Homebrew Solo

[calm comet]

I'm trying out homebrewing a solo for level 2 or 3 (5 heroes + retainer). I want this to be an apex predator (the left figure) that my players must overcome in order to pass a divine trial. I'm looking for advice on numbers as well as ability ideas.

All I have so far is that it has a roar (probably VA1) that summons some pups (middle figure) that are minion level monsters that can be chomped on via a maneuver (or more likely malice) to restore the apex's health. Obviously a bite/tail swipe. A charge attack. I need to put numbers/conditions that can be inflicted as well as two more villain actions. Numbers I can likely get pretty easily looking at other solos, but what are some abilities that would strike some awe into the party?

Stl minis found on thingiverse. Creator is listed in picture.

[trail magnet]

from the monster's book, if u need help with monsters. solos have 2 actions, a manuever, a free manuever, a free triggered, a triggered, and 3 villain actions. so you would need one of each of those.

honestly my boss design leans more MMO raid boss-y and game-y than might be to ur taste so idk if it would be helpful.

[warped tiger]

You’ll also need malice features for it if you aren’t using faction malice features already

The cannibalism thing doesn’t seem super on theme for an apex predator personally

There’s a heroic ability named Apex Predator that marks a creature to be hunted by you, perhaps you can give it a trait similar to that?

For reference

[trail magnet]

ideas (warning, im prob not the best to ask for stuff like this)

• signature: bite (inflicts bleed)
• action: tailswipe, knockback
• manuever (malice to buff): digest, player gets a special status that must be cleared or the boss gains a stacking damage buff + heals
• free manuever: 1/round, summon adds
• triggered action: halve damage
• free triggered: enemy takes bleed damage -> shift 2 towards them
• v1: roar (inflicts frightened and/or taunt)
• v2: summon more adds
• v3: grabs a hero and slams them into the ground, aoe damage + dazed

[warped tiger]

I’d make the special status a rider on bleed personally, stacking effects are just annoying to track

[trail magnet]

like i said, i like mmo raid bosses so this is prob my own design inclinations

i also like making telegraphs for stuff like the v3 and/or the adds

[warped tiger]

Telegraphed via description? or something else?

[trail magnet]

like u know how an MMO an aoe is highlighted before the boss does the attack there?

like that

so if i was writing this would do something like

[warped tiger]

Oh ok so like a delayed Area ability

You use it and it hits later

[trail magnet]

Villain Action 3: Titantic Impact

• [Boss] leaps up in the air, disappearing from the map, marking a cube 4 within 10. at the end of the next hero's turn, [Boss] lands on that area.
• [Power Roll]
• Effect: All enemies not within the area take [damage + effect]

idk just brainstorming

[warped tiger]

Some way for the heroes to disrupt the attack would be cool, besides moving out of the area

[trail magnet]

most solos have zero interaction with villain actions, idk why this would

even being able to move out of the aoe is enough

[warped tiger]

It would be cool?

[trail magnet]

valid!

prob a different philosophy of design than me, tho

[warped tiger]

Yeag just throwing out ideas

To telegraph the adds you could have them spawned as eggs that can be destroyed before they hatch into minions

[trail magnet]

that makes sense

adds are a significant increase to the solo's budget, i feel

depending on their power level

[warped tiger]

Also for an apex predator I think you must have a way to set up some sort of domain like hunting territory

[warped tiger]

Because the eggs are hard to break?

[trail magnet]

i just mean cuz u gotta divert attention from the solo

[warped tiger]

That could be accounted for in stats probably

Or maybe the eggs explode, damaging the solo when they break

[trail magnet]

not me thinking of new mechanics

the eggs explode, inflicting a damage weakness (save ends)

[warped tiger]

To the solo?

Or just everything in the blast

[trail magnet]

solo

[warped tiger]

I’m into it either way

Solos are the place for gimmicky fights like this imo

[trail magnet]

i wish the fights were more gimmicky yeah

[warped tiger]

The egg thing might be too distracting to the apex predator theme though

The minis up there is a big brute with horns, so you can have the charge attack be a massive telegraphed aoe that goes in a straight line until it hits a hero or a big enough wall

If it hits a hero, fling them in the air for fall damage, if it misses, the solo gets stuck in the wall and is stunned

Probably just damage weakness instead of stunned

[trail magnet]

that rules

theres no stunned in draw steel, did u mean dazed?

[warped tiger]

Nah i meant in a general sense

Could be dazed

Stunned as in like it exposes a weak-point after the big attack

[trail magnet]

interesting!

[warped tiger]

Can’t really afford to have a self imposed stunned/dazed in drawsteel with how short combats are

If I had to put a condition on that it would be surprised

Super underutilized condition

[calm comet]

I love the free triggered action. And yes, I'm wary of adding bodies to a solo. That's one of the reasons I thought of it eating them to heal. I don't plan to make them strong.

I was thinking jungle terrain and one of the malice or triggered actions would be felling trees in the area.

[chrome knoll]

Is that break down of solo's abilities written somewhere in the book or just a known design outline used by the design team? Asking because the Ashen Hoards and Arixx have a lot of actions. Obviously exception based design exists but curious.

[trail magnet]

i believe its in the most recent update of the monsters book

[trail magnet]

sorry i misread, i was referring to the math in my previous comment but how many abilities u get is def more just me saying bullshit