[4e] First Campaign, Looking for Insight

[NeuroZombie]

Hello All!

I am just getting prepped to run my first 4e campaign and I was just looking for a little insight on setting things up, adjusting for party size (7 Players) and any pitfalls that anyone else has discovered in running 4e.

I myself have been playing/GM'ing D&D for nearly 25 years and I was the founder of Community: 3E right when 3e first hit the market, so I am very familiar with 3e and DnD in general, just not overly so (yet) with 4e.

Of the 7 Players, 1 is 8 yrs old, 1 is 13, 1 is 15 and the rest are adults and have at least some RPG experience. 2 Players have played in multiple 3e campaigns and the other 2 only about 3-4 sessions total.

I intend on starting with Kobold Hall from the back of the DMG as a kind of warm up for all of us to get into the swing of things. I am thinking of running it as-is, even tho it is balance for 5 players. Does anyone see anything that may cause trouble in doing this?

After Kobold Hall, I am going to run Keep on the Shadowfell (and after, probably the follow-up adventures.) I have read of a few TPK's with Shadowfell, so I am debating on whether adjusting the encounters is a good idea. If I had a full group of experiences players, I wouldn't hesitate, but with 3 young players that have only played CRPGs (or board games, such as Zombies!!!) I am hesitant to do so.

Any tips you all could give me on proper balance would be appreictaed!

 

[chronoplasm]

Have you guys created your characters yet? If so, what is your party makeup and what classes are the youngsters playing?

I've played with eight-year olds before. The ones I played with had better luck against minions (simple tactics, KO in one hit, only one or two powers, easy for a kid to grasp).
Maybe try substituting 1 Kobold Skirmisher from each encounter with 4 Kobold Minions (or perhaps 4 Decrepit Skeletons. They can pop out of the coffins in The Tomb.) The XP from the encounter will still be the same. Keep the big boss fight as it is. Definately keep the True Threat as it is.

Also, you are going to want to increase the amount of treasure.
Leave some chests in plain sight for the kids to find and throw some hidden stuff in there.
Better yet, you might consider putting some useful items inside the coffins in The Tomb. Perhaps some nice level 1 items? Maybe the Skull-Skull area has some kind of Skull-Skull championship trophy the players can snag? Maybe theres some kind of useful item that sank to the bottom of the Sludge Pit? Whoever falls in the sludge pit gets to make a perception check to notice and retrieve it?

 

[NeuroZombie]

The 7 year old is a Halfling Fighter, the 13 yr old is an Eladrin Wizard, the 15 yr old is a Tiefling Warlock. The rest of the party consists of a Dragonborn Warlord, Human Rogue, Elven Ranger and Dwarven Cleric.

I Love the trophy Idea (would be fun for the kids) as well as something in the sludge pit.

I did plan on increasing treasure as per the scaling rules for certain (adding one +1 and one +2 item) and maybe an extra healing potion or two just in case they get over their heads or have a fail at tactics, LOL!

I do have some experience at running for a kid before. I started my stepson (now 18, the Human Rogue) when he was 8 with an adventure or two from the Rules Cyclopedia and then on to 3rd edition. I bought him the Basic Set for 3e and he ran it a few times for my wife and I and had a blast. He kinda lost interest in running games after that tho, a shame because he coulda been a great DM with practice. He was already better organized than I am! LOL

 

[chronoplasm]

Extra potions? Certainly.
Heres an idea:
Perhaps you could add a row of bleachers to the Skull-Skull area protected by iron bars. The bleachers area can be accessed from a door positioned behind one of the platforms.
The point of this is that it gives you a good place to hide a healing potion (under the bleachers) and position some kobold minions (as spectators at first.)

*edit*

Yeah, with a wizard in the party and the large party size, you certainly should throw some extra minions in there.

 

[NeuroZombie]

Minions it is!