NEW (AGAIN)- Thunderspire Labyrinth- Stat analysis #25 Shrine to Baphomet

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion



The PCs head through the doors and into yet another spooky chamber, the sarcophagi are incredibly suspicious, Winstanley, with a little help from Dirty, gets one of the things open- there's nothing inside. Their suspicions (slightly) reduced- they head forward, towards the holy light at the end of the hall.

Then, of course, the sarcophagi slam open and out spill the Skeletons- charging, mostly.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1)
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP45)

Initiative 22 Kaspard 20 Skeleton Warriors 16 Phrenic 13 Winstanley 12 Grey 8 Dirty 6 Decrepit Skeletons.

Surprise round.

SW1- Charge Dirty; Crit 10 damage (27 HP).

SW2- Charge Dirty; Miss.

DS1- Charge Grey; Hit 4 damage (23 HP).

DS2- Charge Grey; Hit 4 damage (19 HP).

DS3- Charge Kaspard; Hit 4 damage (27 HP).

DS4- Charge Phrenic; Miss.

DS5- Charge Winstanley; Hit 4 damage (26 HP).

DS6- Charge Winstanley; Hit 4 damage (22 HP).

DS7- Charge Combat Advantage Phrenic; Miss.

DS8- Charge Dirty; Hit 4 damage (23 HP).

Time to play 7 minutes including setting up of minis, and map.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP23/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP27/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP19/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1)
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP45)

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 1 Total 1

Comment: That's not too bad, took a chunk of hit points out of a few of them, strangely Phrenic didn't get hit at all.

Posted a few turns because I'm off away for a few days... back in a bit.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #1.

Kaspard- Turn Undead DS1-3&5-7; Hit DS1&3&7 for 8 Radiant damage each- all three DEAD. Healing Word +6 HP Dirty (Full).

SW1- Longsword Dirty; Hit 9 damage (28 HP).

SW2- Longsword Dirty; Hit 5 damage (23 HP).

Phrenic- Shift back. Scorching Burst SW1-2 & DS8; Miss all. Inspiring Word +4 HP Dirty (36 HP).

Winstanley- Sly Flourish DS5; Hit 8 damage- DEAD. Shift back.

Grey- Shift back. Scorching Burst SW1-2 & DS8; Hit DS8 Hit 11 Fire damage- DEAD & SW2 Hit 11 Fire damage (34 HP).

Dirty- Shift. Cleave SW2; Hit 14 damage (20 HP bloodied) & DS4; 3 damage- DEAD. SW2 Marked.

DS1- DEAD.

DS2- Move. Longsword Grey; Miss.

DS3- DEAD.

DS4- DEAD.

DS5- DEAD.

DS6- Move. Longsword Winstanley; Miss.

DS7- DEAD.

DS8- DEAD.

DS9- Appear. Charge Kaspard; Miss.

DS10- Appear. Charge Phrenic; Miss.

Time to play 12 minutes.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP36/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP27/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP19/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP45/45 & 20/45)

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 2 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: I'm not hopeful but I think I'm going to make the PCs spend some Healing Surges the other end of this fight.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #2.

Kaspard- Shift out. Sacred Flame SW2; Hit 7 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) = 12 damage (8 HP bloodied) & 4 Temp HP Dirty.

SW1- Longsword Dirty; Miss.

SW2- Longsword Dirty; Hit 3 damage (36 HP).

Phrenic- Shift. Viper's Strike DS2; Miss.

Winstanley- Tumble. Sly Flourish DS2; Hit 9 damage- DEAD.

Grey- Shift out. Ray of Frost DS9; Miss.

Dirty- Shift. Cleave SW2; Hit 14 damage- DEAD & SW1; 3 damage (42 HP). Marked.

DS1- DEAD.

DS2- DEAD.

DS3- DEAD.

DS4- DEAD.

DS5- DEAD.

DS6- Move. Longsword Kaspard; Miss.

DS7- DEAD.

DS8- DEAD.

DS9- Longsword Phrenic; Hit 4 damage (25 HP).

DS10- Shift. Combat Advantage Longsword Phrenic; Miss.

DS11- Appears. Charge Dirty; Hit 4 damage (33 HP).

DS12- Appears. Charges Winstanley; Miss.

