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

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #2

Grey- Move. Ray of Frost DG2; Hit 8 Cold damage (33 HP) & Slowed.

Winstanley- Move- Across room to far door. Perception Check- can hear nothing behind the door. Sly Flourish DG2; Hit 12 damage (21 HP bloodied).

Dirty- Ongoing 2 Poison damage (54 HP) & -2 To Hit. Reaping Strike DG2; Hit 15 damage (6 HP bloodied). Marked. Save vs Ongoing Poison damage & -2 To Hit- Success.

Kaspard- Lance of Faith DG2; Hit 10 Radiant damage- DEAD. Move to door. Perception Check- '3' No one coming- Phew, that was close.

DS1- Opens door- standing in front of him are Kaspard & Winstanley. Crossbow Combat Advantage Kaspard; Miss. Kaspard AoO Mace DS1; Miss. Winstanley AoO Dagger DS1; Hit 6 damage (42 HP). Back to DS1- Invisibility. Moves- Run screaming into Great Hall- alerting Rundarr and the Duergar Guard that the PCs have come to play.

DS2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Move- after DS1 and into the Great Hall and straight into (Invisible) DS1. Insight Check- 19 Success, Phrenic knows what's going on- he can't get fooled twice. Longsword DS1; Crit 12 damage +5 Necrotic damage =17 damage (25 HP).

Rundarr- Screams and shouts. Move. Beard Quills Phrenic; Miss.

DG1- Move. Infernal Anger. Warhammer Phrenic; Hit 5 damage +4 Fire damage -4 (Resist) = 5 damage (38 HP).

DG2- DEAD.

Time to play 14 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP54/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP38/49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP60/60) 1 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP25/48) 1 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP180)

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

Comment: And that's two Duergar dead, although the trap is sprung...

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #3

Grey- Move- spot Rundarr. Ray of Frost Rundarr; Miss. Action Point with Action Surge and Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Daily Grasp of the Grave DG1; Hit 20 Necrotic damage (40 HP) & Rundarr; Crit 22 Necrotic damage (158 HP) & both Dazed.

Winstanley- Move. Sly Flourish Combat Advantage Rundarr; Miss.

Dirty- Double Move into Great Hall.

Kaspard- Move- can't get in Great Hall (PCs blocking- not enough Move). Ready Action.

DS1- Invisible. Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (20 HP bloodied). Move out of Zone. Crossbow Combat Advantage Dirty; Miss. Invisibility ends.

DS2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Move. Steel Monsoon Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 8 damage (150 HP). Readied Action Kaspard Charge Combat Advantage Rundarr; Miss.

Rundarr- Dazed. Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (145 HP). Double Attack (Warhammer x2) Kaspard; Hit 11 damage (35 HP) & Phrenic; Hit 10 damage (28 HP).

DG1- Dazed. Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (35 HP). Warhammer Phrenic; Miss.

DG2- DEAD.

Time to play 15 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP54/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP35/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP28/49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP35/60) 1 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP20/48) 1 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP145/180)

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

Comment: The war of attrition begins.

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #4

Grey- Move into Great Hall. Ray of Frost Rundarr; Miss.

Winstanley- Move. Sly Flourish DG1; Hit 10 damage (25 HP bloodied).

Dirty- Move. Crushing Blow Rundarr; Hit 21 damage (124 HP). Marked.

Kaspard- Move. Divine Glow DG1; Miss & Rundarr; Miss & all PCs +2 To Hit. Healing Word +9 HP Phrenic (Full).

DS1- Beard Quills Phrenic; Miss. Crossbow Phrenic; Miss. Move back.

DS2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Viper's Strike Rundarr; Hit 13 damage (111 HP).

Rundarr- Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (106 HP). Double Attack (Warhammer x2) Dirty; Miss & Miss.

DG1- Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (20 HP bloodied). Warhammer Phrenic; Miss. Move- out of zone. Winstanley AoO Dagger DG1; Miss. Phrenic AoO Longsword DG1; Crit 12 damage +4 Necrotic damage =16 damage (4 HP bloodied). Beard Quills Winstanley; Miss.

