The investigation adventure went fairly smoothly. Anyone have any advice on how to run a large military battle type encounter? I was thinking of giving the players about a half dozen NPC minions each to control as they help defend a fort. Current plan is to give PC with the flying mount a bunch of airborne foes to fight and goblin vulture-riders to command while the paladin rides to battle on his noble steed with either a horde of goblins(using a variant on the swarm template to make them actually a threat) or a bunch of fighters to control.
I'm looking forward to this one because I finally get to show some results for their decision to spare the enslaved goblin workers in their very first adventure: They've begun fighting to liberate their kin from the demons, with the one they not only spared but even healed becoming a "Goblin Shinyman"(using the Cavalier class) because he was inspired by the PC Paladin(who he calls "Shinyman 'Brek") to protect his fellows, because that's what a Shinyman does. Complete with cobbled together iron armor and a damn cookpot for a helmet. The players seemed to respond positively to the character before, so I think they'll get a kick out of his return.
Any PnP RP veterans around here?Follow
I've decided to switch the vulture riders to hawk riders(it was easier to use a tool to give em mounts than to actually try to stat up a cavalier mount as a base). The fighters/swarms I'd planned to give the paladin to command have been replaced with more goblin cavaliers, but on wolves instead of hawks. I've also decided to avoid adding in a ton of demons, instead opting for reusing the half-demon goblins I used in an earlier adventure(with their Smite Good ability, they almost killed the paladin in small numbers). To compliment them, I'm statting up a half-demon hill giant or two and probably one other half-demon monster. I'm going to make it a plot point that they've faced a lot of half-demon creatures, but really haven't faced a single real demon yet.
Also, I know DMs aren't supposed to get attached to NPCs, but I have to admit that I totally love the Goblin Shinyman concept. I just hope my players enjoy the concept as much as I do.
I'm also thinking of presenting them with more situations where choosing mercy or diplomacy might reward them with more allies for the adventure path's final fight, but not giving them suggestions on how to approach the situations. If they choose diplomacy, then they'll get allies. If not, I'll find another reward for solving the problem. Something appropriate, like treasure if they decide to just slay a neutral Primal Dragon that might have stolen some livestock instead of befriending it.
Also, I know DMs aren't supposed to get attached to NPCs, but I have to admit that I totally love the Goblin Shinyman concept. I just hope my players enjoy the concept as much as I do.
I'm also thinking of presenting them with more situations where choosing mercy or diplomacy might reward them with more allies for the adventure path's final fight, but not giving them suggestions on how to approach the situations. If they choose diplomacy, then they'll get allies. If not, I'll find another reward for solving the problem. Something appropriate, like treasure if they decide to just slay a neutral Primal Dragon that might have stolen some livestock instead of befriending it.
This is my outline of the combat portion assuming I can get them into the fort.
Quote:
Event: From the Skies
No sooner does Daniel mention the artifact than a number of Fiendish Goblins fly over the wall and attack! Defenders have to deal with enemies on the wall while the heroes take on the incursion.
Combat: 6 Fiendish Goblins
One defender on the wall falls for each 6 rounds of combat. Combat still rages outside between the forces of the undead and the demons. Captain Beam shows the artifact to the heroes.
A bit of time to rest and tend to wounds as demons focus on undead.
Event: Burrowing Menace
The ground begins to shake. From out of the ground erupts a Hill Giant! More goblins fly in and begin attacking the defenders.
Combat: Fiendish Hill Giant
After 4 rounds, two fiendish goblins pour out of the hole. Every 1d4 rounds after that, another goblin scurries out, until the hole is closed. Every 8 rounds of combat, another defender falls.
Undead push expands, allowing defenders to rest a short while. Allow for convo and whatnot.
Event: Undead driven off
The PCs watch as the undead are driven off. The demons now turn their full attention on the PCs.
Combat: 3 waves: 6 Fiendish Goblins, 6 Fiendish goblins, 1 Fiendish Hill Giant
Note: Add a couple goblins if PCs found earlier waves too easy. Decrease number if too difficult.
After every 6 rounds, another defender dies.
Samantha injured during combat.
After fight, goblin slaves in enemy ranks run in fear, causing demons to chase after them, giving party a breather.