Time to play 8 minutes.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP33/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP27/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP19/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP25/29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 7 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP42/45) 1 DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: More of the same, steady work but easy for the PCs, look away- there's no challenge here.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #3.

Kaspard- Shift back. Sacred Flame SW1; Miss.

SW1- Longsword Dirty; Hit 6 damage (27 HP).

SW2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Wolf Pack Tactics DS10; Miss. Shift back.

Winstanley- Sly Flourish DS12; Hit 9 damage- DEAD. Shift back.

Grey- Scorching Burst DS6&9; Hit both 8 Fire damage each- both DEAD.

Dirty- Spining Sweep SW1; Crit 17 damage (25 HP) & Prone. Marked.

DS1- DEAD.

DS2- DEAD.

DS3- DEAD.

DS4- DEAD.

DS5- DEAD.

DS6- DEAD.

DS7- DEAD.

DS8- DEAD.

DS9- DEAD.

DS10- Longsword Phrenic; Miss.

DS11- Longsword Dirty; Hit 4 damage (23 HP).

DS12- DEAD.

DS13- Appear. Charge Dirty; Miss.

DS14- Appear. Charge Dirty. AoO Dirty; Hit 13 damage- DEAD.

Time to play 7 minutes.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP23/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP27/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP19/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP25/29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 11 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP25/45) 1 DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 1 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: Meh.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #4.

Kaspard- Move. AoO DS13; Miss. Combat Advantage Healing Strike SW1; Miss.

SW1- Stand. Longsword Dirty; Miss.

SW2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Viper's Strike DS10; Hit 6 damage- DEAD.

Winstanley- Move. Sly Flourish SW1; Miss.

Grey- Move. Ray of Frost SW1; Hit 6 Cold damage (19 HP bloodied) & Slowed.

Dirty- Cleave Combat Advantage SW1; Hit 10 damage (9 HP bloodied)- Marked & DS13; 3 damage- DEAD. 2nd Wind (32 HP).

DS1- DEAD.

DS2- DEAD.

DS3- DEAD.

DS4- DEAD.

DS5- DEAD.

DS6- DEAD.

DS7- DEAD.

DS8- DEAD.

DS9- DEAD.

DS10- DEAD.

DS11- Longsword Dirty; Hit 4 damage (28 HP).

DS12- DEAD.

DS13- DEAD.

DS14- DEAD.

DS15- Appears. Charge Grey; Hit 4 damage (15 HP).

DS16- Appears. Charge Phrenic; Hit 4 damage (21 HP).

Time to play 7 minutes.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP28/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP27/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP15/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP21/29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 13 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP9/45) 1 DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 1 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: Meh again.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #5.

Kaspard- Shift back. Sacred Flame SW1; Hit 10 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) = 15 damage- DEAD & 4 Temp HP Grey.

SW1- DEAD.

SW2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Viper's Strike DS16; Miss.

Winstanley- Sly Flourish DS15; Hit 7 damage- DEAD.

Grey- Move. Magic Missile DS16; Hit 8 Force damage- DEAD.

Dirty- Reaping Strike DS11; Hit 10 damage- DEAD.

DS1- DEAD.

DS2- DEAD.

DS3- DEAD.

DS4- DEAD.

DS5- DEAD.

DS6- DEAD.

DS7- DEAD.

DS8- DEAD.

DS9- DEAD.

DS10- DEAD.

DS11- DEAD.

DS12- DEAD.

DS13- DEAD.

DS14- DEAD.

DS15- DEAD.

DS16- DEAD.

DS17- Appears. Charge Dirty; Hit 4 damage (24 HP).

DS18- Appears. Charge Kaspard; Hit 4 damage (23 HP).

Time to play 4 minutes.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP24/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP23/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP15/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP21/29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 16 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP45) 2 DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: As I said previously, a few Healing Surges spent, that's all this fight is good for.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #14 Area 7 Skeletal Legion

Round #6.

Kaspard- Shift back. Sacred Flame DS18; Hit 6 Radiant damage- DEAD & 4 Temp HP Dirty.

SW1- DEAD.

SW2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Charge DS17; Hit 7 damage- DEAD.

Time to play 2 minutes.
Total time to play 47 minutes.

