Distraction Orbs and Other Annoying Minions

Distraction Orbs is a type of Minion I sometimes use that generally lowers the defenses of the party. It has no other purpose and does not do any damage

Here is an example of one that focuses on reflex

The choice becomes tough for the players; do they destroy the minion then have an effect on them that a save can end?

I’ve also made it more difficult for higher levels

The level 11 minion’s death burst effect is Slowed & -2 Reflex (Save Ends)

The level 21 minion’s death burst effect is Immobilized & -2 Reflex (Save Ends)

Its nice and simple, the creatures have decent speed, are tiny, and hover. These three key elements allows them to get close to the party and just hang around

Stench Skull is the Fort based minion

Level 1: -2 Fort (SE)

Level 11: Can’t Shift & -2 Fort (SE)

Level 21: Can’t spend healing surges & -2 Fort (SE)

There are probably some better options for level 11, but in general these little guys can add an annoyance level to any combat without making it that much more difficult. 

Minion Craze or Portal Pleasure

This encounter remains to be one of my groups most favourite and is still talked about to this day.

The room has no monsters except for minions, the general goal is to disable all the portals, and activate another one so the party can leave

Each blue square is a portal. And are far enough a part it’s hard for the wizards to make it to one each turn

At the start of combat and on each minion’s initiative, every active portal summons in a new minion who goes immediately.

To disable a portal requires someone to be adjacent to it, standard action, arcane {Trained} check DC [(5 per tier) + 15]

The pit in the room should be at least 10 feet per tier, and is used by the minions.

This encounter can go on for a few good rounds since the players need to climb back up and in, and it can get out of hand fast since 12 minions per round are going to be spawning in. But it is loads of fun for everyone

I used a Modified Groom Guardian, only difference was it had Fly (hover). I recommend the same but adjusting it for whatever level you need.

**Rules note: I’m not sure about the rules of teleporting something in air, but it is one of those things that as a DM you should allow in the case of the monster because it is indeed an attack**

Groom Guardian: Demonomicron Page 93: http://www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/monster.aspx?id=5105

SoO Game Night 10.2

Out of Game

This week we got to play at my house again, for two key reasons. One Deryk wasn't coming out and second my wife wasn't going to be home. It was good to have home field advantage again. everyone showed up on time, and was looking forward to play.

In Game

The group left the tribe of the black dragons in search of the two lovestruck dragonborn and after some time discovered their cabin. Upon careful investigation it was revealed to the party that a tree was launched into the window, the building was cut up with a blade and the hand of lord Patrin was cut off clean. the hand was left behind.

The party reviewed what they knew about trolls (nature 35) and relied that this did not seem like trolls. In any case they continued tracking to the entrance of a cave system that eventually led them into a cavern with a strong stream running through it.

The party was devided from the start, they wanted to stop what appeared to be some cross between a troll and a vampire. Party members were attacking each other, and after a lengthy exhausting battle the vampiric troll turned to mist and escaped out of cracks in the ceiling of the cave.

The group then decided to speak with dead (trying the troll bones) and found out that the two missing dragonborn are being taken to Nightshade. Nightshade is in his lair, and they have some help finding their way (+2)

Continuing through the cave system they came across an area that seemed to busted into a previously worked area. Trolls lie in waiting begun their attacks as soon as someone peaked their heads around.

After what seemed like an eternity of the party being seperate again they managed to hold hostage the troll witch.

Now it is time to ask her more questions


Treasure & XP

• Encounter 1
• 1x Black Pearl (500 gp)
• 750xp each
• Encounter 2
• 300gp
• 1x Black Pearl (500 gp)
• 600xp each

NPC's

No new NPCs found

Quotes of the Day

"Hot, Cold, he's uncomfortably warm"

SoO Game Night 10.1

Out of Game

We took a few months off to play a 4e OA game, and now the party is back at it again, fighting the evil armies of Orcus

to recap, the group was last at the dwarven lands and had discovered that a secret weapon lies with alexandar that will help the group in the fight against Orcus and prevent him from returning to this land.

