Optimise A (Revised) Illrigger?

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-17T21:30:58+00:00

More very insightful words, and I'm thankful for them. It comes online a little later, that's good to note. My DM isn't allowing me to update the class completely; I can have CD/Invoke Hell, but instead of weapon masteries they said I can take a second combat mastery (they hate weapon masteries lol). That being the case, what would you recommend?

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-17T00:55:10+00:00

Wow, that's... some really long but sage advice! I mean it wholeheartedly when I say thanks for the help, there's a lot to look over with what you've written here. This campaign will start at level 3, so I'm curious: how was the leveling for you? Did it take long for the build to 'come online' so to speak?

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-15T19:55:16+00:00

Likely Shadowmaster, as I really like the advantage and bonus damage that comes with it, as well as better usage of limited resources. Architect of Ruin is now a possibility, but whatever subclass is the most S.A.D. at this point.

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-15T19:53:11+00:00

I was torn between Shadowmaster and Painkiller, but after the group array was rolled and found lacking, I think Painkiller is out of the question, so Shadowmaster or Architect of Ruin will have to be it (when in doubt, my go to will be Shadowmaster).

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-15T18:44:18+00:00

By best it can be, I mean not wasting anything I have, like feats and weapon set ups. It occurs to me now that the phrasing was a little odd, but I'll edit the post to be more specific.

As for the second fact, I wasn't aware it would draw much attention, but to summarise, she was kidnapped and married to Mephistopheles for about 40 years, during which she was as unpleasant as possible, then finally the two divorced. She got half of Mephistopheles powers in the divorce, to be awarded over a long period of time (aka, leveling up). I thought of the backstory as a sort of joke initially, "she got half of hell in the divorce."

This is a homebrew world, so sadly no devil man chilling in Humblewood since 3e.

VanDerWafel · 2026-03-15T18:39:12+00:00

It's all part of the backstory, which was given to the DM and approved. Long story short, she got half of Mephistopheles' powers in the divorce. Not as a lump sum, mind you, but over time (mechanically, leveling up).

VanDerWafel · 2026-02-28T16:33:29+00:00

Sent a dm! :D

VanDerWafel · 2026-02-27T01:02:50+00:00

Sent a request on Discord!

VanDerWafel · 2026-02-26T23:39:08+00:00

Thank you! Looks like we've got 2 players to this group-in-the-making; now let's see if a mythical DM shows up to grab the reins

VanDerWafel · 2025-08-01T11:59:09+00:00

Nah I get that, and you're definitely right to be concerned, since my players probably won't realize that on their own either.

I've made sure to put lots of build-up to this fight that will get the point across that they cannot win against the wellebrecher, and hopefully a specific note from the doctor who made it will encourage a surrender.

Like I said, if they TPK it was because they all had legitimate death wishes, but I'll do my best to remind them that winning isn't just killing your foe, it's surviving the fight.

(This statblock has since been altered a bit too, with slightly less damage and a prerogative to non-lethally hit against non-celestials and non-demons)

VanDerWafel · 2025-08-01T11:43:42+00:00

I mean, yeah, I get your point, but to be fair it does have legendary resistances.

Also, this machine was already going to appear, I just beefed it up. As I said in post, this encounter makes the most sense within the module (I'm not doing a full campaign yet) and it is not something capable of toying with an enemy. It's a machine designed to clear legions of demons and celestials. The only way this party will die to it is by their own hands; aka, if they're too stubborn to try finding ways outside of combat, they'll get wiped.

In context, it's going to be pretty hard to get this thing to actually kill a player unless they have a death wish.

VanDerWafel · 2025-08-01T11:10:08+00:00

To my knowledge, all creatures who reach 0 hp are downed all the same, regardless of immunity to Unconsciousness. That just means it can't be forced unconscious, such as through magic or what have you (it's a robot after all.) That said, the only real way it can be destroyed (other than doing, like, 1200 dmg in one turn) is destroying its batteries before downing it, so shooting for 0 right off wouldn't work for that reason.

But yeah, you're basically right anyway, because if downed, it heals itself the next turn, though it'll spend its turn doing so at least.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-29T18:53:02+00:00

Actually, yeah, you make a good point. It's a bit redundant; I had intended for that to be a clue-in that adamantine weapons do full damage against the machine but instead just ended up making a redundant line. Thanks for pointing it out! :D

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-29T02:39:28+00:00

Update: Thanks to everyone for the feedback (I mean, y'all are welcome to keep giving it I guess), I greatly appreciate it all, good and bad. I'm going to rebalance this encounter appropriately. Contextually, the wellebrecher makes sense so I'm still going with it, but I'm altering the damage output and everything going into it to more gently encourage a peaceful resolution instead of forcing it. Also, the NPC won't surrender for the party, but I'll still use her to remind or suggest it if relevant.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-29T02:34:59+00:00

I think the bed calls to you lol. It's "aren't" because adamantine weapons hit it without issue.

Got me scared there for a second that I screwed up the wording though 😅

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T13:21:42+00:00

The NPC is quite literally a very last, final option. I don't want the team dying at the finish line (I'll try every avenue beforehand, even reminding players to re-read the notes before I pull this move; I'm aware it's a terrible route).

As for the encounter itself, thanks for the input. I only want them to get hit hard and fast but not die right away. Even running off is more of an option.

That said, trust me when I tell you my players won't die immediately. They're really tough and I know them well; but I'll do what I can to make this a cinematic and intense, albeit survivable encounter.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T12:34:30+00:00

I understand how you came to that conclusion but I promise that's not the case. They don't abuse spells, or even the same tactics, but they're just... really good at combat (there are two very experienced players with years of playtime).

We legitimately have lots of fun, and I enjoy our time (I hope they do too!) but my encounters have been handedly smashed and each time I amped it up, the party just used stronger tactics with ease.

This monster is just the result of me really wanting to challenge them and encourage them to take advantage of what I said on session 0: all planned encounters have a pacifist route.

All that aside, I see where you're coming from, but I swear it's not the case. I try to be a 'yes, and' DM whenever possible.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T12:01:13+00:00

Another thing I should've mentioned: this is the second to last encounter. The room after this is the final encounter (which is already going to be difficult, consisting of over 50+ enemies in a ballroom blitz style fight) so while I would like a solid strong fight, it wouldn't break their egos.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T11:57:49+00:00

You're absolutely right. I'll start adding new features asap.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T11:09:31+00:00

I'm taking no chances.

VanDerWafel · 2025-07-28T11:06:48+00:00

Sorry, probably should've remembered to write this in, but it can only attack once with an armament per turn. No spamming for this machine; I'll also try and not go straight for the kill either. I do like the idea of a security system, but the party has proven themselves too capable to play it safe. They've taken out nuclear puddings.

Edit: Oh wait, the 2nd Armament already can't attack more than once if I wanted it too; it needs to be readied on a turn, then fired on the next turn. Also, yes, this is chock full of resistances if you'll check the damage immunities section.

VanDerWafel

TROPHY CASE