End of Combat-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP24/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP23/31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP22/30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP15/27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP21/29)

Bad Guys 750XP Level 3 Encounter.
Decrepit Skeleton Level 1 Minion [DS] (x18) (HP1) 18 DEAD
Skeleton Warrior Level 3 Soldier [SW] (x2) (HP45) 2 DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 1

Comment: Kaspard is overjoyed to see the place is, or rather was, dedicated to Bahamut. A search of the chamber reveals a bunch of Silver Dragon statues hidden away which the PCs take. Kaspard stops and prays before the altars in attempt to restore Bahamut's influence further. I play out a very Minor Skill Challenge, as a result of which Kaspard learns that a test for her and her allies lies ahead in the next chamber.

The PCs move on.

And all of the PCs now have enough XP for level 3.

Stats: The PCs took some damage, actually 89 hit points in total, but they also managed to dish out 225 hit points damage in return. Kaspard managed to dish out 57 points of damage, which is a considerably amount for her, the second most for the PCs behind Dirty, 70 damage, Dirty also had a 100% connection rate. Phrenic didn't fair so well, only 25% hit rate, for a total of 13 points of damage done.

Combined Stats: Actually I think we'll leave the combined stats until the end of the next encounter, you'll see why.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #15 Area 8 Sir Keegan's Tomb



The PCs enter the final chamber here, and are soon after greeted (sort of) by the Skeletal Sir Keegan, who shouts at them for a while. We've played out Skill Challenges before, but only minor ones that I have thrown at them, I explain that this is a moment- this isn't like the other Skill Challenges I've used, This is an opportunity for Kaspard, and the others, to change events...

It goes surprisingly well, although at the start Dirty is all for just killing the creature, he finally sees sense- Kaspard insists.

Skill Challenge- the players roll initiative just to see what order they act in, I advise them of some of the sorts of things that can use- social skills to persuade Sir Keegan of their intentions, skills that demonstrate their expertise and capability- that sort of thing.

Initiative 14 Winstanley 13 Grey 10 Dirty 9 Kaspard 5 Phrenic

Round #1.

Winstanley tries to persuade Sir Keegan that he too is a follower of Bahamut and that all he wants is to see this terrible evil in the Keep ended- that's a Bluff check then, which he fails spectacularly.

I advise the PCs that too many failures will lead to... well, things will go badly; this sharpens their concentration a little.

Grey settles for demonstrating his power, casting Scorching Burst he scours a corner of the room in flame and states that he will use his powers to ensure the rift will not be opened, Arcana check and Sir Keegan is impressed.

Dirty is not having any of this alas, his effort involves marching towards Sir Keegan, pointing out the terrible things he has done and proclaiming that he has no right to be telling them what to do, as he fingers the head of his Maul. That's an Intimidate check, the hardest check in the book (DC17), which he succeeds at just. Sir Keegan nods a little and looks suitably chided.

Kaspard of course tells Sir Keegan who she is and what she's about, also about what has been going on of late- the death of the children of Fallcrest in particular. She then moves on to proclaim the great works of Bahamut and states that she will rededicate the Keep in the name of Bahamut as soon as she has seen of the evil that resides here. A Religion check follows which she passes with ease.

Phrenic confirms all that Kaspard has said and uses honeyed words to make clear that they are not here to judge Sir Keegan, and that he is sure that Sir Keegan was acting out of character when he committed the terrible acts that have resulted in his present form. There follows a Diplomacy check, which Phrenic passes easily.

Results:
Successes 4
Failures 1

The Skill Challenge requires 6 Successes before 3 Failures, we go on...

Comment: And this DM is overjoyed, the PCs stepped up to the challenge, I had been worried ahead of time about how this would play- I needn't have. Dirty (played by Dave) was a little unhappy- he lives to hit things mostly, but the majority are going for it in a big way. Kaspard, who is the quietest of players, well... I really needn't have worried; James, who plays Phrenic, even adopted a voice that made everyone in the room giggle- obviously his best telephone voice.

Stats: NA

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #15 Area 8 Sir Keegan's Tomb

Round #2.

Winstanley doesn't want to try with the Bluff again and so settles for capering and bounding around the room, a sort of parkour demonstration, an Acrobatics check follows and the Sir Keegan is impressed by the whirling Halfling. A +2 Skill Check bonus is stored, to be used later this round.

