Tainted Scholar build: sample NPC

A while back, there was a thread on the Tainted Scholar from Heroes of
Horror:

http://tinyurl.com/2fdtwo

There was general agreement that the Tainted Scholar was badly broken,
but we didn't really go into details.

Well, just for the hell of it, here's a Tainted Scholar build. It's
based on the sample TS from page 118 of Heroes of Horror. The only
differences are (1) ability scores rearranged a bit (same point value)
and (2) they gave him minimal taint, while I've cranked it up to near
the max... which is, after all, what any sensible Tainted Scholar
would do. More taint gives some disabilities, but the payoffs are
ridiculous.

So:

Doctor Abraxas

Human Wizard 5 / Tainted Scholar 2
NE Medium humanoid
Init +0 Listen -1 Spot -1

AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 15

Weaknesses: severe phobia (cramped quarters), winded (staggered on
third and subsequent rounds of combat), chronic illness (-3 Fort)
HP 28 (7 HD)
Fort +0, Ref -1, Will +9

Base Atk +3, Grapple +2
Attack options: blood component (1 hp for +1 CL), blooded metamagic
(spontaneously use Con damage instead of higher spell slots),
Debilitating Spell 2/day (spell deals extra 2 Con or Wis damage to one
target) Surge of malevolence 1/day (+6 to one attack roll, save, or
check), Empower Spell, Still Spell

Combat gear: masterwork quarterstaff, wand of Magic Missiles (50
charges)

Wizard spells prepared (CL 7th):

4th -- Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer x2 (DC
25)
3rd -- Dispel magic x2, Fireball (DC 24), Lightning Bolt (DC 24),
Suggestion (DC 24)
2nd -- Alter self, Blur, Glitterdust (DC 23), Scorching Ray (+3 ranged
touch), Touch of Idiocy (+2 melee touch, DC 23), Web (DC 23)
1st -- Cause Fear (DC 22), Charm Person (DC 22), Expeditious Retreat,
Protection From Good, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement

Corruption 22 (moderate
Depravity 48 (severe)

Feats: Awareness (from familiar), Debilitating Spell, Empower Spell,
Leadership, Scribe Scroll, Still Spell, Surge of Malevolence

Str 8, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 10

Possessions: combat gear plus amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of
resistance +1, ring of protection +1

* * * * *
"Dr. Abraxas" is obviously a nom de crime. I'd play this guy as your
basic evil mad scientist -- they laughed at him at the Academy! -- but
season to taste.

Tainted Scholars get bonus spells based on Depravity/2 +10. That
means the good doctor gets bonus spells as if he had an Int of -- take
a deep breath, now -- 34. So, he gets 3 bonus spells each for 1st
through 4th level, giving him 7/6/5/4 spells.

Now, saves against a Tainted Scholar's magic are 10 + spell level +
Corruption/2. That works out to 21 + spell level. Not bad. Not bad.

The Doctor has invested in the Leadership feat so that he can take a
5th level cleric as a cohort. This is a bit of a strain on the
Doctor, as he has to restrain his natural tendencies towards arrogance
and abuse -- he can just barely support a 5th level cohort. But he
needs the cleric to cast Remove Curse and Cure Disease to keep his
taint scores in check -- remember, he can add taint every time he
casts a spell. The cohort, a half-orc, believes he's been assigned
to this job by [$EvilGod]; he doesn't love the Doctor, but respects
his power, and is as loyal as any other cohort.

If the Doctor is not taken by surprise, he's very dangerous. In a non-
combat situation he'll start with Suggestion and Charm, to split up
his enemies. If things get difficult, he'll cast Improved
Invisibility first, then pile in with Glitterdust and Web (if he wants
to take his enemies alive) or Phantasmal Killers and damage spells (if
he doesn't). He's formally CR 7, but the PrC is unbalanced enough
that he makes a decent CR 8 opponent, especially if his cleric cohort
is nearby.

Phantasmal Killers are save-or-die spells, and DC 25 Phantasmal
Killers are pretty dangerous for midlevel characters -- the average
7th level fighter, for instance, has about a 90% chance of dying. So
you may want to give PCs fair warning that they're facing something
unusual.

Thoughts?


Waldo







.

Relevant Pages

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