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Fendrikor
Learned Scribe
Australia
189 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 06:15:01
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I am currently running City of the Spider Queen.
This question concerns Maurhezi Daemons.
We are using the Pathfinder System.
The Party is currently up to Room D10 (The Bebilith Nest). The battle with the 2 Spider daemons went horribly wrong, and both the Main Fighter (a troll with 2 levels in fighter) and the Ninja (Shadow dancer) were killed. Though the Troll Regenerated and left the dungeon later, the Ninja was then quickly eaten by a Maurhezi deamon dwelling in the crypt - and now, it has access to his identity.
The survivors of the group have retreated to town (dagger falls) and have allocated 2 days to resting / crafting.
In the aftermath of his characters demise, the Ninja player was bitter and spiteful about the combat involvement of the other players. He is new, and it was his very first death in DND... i play to a high level of immersion so death in my games can be very traumatic. In addition to this the mechanical penalty's for death my players never generally handle death well..
Sensing an opportunity to help him 'get back' at the party without acting out his own desires for vengeance i suggested that if he could play the Maurhezi for me, i would reward him with a lesser penalty for dieing (coming in at the same level as the players, with less exp still of course)
He agreed. And i gave him the mission of masquerading as himself, in an effort to lure one of the players away from the main group, kill them and devour them. This is Ironic, as his entire character Sub plot from the beginning had been that he was a Scout captain from the Shadovar empire, who had masqueraded as a traveller, shared a campfire with a Knight of the North and killed him - stealing his items and identity. Now, he had died in much the same way - being killed and having his identity stolen by a horrible deamon.
But In order though to stop him from using the Maurhezi as a Vehicle to Get Even - (and to achieve some more control over the story flow) - i am considering taking over the character when the Ruse is up (to show its duel natures).
How have you run Identity theft in the past? how did your players handle being killed and replaced???
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'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup' |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 08:13:44
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Most parties will experience an identity theft at one point or another but it rarely involves a PC dying - usually it's about shapechangers.
It's a tough balancing act and if you'd asked me before you'd made your decision, I'd have advised you to just get him to roll up a new character - it's not an option I'd usually give to a newbie, especially if you're not familiar with their mindset. The key is to keep the player involved in the game (or they'll resent the issue even more) while also making sure that they don't subvert the villain's personality with their own (usually irrational) thought processes and wreck any plans you have for that villain. In short, don't let your player have complete control over an NPC...ever actually.
Keep communication up with your player. Make it known to him that he is not the Maurhezi, the Maurhezi is just using his memories to play up the character's personality. Let him in on some of your nefarious schemes that the Maurhezi has come up with (though obviously not plot spoiling ones) to keep him in the loop so as to make him feel involved without giving out spoilers that could influence future decisions. The Maurhezi will want to eat his fellow PCs which, if he is that way minded, he can use as motivation for his revenge but make sure that he knows that the Maurhezi would never, ever attempt to just attack a party member outside of favourable terrain. It would need to get one PC on its own (maybe while busy crafting) and attempt to paralyse them before even considering chowing down. Though you may know that the attempt is doomed to fail (it shouldn't be too hard to pass a DC 13 Fortitude save at 10th level), try your best not to let your former ninja know that.
I hope this helps, though I acknowledge the possibility that I may not have understood your question.
Also, a troll should have had more than 2 levels of Fighter if you're playing City of the Spider Queen with Pathfinder rules. He should have had at least 6 character levels (assuming an average party level of 10). |
When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.