Grey goes again for a Ray of Frost followed by a Magic Missile, he says nothing, settles for looking like a menacing Wizard with power extreme, another Arcana check and another success, he doesn't need the +2 bonus.

Dirty of course decides to shake the tree some more. He states that basically everything the other PCs have told Sir Keegan so far is rubbish, just a bunch of kiss asses. He's not scared of a man who kills children, why doesn't Sir Keegan try picking on someone his own size. Dirty stands on tip-toes and waves his Maul around a bit- in Sir Keegan's direction.

The other players are less than happy, Dave who plays Dirty is a mean bugger at times (in life and in character), but that's how he's been playing Dirty up till now so it's no surprise.

That's an Intimidate check, the other players, specifically Kaspard and Phrenic are barking at Dirty (and Dave), offering Sir Keegan reasons why he shouldn't listen to the pig-headed Dwarf.

It gets tetchy for a little bit.

Dirty rolls his Intimidate check.

Natural '20', of course.

Sir Keegan collapses and begs for forgiveness.

Everyone laughs about it, tension released, even Dave, who has secured bragging rights for the rest of the adventure.

Sir Keegan tells his story, a sad and terrible tale, and then charges the PCs with destroying the shadowy menace that yet lingers below.

He then hands over Aecris, his +1 Lifedrinker Longsword, to Phrenic- who uses a Longsword, lastly Sir Keegan charges, not Kaspard, but Dirty to right his wrongs.

Which results in a grunt to the affirmative from the surly Dwarf (Dave).

And that's a save from the DM.

Encounter over- 27 minutes to play.

XP 875 Level 4 Encounter.

Comment: And with that session 3 of our adventures draws to a close, and in nearly five and a half hours of play (long session- but nobody wanted to stop) the PCs have completed seven encounters, that's a record for me/us. I appreciate that some of them, specifically the two Undead encounters towards the end were walkovers but... And this is a big but, the players absolutely loved bashing the crap out of a bunch of creatures that they figured weren't doing them much harm. It felt like a bit of a grind at times because for a while they were having troubles hitting the bad guys- low dice rolls. I think every now and then there's something to be said for just destroying some monsters, and without breaking a sweat- over-confidence, that's something as a DM I can work with.

See the next session for instance...

Stats: NA

Combined Stats: So just for kicks let's look at how the stats I trolled out at the end of the last session have changed after a bunch of, let's face it, easy encounters.

Copy and indeed paste to follow-

Number of Combat Encounters: 8
Encounter Levels: 1 [+0] (x2); 2 [+1] (x4); 6 [+4] (x1) & 7 [+5] (x1).
Average Encounter Level: 2.88
Total Turns of Combat: 56
Total Time to play Combat Encounters: 428 minutes.
Average Time/Encounter: 53.5 minutes
Total Action Points used: 26 (average 3.25/encounter)
Total times PC KO'd (0 HP): 9 (average 1.13/encounter)
Total PC Crits rolled: 6 (average .75/encounter)
Total Healing Surges used: 33 (average 4.33/encounter)
Total Daily Powers used: 16 (average 2/encounter)

Has now become-

Number of Combat Encounters: 14
Encounter Levels: [+0] (x4); [+1] (x8); [+5] (x1) & [+6] (x1).
Average Encounter Level: 3.36
Total Turns of Combat: 91
Total Time to play Combat Encounters: 692 minutes.
Average Time/Encounter: 49.43 minutes
Total Action Points used: 38 (average 2.71/encounter)
Total times PC KO'd (0 HP): 9 (average 0.64/encounter)
Total PC Crits rolled: 10 (average .71/encounter)
Total Healing Surges used: 49 (average 3.5/encounter)
Total Daily Powers used: 26 (average 1.86/encounter)

Which only goes to demonstrate the fact that the PCs have had it (much) easier since they hit 2nd Level- playing out another 6 combat encounters which have only served to reduce the average encounter time, while not raising the average encounter level by very much. Significantly no PC has been reduced to 0 HP in this last session.

Remember for all of the below Phrenic has only been in 10 combat encounters, McGyver has now been excluded from the stats.

PCs Attack Connection Rate (Criteria min. 5 attacks)

19th-
WAS 41.67% Dirty AoO Maul (5 hits/12 attacks) Average 9.2 damage.
NOW 40% (6 hits/15 attacks) Average 9.83 damage.

