NickDaniel wrote:
I searched through the yahoo group and found some interesting stuff about this. Also learnt a new acronym;TPK! Looking at the scenario again that is a likely outcome, unless the PCs can kill him in the first round.
You might be right. If not a TPK, then at least someone is likely to die...
NickDaniel wrote:
1. The rulebook says the pentacle is 5m across, this must put it on the floor of Darian's tower top room. So the first PC climbs up, sees it and gets transported and trapped in it. Can they cast spells and/or shoot out of it? I'm guessing not.
Once in the pentacle, you can still act, but are powerless to leave the pentacle. Whilst the spell description is not clear on this point, I would argue that anyone trapped within is unable to affect anyone outside the pentacle. As it can affect 2d6 people, you could easily find the whole party trapped in the pentacle...
NickDaniel wrote:
2.If Darian casts a Bastion spell and erects a wall does it block his sight of the party? Then he can't see them to cast more spells at them.
True. A Bastion completely blocks everything on both sides. Nothing in and nothing out. Bastions are great for giving a sorcerer some breathing time - cast some durational spells, or flee using an Astral Gate (astral gates do not go 'through' the Bastion - I think there's a FAQ to this effect somewhere).
NickDaniel wrote:
3. He has a Ring of Teleportation that he won't use! Wtf! Surely he would zip down to his shrine in the dungeon, or go and get some more black riders?
4. Darian has only a few magic points left (presumably he has renewed his pentacle and done some other nasty magics that day like scrying - re-watching the murders of his brother's family in the woods?) and low hp and reflaxes (explained by his age and doppelganger?) so he shouldn't he be either better prepared or ready to flee?
Don't forget the comment about Rimfax in the text - that might be a powerful motivator to stay and fight. However, I prefer to ignore that advice and create a recurring villain to harry the characters throughout their adventuring career. Darian will have a lot on his hands just avoiding the wrath of Rimfax (which the PCs may be able to use to help them finally defeat him when they've had enough of his interventions), so he won't crop up often, but he's unlikely to forget the role they played in his downfall.
NickDaniel wrote:
5. Can the doppelganger talk?
The spell description would have you believe not - the doppelganger has no knowledge skills (presumably that includes language), reason (so would not know how to respond in a conversation) or volition (so even if it could speak, it would not choose to). The doppelganger will, however, obey its creator's commands, so if the creator ordered the doppelganger to deliver a verbal message, because it is a physical copy of the caster and, presumably, therefore has the capability to speak, it could then talk. But for the reasons above, I would not expect the doppelganger to be able to hold its own in a conversation.
NickDaniel wrote:
I'm considering planning the whole encounter, so the whole party gets entrapped or something and the spear from the hell glade files through the air by itself and impales the old loonie. Justice (revenge) is finally served.
I like the idea of a narrative encounter, but don't deprive the characters of a chance to be involved in the dramatic denoeument, as they may feel cheated if they're not involved in Darian's final downfall. Consider giving the spear the power to deflect some of Darian's spells (or at least reduce the damage) to give the wielder a chance to get close to Darian to strike the killing blow. Maybe the wielder of the spear is immune to the pentacle of entrapment, etc. - that kinda thing that gives the character a 'reward' for having the spear, but still keeps them involved in the exciting finale!
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