Event: Shinymen arrive
Roll perceptions. DC 20, hear sound that at first sounds like a scream of terror, but is quickly recognized as instead a squeal of glee. It’s coming closer.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, a figure on the back of a hawk slams into the ground in the center of the fort. The figure is recognized as NAME, one of the goblins the party saved in the first adventure. He’s wearing scraps of metal all over his body and a cooking pot on his head. He explains to party about the Shinymen and how the goblins are no longer going to be pushed around by the demons. Asks for the party’s help to liberate the goblins and find them a new safe place. In return, offers the help of his fellow Shinymen.
Assuming party agrees: Combat with aid of Shinymen(each player gets 4 to control). Enemy waves of 6 goblins(+2?) in the air, 1 hill giant(+2 goblins?) on the ground.
If party doesn’t agree: fight both waves as a party, Shinymen go help other goblins. Beam remembers a potion of Heal and Samantha rejoins fight.
Meanwhile, a small army of goblins march around the road on the mountain and tie up remainder enemy forces.
Every 6 rounds, defender dies.
Event: The big guy
Shinymen go aid goblins and party must contend with the leader of the enemy forces. Beam suggests only way to end siege is to kill enemy leader. Seems kind of haughty, might come out if challenged.
Heal Samantha if not already done.
Combat: Delve(+ some goblins if other fights too easy).
Every 6 rounds, defender dies.
If all defenders die, the mission is a failure, the artifact is stolen and blah blah blah consequences later.
No sooner does Daniel mention the artifact than a number of Fiendish Goblins fly over the wall and attack! Defenders have to deal with enemies on the wall while the heroes take on the incursion.
Combat: 6 Fiendish Goblins
One defender on the wall falls for each 6 rounds of combat. Combat still rages outside between the forces of the undead and the demons. Captain Beam shows the artifact to the heroes.
A bit of time to rest and tend to wounds as demons focus on undead.
Event: Burrowing Menace
The ground begins to shake. From out of the ground erupts a Hill Giant! More goblins fly in and begin attacking the defenders.
Combat: Fiendish Hill Giant
After 4 rounds, two fiendish goblins pour out of the hole. Every 1d4 rounds after that, another goblin scurries out, until the hole is closed. Every 8 rounds of combat, another defender falls.
Undead push expands, allowing defenders to rest a short while. Allow for convo and whatnot.
Event: Undead driven off
The PCs watch as the undead are driven off. The demons now turn their full attention on the PCs.
Combat: 3 waves: 6 Fiendish Goblins, 6 Fiendish goblins, 1 Fiendish Hill Giant
Note: Add a couple goblins if PCs found earlier waves too easy. Decrease number if too difficult.
After every 6 rounds, another defender dies.
Samantha injured during combat.
After fight, goblin slaves in enemy ranks run in fear, causing demons to chase after them, giving party a breather.
Event: Shinymen arrive
Roll perceptions. DC 20, hear sound that at first sounds like a scream of terror, but is quickly recognized as instead a squeal of glee. It’s coming closer.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, a figure on the back of a hawk slams into the ground in the center of the fort. The figure is recognized as NAME, one of the goblins the party saved in the first adventure. He’s wearing scraps of metal all over his body and a cooking pot on his head. He explains to party about the Shinymen and how the goblins are no longer going to be pushed around by the demons. Asks for the party’s help to liberate the goblins and find them a new safe place. In return, offers the help of his fellow Shinymen.
Assuming party agrees: Combat with aid of Shinymen(each player gets 4 to control). Enemy waves of 6 goblins(+2?) in the air, 1 hill giant(+2 goblins?) on the ground.
If party doesn’t agree: fight both waves as a party, Shinymen go help other goblins. Beam remembers a potion of Heal and Samantha rejoins fight.
Meanwhile, a small army of goblins march around the road on the mountain and tie up remainder enemy forces.
Every 6 rounds, defender dies.
Event: The big guy
Shinymen go aid goblins and party must contend with the leader of the enemy forces. Beam suggests only way to end siege is to kill enemy leader. Seems kind of haughty, might come out if challenged.
Heal Samantha if not already done.
Combat: Delve(+ some goblins if other fights too easy).
Every 6 rounds, defender dies.
If all defenders die, the mission is a failure, the artifact is stolen and blah blah blah consequences later.
On the assumption anyone read my character backstory for Lillian Promeio on the /k/ thread in =28, I'm probably gonna pick up a cohort at level 7. Any suggestions on what class for a "retired adventurer loyal butler" type character who escaped the carnage that destroyed the household?
I did read it, but I have no idea.
