Keep in mind that just because the item is legendary doesn’t mean that they get to keep it. After it has served it’s purpose it could be destroyed or if they do get to keep it then it could be severely weakened or damaged, or it could even be something that isn’t meant for them. Obviously if they don’t get to keep it they would still get something out of the creation process.
This gives you some freedom to go absolutely bonkers with it since it’s only going to be used for a little bit.
Some personal ideas of mine
A Giant Mecha to fight a Kaiju.
A dying god needs a new body.
A Mastersword like weapon
Are the Warforged a thing in your world? They could literally be the father of an entire race.
My personal favorite idea, assuming they’re into it. Let them design their own creation, they are the inventor after all.
10th level I imagine a year from now. A lot can change in that time, including but not limited to character and player desires. What I would do is that if you have questions ask the player about their character and use those answers. Why are they an artificer? What do they need to protect themselves from? Also what does the player find cool. Use that to find the reward. Doesn’t need to be “real” until it is handed out.
Also look at what class options they take and supercharge those. Thunder gauntlets mk2 now allows the wearer 1/day to cast chain lightning without spending a spell slot. Homunculus Servant revision R upgrades it to the equivalent of a ranger’s pet.
Onto this statement
They have stated that their character’s dream is to create a legendary item
In my book a legendary item cannot be created as its history and past users is what gives it power. Like everyone having added their evilness to the Book of Vile Darkness. A legendary item without a pedigree is just a powerful doo-hickey. I would turn the statement back to the player - Why. Why does their character want to create a “legendary” item? Is there something they need to prove?
I agree with your statements, I’ve made the mistake of pre planning too much before.
What concerns me more is having a plan on how to set his character up for that journey of creating such an item. When they say legendary, they mean an item that would become renowned for having been created, maybe not necessarily truly legendary. The characters primary motivation is to prove themselves the equal of their long-standing idol artificer.
I guess what bothers me is the fact that I have a thorough idea for engaging character quests for all the other players. I have thought of personal storylines that each player gets to explore that will lead their character along some plot line based on their backstory. It’s only the artificer that I can’t think of something overly compelling for.
If it is OK to have the idol fall you can always have them be a Henry Ford X Saruman. A titan of industry and a learned scholar but peeling the facade they are just absolutely vile. Let the first act be about the artificer gaining their idol’s attention. Perhaps a showcase/competition for up and coming artificers with the grand prizes being internships. Unpaid and have to fund their personal projects of course. But they get mentorship. Act two then is unpeeling the facade as they get more insight into the idol’s work and actual person. Let there be a schism. Act three then is with the realization that the idol is either actively working with the BBEG or knowingly profit from them.
But this isn’t closer to figuring out their craft. However since we don’t need to know the leggy yet, only the fair item. Still excellent and awesome but can be of lesser power.
I would use attrition. They have 7 spell slots. If they spend 2 of those per encounter, force them to have 4 encounters before they can long rest.
First warn them. Give then a hint that the dungeon is large and will mean quite some time without resting.
Then bait them. For example: an undead unit that has resistences against physical attacks, and does little damage, or is very easy to run away from. Maybe an undead slime blob or gas thing? E.g. www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Gas_Wisp_(5e_Creature)They may use their spell slots on divine smites to deal radiant damage. Even though there are plenty of other options in the arsenals of the other 3 players.
Or create a dungeon that forces them to split the party to progress, allowing them to reunite during or after the battle. This could give you several turns where you can exploit the weaknesses of a divided group.
Scarlet heroes sounds interesting. I’ll put it on the “shortlist”. The tome on the other hand… I have plenty of tables. But then mire is better. By its drivethrough description it appears questing beast did some reviewing of it.
Maleficient, Cersei Lannister, Hela, Bellatrix Lestrange, Cruella, Ursula, Queen of Heart, Poison Ivy, Wicked Witch, Mom from Futurama, not sure of the xenomorph queen from Aliens counts?, GLaDOS, Number Six, Stargate had a few over the years, Starcraft’s Kerrigan/Queen of blades, Resident Evil’s Lady Dimetrescu, Carmen Sandiego, Doom’s Olivia Pierce, Airbender’s Azula, Carrie, Annie Wilkes from Misery, Claire from House of Cards, the Aunt in Handmaiden, Harley Quinn, Lady Macbeth…
I guess, but in many systems this is on like a razor edge of GM fiat / “are you sure you don’t want to just write a book?” problems. I don’t really want the fight to go on until the GM unilaterally decides it’s been cool enough. There are games with more explicit rules and guidelines about it, though.
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