| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Zireael |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 14:20:37
I'm planning to make a gladiator pit in Ched Nasad - Gorlist came from one after all.
I need ideas (and maybe statblocks) for unique gladiators that could fight there. Not necessarily drow, not necessarily humanoids - monsters are welcome too!
Zireael |
| 28 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 28 Feb 2011 : 06:15:44
I just remembered the spiderstone golems from the Monstrous Compendium (vol 4, I think). It would make a fun opponent against low-level PC's, something tough but not over-powered. Actually, almost any construct will do. |
| MalariaMoon |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 15:41:17
It's worth considering the practicalities of using certain opponents from a drow point of view. The powers of certain gladiators might ultimately make them too much trouble to keep for the arena.
For example, the mental powers of illithids would mean their drow captors require significant magical protection to handle them. Likewise, epic as a purple worm might be, it might also cause significant structural damage to the arena. As you suggested, the arena might need some magical warding to protect the spectators.
As for the arena itself - perhaps some giant trapdoor spiders concealed around the arena would be fun - a surprise similar to the way the tigers were used in the movie Gladiator. Sticky spider webs stretched between pillars of stalagmites could make interesting obstacles ... I don't know much about Ched Nasad, I write the above presuming they're Lolth worshippers and keen on the spider vibe. |
| Zireael |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 09:52:48
Any more ideas? What about arena maps that would be good? |
| Zireael |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 08:45:30
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
No worries, good sir! It just shows how great a beastie they are!!
Yeah, keep the brilliant ideas coming! I've already used some, including the Maur barbarian... |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 22:40:25
No worries, good sir! It just shows how great a beastie they are!! |
| Christopher_Rowe |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 22:19:50
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
...I'd mentioned the displacers earlier, and it is still a good choice.
Sorry about that Alystra, didn't see that you'd already brought them up!
Cheers,
Christopher |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 22:01:57
What about a Nightwalker for a truly epic battle? I don't recall their CR off-hand, But one or two might not be too bad. And I'd mentioned the displacers earlier, and it is still a good choice. Ah, and I thought I had added chitines and ettercaps, but it must have been in the post that got deleted when my time ran out at the library yesterday. I'll re-suggest those, as well. |
| Mr_Miscellany |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 16:56:43
Don't forget Maur Giants (Underdark page 95). Underdark dwelling giants that go great with levels of Barbarian. Squish goes the PC. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 16:07:05
quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
I think the arena would be magically protected, so that the spectators don't get hurt too much. Granted, the pit would be in the lower levels of the city, but some of the nobles would come to watch and some of the more powerful gladiators are sponsored by the noble houses.
That leaves the medusa as a liable opponent. Marilith, I'm sorry, is out. Much as I like these (squee!), it's too powerful.
How about the child of a Maralith and something else (like a Drow)? A Dramalith? It would have six arms and epic acting abilities!
Of course you'd have to write that up yourself, but half-breeds are always fun as Gladiators (Athas/Dark Sun used them a lot in their arenas).
quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
quote:
For something really different (without resorting to outsiders), how about a four-armed troll, or one of those lizardman-illithid hybrids.
Do they have stats somewhere or do I have to work on them myself?
The illithid/lizardman is in Underdark, IIRC. They were also in the 2e books centering around the Mindflayers (The Illithiad). As for the four-armed trolls, I saw them somewhere once, but can't remember where (maybe and old Dragon magazine?)
Two-headed trolls are in the 2e Monstrous Manual, IIRC, which are just Ettin-Troll crossbreeds; there is probably a 3e version of them somewhere. There are also (rare) four-armed sahuagin; perhaps a four-armed troll could be a cross between a scrag and a Sahuagin? You'd have to write that up yourself, though.
Packs of mongrelmen would be cool, especially if you do something weird and specific with them (like Halfling/Orc crossbreeds). I think I just reinvented the goblin. 
If you do go with packs, gibberlings and Grimlocks would work. You could also use some of those Giant lizards Drow are famous for (they use both a monitor-like lizard with sticky footpads and a type that is more like a raptor, and ride both). |
| Zireael |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 12:31:13
Keep 'em coming, scribes! |
| Christopher_Rowe |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 23:30:12
I think displacer beasts make for excellent gladiatorial combatants, myself.
Cheers,
Christopher
|
| Jorin Embersmith |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 23:24:44
quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
quote:
Originally posted by Jorin Embersmith
A level 7 Duergar mage with attune gem feat, feel free to describe what gems he has ensorcelled, just means extra loot to the winner!
Was Attune Gem in Magic of Faerun?
