideas for combatants--appearances, tactics, etc. If you feel froggy, you can make a stat. block. ;-) I'll probably use a "standard" 1st lvl NPC for 3-4 of the slaves/debtors & just throw some flavor over each. My PCs are level 4 and I'd like them to have a CHANCE of winning--so nothing too high level.
The setting is best described as a post-apocalyptic steampunk western.
**singing** "Do you wanna build a fighter?" |
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Post by DM Kiado on Jan 15, 2016 23:46:04 GMT
You need at least one guy, like a super scared accountant, who just immediately gets run through. There is one easy NPC. You're welcome! =P Edit: Go to donjon and generate NPC's for Pathfinder (basically the same thing) and you will get tons of ideas. |
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Post by catcharlie on Jan 16, 2016 0:04:54 GMT
**singing** "Do you wanna build a fighter?" **Muffled singing** "It doesn't have to be a fighter" Town drunkard, he gets shoved into the ring, he's already totally sloshed, he falls down after a few uneasy steps. His opponent, one of the young slaves, probably no more than 15, is declared the winner. |
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Post by lasersniper on Jan 16, 2016 0:24:27 GMT
I am partial to the fake badass myself. Some guy dressed up in a trench coat and cowboy hat hanging over his eyes. He is rumored have killed hundreds of men and has no mercy. In reality this guy just took credit for someone else's work and bluffs his way into winning. Only really works if there is some sort of surrender mechanic in your tournament.
Or how about a stack of 2 halflings. There stick is 2 tall man thing and they taunt thier opponents into a man on man wrestle. When engaged the bottom halfling starts shanking thier opponet.
My last idea I will through out is a pacifistic monk kid who was enslaved. He doesn't actually fight, he just relies on being able to dodge anything coming at him, but if he can't then he is going down hard.
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Post by janewalksfar on Jan 16, 2016 0:24:48 GMT
Yes, this is perfect, guys. I'm aiming to create interesting "combat moments" so these are great for fleshing out the red shirts. Now gimme some prize fighters...
**edit** I missed the halflings. Those guys could def. be contenders. ;-) |
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Post by janewalksfar on Jan 16, 2016 0:29:21 GMT
Also, any thoughts on the lvl. cap facing off against a 4th lvl PC?
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Post by lasersniper on Jan 16, 2016 1:00:56 GMT
Also, any thoughts on the lvl. cap facing off against a 4th lvl PC? Do you mean an opponet at the level cap facing them? Or do you mean what level should they be too face them? |
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Post by janewalksfar on Jan 16, 2016 3:56:50 GMT
As in the highest level for opponents in the arena...that a 4th lvl PC could (with strategy and luck) defeat.
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Post by ino on Jan 16, 2016 7:20:41 GMT
I'd, say level 4 to be safe, but it helps to know the pc's. For example, sending a monk/paladin against a wizard can be a bit rough due to high saves vs spell dc's. Do u have any info on the pc's builds?
For a slave npc, u should have a gladiator that volunteers WAY too much for the matches, and is possibly past his prime. Maybe he's missing a few limbs and has weapons attached. Grizzled and doesn't know anything else but combat. If things appear to easy, barbarian's rage could always make things a bit interesting.
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Post by ino on Jan 16, 2016 7:30:15 GMT
Also, u should put in some ringers suited to make ur pc's feel special. An awesome barbarian spec'd for rage vs the cleric (calm emotions will work wonders if he thinks about it). Possibly the ranger's favored enemy but has to track or use opposing skills against, or another ranger using the opposite combat school. If the ranger is ranged spec, could use a monk with snatch arrows. If melee, try a disarming rogue/fighter.
Then if things are too easy or want to throw them for a loop, have them offer to switch them. Maybe a mysterious patron appears and bribes the the cuthbert boys to switch it.
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Post by janewalksfar on Jan 16, 2016 17:23:21 GMT
I'd, say level 4 to be safe, but it helps to know the pc's. For example, sending a monk/paladin against a wizard can be a bit rough due to high saves vs spell dc's. Do u have any info on the pc's builds? Yes. The ranger is the powerhouse of the party with 18s in str and dex. Two-weapon fighting build. He almost always ends up first in initiative. Since it's a post-apocalyptic/survivalist setting, no magical gear, but he did manage to acquire some armor and a pair of swords. The cleric is underpowered for his level (bad luck rolling HP when he levels up & reluctance to scavenge for gear) but he makes clever use of his spells. Since he turned himself in, he's in the barracks with the other slaves/debtors, so I imagine he'll attempt to make alliances, negotiate.
All the participants in the fights are martial classes--other than the PC cleric. Spellcasters are scarce in my campaign.
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Post by ino on Jan 16, 2016 18:36:24 GMT
Holy crap! Double 18's? No magic items are unfortunate. Maybe go with an archer at a distance at first? What are his favored enemies?
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Post by ino on Jan 16, 2016 18:38:28 GMT
Oh. Side notE, don't u have a guy on the outside? U can have the cleric finding info on his opponents, and messaging the guy outside to find out info.
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