Current Events > DnD(5e) NPC Help!

(+) Yeah! (+)

First things first: This is a legacy character of mine I only got to level 8, and want to turn him into a dues ex machina character. Here is the basic rundown; He is a full orc who was born much stronger than the rest of his tribe, but also suffered from a mental condition. He was their champion, and got lost with his half orc brother (Warlock) (Think of mice and men, I am Lennie, he is George). While on this journey, he was fused with a demonic Axe. After many travels, the Devils got upset the demons were taking so many lives they struck a deal with him to give him additional powers in exchange for the soul of anyone he kills without his axe.

His Axe is empowered with lightning allowing him 3 charges which can cast: Lightning, Witch Bolt, Chain Lightning.
He has a Spine Whip which allows him 4 charges to cast: Inflict Damage (Level 2), and Animate Dead (level 9) 3x/1x a day respectively.
Ring of Giant Growth; 2x a day
Summon 2x Hellhounds 1x battle.

Anyone else have an idea? he's true neutral, and mostly a force of chaos/nature at this point, he's been alive for over 200 years.

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Idea for what exactly

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scar the 1 posted...

Idea for what exactly

Sounds kinda like a DMPC with:

SolidShadow3 posted...

dues ex machina character

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Legendary Actions, extra spells, abilities, etc.. anything.

feel free to make some up. I already made an ability:
-Blood Fissure: Strike the ground with the axe dealing 4D4 Force damage +2D4 Necrotic Damage in a 25ft line (5ft out of center of line) 3x a day.

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I'm going to advise against this, as I'm getting vibes that this is a self-insert DMPC that tries to hog the spotlight.
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He isnt a DMPC for anything other than poppin in to save the PCs from mortal danger. I have plenty of ideas for how interaction would go, but hes one if many legacy characters in the world.

Hes meant to be Over Powered, but has a cracked talisman of "Dimension Door" that sends him in random locations randomly. He's the epitome of BS and Stupid rolled into one, but with a few draw backs.

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I agree with Sir Cyrus, having someone who just pops in to save the PCs is very difficult to pull off correctly, and usually goes extremely poorly when it goes wrong.

I understand, but I'm mostly designing him for a one shot with my 2 roommates. We stopped right before the mid boss on halloween because they got to tired.

I made an enemy I want to have an epic fight with, and one roommate knows exactly who the character is (but doesnt know they're showing up). Should I explain the set up?

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Give him the shine spark from Metroid.

Take a dash action. After you're done moving, you shoot in any direction of your choice until you hit a wall. Any enemies that are in your path just die.

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Honestly I agree with everyone above. You shouldn't have a DEM character to save players. If they die they die. Especially when it's a one-shot.

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Protip: don't form any personal attachment to your NPCs. Exporting your own PCs or other ideas is a recipe for disaster, especially if the players don't treat your NPC favorably.

Let your players die if it happens, like come on its a one-shot.

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One Shot set up: PCs are level 12 going into a lair of Goblins. The Goblins have been working on dark magic, and they are at the point of fighting a renegade Blood Golem*. The Blood Golem has head towards the city.
The Blood Golem will slip (as a puddle) past the main entrance to the city where they will find Throgdor (the NPC we're talking about) inside the Tavern, Drinking and asking people to bring him "Something cute to play with" (remember, Lennie from Of Mice and Men).

All the goblins have run for the city, except the bartender who Throgdor has held captive to pour drinks for him. Throgdor will ignore them for the most part, because they cannot produce any living animal. During the fight the Goblin Prince will come out and begin attacking the party too (He has already attacked them and pissed them off). He will egg them on towards him into a trap that lead into the throne room.

Throgdor will come out to attack the Blood Golem so that have a good excuse to follow the prince. He is supposed to be there to make sure they feel comfortable attacking the Goblin Prince and falling into the throne room where the final boss happens.

*Blood Golem gets 2D10 HP for every kill, and has gone renegade killing goblins left and right. Its in the city, and had the ability to kill upwards of 10 goblins at once with a legendary action.

Throgdor is mostly a cameo, its one of my roommates first time playing.

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If he's going to be fighting the Blood Golem so the players don't have to, you don't need to make stats and actions and attacks for him. Just describe them being locked in combat with suitable flavor.

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They're going to attack the blood golem too; I know they will. I guess I'm just looking for ideas for things I could describe him doing; I do agree with that point @scar_the_1

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C'mon, any ideas? He's going to be a wandering character in the world ala Drizzt Do'Urden later, but that'll be more as a boss when they're around level 18 whenever we get to the real campaign.

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mattymad posted...

So it's not for a one shot if you're already thinking that far ahead. Which means you've already pinned this character as having plot armour, which means statting him up and giving him skills is useless. He's going to do what you want him to do regardless - and he won't die in any fights from now until the point you decide it's relevant/cool for the plot.

Sounds like you want to write a story book instead of DMing.

Also level 18 is the -real- campaign? What is their purpose/mission at that point? Levels 18-20, the players are stronger than gods.

You misunderstand; hes going to be a reoccurring character, sometimes hostile, other times friendly. This lvl 12 one shot isn't the real campaign, it's a one shot. Once we get to the real campaign I expect Throgdor to be a boss around lvl 18.

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All the more reason to not give him stats at this point - seems like he's supposed to be unkillable.

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Hes part of a very long campaign, and the world I designed is based around a couple of other characters as well as this one, hes just one of the last ones to figure out. They're some of the most ancient beings, and exist in ways that allow open dialogue; but they remain true neutral. You can just let the topic die if you're not willing to help, that's fine.

I was just looking for some cool ideas for this giant raging orc/demon hybrid re**** to do during a fight.

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Bump

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Final Bumporino

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If anything, I think that if youre really opposed to killing PCs you should have the bad guy that defeated them imprison them or something like that. Think: old school 1E module A4- In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords. They can fight their way out of trouble without being saved by DEM.

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