Bloody hell I couldn't hit a barn door from two feet away. It's not like I'm rolling low- I'm constantly missing by 1 or 2.

DG2- DEAD.

Time to play 15 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP54/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP35/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP4/60) 1 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP20/48) 1 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP106/180)

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 1 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 1 Total 3
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: The Duergar are flailing, it's not like the PCs are unhitable, their defences are not too high.

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #5

Grey- Ray of Frost Rundarr; Hit 12 Cold damage (94 HP) & Slowed.

Winstanley- Tumble. Sly Flourish Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 23 damage (71 HP bloodied) Immediate Reaction Rundarr Expands- becomes a large creature pushing PCs back.

Dirty- Reaping Strike Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 12 damage (59 HP bloodied). Marked.

Kaspard- Hand of Radiance DG1; Hit 9 Radiant damage- DEAD & Rundarr; Hit 9 Radiant damage (50 HP bloodied) & DS1; Crit 17 Radiant damage (3 HP bloodied). Move.

DS1- Move back to double door way out of Great Hall. Crossbow Phrenic; Miss.

DS2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Viper's Strike Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 10 damage (40 HP bloodied).

Rundarr- Slowed. Grasp of the Grave Zone 5 Necrotic damage (35 HP bloodied). Double Attack (Warhammer x2) Dirty; Hit & Miss 16 damage (38 HP). Action Point. Double Attack (Warhammer x2) Dirty; Miss & Crit – Armour of Bahamut - reduced to 10 damage (28 HP bloodied).

DG1- DEAD.

DG2- DEAD.

Time to play 14 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP28/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP35/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP60) 2 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP3/48) 1 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP35/180)

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 1 Total 4
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: And yet another crit from the PCs, that's four in five rounds of combat.

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #6

Grey- Ray of Frost Rundarr; Miss.

Winstanley- Sly Flourish Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 17 damage (18 HP bloodied).

Dirty- Reaping Strike Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 17 damage (1 HP bloodied). 2nd Wind +1 HP (44 HP).

Kaspard- Sacred Flame Rundarr; Miss.

DS1- Crossbow Phrenic; Miss. Try to open Great Hall doors- they're locked.

The PCs locked them and stacked a bunch of stuff behind them to prevent them opening earlier- remember.

DS2- DEAD.

Phrenic- Viper's Strike Combat Advantage Rundarr; Hit 7 damage- DEAD.

Rundarr- DEAD.

DG1- DEAD.

DG2- DEAD.

Time to play 10 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP44/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP35/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP60) 2 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP3/48) 1 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP180) DEAD

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 1
2nd Winds 1 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 4
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: The fat lady is just about to warble for the Duergar.

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #15 The Great Hall
Note this is Encounter #39 for this group of PCs

Round #7

Grey- Magic Missile DS1; Hit 14 Force damage- DEAD.

Time to play 1 minute.
Total time to play 1 hour and 26 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP44/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP35/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1200 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Duergar Guard Level 4 Soldier [DG] (x2) (HP60) 2 DEAD
Duergar Scout Level 4 Lurker [DS] (x2) (HP48) 2 DEAD
Duergar Champion- Rundarr Level 6 Elite Brute [Rundarr] (HP180) DEAD

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 4
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: And yet again the PCs tactical advantage pays off, the players are loving it- they're doing just enough thinking ahead of the fights to get themselves positioned to take advantage of their surroundings, and their tactics have been pretty much spot on. This from a bunch of guys who have only just got started in the game.

The Duergar have plenty of coin, but more importantly the PCs find a key and a set of Dwarven Greaves, which are given to Phrenic, I seem to remember.

The PCs take a break, eat and drink- there's plenty of palatable fare in the kitchen and the now freed slaves are happy to oblige, from memory the PCs cook up a batch of burgers, I can't remember whose idea that was.