18th-
WAS 55.56% Phrenic Viper's Strike (5 hits/9 attacks) Average 6.5 damage.
NOW 52.38% (11 hits/21 attacks) Average 7.6 damage.

17th-
WAS 46.67% Kaspard Lance of Faith (7 hits/15 attacks) Average 7 damage.
NOW 52.94% (9 hits/17 attacks) Average 6.78 damage.

16th-
NEW 57.14% Phrenic Leaf on the Wind (4 hits/7 attacks) Average 8 damage.

15th-
WAS 50% Dirty Reaping Strike (6 hits/12 attacks) Average 14.33 damage.
NOW 57.89% (11 hits/19 attacks) Average 13.27 damage.

14th-
WAS 33.33% Dirty Spinning Sweep (2 hits/6 attacks) Average 12.5 damage.
NOW 58.33% (7 hits/12 attacks) Average 14.71 damage.
&
NEW 58.33% Kaspard Turn Undead (7 hits/12 attacks) Average 11.86 damage.

13th-
NEW 60% Phrenic Charge Longsword (3 hits/5 attacks) Average 9.67 damage.

12th-
NEW 61.54% Phrenic Scorching Burst (8 hits/13 attacks) Average 6 damage.

11th-
WAS 59.26% Grey Burning Hands (16 hits/27 attacks) Average 11.13 damage.
NOW 61.76% (21 hits/34 attacks) Average 12.05 damage.

10th-
WAS 50% Dirty Brute Strike (3 hits/6 attacks) Average 21 damage.
NOW 62.5% (5 hits/8 attacks) Average 21.4 damage.

9th-
WAS 55.56% Dirty Cleave (5 hits/9 attacks) Average 13.8 damage.
NOW 63.16% (12 hits/19 attacks) Average 14 damage.

8th-
WAS 57.69% Kaspard Sacred Flame (15 hits/26 attacks) Average 5.47 damage.
NOW 64.58% (31 hits/48 attacks) Average 8.1 damage.

7th-
WAS 66.67% Grey Ray of Frost (8 hits/12 attacks) Average 6.5 damage.
NOW 64.71% (11 hits/17 attacks) Average 7.09 damage.

6th-
WAS 54.29% Grey Scorching Burst (19 hits/35 attacks) Average 7.42 damage.
NOW 67.16% (45 hits/67 attacks) Average 8.09 damage.

5th-
WAS 64.29% Grey Magic Missile (9 hits/14 attacks) Average 9.44 damage.
NOW 68% (17 hits/25 attacks) Average 9.24 damage.

4th-
WAS 62.5% Dirty Charge Maul (10 hits/16 attacks) Average 9.6 damage.
NOW 68.42% (13 hits/19 attacks) Average 9.77 damage.

3rd-
WAS 77.42% Winstanley Sly Flourish (24 hits/31 attacks) Average 14.5 damage.
NOW 76.36% (42 hits/55 attacks) Average 12.76 damage.

2nd-
NEW 80% Winstanley Trick Strike (4 hits/5 attacks) Average 18.75 damage.
&
WAS 83.33% Winstanley Positioning Strike (5 hits/6 attacks) Average 11.6 damage.
NOW 80% (8 hits/10 attacks) Average 11.38 damage.

1st-
WAS 100% Winstanley Deft Strike (10 hits/10 attacks) Average 13.3 damage.
NOW 100% (11 hits/11 attacks) Average 12.64 damage.

Which still goes to show the difference between a Striker and a Defender, but also shows that Level 2 PCs have an improved connection rate, I guess with KOTS it has to be said the bad guys have not been keeping up with PCs, at least their defences haven't.

Total HP damage inflicted by PCs

94 Phrenic (average 3.24/turn) NOW 271 (average 4.23/turn)
145 Kaspard (average 2.59/turn) NOW 340 (average 3.74/turn)
385 Dirty (average 6.88/turn) NOW 710 (average 7.8/turn)
581 Winstanley (average 10.38/turn) NOW 848 (average 9.32/turn)
475 Grey (average 8.48/turn) NOW 871 (average 9.57/turn)

Note Grey has now done more damage than Winstanley, the Striker may hit more but the Burst and Blast Fire(-ish) Wizard really is the artillery.

