Again, I think the OP should have clarified what they meant by a 'Warlord'.  Because to me, a Warlord is someone who leads an army, a weapons expert and tactician, but tends to be relatively straightforward in their strategies, simply because they have both the man-power and skills to not need to rely on subterfuge and guile.

A Mastermind, on the other hand, is never the one you see or should expect.  Plots within plots, plans with multiple outcomes outlined, and NEVER EVER shows up unless the players find out who they really are and comes calling.  And even then, unless the players are extra devious, the Mastermind has a contingency.  Hopefully.

Again, my interpretation, I could of course be wrong.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;844197Again, I think the OP should have clarified what they meant by a 'Warlord'.  Because to me, a Warlord is someone who leads an army, a weapons expert and tactician, but tends to be relatively straightforward in their strategies, simply because they have both the man-power and skills to not need to rely on subterfuge and guile.

A Mastermind, on the other hand, is never the one you see or should expect.  Plots within plots, plans with multiple outcomes outlined, and NEVER EVER shows up unless the players find out who they really are and comes calling.  And even then, unless the players are extra devious, the Mastermind has a contingency.  Hopefully.

Again, my interpretation, I could of course be wrong.

I personally figure a Warlord would thoroughly absorb and practice the aphorism, "Never repeat a winning plan."

Lord Hong, for instance.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;844278I personally figure a Warlord would thoroughly absorb and practice the aphorism, "Never repeat a winning plan."

Lord Hong, for instance.

Yes, but at the same time, if a Warlord isn't the direct sort of villain, then they're not a Villain.  They become a Mastermind if they rely on misdirection and foist their plans on their minions.

Not to say that they can't change, but once they do, they're not Warlords and are not the point of this poll.

In my opinion of course.

That's also assuming that they survive the PC's, of course.  Ego and all that.

Lightsaber.

Call it what you like, but my Evil Warlord's ideal weapon is the same as my ideal Evil Warlord (Darth Vader): a brilliant red beam of Fuck You in sword form.

To me, a warlord is a blunt villain, possibly leading from the back until the big showdown(s), but very direct and overt in his methods. The mastermind sets up complicated plans and contingencies and multi-layered deceptions, but the warlord leads ten thousand screaming savages straight to the target and sticks to stuff like ninjas or diversions if he's going to bother with deception.

To me, a warlord wins battles.

Tactics win battles.  Big screaming hordes, anybody can win a battle with.  A warlord wins battles when outnumbered, outflanked, outmaneuvered, and out of supply.

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;844393To me, a warlord is a blunt villain, possibly leading from the back until the big showdown(s), but very direct and overt in his methods. The mastermind sets up complicated plans and contingencies and multi-layered deceptions, but the warlord leads ten thousand screaming savages straight to the target and sticks to stuff like ninjas or diversions if he's going to bother with deception.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;844396To me, a warlord wins battles.

Tactics win battles.  Big screaming hordes, anybody can win a battle with.  A warlord wins battles when outnumbered, outflanked, outmaneuvered, and out of supply.

I don't disagree with any of these, my only caveat is that the Warlord is a visible figure, he'll be in the the battle directing his troops himself.  A hands on type, the players will know who they're dealing with when facing one of them.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;844396To me, a warlord wins battles.

Tactics win battles.  Big screaming hordes, anybody can win a battle with.  A warlord wins battles when outnumbered, outflanked, outmaneuvered, and out of supply.

That's more 'general' to me.

It's the difference between this guy:
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/square_small/0/3353/528048-awdor_evil_general.jpg

And this guy:
http://pre14.deviantart.net/a387/th/pre/i/2012/238/1/8/warlord_by_leejj-d5ch3zp.jpg

Yeah I guess.  I just took the term to mean "Generic melee-combat based boss-villain".