D&D (2024) Help me make a cool Worg villain.

[Reynard]

You might be looking for a barghest. It's a shapechanger that switches between a goblin and an oversized wolf (could be easily reskinned to a worg). It's CR4. There are online stat blocks for a greater barghest if you need more of a challenge.

That's an interesting idea. Does the barghest have abilities that make it more appropriate for a tier 1 villain?

 

[THEMNGMNT]

That's an interesting idea. Does the barghest have abilities that make it more appropriate for a tier 1 villain?

I believe so.

AC 17, 90 HP, damage resistance, telepathy, blindsight, and spells like dimension door, pass without trace, charm person, suggestion, minor illusion, levitate.

I'd probably give it multiattack and perhaps 1 or 2 legendary actions to be a capable solo monster.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

I believe so.

AC 17, 90 HP, damage resistance, telepathy, blindsight, and spells like dimension door, pass without trace, charm person, suggestion, minor illusion, levitate.

I'd probably give it multiattack and perhaps 1 or 2 legendary actions to be a capable solo monster.

With the minor issue that they canonically are focused on devouring goblin souls. If one bothers with the lore. Though I guess maybe it could be upset that the party murdered its meal and let the soul get away.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

My mind immediately went to Maugrim in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

 

[Zanshin]

My mind immediately went to Maugrim in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I came here to post that. Yes, superb dialogue. The Barghest idea seems very cool, recurring villain because he likes to play with his food. Will make the final defeat very satisfying.

 

[GuyBoy]

Give the Worg a sibling, called to bring aid by a particular howl that echoes around the forest one night (ideally with a full moon) and the howl is answered................

 

[Tonguez]

Shadowfang the Night Howler
Large Worg (Fey), Cunning Predator
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 82 (11d10 + 22)
Speed: 50 ft.

Stats	S 18​	D 16​	C 15​	I 10​	W 14​	Ch 12​
Saves	6​	5​	4​	0​	3​	3​

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6, Intimidation +5
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages Goblin, Worg
Proficiency Bonus +2

Shadowfangs Pack 1d6
1 1d4 Worg Whelps (Hunting pack)
2 2 Whelps and 2 goblin scouts (with shortbows)
3 2 Worgs, Goblin Druid (Stealth)
4 2 Worg Whelps, Dire Wolf (Ambush)
5 4 goblin scouts, 1 Hobgoblin Captain (Tactical)
6 1 Dire Wolf, 4 Whelps and a Barghest (Brutal)

Behaviour/Tactics
Shadowfang is a cunning predator driven by vengeance. He has learnt to bide his time, using darkness, stealth and mobility to his best advantage.

He will stalk prey for days and use fear and exhaustion to break their morale.

Shadowfang uses his whelps to wear down foes and isolates the weakest enemy before striking.

When he does engage, Shadowfang circles prey, waiting for an opening before pouncing, knocking his prey prone so his pack can attack, while he quickly repositions.

Shadowfang is a survivor and will disengage and retreat if wounded or if more than half his whelps are killed

TRAITS
Pack Tactics: Shadowfang has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of his allies is within 5 feet of the target and isn't incapacitated.

Night Howls: Shadowfang has learnt to use the fear of darkness and paranoia of his victims. Those who hear the echoing night howls of Shadowfangs pack are forced to make a DC 13 Wisdom or gain a level of exhaustion.

Packlord’s Howl (Recharge 5-6). Shadowfang howls to summon 2 additional Worg Whelps. They appear from the shadows at the start of his next turn.

Alpha Predator: If an opponent is wounded (below half HP), Shadowfang can dash towards them and gains advantage on attacks

ACTIONS
Multiattack. Shadowfang makes two attacks: one with Lunging Pounce and one with Savage Bite.

Lunging Pounce. Shadowfang can dash and leap up to 20 feet and make an attack against a creature within melee range. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and take 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Savage Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 2d8 + 4 piercing damage. If the target is prone, they take an additional 1d8 damage.

Shadowed Escape: If Shadowfang is in dim light or darkness, as a bonus action he can take the Disengage action and move up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Savage Onslaught: If Shadowfang is bloodied he gains an extra attack per turn with Savage Bite until he is able to flee

 

[Reynard]

I like the idea of the Worg stalking the party from afar with a pack of wolves it has taken over, using its loathsome howl (ToV MV) and hit and run attacks by its minions to ruin the PCs' long rests as they travel. The Worg won't attack once the PCs get in town, but if it does this to them every time they travel for a couple levels, I imagine the PCs will get to hating the creature very much. If the PCs telegraph where they are going, it could also make alliances with other monsters in the area against the PCs.

Alpha Predator: If an opponent is wounded (below half HP), Shadowfang can dash towards them and gains advantage on attacks

I wanted to highlight this. I think this is the first time I have seen a creature have an ability triggered by an enemy's own bloodied status. But I am not super familiar with 4E. Was this a common way of doing things. I kind of like it.

According to the encounter design rules from the LevelUp MM, which are the ones I have used for 2014 5E since that book came out, a deadly encounter for 5 4th-level PCs is CR 13, with a max CR of 6 for any individual creature.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

With the minor issue that they canonically are focused on devouring goblin souls. If one bothers with the lore. Though I guess maybe it could be upset that the party murdered its meal and let the soul get away.

Yeah, I think the canon is kind of weird and I don't put much weight into it in my campaigns.

However, the flavor text in 5E says that goblins often serve the barghest in hopes it will not devour their souls. So there's some good opportunity there for intrigue between the barghest and the goblins who serve it, with perhaps some goblins being willing to help the PCs if they agree to destroy the barghest.

Also, it DEVOURS SOULS. So metal!

 

[Reynard]

Yeah, I think the canon is kind of weird and I don't put much weight into it in my campaigns.

However, the flavor text in 5E says that goblins often serve the barghest in hopes it will not devour their souls. So there's some good opportunity there for intrigue between the barghest and the goblins who serve it, with perhaps some goblins being willing to help the PCs if they agree to destroy the barghest.

Also, it DEVOURS SOULS. So metal!

The stuff that has happened in play are the things that are established to be true: all the goblins, including the cult leader, are dead (by the PCs) and the worg was forced to flee to save its own life.

What I decided I wanted was that the worg wants revenge, and not to just leap at the PCs and die. But it is also what it is: a predator, cruel and evil to its core. So I want it to harry them and deny them rest and kill them one at a time if it can. It is a villain, not a BBEG, so it starting its own goblin cult isn't something I am interested in. but, it gathering wolves (or even lesser worgs) to serve it in this endeavor I think has legs.

As a statblock, the barghest offers some interesting things. I don't think I will be embracing any of that creature's lore, though.