Total HP damage absorbed by PCs

70 Kaspard (average 1.25/turn) NOW 101 (average 1.11/turn)
90 Grey (average 1.61/turn) NOW 111 (average 1.22/turn)
74 Winstanley (average 1.32/turn) NOW 121 (average 1.33/turn)
125 Phrenic (average 4.31/turn) NOW 230 (average 3.59/turn)
220 Dirty (average 3.93/turn) NOW 441 (average 4.85/turn)

So, except for Dirty and Winstanley (increase 0.01), the PCs are now taking less damage than before, once again- easier encounters in relation to their Level, and their increased damage/connection rate.

+/- combining the above two set of results.

-31 Phrenic (-1.07/turn) NOW +41 (+0.64/turn)
+75 Kaspard (+1.34/turn) NOW +239 (+2.63/turn)
+165 Dirty (+2.95/turn) NOW +269 (+2.95/turn)
+507 Winstanley (+9.06/turn) NOW +727 (+7.99/turn)
+385 Grey (+6.87/turn) NOW +760 (+8.35/turn)

Which continues to show that the PCs are pulling away from the bad guys with the amount of damage inflicted against damage taken, on average inflicting +22.56 points of damage/turn.

Overall Connection (Hit) Rates/PC

57.14% Phrenic (12 hits from 21 attacks) NOW 57.89% (33 hits from 57 attacks)
50% Dirty (31 hits from 62 attacks) NOW 58.06% (54 hits from 93 attacks)
53.33% Kaspard (24 hits from 45 attacks) NOW 60% (51 hits from 85 attacks)
60% Grey (54 hits from 90 attacks) NOW 66.21% (96 hits from 145 attacks)
82.69% Winstanley (43 hits from 52 attacks) NOW 80.72 (67 hits from 83 attacks)

Some odd facts-

Most Action Points used: 7 Dirty; Least: 1 Phrenic.
NOW 9 Dirty & Winstanley; Least: Still Phrenic with 3.

PC KO'd most: Dirty, McGyver, Phrenic & Winstanley (2 each); Least: Kaspard (0)
NOW Well, exactly the same.

PC with most Crits: Dirty 4; Least: Grey, Kaspard & Phrenic 0
NOW Dirty 6; Least; Grey still without a '20'.

Most Healing Surges used: 12 Dirty; Least: 2 Kaspard
NOW Dirty 23; Least: 2 Kaspard (still).

Most Daily Powers used: 4 Dirty & Winstanley; Least: 1 Phrenic
NOW 8 Dirty & Winstanley; Least: 2 Grey & Kaspard.

Overall Party Connection Rate 62.08% (185 hits from 298 attacks)
NOW 65.58% (322 hits from 491 attacks)

Bad Guys: 55.29% (94 hits from 170 attacks)
NOW 52.82% (159 hits from 301 attacks)

Damage/turn inflicted by PCs: 33.48 HP NOW 35.55
Bad Guys: 12.46 HP NOW 12.34

Most Productive Turns for PCs-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Surprise Round 30.8 HP damage on average
Turn #4 33.57 HP damage on average
Turn #3 36 HP damage on average
Turn #2 48.5 HP damage on average
Turn #1 59 HP damage on average

And after 14 Encounters-

Most Productive Turns for PCs-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #5 28.44 HP damage on average
Turn #4 35.82 HP damage on average
Turn #3 42.36 HP damage on average
Turn #1 54.5 HP damage on average
Turn #2 61.14 HP damage on average

And...

Most Productive Turns for Bad Guys-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #4 7.71 HP damage on average
Turn #5 9.6 HP damage on average
Turn #3 11.88 HP damage on average
Turn #2 14.38 HP damage on average
Turn #1 19.25 HP damage on average

And after 14 Encounters-

Most Productive Turns for Bad Guys-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #5 9.22 HP damage on average
Turn #3 11.79 HP damage on average
Turn #2 16.29 HP damage on average
Turn #6 17 HP damage on average
Turn #1 18 HP damage on average

Also...

Longest Turns to play, in minutes (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Surprise Round 6.6
Turn #4 6.86
Turn #3 8.25
Turn #2 8.88
Turn #1 10.63

And after 14 Encounters-

Longest Turns to play, in minutes (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Surprise Round 6.27
Turn #4 7
Turn #3 7.57
Turn #2 9.71
Turn #1 10.43

Fairly obvious this one, particularly with so many fights only last 5 or so turns, opponents are few on the ground towards the later end of combat.

