My custom for the Castle Ravenloft board game.
He's the legendary badass monster hunter that has made it his final mission to kill Strahd Von Zarovich. He's old and not the fighter he used to be (lower hit points and movement), but he's still feared by all undead and an absolute beast in melee. As a true master (the best ever?) of his craft, Van Richten has got a lot of tricks up his sleeve with a mixture of magic, marksmanship and knowledge to kill those pesky evil beasts that get in his way. He'll be a fantastic addition to your team; they'll be awed by his capabilities and maybe even appalled by his sheer ferocity to slaughter his foes. Yup, he's possibly the best and most experienced guy for the job, what could go wrong? How about an old Vistani curse that has been placed on him many years ago, which could spell "doom" for his entire force...
Let me know what you think?
DR. RUDOLPH VAN RICHTEN
HUMAN MONSTER HUNTER
After his wife and son were brutally destroyed by the vampire Baron Metus, Rudolph Van Richten was forced to alter his life as a doctor and use his intellect into becoming an obsessed hunter of monsters that all undead have come to fear. But Van Richten is not a young man anymore, he knows his road is coming to an end. So he has come to Castle Ravenloft to kill the greatest vampire of them all—Count Strahd Von Zarovich!
AC 17
HP 6
SP 5
1st LEVEL
LEGENDARY UNDEAD MONSTER SLAYER: At the beginning of your Hero Phase if there are any Undead or Vampire Monsters within 2 tiles you can make an additional attack.
POWERS: You can use the following Power Cards
Select 1 monster hunter Utility power
Select 2 monster hunter At-Will powers
Select 1 monster hunter Daily power
UTILITY POWER (FLIP THIS CARD OVER AFTER YOU USE THE POWER):
ARCANE KNOWLEDGE: Use this power during your Hero Phase. Place a Hero or Monster on a tile within 2 tiles of you.
LEGENDARY INSPIRATION: Use this power at the end of your Hero Phase. Each Hero on your tile regains 2 Hit Points and ends all Conditions on them.
MASTER MANIPULATOR: Use this power when a Monster hits you. The attack misses instead. Place that monster on a tile within 2 tiles of you.
SKULKER: Use this power immediately after you draw a Monster Card. Discard the Monster Card instead of placing it. If the Monster is Undead, put it directly into the XP Pile.
AT-WILL POWER:
ASSASSINATE: Attack one adjacent Monster. If you hit choose another Monster within 1 tile and move adjacent to it. That Monster takes 1 damage. (Attack +7 Damage 2)
LIGHT CROSSBOW: Attack one Monster within 2 tiles of you. (Attack +9 Damage 1)
SILVERED SWORD CANE: Attack one adjacent Monster. If the Monster is Undead or a Vampire, deal it 3 damage instead. (Attack +7 Damage 1)
DAILY POWER (FLIP THIS CARD OVER AFTER YOU USE THE POWER):
CHANNEL DIVINITY: Use this power during your Hero Phase. All Monsters on tile take 2 damage. If they are Undead or a Vampire, they take 4 damage instead.
UNMATCHED KNOWLEDGE TO KILL MONSTERS: Attack one adjacent Monster. If the Monster is Undead or a Vampire, do not flip this card over. (Attack +12 Damage 2)
VISTANI DOOMBRINGER CURSE: Use this power at the beginning of your Hero Phase and only once per game. If you begin this turn as the last Hero remaining, regain all your Hit Points and flip up all your used powers.
Rudolph Van Richten has to be able to do some good damage in situations, while others can't. He's a master of his craft and while he is not a match for Strahd straight up, with some lucky rolls, he could possibly beat him or at least hurt him badly enough for his teammates to make the final kill. If anything, Strahd has to respect Rudolph. Regardless of what team is coming up against him, Strahd's main focus should always be on Van Richten because Strahd knows he is the most lethal.
First thing you must understand about Van Richten is that he is a true legend. An absolute boss character that knows how to kill. He is THE monster slayer. He doesn't fight or battle or hunt monsters, he kills them. Period. And he does all of this, despite being around 80 years old. It's his keen intellect and experience that gets him through. Even his teammates should be constantly shocked (and appalled) at all the sneaky, filthy, under-handed tricks he pulls in order to kill the maximum number of monsters as swiftly and efficiently as possible. That's how Rudolph Van Richten operates and that's how I represent him. It's a big reason why I love his "Skulker" power so much, thematically it's absolutely perfect. Rudolph killed the monster so incredibly smoothly from the shadows, that the monster never even saw him coming. His "Assassinate" power has the same feeling as well. Rudolph is using his surroundings and the shadows to gain advantage as he can kill (+7 with 2 Damage) and then reach another unsuspecting monster up to a whole tile away and slaughter it as well (automatic 1 Damage). Plus, if any undead monsters are around (and they should be), he get's that extra attack to wipe out the floor. Pull off a "4 KILL" during one Hero Phase and watch everyone's face light up at the table as they start saying "Drizzt who?" To add to the excitement, play his "Legendary Inspiration" power directly after all that and you just made a moment on a simple board game that was good enough to be in a movie. Yup, Rudolph's teammates should be in total awe of the man and even kind of fear him, just like when Batman walks into a room.
