As characters get to Legendary in Savage World (Fantasy) they abilities soon seem to out class the Powers the creatures have. For example, most powers are saved with a attribute, say Agility, if you get a Raise then the Agility roll is -2. Well for most legendary characters getting a 6 with Agility is not that hard (assuming d10 60% chance, with Arcane Resistance 85% chance). Even then if they are hit then their Toughness is much more than the damage that is done.
Any ideas about how to fix this without breaking Savage Worlds system?
Wash up
- I really liked @gomad answer (i would like to bless two answers) but @SevenSidedDie's answer just pips it for me.
- I think the real problem is that the saves are vs a flat value. We are going to test using the caster roll as the save which a lot of powers do use.
- I have been allowing Arcane Resistance against creatures powers like Fear. I am not sure if this is correct.
Best Answer
Savage Worlds is a remarkably robust system—there is very little you can do that would actually break the system as it's just not that fragile. As long as you keep in mind the principle that things should be "fast", you'll be fine.
If you're having problems with flat saves, make them opposed. This will bring the high stats of a Legendary creature into play against your PCs' similarly-Legendary stats.
Pair up your creatures in complementary ways. You have a Lich that has fancy powers but is a bit squishy, think of all the nasty things it has already summoned or created to serve it—demons, dark squamous things, soul-devouring intelligent gems, powerful servitor undead, grave golems, etc. Pair up your Power-chucking Lich with a combat monster, perhaps with some weakening effects in its arsenal that trigger off hits. Then put your Lich behind the combat monster, where the wizard belongs.
Make sure your Legendary critters fight unfairly. They've almost always got home advantage, so make it count.
Magical wards can keep the PCs at arm's length while Powers rain on them with impunity, and they'll scramble to solve the "puzzle" before taking too many hits so they can paste this weenie.
A winged creature in a cave isn't going to sit around and be hit—it's going to use its extensive knowledge of the chaotic, upside-down landscape of the ceiling to always be in cover when the PCs are shooting and swooping down at precise, practiced locations for devastating charge damage. If it's got ranged abilities then they're really in trouble, since it can play hide-and-seek for as long as it takes to wear down PCs who don't get creative.
A well-prepared humanoid opponent is going to have traps and contingency plans for all sorts of things that would help in combat. Drop the PCs in a pit that's large enough that the Agility roll has that nice big -4 penalty. Drop portcullises to separate them and make them sitting ducks. Drop boulders on them. Make 'em hurt, but also show them how if they scout their fights better (or get creative right now) they too can take advantage of the terrain.
Despite all this, don't worry too much if not every fight is a nail-biter. Your players will appreciate a challenge, but they'll also remember fondly the time that the Lich Lord was pasted with a single mighty swing of an axe whose damage Aced like crazy. Savage Worlds is built for those kinds of unpredictable moments. Keep in mind your PCs' strengths and weaknesses and play on those, but share in your players' moments of glory when they just wipe the floor with the badguys. After all, they are legends!