parks@kpno.UUCP (11/02/83)
On the point of the Ultra-high level female NPC: the easiest solution is just to say "wow, that's too much, such a person can't exist". It seems that you have a little stronger problem. If I understand correctly, the high-level player is your normal GM and you are (justifiably) worried about blowing him/her out of existence. My colleagues and I went to work on some ways to provide challenges for the super-powerful person *and* the rest of the party: First of all, I don't think that an armor class of greater than -10 can exist. If it could, probably all of the gods would be -20 or -30. This is probably some sort of redundancy-burn out or magical flow limitation or some other nonsense answer to keep game balance. In any case, I think it is specifically stated that -10 is the best you can get. Are you remembering that if the player is a 7th level fighter who has switched to 1st level MU that they can use *only* MU skills until they reach 8th level? If she keeps switching classes, that should cut her down a little. By the time she goes from 1st to 8th level MU the rest of the party should have increased a few levels, as well. Until she hits a level that allows her to use *all* of her classes at the same time, she will fight, save, wear armor, use weapons, be restricted on magic, etc. exactly as if she were only that new class. Also, when she becomes a monk, I believe she's going to have to throw a few of her items away. Monks (and some other classes) are only allowed a few items total. They can't even have spares at home. They (or at least she) is evil. Eventually, a lot of good characters are going to find out and put a bounty on their heads. Remember, if they are doing enough to attract the attention of *powerful* good guys, the leaders will cast "Contact Other Plane" "Legend Lore" "Commune" and other powerful info spells. Unless your party can fool gods, a lot of info is going to become public knowledge. Once the cry has been raised in public, the do-gooders will flock to bring them to justice. A few suggestions: always have packs of do-gooders attack the party, only a fool will try a one-on-one against an evil party. Try a bunch of paladins with holy swords. None of your evil crew can use the holy swords, and that neat aura of magic resistance will end up bouncing many of the offensive spells thrown at the paladins. Another nasty scheme requires a high level good mentor. He should make up a party to go after yours, and equip them. The person who goes after Ms. colossal-high-level should be an ultra strong high level pure fighter. The only magic item this guy will have is a ring of spell storing with the spell "anti-magic shell". As soon as he gets into melee with her, he shoots off the ring, and suddenly her magic ceases to work! She uses bracers and other magic for A.C. so that will plummet to +5 or so, he wands are useless, all she can do is pure fighting! Of course, the bruiser will need an equivalent 100 hits or so and a comparable strength to hers. This scheme works best as an ambush, where the evil party can't teleport out or easily escape. Good is not equal to stupid. If they ever complain that you are throwing unreasonable opponents at them, tell them that an opponent should be able to have just as many powers and items as they have. If they still feel that they are being unreasonably challenged, ask them to unload some of their more outlandish items. (well, it's worth a try). This last scheme is what I feel is the nastyest. First, carefully read the spell "simulacrum". It requires tiny bit of flesh from the original creature, and produces a duplicate of them. The duplicate has their same stats, but (about) half their level and half their hits. Also, this thing is totally loyal to its creator!!! If a 16th level MU became aware of your super-girl, he would know that by getting some of her flesh, he could create an army with phenomenal stats, about 50 hit points, and about the following levels: 4th ftr, 7th ill, (and eventually thief, Mu, monk, cleric). Such an opportunity cannot be wasted!! The ultra-powerful MU's are going to be craving her flesh for their private armies, to sell on the black (magic) market, a thousand uses!! Of course, a little flesh goes a long way. Even a finger might supply a hundred simulacra. Once a wizard gets a hold of this prime skin, he'll want a monopoly on it. The best thing to do would be to send out an army of his simulacra. Suddenly Super-girl and her party are confronted with an army of identical super-girls... the thought boggles the mind. Nasty and loving it, Jay Parks {...,arizona,decvax,hao,ihnp4,sdcsvax,seismo,unc}!kpno!parks