Head admin of the FR wiki:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/ |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1882 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 08:40:28
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| I agree he should have just rolled another character. Letting him play an NPC isn't the best of ideas unless you have a very (and I mean very) mature player (and he doesn't sound it). I would tell him to roll another and take control of your daemon again. I'm curious though, why do you penalize them for dying? Death in DnD is too common to punish players over...especially in cases where a character sacrifices themselves willingly. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Fendrikor
Learned Scribe
Australia
189 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 09:21:22
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@ Hashimashadoo - I actually made the decision mid-writing the post. However decided to post it anyway to get feedback. Thankyou for picking up on the Troll, originally he was an NPC with the intention of joining the party as a hireling, but a friend of mine decided to join the campaign casually and ended up playing as him. He has since leveled. He is pretty strong, even at his level, that and the party will be swelling to 5 players next session so i figured it would balance (especially since he regenerates and the casual nature of the player means he will probably leave the campaign in his own time). As for the Maurhezi, yep i explained all that too him - which is why i am thinking of takeing control once he has Trojan Horsed them with his roleplay (There will be some astute tell's that something is not right however... his leathers will be in tatters, and he no longer has the ability to hide that he is a shadeling... something the party was not aware of. so it will be like a lie, within a lie within a lie for them to unravel).
@ The Arcanamach - Mm, he did in the end - deciding to roll a half drow monk (Zen Archer 6), Sorcerer (1), Arcane Archer (3)... as it was his first death i wasnt surprised when he began researching powerbuilds for the Arcane archer... as such i have had to limit his sources and ugh.. its a nightmare. but im working on it. I do not like the term punishment for death so much as Setback. Death is far less lethal in Pathfinder, with returning characters coming in at -2 Level Drain, removable at a rate of 1 level per week with Restoration but no actual Level Loss.
I LIKE THIS - as it encourages players to stick with their existing Characters.
I only put in the 1 level less, with half EXP to level up rule for people who Drop their old characters and make new ones.
Players who GENUINLY loved their previous characters - and wanted to have them back but, due to unavoidable (roleplay related) or non-returnable death (due to complex, messy situations where there is neither the money, or the options to raise the character) I wave the rule and just bring them in at their previous Experiance points At the time of death (this will mean current ongoing character should still be ahead).
The usual problem that always follows death is wealth levels. So Generally i say regardless of how you come back - a character has wealth equal to their class (except in the case of the people makeing a new character to replace their beloved previous one - who use the wealth level 1 lower than their class), but the trade off is im more generous with how they can spend it (Items common to the region / or items within reason from the DMG do not require dice rolls to obtain. Items from other sources i consider the plausability of and assign a percentile value to it).
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'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup' |
Edited by - Fendrikor on 29 Jan 2014 09:25:54 |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1882 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 10:12:39
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| Ah I see then. PF rules are a bit different than what I'm used too but I've never been big on bringing dead characters back (I actually don't like the ease of gaining resurrection in the game...makes death a minor inconvenience). Anyway, I hope his experience improves and he doesn't give you too many headaches. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 15:53:49
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| Sticking with existing characters is great but if you're consumed by a Maurhezi, only a True Resurrection, Wish or Miracle would bring the dead back to life (with a 50% chance of failure). A 25,000gp diamond would be tough to find and two would be practically impossible (note that the PF core rulebook asks for *a* 25,000gp diamond, not 25,000gp worth of diamonds). It'd be a quest in and of itself. |
When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.
Head admin of the FR wiki:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/ |
Edited by - hashimashadoo on 29 Jan 2014 15:54:25 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11999 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2014 : 19:19:48
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| huh, I like that part of a permanent 2 level drain for raise dead, but that restoration spell can remove 1 permanent level drain per casting (and that a week must be waited between castings of restoration). I really need to play a PF game one day. I don't think I'd ever catch stuff like that without the actual hands on experience. It becomes problematic if you don't have access to a cleric, but that's a rarity. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Fendrikor
Learned Scribe
Australia
189 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2014 : 06:52:50
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Eh it all doesnt matter anymore.
The player Rage Quit the campaign when i accused him of makeing a powerbuild.
That and it seemed very much like he had a himself versus the party mindset and no end of snide digs / rules lawyering to boot.
Good Riddance. To Bad Rubbish.
The Maurhezi will appear as him momentarily before attacking anyone in the party who breaks off from the others.
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'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup' |
Edited by - Fendrikor on 30 Jan 2014 06:57:45 |
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Running a Maurhezi Deamon.