Most XP earned/turn, in XP (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Surprise Round 70
Turn #1 92.88
Turn #2 116.38
Turn #3 140.63
Turn #4 160.71

And after 14 Encounters-

Most XP earned/turn, in XP (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #1 76.21
Turn #5 94.44
Turn #3 103.57
Turn #2 107.57
Turn #4 113.64

And some more details about the Encounters (combined)-

Level (+0) 4 Encounters played-
Average 5.5 Turns to play and 40.75 minutes

Level (+1) 8 Encounters played-
Average 5.63 Turns to play and 42.25 minutes

Level (+5) 1 Encounter played-
Average 13 Turns to play and 90 minutes

Level (+6) 1 Encounters played-
Average 11 Turns to play and 102 minutes

Note the last two represent nothing much at this point, except for the fact that it takes a lot longer to play higher level encounters. As the PCs increase in level I will continue to monitor these.

Lastly the PCs pathway through the encounters, by this I mean a look at the Level of the encounters and the extended rests (X) taken, also included is the lone Skill Challenge (SC).

Level +0 – X – Level +1 – Level +0 – Level +5 – X – Level +1 – X – Leve1 +1 – Level +1 – Level +6 – X (LEVEL 2) – Level +1 – X – Level +0 – Level +0 – Level +1 – X – Level +1 – Level +1 – SC -

Still only three encounters in a row, it seems the PCs seemingly come up against a tough monster in their third encounter, in the third sequence this was the Blue Slime which really took them by surprise and was only overcome via a barrage of Daily Powers and Action Points. Perhaps the last as yet ongoing sequence represents their best chance to string a few more encounters together.

Session 4.

H1 Keep on the Shadowfell
Encounter #16 Area 6: Hidden Armoury

And so session four begins with PCs heading back into the maze of corridors with the nasty looking glyphs, previously home to the too soon killed Zombies. The glyphs are investigated, which doesn't go to plan and results in all of the PC save Grey running back the way they came to the skeleton chamber.

Finally the PCs come up with an acceptable plan and use the dead bodies of the Zombies as bridges to cross the glyphs, otherwise we'd have to slow right down as they attempt to neutralise all of them.

Searching through the maze of corridors Winstanley finds a secret door, with a little help from Dirty.

The PCs investigate and discover a short corridor- odd, several Perception checks later and they're convinced there's something strange about the far wall, Winstanly swears he can kind of see through it.

The PCs approach cautiously, and are only a little surprised when a wall of flailing undead hands and arms thrash out at them, some of the PCs are ready to attack back.



Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP29)

Bad Guys 500XP Level 1 Encounter.
Zombie Level 2 Brute [Z] (x4) (HP40)

Initiative 25 Grey 24 Winstanley 19 Zombies 18 Dirty 16 Kaspard 10 Phrenic

Surprise round.

Winstanley- First Strike Combat Advantage Sly Flourish Z2; Hit 15 damage (25 HP).

Z1- Slam Surprise Phrenic; Hit 10 damage (19 HP).

Z2- Slam Surprise Phrenic; Hit 10 damage (9 HP bloodied).

Z3- Slam Dirty; Hit 9 damage (28 HP).

Z4- Slam Dirty; Hit 10 damage (18 HP Bloodied).

Dirty- Cleave Z3; Hit 12 damage (28 HP) & Z4; 3 damage (37 HP).

Kaspard- Sacred Flame Z3; Hit 7 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) = 12 damage (16 HP bloodied) & 4 Temp HP Phrenic.


Time to play 7 minutes including set up of map and minis.

End of Round-

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 2 (HP18/37)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 2 (HP31)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 2 (HP30)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 2 (HP27)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 2 (HP9/29)

Bad Guys 500XP Level 1 Encounter.
Zombie Level 2 Brute [Z] (x4) (HP40/40 & 25/40 & 16/40 & 37/40)

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 0

Comment: Let's hope this doesn't take long, the one surprising moment of cool play, arms flailing through the illusionary wall has happened, the bad guys- more Zombies are in no way capable of standing up to the Level 2 PCs.