Van Richten is (certainly within Ravenloft) the most experienced monster hunter to have ever lived. Additionally, we know that he has taken out creatures far outside of his weight class. Canonically to Ravenloft Lore, Van Richten has taken out full vampires, lycanthropes of all sorts, and even a few Mummy Lords. So, what does this mean? Well...basically, mix together a Witcher, Batman and Outlaw Josie Wales, pack it into a no nonsense, grumpy old guy and you'll get what I brought to this game.
I designed this figure a while ago and I've play tested him many times. Even my game group (with over 50 advanced RPG players) have used him time and time again and in every edition of the D&D board game series (we use the Van Richten miniature). I've seen him in action with others and I put him in action. He's not overpowered at all because he doesn't dominate the game, just certain situations and blends in well with other characters (Drizzt, Arjhan and Allisa come to mind). Judging by other players always asking for my Rudolph to be used (especially in our Halloween games), I know I did something right. So after a good long run, I'm showing him off today because I've kept "Rudolph Van Richten" a secret for too long. Who knows maybe some of you will enjoy him and let me know how he works for you.
Overall, I think he's balanced out perfectly by his low Hit Points, low Speed value and not having an overabundance of extra abilities he can use other than his Power Cards. Rudolph should be able to do remarkable things but he's not invincible or able to withstand much due to his age, so play him strategically. Remember, he compliments the team, he doesn't lead it. Rudolph is the quiet, brooding guy in the background that acts when it's time to act AND uses his own methods when it's time (once again, think Batman). In the heat of the moment, he'll shout advice and call warnings. For example "The front is just a decoy! They're coming from the east!" Everyone stares at themselves for a second, responds and then shake their heads because Rudolph is right once again. He's a no nonsense, efficient killing machine that's just on this final mission with these "kids" to fulfill his obligation to his family, take out Strahd Von Zarovich and to be rid of his dreaded curse once and for all so he can die in peace.
Honestly, I think I did a pretty good job.
He's the legendary badass monster hunter that has made it his final mission to kill Strahd Von Zarovich. He's old and not the fighter he used to be (lower hit points and movement), but he's still feared by all undead and an absolute beast in melee. As a true master (the best ever?) of his craft, Van Richten has got a lot of tricks up his sleeve with a mixture of magic, marksmanship and knowledge to kill those pesky evil beasts that get in his way. He'll be a fantastic addition to your team; they'll be awed by his capabilities and maybe even appalled by his sheer ferocity to slaughter his foes. Yup, he's possibly the best and most experienced guy for the job, what could go wrong? How about an old Vistani curse that has been placed on him many years ago, which could spell "doom" for his entire force...
Let me know what you think?
DR. RUDOLPH VAN RICHTEN
HUMAN MONSTER HUNTER
After his wife and son were brutally destroyed by the vampire Baron Metus, Rudolph Van Richten was forced to alter his life as a doctor and use his intellect into becoming an obsessed hunter of monsters that all undead have come to fear. But Van Richten is not a young man anymore, he knows his road is coming to an end. So he has come to Castle Ravenloft to kill the greatest vampire of them all—Count Strahd Von Zarovich!
AC 17
HP 6
SP 5
1st LEVEL
LEGENDARY UNDEAD MONSTER SLAYER: At the beginning of your Hero Phase if there are any Undead or Vampire Monsters within 2 tiles you can make an additional attack.
POWERS: You can use the following Power Cards
Select 1 monster hunter Utility power
Select 2 monster hunter At-Will powers
Select 1 monster hunter Daily power
UTILITY POWER (FLIP THIS CARD OVER AFTER YOU USE THE POWER):
ARCANE KNOWLEDGE: Use this power during your Hero Phase. Place a Hero or Monster on a tile within 2 tiles of you.
LEGENDARY INSPIRATION: Use this power at the end of your Hero Phase. Each Hero on your tile regains 2 Hit Points and ends all Conditions on them.
MASTER MANIPULATOR: Use this power when a Monster hits you. The attack misses instead. Place that monster on a tile within 2 tiles of you.
SKULKER: Use this power immediately after you draw a Monster Card. Discard the Monster Card instead of placing it. If the Monster is Undead, put it directly into the XP Pile.