^______________________________________________^
^______________________________________________^
That's aight. I'm leaning towards having him be a former assassin(not necessarily using that prestige class) who was defeated by Lillian's father and swore to serve him out of a sense of honor. So I'm thinking maybe a rogue archetype, or perhaps something in Shadowdancer, Assassin or Duelist. Potentially an Inquisitor since we're lacking a divine caster(though the other player is likely going to pick up some kind of cohort to help run his cult, so that could likely be a cleric or something).
I've got it figured out. Starts out as fighter, but as he levels, he recalls all the old combat lore he's forgotten, prestige classing into Student of War.
Guess this is as good of a place as any - a couple friends who have never RP'd before want to try a game. As the only person with any modicum of experience, looks like it's up to me to DM. I was actually thinking of using this simple 2d6 system, which seems to be a simplified basic system. I think I'd like to do something that we can finish a short mini-campaign in a few hours, though if we have to split it into multiple sessions we could. Would love some input / advice from yall, as I have never run a session before.
◕ ‿‿ ◕
About the only advice I can give, since I'm more of a novice with some experience, is to build it simple with a lot of room for adjustments around the players' decisions. And have a list of names and basic motivations in case the adventurers decide to interrogate some random NPC you mention in passing. The fact that any NPC they talk to ends up having a personality should blow away newbs.
You never know who the players will latch on to. Who might be the NPC they're talking about ten years down the road when they recall your adventure. But if they're anything like my players, it'll probably be a goblin you only expected them to kill, not befriend.
You never know who the players will latch on to. Who might be the NPC they're talking about ten years down the road when they recall your adventure. But if they're anything like my players, it'll probably be a goblin you only expected them to kill, not befriend.
We did our first adventure on Rae's campaign over the weekend. So far, Lillian/Belkross has been a blast to play. Belkross barking commands to what appears to be a frightened girl who is actually telling him what to say is pretty entertaining. I will say that without Belkross, Lillian isn't very combat effective at this point. Of three characters and an eidolon, one of whom is wearing medium armor, this 17 year old girl has the highest AC, And by far the lowest damage potential. And worst combat maneuvers.
We got stuck in a "battle in the center of the mind" kind of situation, where our party was split up into three small "rooms" fighting shadow clones of ourselves. One clone on wave one, two on wave two, three on all after that, but they all did only 1 damage per hit. After each wave was destroyed, the rooms became a bit more connected, and it took downing 8 waves to fully connect all three rooms, though it could be waves from any room so it wasn't like we had to all down a certain number of waves. Good thing, because Lillian didn't manage to defeat a single wave. They each summoned giant centipedes which did could only hit on a roll of 15 or better. Then fired crossbow bolts at eachother, only capable of hitting on a 14 or better. She managed to almost bring down her clone by the time the other two had downed a combined total of 8 waves. But at least she didn't get knocked out like the monk.
And then an ancient earth elemental spawned and killed everyone(plotline death, everyone now having Retroactive Immortality thanks to beating the inner mind challenge).
Edited, May 28th 2012 1:36am by Poldaran
We got stuck in a "battle in the center of the mind" kind of situation, where our party was split up into three small "rooms" fighting shadow clones of ourselves. One clone on wave one, two on wave two, three on all after that, but they all did only 1 damage per hit. After each wave was destroyed, the rooms became a bit more connected, and it took downing 8 waves to fully connect all three rooms, though it could be waves from any room so it wasn't like we had to all down a certain number of waves. Good thing, because Lillian didn't manage to defeat a single wave. They each summoned giant centipedes which did could only hit on a roll of 15 or better. Then fired crossbow bolts at eachother, only capable of hitting on a 14 or better. She managed to almost bring down her clone by the time the other two had downed a combined total of 8 waves. But at least she didn't get knocked out like the monk.
And then an ancient earth elemental spawned and killed everyone(plotline death, everyone now having Retroactive Immortality thanks to beating the inner mind challenge).
Edited, May 28th 2012 1:36am by Poldaran
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2636
◕ ‿‿ ◕
Aliekber
RDM BLU SCH DRG PLD BLM NIN WHM
Linkshell: CrimsonMercenaries Server: Carbamesh
Post in /K/ where the orbital laser system is now online.
RDM BLU SCH DRG PLD BLM NIN WHM
Linkshell: CrimsonMercenaries Server: Carbamesh
Sandinmygum the Stupendous wrote:
Human (?) females look ugly.
Recent Visitors: 54
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (54)
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC