So I'm planning a large scale campaign where the main villain NPC is a Lost character. I've got all the books for 4e. Been looking at the rules for making one and I have no idea where to start.... Do I just create a character and apply taint and experience points till I think it's good?

That's certainly one way to do it. Personally, though, I wouldn't bother keeping track of their experience points. Just assign them whatever skills and traits you want and then figure out their insight rank from there.

Just as a bit of advice, I think it's better to err on the side of making a major villain too powerful than making them too weak. You can always nerf them later if you need to, as long as you keep it subtle, but if they get killed too soon it's bye-bye campaign.

Gotcha! Probably a better way of doing it, thank you.

That is really good advice thank you. I'm worried about that. I'm not sure when and how they'll meet but I really don't want him to go down in one hit. Like you said bye-bye campaign.

I recommend avoiding combat the first time he meets the PC's, if possible. One good way to do that, especially in Rokugan, is social pressure. If the PC's meet him in the court of an allied clan, they (hopefully) won't be keen on starting a fight.

Alternatively, come up with a reason for the villain to not want the characters dead yet, and then make it really clear to the players that they're outmatched, typically by simply outnumbering them by a lot. Unless you've got one of those no-common-sense type players, the PC's will have to listen helplessly while the villain says his piece. Just don't do this too much, players really hate feeling helpless.

If you don't need him to actually talk to the PC's, you can also go for the "seen from across the battlefield" approach. You can always have enemy bushi block the way if the PC's get too close. Of course, here you run the risk of the PC's dying if their side loses the battle, or of making the villain seem weak if he loses.

Also, Jigoku has access to a wide variety of ways of bringing people back from the dead, so even if the PCs do get a lucky hit on him, it doesn't have to mean the end of the campaign. Otherwise, what Fumi said.

I recommend avoiding combat the first time he meets the PC's, if possible. One good way to do that, especially in Rokugan, is social pressure. If the PC's meet him in the court of an allied clan, they (hopefully) won't be keen on starting a fight.

Alternatively, come up with a reason for the villain to not want the characters dead yet, and then make it really clear to the players that they're outmatched, typically by simply outnumbering them by a lot. Unless you've got one of those no-common-sense type players, the PC's will have to listen helplessly while the villain says his piece. Just don't do this too much, players really hate feeling helpless.

If you don't need him to actually talk to the PC's, you can also go for the "seen from across the battlefield" approach. You can always have enemy bushi block the way if the PC's get too close. Of course, here you run the risk of the PC's dying if their side loses the battle, or of making the villain seem weak if he loses.

Those are some really good points! Hadn't thought of point 2 and 3. Point 1 I wasn't sure if they would be in court together but now I'm thinking of planning it now.

Also, Jigoku has access to a wide variety of ways of bringing people back from the dead, so even if the PCs do get a lucky hit on him, it doesn't have to mean the end of the campaign. Otherwise, what Fumi said.

That is very true Idanthrysus, hmmm strike me down and I shall return stronger kind of thing lol.

Another thing to remember is that the Lost actively spread the Taint. So unless you play with the New Taint ^tm , prepare for some lots of Earth Rolls and warn the players that if they mess around too much with the guy then they will end up as a Lost too. This can actually protect the character from death as the PCs won't engage with him in any meaningful way because of their fear that they will get Tainted.

Another thing to remember is that the Lost actively spread the Taint. So unless you play with the New Taint ^tm , prepare for some lots of Earth Rolls and warn the players that if they mess around too much with the guy then they will end up as a Lost too. This can actually protect the character from death as the PCs won't engage with him in any meaningful way because of their fear that they will get Tainted.

Would seem to encourage the PCs to engage him with arrows and spells and siege engines...

That is a very good point! Might need to get them some Jade....

If you want to use the new taint and some lost shenegan than you also could just let him appear normal, with the help of maho ofc. Because if you do this there are world of options what you can do with this npc before the show ends. My favorite is using him as quetgiver telling the people that there is a tainted lost arround here who want to do something bad and thasn he accues a hiogh ranker which is standing in his way for example. So to prevent further dmg he wants the help of them and gives them a number of quests etc.
If you do this in a good and non suspicous way(So not to many quests and scene time for him but just at some important points which actually help the players to advance in the story) this will protect him from the players a long time cause they are not distrust the person who is going to help against the threat (maybe mak him a Lost Kuni to support his lie) and it gives a nice twist towards the end when the

players get behind who really the enemy is.

Another thing to remember is that the Lost actively spread the Taint. So unless you play with the New Taint ^tm , prepare for some lots of Earth Rolls and warn the players that if they mess around too much with the guy then they will end up as a Lost too. This can actually protect the character from death as the PCs won't engage with him in any meaningful way because of their fear that they will get Tainted.

Would seem to encourage the PCs to engage him with arrows and spells and siege engines...

The stories I can tell ...

If you want to use the new taint and some lost shenegan than you also could just let him appear normal, with the help of maho ofc. Because if you do this there are world of options what you can do with this npc before the show ends. My favorite is using him as quetgiver telling the people that there is a tainted lost arround here who want to do something bad and thasn he accues a hiogh ranker which is standing in his way for example. So to prevent further dmg he wants the help of them and gives them a number of quests etc.

If you do this in a good and non suspicous way(So not to many quests and scene time for him but just at some important points which actually help the players to advance in the story) this will protect him from the players a long time cause they are not distrust the person who is going to help against the threat (maybe mak him a Lost Kuni to support his lie) and it gives a nice twist towards the end when the

players get behind who really the enemy is.

I had thoughts about that too. Kind of give the PCs second thoughts as what to do at the end. Maybe they would join him unlikely but who knows. He could slowly corrupt them lol.

Another thing to remember is that the Lost actively spread the Taint. So unless you play with the New Taint ^tm , prepare for some lots of Earth Rolls and warn the players that if they mess around too much with the guy then they will end up as a Lost too. This can actually protect the character from death as the PCs won't engage with him in any meaningful way because of their fear that they will get Tainted.

I sure hope they have some crab clan or shadowlands lore!

Or else all the lost guy has to do is keep his mouth shut and "recruit" a few more people into his order!