AT-WILL POWER:
ASSASSINATE: Attack one adjacent Monster. If you hit choose another Monster within 1 tile and move adjacent to it. That Monster takes 1 damage. (Attack +7 Damage 2)
LIGHT CROSSBOW: Attack one Monster within 2 tiles of you. (Attack +9 Damage 1)
SILVERED SWORD CANE: Attack one adjacent Monster. If the Monster is Undead or a Vampire, deal it 3 damage instead. (Attack +7 Damage 1)
DAILY POWER (FLIP THIS CARD OVER AFTER YOU USE THE POWER):
CHANNEL DIVINITY: Use this power during your Hero Phase. All Monsters on tile take 2 damage. If they are Undead or a Vampire, they take 4 damage instead.
UNMATCHED KNOWLEDGE TO KILL MONSTERS: Attack one adjacent Monster. If the Monster is Undead or a Vampire, do not flip this card over. (Attack +12 Damage 2)
VISTANI DOOMBRINGER CURSE: Use this power at the beginning of your Hero Phase and only once per game. If you begin this turn as the last Hero remaining, regain all your Hit Points and flip up all your used powers.
Rudolph Van Richten has to be able to do some good damage in situations, while others can't. He's a master of his craft and while he is not a match for Strahd straight up, with some lucky rolls, he could possibly beat him or at least hurt him badly enough for his teammates to make the final kill. If anything, Strahd has to respect Rudolph. Regardless of what team is coming up against him, Strahd's main focus should always be on Van Richten because Strahd knows he is the most lethal.
First thing you must understand about Van Richten is that he is a true legend. An absolute boss character that knows how to kill. He is THE monster slayer. He doesn't fight or battle or hunt monsters, he kills them. Period. And he does all of this, despite being around 80 years old. It's his keen intellect and experience that gets him through. Even his teammates should be constantly shocked (and appalled) at all the sneaky, filthy, under-handed tricks he pulls in order to kill the maximum number of monsters as swiftly and efficiently as possible. That's how Rudolph Van Richten operates and that's how I represent him. It's a big reason why I love his "Skulker" power so much, thematically it's absolutely perfect. Rudolph killed the monster so incredibly smoothly from the shadows, that the monster never even saw him coming. His "Assassinate" power has the same feeling as well. Rudolph is using his surroundings and the shadows to gain advantage as he can kill (+7 with 2 Damage) and then reach another unsuspecting monster up to a whole tile away and slaughter it as well (automatic 1 Damage). Plus, if any undead monsters are around (and they should be), he get's that extra attack to wipe out the floor. Pull off a "4 KILL" during one Hero Phase and watch everyone's face light up at the table as they start saying "Drizzt who?" To add to the excitement, play his "Legendary Inspiration" power directly after all that and you just made a moment on a simple board game that was good enough to be in a movie. Yup, Rudolph's teammates should be in total awe of the man and even kind of fear him, just like when Batman walks into a room.
Van Richten is (certainly within Ravenloft) the most experienced monster hunter to have ever lived. Additionally, we know that he has taken out creatures far outside of his weight class. Canonically to Ravenloft Lore, Van Richten has taken out full vampires, lycanthropes of all sorts, and even a few Mummy Lords. So, what does this mean? Well...basically, mix together a Witcher, Batman and Outlaw Josie Wales, pack it into a no nonsense, grumpy old guy and you'll get what I brought to this game.
I designed this figure a while ago and I've play tested him many times. Even my game group (with over 50 advanced RPG players) have used him time and time again and in every edition of the D&D board game series (we use the Van Richten miniature). I've seen him in action with others and I put him in action. He's not overpowered at all because he doesn't dominate the game, just certain situations and blends in well with other characters (Drizzt, Arjhan and Allisa come to mind). Judging by other players always asking for my Rudolph to be used (especially in our Halloween games), I know I did something right. So after a good long run, I'm showing him off today because I've kept "Rudolph Van Richten" a secret for too long. Who knows maybe some of you will enjoy him and let me know how he works for you.
Overall, I think he's balanced out perfectly by his low Hit Points, low Speed value and not having an overabundance of extra abilities he can use other than his Power Cards. Rudolph should be able to do remarkable things but he's not invincible or able to withstand much due to his age, so play him strategically. Remember, he compliments the team, he doesn't lead it. Rudolph is the quiet, brooding guy in the background that acts when it's time to act AND uses his own methods when it's time (once again, think Batman). In the heat of the moment, he'll shout advice and call warnings. For example "The front is just a decoy! They're coming from the east!" Everyone stares at themselves for a second, responds and then shake their heads because Rudolph is right once again. He's a no nonsense, efficient killing machine that's just on this final mission with these "kids" to fulfill his obligation to his family, take out Strahd Von Zarovich and to be rid of his dreaded curse once and for all so he can die in peace.
Honestly, I think I did a pretty good job.