When making a creature, there are several things you must make sure of to avoid annoying loopholes in your scenario.
- Is it going to be good? If so, give it a magical resistance or immunity — either that or make it big. Orb of Hauyne made this mistake with adventurers — creatures with a decent amount of hitpoints 20d3 attack (!) twice (!!) — and if you got them in a Soul Crystal, then every fight after was a piece of cake. Similarly, if you have basilisks in your scenario, make sure the big bosses have magical immunity (or resistance — I’m not sure on this one). Check every creature!
- Try and keep it challenging! This is VERY difficult for any scenario level above Low, because you never know what items or spells they will have. To avoid having your big creatures slain easily, make them ‘Important’ creatures — thus making all ‘Slaying’ weapons ineffectual. Remember the party might have spells like ‘Protective Circle’ and, the biggie, ‘Antimagic Cloud’. I will often make a creature with powerful magical abilities — but not the usual type. For example, a creature could have no Priest or Mage spells and still be a magic-user; just give it all resistances, Permanent Martyr’s Shield, high armour, skill and hp instead. This goes for an interesting effect. Many of my master-monsters are designed like this. For low level scenarios, have a look at some of the creatures in Nephil’s Gambit for a good challenge.
- On a similar note, don’t make them impossible for the party to beat. Or if you do, put some equally powerful allies in. That way, it’s the party’s fault if they get involved and die. While we’re on the subject, try not to do a Spy’s Quest. Make it difficult if you want, but don’t make it nigh-on impossible!
- If you’re going to use premade creatures, use them in new ways. If you’re going to use new creatures, make several different types. It gets boring, hacking away at the same old creatures for minute upon minute... upon... minute... hour even.
- Make outdoor wandering creatures either rare or relevant! Also, if you are going to put outdoor wandering monsters in, also put in some way of getting rid of them. I can’t tell you how much the hobgoblins in Of Good And Evil got on my nerves. If there’s a way to get rid of them little sods, I ain’t found it yet, but believe me, I’m searching for all I’m worth. The same happened in Orb of Hauyne; I was attacked by so many suicidal bears/wolves/snakes I was shocked! How could anyone travel in a place like this? By the time I’d got through one of the outdoor sections (mind you, this was particularly busy) I was on sub-thirty spell points. So, to a small point in realism; if creatures are going to be attacking the party, they’re CERTAINLY going to be attacking common people — more so, in fact. In Orb of Hauyne, I had trouble believing anyone could get from town to town and survive.
There’s my advice. A lot, huh? Good — it’s all helpful.
|