They learn that there are two bridges over to the main area of the stronghold, but that one bridge is never used- 'there's something bad that way', one of the slaves offers; conclusion- 'that's the way we'll go', states Phrenic. The main area of the fortress holds the Duergar commander, and more importantly- the rest of the slaves they have been sent to rescue.

The PCs still think that this is the final section of the dungeon, they're getting excited.

Winstanley is sent across the less travelled bridge, creeping silently and quietly the Halfling makes it to the door on the far side. It's locked, not for long- the Halfling gets in and sneaks through an abandoned room, seemingly not visited for some time. Another door out, and through and onto a set of battlements overlooking the abyss- also empty. Then yet another door, Winstanley can't hear anything beyond. The Halfling creeps back out and across to the PCs.

There follows yet another Skill Challenge, as the PCs head across to the empty chambers Winstanley scouted out, we needn't have bothered the lowest unadjusted Stealth check is an '18' from Kaspard, even Dirty has no problems with an adjusted '23'.

They're over and into...

Stats: Another rout, this time due mostly to superior tactics employed, that said the PCs still had to do the business, their connection rate 63.04, that's 29 hits from 46 attacks. The bad guys a lowly 28.57%, only 6 hits from 21 attacks.

On read-back I'm beginning to see how much of a one-sided affair this was, I take steps later on to address the issue but this is played out with me having no knowledge of the MM3 monster damage changes. Also, at the time, we were having a blast- admittedly my guys were taking a beating but the actual in-game play was great with the players screaming with delight. It was also the case that the players seemed to be as emotional when some of the encounters turned against them, or else they were with monsters they had built up an irrational fear of.

These guys trample on Duergar Champions and then go all wobbly when they get attacked by a pack of Fire Bats, or else go Action Point and Daily crazy when a Gelatinous Cube rolls up. This is part of the pleasure of DM-ing players with no previous RPG experience. What I'm trying to excuse myself of is giving the players a too-easy ride, we were having far too much fun to notice, that's the truth of it... Now back to the stats.

Individual connection rates-

45.45% Kaspard
60% Grey & Winstanley
71.43% Dirty
87.5% Phrenic

And Grey with a chunk of damage done- 116 HP, Crits on his Daily Grasp of the Grave, certainly helped that stat along, and 4 crits in total from the PCs, the dice were hot for them.

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #16 The Ruined Chapel
Note this is Encounter #40 for this group of PCs

And so having snuck across to the abandoned chamber the PCs decide to see how far this route extends, and where to. Winstanley leads them through another locked door in to a ruined and rubble-filled chapel.



The PCs state they're making spot checks, and throwing a light spell in to the chamber to help out, several members of the group roll very high- damn them, three ragged-ass and wild haired humanoids are easily spotted (Wights, as it later turns out).

You know what happens next.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1000 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Wight Level 5 Skirmisher [W] (x5) (HP62)

Initiative 27 Wights 25 Phrenic 22 Grey 20 Winstanley 17 Dirty 5 Kaspard

The Wights get the drop on the PCs and try to block their entrance, and of course kill and eat them.

Round #1

W1- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley; Hit 5 Necrotic damage (41 HP) and -1 Healing Surge (7 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

W2- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley; Hit 7 Necrotic damage (34 HP) and -1 Healing Surge (6 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

W3- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley; Hit 5 Necrotic damage (29 HP) and -1 Healing Surge (5 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

We watch Paul's smile slowly disappear, he plays Winstanley.

W4- Move- Scamper in. Claw Dirty; Hit 6 Necrotic damage -5 (Resist) = 1 damage (58 HP) and -1 Healing Surge (8 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

W5- Move- Scamper in. Claw Dirty; Hit 5 Necrotic damage -5 (Resist) = 0 damage and -1 Healing Surge (7 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

Phrenic- Move. Leaf on the Wind W1; Miss. Action Point. Daily Directed Attack W1; Miss & Dirty Charge W1; Hit 18 damage (44 HP)& Marked.