We were playing over at Deryk & Korey's due to the possibility Deryk had H1N1, my wife did not want the game at our house. So TJ brought over some deer steak, and Dave & Helen brought over some sausages & potatoes and we had a blast. We had little room and a young pup (Pan) but over all was good to be back in the DM seat.

In game

the group traveled onward to the Dragonborn kingdoms, the home of Pax. Upon returning home Pax had discovered his cousin Nala has gone missing. Nala is the daughter of the tribal leader, Lord Kriv. Pax's father the captain of the guard has tasked Pax to find out what has happened, and suggested they go to a neighboring town who have had rivals with in the past.

After the party discovered much about Pax's past, and seen many etching on items in the keep that bare his name; they left in the morning to the tribe of the Black Dragon.

The day was wrought with dark skies and heavy rains, halfway during their journey the sky became as black as night just as the party came across an old set of ruins.

A battle ensued against undead. At the end of the fight [dave's character] spoke with dead on the wizard they dispatched to find out that he is here on behalf of orcus to start a war.

When the fight was over the sky cleared up, and it was day again. The group continued along their way.

They arrived at the Black Dragon tribe and was created by Balasar who recognized the heroes from tale and Pax from their childhood. A minor disagreement came about but, Balasar soon realized that Pax was indeed looking for Lady Nala, and knew nothing about Lord Patrin.

A meeting was organized between the group, and Captian Torrin and Lord Rhogar. It was discovered that Lady Nala and Lord Patrin have secretly been seeing eachother for a few months now and had a hide out in the troll infested swamps. Lord Rhogar apologized to Pax and asked for his help in finding his son.

Tomorrow the party shall leave to find the two wayward soles.

Treasure & XP

• 1x black pearl (500 gp)
• 500xp each

NPC's

• Lord of Bronze Dragon tribe: Lord Kriv
• Missing Girl: Lady Nala
• Lord of Black Dragon tribe: Lord Rhogar
• Missing Boy: Lord Patrin
• Captain of the Guard Bronze Dragon: Captain Medrash
• Captain of the Guard Black Dragon: Captain Torinn
• Son of Captain Torinn: Balasar

Quotes of the Day

• "Helen, your the but plug of d&d"
• "Everyone hates a bloody throng"
• "I eyebite him right in his brown eye."

Week End Review - May 1st

Another week down the drain, and all i have to show for it is seven newly built servers, and some d&d news. This week was a weird week for me, for one there was constant fights and bickering with my wife over the H1N1 flu, see one of my buddy's a player to our d&d game just got back from a trip from Mexico. needless to say were not playing d&d at my place this week, were playing at his...
...i have to shower when i get back...(lets not talk about this any further)

Anyway to add to the weirdness this week, anyone who had a blog about d&d blogged about the free adventure giveaway from WotC, it was all over the internet news (well d&d related anyway).

check it out here

My biggest pet peeve of the week is the complaints about how there is no role playing in 4th edition. Newbie for DM poses the question, however i think my post sums it up. NewbieDM however does have a great tip that i may just have to steal for my next craft article. He show you can create your own tokens using a printer, glue, and some washers. thought i think i will use TokenTools

Speaking of mapping, Michael Shorten has a good article over at the examiner on maps and mapping tools for free, Stargazer blogs about how to create old-school maps in GIMP the downside is you need a forum account to download the needed files. Also Jonathan from The Core Mechanic lists six RPG map making solutions that pretty much cover everything you need.

There was a fair amount of DM tips this week that i found extremely useful. over at Slyflourish he has a collection of tweets, and one i really like is

"Good use for minions: Aid Another (PHB pg 287). Standard action: basic atk vs AC10; on hit, +2 to allies next attack vs. this target. #dnd"

The RPG Athenaeum talks about creating knowledge sheets, listing what players automatically know. i really like this idea, and think i will be using the journal function in the DDI:CC program.

Also dungeonmaster.com has a pretty sweet skill challenge example, i like it a lot

stick around, next week i will be posting an encounter around Monday.