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Forums > Home› Neverwinter Discussion › The Foundry

Favorite "Boss" Encounters to Leverage?

agentjasporagentjaspor Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users, Silverstars Posts: 0 Arc User
edited May 2013 in The Foundry
Hey folks,

So we all know there are no true "boss" encounters yet available through the Foundry. I was wondering which specific encounters authors have been using and slapping a costume on to simulate boss-type fights? You know, the types of encounters where there's just one mob to fight. Seems to me there are very few "Hard" difficulty fights that contain only a single NPC.

I've used the "Nasher - Hexer" a couple times now, but I'm not incredibly happy with him.

So let's hear what people use. :)
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Post edited by agentjaspor on

Comments

  • heruohta1heruohta1 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Currently I have published an unfinished quest: Rumors of War that is in testing still. I've used Wight Commander (think that is the name), a hard difficulty, solo Ogre encounter for a melee heavy mini boss. I'm considering an Illithid Mastermind (solo encounter) for a harder boss caster type with a new costume.

    An idea for a couple of boss fights to make them more engaging if they are too "easy" for some players is to have phases of fights. I learned that from the author of Cragsteep(?) Crypt (an incredible dungeon jaunt by the way!)
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  • chili1179chili1179 Member Posts: 1,511 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    The Ogre Savage is the only true single hero encounter (hero are the huge HP pool and hard hitting ability mobs) that is the closest thing to a bosses we have.

    Tilt made a list of the current encounters which have these hero mobs, you can check out the list here or here

    For a short list of encounters this includes:
    For convenience when designing bosses, here's a list of the Solo monsters that I'm aware of in the current version of the Foundry, and where you can find them:

    - Shocktroop Devil under Ashmadai encounter groups.
    - Plaguechanged Maw under Abolethic encounter groups.
    - Magma Brute under Fire encounter groups.
    - Thoon Hulk under Mind Flayer encounter groups.
    - Savage Ogre under Orc encounter groups.

    Snip from Tilt's thread.

    Like I said though, the Ogre Savage is the only one not connected to other mobs, but you can work around using them by placing them individually in an inaccessible room to the side of the boss room and find a clever way to kill them (traps, guard encounters or whatever)
    There is a rumor floating around that I am working on a new foundry quest. It was started by me.
  • agentjasporagentjaspor Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users, Silverstars Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Oh, nice, that's perfect! Thanks!
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  • boydzinjboydzinj Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    If it is suppose to be a hard difficulty, I would also add a standard encounter (that ranges) and another hard encounter that CCs as well as the primary boss encounter.

    I think about it like PvP. A solid dungeon or PvP group of will have a tanks (probably the primary boss), a healer or CC, and ranged DPS. That way a person has to decide which way to fight. Do you want to kill the easy mobs first, the healer or CCer, or the boss.
  • wininoidwininoid Member Posts: 534 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I usually change the other mobs in the encounter to be pets or something. In Vermin in the Cave, I have one "boss" have two wolves. The final boss has two drakelings with him. Then it still feels like a solo dude, even though he has help.
  • angryspriteangrysprite Member Posts: 4,982 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    All good points. Except I *CAUTION* you all when @Boydzinj says "I would also add a standard encounter (that ranges) and another hard encounter that CCs as well as the primary boss encounter."

    Be really, REALLY careful with this. I ran a bunch of Foundry quests this weekend as a level 27 Cleric (and able to pretty easily hold my own on real Bosses) and I was getting CLOBBERED with this very type of encounter in many of the Foundry Quests.

    Have one or two is okay. But seriously: I beseech you: Be very careful with your encounters. Use minions and easy-kills through the majority of your stuff. Sure, the low-level players will skate through your quests. But OMG at 25+ - I barely made it out of some of your stuff.

    In fact there was one Foundry quest that I had to replay the boss SIX FREAKIN' TIMES. I wanted to just abandon but was compelled to 1-Star that one and give my feedback on it. It was absolutely ridiculous. PLEASE do not fall into that trap. When creating a boss level - put ONE Hero level encounter. If you have simultaneous adds - stay with mid to low level encounters. Two Hero level encounters and you're just going to <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> people off - UNLESS you are going to "Epic Level" play or multi-player party.
    In which case - DO clarify this early in your descriptions.

    As for @Boydzinj's suggestion: Sure - but only ONCE in your quest and only at the Boss encounter. NOT every other encounter through out.
  • tilt42tilt42 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Do NOT stack encounters in the way described a few posts above. That kind of setup will be impossible to win against as a solo player at mid- to high levels.
  • docbachdocbach Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 35
    edited May 2013
    agentjaspor wrote: »
    Hey folks,

    So we all know there are no true "boss" encounters yet available through the Foundry. I was wondering which specific encounters authors have been using and slapping a costume on to simulate boss-type fights? You know, the types of encounters where there's just one mob to fight. Seems to me there are very few "Hard" difficulty fights that contain only a single NPC.

    I've used the "Nasher - Hexer" a couple times now, but I'm not incredibly happy with him.

    So let's hear what people use. :)

    I like the Eye of Garuush or however you spell it as magic boss type enemies, a lot harder than the hexer.

    Pretty much all of my harder hitting humanoid NPCs get Battletested Orcs or Ogre skins.
  • thunderspankerthunderspanker Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users, Silverstars Posts: 713 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    Stacking is almost a nono, cuz of the mechanics at higher levels, but you can get away with some minor stacking.. like an easy encounter before a hard, probably, but two hards is right out.

    EDIT: Unless you specifically indicate in the quest instructions that it is intended for at least two players.. stacking two hards and having two players is doable, but if someone goes in solo... SPLAT
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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  • tilt42tilt42 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Try stacking two Hulks if you want the players to tear out their hair in frustration. ;)
  • viktormonsamaviktormonsama Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 42
    edited May 2013
    The devil Shocktrooper is a favorite encounter of mine in game, so I use it for my final boss. :)
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  • fresnoneverfresnonever Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    How can I add a final boss?

    I can only see Encounters +2 mobs minimum. :/

    EDIT: Nevermind, found it.
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