Grey- Scorching Burst W4; Hit 12 Fire damage (50 HP) & W5; Hit 12 Fire damage (50 HP). Move into chamber. Action Point with Action Surge & Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Burning Hands W1; Hit 12 Fire damage (32 HP) & W2; Hit 16 Fire damage (46 HP) & W3; Miss.

Winstanley- Move. Bait & Switch W3; Miss.

The Halfling has suddenly gone in to his shell.

Dirty- Daily Brute Strike W1; Hit 29 damage (3 HP bloodied) & Marked. Action Point with Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Reaping Strike W1; Hit 19 damage- DEAD.

Kaspard- Move. Divine Glow W2; Hit 6 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) =11 damage (35 HP) & W3; Miss. Action Point with Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Hand of Radiance W2; Miss & W3; Hit 8 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) =13 damage (49 HP) & W4; Hit 12 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) =17 damage (33 HP). Healing Word +6 HP Winstanley (Full).

Time to play 24 minutes including set up.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP58/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP46/46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1000 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Wight Level 5 Skirmisher [W] (x5) (HP35/62 49/62 33/62 50/62) 1 DEAD

Action Points 4 Total 4
Daily Powers 2 Total 2
Healing Surges 1 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: And Wights have just made it on to the PCs list of things they really don't like, they've only taken a smidgin of damage but have lost 5 Healing Surges in the opening round, if this carries on...

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #16 The Ruined Chapel
Note this is Encounter #40 for this group of PCs

Round #2

W1- DEAD.

W2- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley: Hit 5 Necrotic damage (41) and -1 Healing Surge (3 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

W3- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley: Hit 8 Necrotic damage (33) and -1 Healing Surge (2 left) & Shift away 3 squares.

W4- Move- Scamper in. Claw Grey; Miss.

W5- Move- Scamper in. Claw Winstanley; Miss.

Paul (Winstanley) is almost in tears, the other players are not helping the situation, particularly Dave (Dirty).

Phrenic- Steel Monsoon W4; Hit 13 damage (20 HP bloodied) & all PCs Shift 1 square.

Grey- Move into the middle of the Wights. Fire Shroud W2; Hit 13 Fire damage (22 HP bloodied) & W3; Miss & W4; Hit 13 Fire damage (7 HP bloodied) & W5; Hit 13 Fire damage (37 HP) and all Hit Ongoing 5 Fire damage.

Winstanley- Tumble. Sly Flourish Combat Advantage W4; Hit 17 damage- DEAD.

Paul states that after this fight he is insisting they rest, we break for a short argument/discussion- Paul gets his way, now watch them spend their Daily Powers.

Dirty- Daily Cometfall Charge W2; Hit 36 damage- DEAD.

Kaspard- Daunting Light W5; Miss & Combat Advantage to Winstanley. Move in. Action Point with Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Turn Undead W3; Hit 10 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) =15 damage (34 HP) and Pushed into corner & Immobilised & W5; Miss 5 Radiant damage +5 (Vulnerable) =10 damage (27 HP) & Medic's Mace Winstanley Heals 4 HP (37 HP).

Time to play 19 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP58/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP37/46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1000 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Wight Level 5 Skirmisher [W] (x5) (HP34/62 27/62) 3 DEAD

Action Points 1 Total 5
Daily Powers 1 Total 3
Healing Surges 0 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: That's the Wights done then, can't be much more to this one...

 

[Goonalan]

H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth
Encounter #16 The Ruined Chapel
Note this is Encounter #40 for this group of PCs

Round #3

W1- DEAD.

W2- DEAD.

W3- Immobilised. Ready Action.

W4- DEAD.

W5- Ongoing 5 Fire damage (22 HP bloodied). Claw Kaspard; Hit 5 Necrotic damage (41 HP) and -1 Healing Surge (6 left) & Shift 3 squares. Save vs Ongoing Fire damage- Success.