Yep! |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 22:02:21
A few more ideas, araneas, a few bugbears, perhaps some oozes for a real messy fight. What about a basilisk? Digging back through the archives, there are ice toads, winter wolves, salamanders (the elemental kind), and werecreatures. Especially wererats or werebats. |
| Zireael |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 19:56:16
quote:
Originally posted by Jorin Embersmith
A level 7 Duergar mage with attune gem feat, feel free to describe what gems he has ensorcelled, just means extra loot to the winner!
Was Attune Gem in Magic of Faerun? |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 13:03:45
You could always blind a half-dozen goblin slaves and throw them in the pit with the medusa. |
| Jorin Embersmith |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 09:31:56
A level 7 Duergar mage with attune gem feat, feel free to describe what gems he has ensorcelled, just means extra loot to the winner! |
| Zireael |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 08:24:44
I think the arena would be magically protected, so that the spectators don't get hurt too much. Granted, the pit would be in the lower levels of the city, but some of the nobles would come to watch and some of the more powerful gladiators are sponsored by the noble houses.
That leaves the medusa as a liable opponent. Marilith, I'm sorry, is out. Much as I like these (squee!), it's too powerful.
quote:
For something really different (without resorting to outsiders), how about a four-armed troll, or one of those lizardman-illithid hybrids.
Do they have stats somewhere or do I have to work on them myself? |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 07:11:33
Still not seeing it with the medusa. Would make the fight too easy in the other direction- ie, stay out of reach of the snakes, and simply hack her apart since she can't see to find and/or attack. Without the gaze, the medusa's not much of a challenge.
I had forgotten quaggoths, and now I might add nagas to that, as I remember the one from Daughter of the Drow. Yuan-ti would make a good addition, too. And for a real spectacle, maybe a purple worm? Depending on the size of the arena, of course. If you can find the stats, cave fishers are good, too. I don't recall them being written up for 3.5, but the 2ed stats were decent. I have used dire animals in one of my campaigns, and I would probably add deep dogs (cavvecans) to the list, too. Ogres and perhaps a rust monster or bulette would also be fun. Assuming one can keep them in the pit, of course. The same applies to the purple worm. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 04:45:25
IIRC, the medusa uses a gaze attack. just blind her.
then make it so the gladiator can still be turned to stone by a snake bite. Simple. 
The Maralith is a stretch, but you could explain it with a decent back-story. The Illizard (or whatever those hybrids are called) could simply be a captive.
Other good ones would be a render or a tall mouther. Also Quoggoth, which are indigenous to the FR setting AND underdark (those should be a given). |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 01:13:54
Somehow, I don't see a drow city having many of those creatures available. Minotaurs, gnolls, or ettins would be good, but I'm not sure I see the Illithi-lizards or the maralith. And a madusa in a gladiator pit would be kind of pointless. Most gladiators being captives, I doubt the drow would want to take the risk of a medusa's gaze hitting the spectators. You don't want something too powerful, or there's no real contest.... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 00:45:23
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Maralith ranger.
Oh, that gets my vote. Well done Markus! |
| Markustay |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 22:43:40
Maralith ranger.
She'd make Drizzt and his two-sword style look like a poser.
Make her a ninja pirate with a dino-monkey sidekick, and its pure win. 
For something really different (without resorting to outsiders), how about a four-armed troll, or one of those lizardman-illithid hybrids.
Ettins are nifty, and Minotaurs are actually known for this sort of thing. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 21:30:45
Thanks Wooly! I also remember the Elite Opponents series having some cool monsters. Gnolls, Ettins, Medusae. Oh My!!! http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/eo |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 18:35:51
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
Zireal, run a search for Prestige in the Realms, I'm not at home or I'd link you there. In that PDF is a PrC called Vlard Elgg(sp?)(Foot Death), dark elven gladiators that specialize in blade boots.
Or let your friendly neighborhood Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen come along, and provide a link to Tom Costa's Prestige in the Realms. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 18:17:17
I had one of these in my home campaigns- hook horrors, driders, and captives could all be used (any normal race, as well as deep gnomes, duergar, and illithids). Drow and half-drow gladiators (mostly barbarian or fighter types) would work really well, as would displacers and deep bats or foulwings for aerial fights (for variety). Kuo-toas, gloamings for that exotic touch, and maybe carrion crawlers or a small dragon could round out your choices. Have fun with it! Go nuts! |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 18:00:29
Zireael, run a search for Prestige in the Realms, I'm not at home or I'd link you there. In that PDF is a PrC called Vlard Elgg(sp?)(Foot Death), dark elven gladiators that specialize in blade boots. |
| Zireael |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 16:53:51
CR - no higher than 16. Levels - any, see CR. Normal gold for chosen CR. Point buy 32.
Races - any that can reasonably be here, including monster races and any weird half-breeds you can think about.
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry for forgetting this! |
| Diffan |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 15:19:28
Level, CR, Racial suggestions, Stat aquirement, starting gp, and so forth is needed to help ya out. |