Phrenic- Scorching Burst W3; Miss & W5; Hit 6 Fire damage (16 HP bloodied). Action Point. Move. Daily Lead the Attack W5; Hit 23 damage- DEAD.

Grey- Magic Missile W3; Hit 14 Force damage (20 HP bloodied). Action Point with Phrenic's Tactical Presence. Magic Missile W3; Hit 14 Force damage (6 HP bloodied).

Winstanley- Move in. Readied Action W5 Claw Winstanley; Miss. Sly Flourish Combat Advantage W3; Hit 21 damage- DEAD.

It had to be Winstanley to deliver the killing blow.

Time to play 12 minutes.
Total time to play 55 minutes.

Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 5 (HP58/61)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 5 (HP41/46)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 5 (HP37/46)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 5 (HP40)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 5 (HP49)

Bad Guys 1000 XP Level 5 Encounter.
Wight Level 5 Skirmisher [W] (x5) (HP62) 5 DEAD

Action Points 2 Total 7
Daily Powers 1 Total 4
Healing Surges 0 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0

Comment: And so an Extended Rest, after the chamber is fully searched- there's nothing to find, which funnily enough coincides with PCs having enough XP now for level 6.

Odd that.

And then the PCs start second guessing themselves, they're worried about the trail of destruction they've left behind?

Forget the Extended Rest for now...

So, the PCs get back up and retreat back over the bridge, which leads to yet another Skill Challenge, which doesn't go as well as the first but is 'just' a success. The PCs backtrack clear up as much of the mess as is possible, rescue the two slaves, and then do their best to make it look like the attackers came and left and were... Thain Cardanas.

They do this by stealing one of the anvils from the forge (throwing in to the abyss), and then leave a note to say that Thain Cardanas has been and gone, and stolen an anvil- that should about do it.

We played this out for fun, the story just got funnier and funnier, with several PCs taking a crack at writing Thain Cardanas' letter.

I decide that it's a fun idea and run with it, however there's a price to be paid- aid comes to the Horned Hold, I reinforce the last bastion.

I take the 2 Spined Devils from Random Encounter #8 and set them to patrol the abandoned section of the fortress and the ravine.

I place a Human Berserker guard with Framath- a lobotomised ex-slave.

And another Human Berserker, similarly lobotomised, is attached to the Duergar & Arbalesters.

The last Human Berserker I place with the Ogre & Orcs.

Finally the Tiefling Heretic is placed with Murkelmor, an emissary.

The PCs obviously know nothing of this, they creep back across to the abandoned chambers- no Skill Challenge, it would be dull to do this three times, and hide up and re-lock the doors.

Stats: The bad guys may have connected more than the PCs, 72.73% to the PCs 68.75%, but the bad guys made only 11 attacks (7 hits), the PCs on the other hand made 32 attacks and hit 22 times. The PCs averaging 124 HP damage/turn, the bad guys.. er 12. [Edited to include the lost Healing Surges- thanks Sebastianelgar] The bad guys managed to do 44 HP damage/turn [extra Hit Points damage= Winstanley 5 Healings Surges at 11 HP each = 55 + Dirty 2 Healing Surges at 15 HP each = 30 + Kaspard 1 Healing Surge at 11 HP = 11 = 96 extra HP damage in total- much better].

A Level 5 Encounter taken down in 3 rounds with 7 Action Points and 4 Daily Powers spent- a mess, but again another fun mess as Paul whined about his Healing Surges being stolen from him.

Individual connection rates-

50% Kaspard & Phrenic
66.67% Winstanley
81.82% Grey
100% Dirty

Honourable mention again goes to Grey who managed to dish out 124 HP damage in just 3 rounds, while Dirty managed 102 HP.

Next time the big stats shebang for Level 5.

 

[Sebastianelgar]

I'm enjoying this thread, however, I have to disagree with your analysis of the wight fight. In terms of resources lost the healing surge losses should be included in the damage the wights did, which bumps their average damage up over 47 points, much more respectable.