AoW.TFoE: I think my PCs are screwed (spoilers)

[Warren Okuma]

He will kill them. Let it happen. If by some crazy happenstance they live then all the better, but if not then someone will have to go investigate what happened. The PCs should have people in town that would at least look for them or think something was up. So you have a new party go in and see what happened. Maybe even pick a few of the NPCs in town to go. They find the Aspect and kill it and then fine the PCs journals and contuse the story…

You are going to kill lots of PCs during the AoW if you run it hardcore. Accept it and try to make it a fun part of the adventure path : )

I agree. Kill them and add the PC's equipment as treasure. Adventure paths can be deadly they are going to need this extra boost.

 

[Mercule]

The Ebon Aspect was a pushover in my campaign. I think he died in three rounds or something based on some lucky rolls and, I think, two critical hits. It was brutal.

Heh. Our barbarian kept rolling "19" on the die with her greataxe. She just couldn't. Quite. Crit.

I also use a "Hero Point" system based on the one Monte Cook used in our Ptolus campaign. Players essentially get a "get out of jail free" card for contributing meaningfully to the campaign or just flat out being brave. That can sometimes prevent utter disaster, and I really think it makes the game a lot more fluid and interesting.

I think the action points helped to save the party's bacon, too. That's what let the barbarian draw on her rage one more time. It also let the warmage land one of her last four spells.

 

[borc killer]

Well, they actually survived. No deaths, even. No one even dropped.

They pulled together and really used good tactics...

WOOT! They have moved from Adventurers to Heroes

 

[Schmoe]

Awesome! I'm sure the players have a very well-earned sense of pride and accomplishment after that. Kudos to you and your group.

 

[Bagpuss]

The PCs don't have a magic weapon and the warmage is tapped out.

How did they get to 5th level without a magic weapon between them? Even if they don't find one of their liking it could be sold to get one they need. Your front line fighter types should have a magic weapon by 3rd. Now admittedly my Cleric/Fighter in AoW doesn't have a magic weapon, but then he's casting Greater Magic Weapon every morning now days.

Plus, the module says the first thing the Aspect does is smash the elevator. With a forced fight, I don't see how the PCs can survive.

Can't they run back into the caves on either side from what I recall they need to clear those out first, plus they are narrow so restrict that creature from entering (at least without squeezing)?

On the other hand, part of the reason I wanted to "play as they lay" is because I feel that my group tends to be a bit weak on tactics

Heck if they haven't bought a magic weapon by 5th level they are weak on common sense, let alone tactics, haven't they seen the number of critters with DR already in this Adventure Path?

Any advice? I've got four hours.

Don't they have an opportunity to rest? After all they need to clear out the other areas (thus make them safe) before this thing appears and their are clues in the adventure that it is comming.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Heck if they haven't bought a magic weapon by 5th level they are weak on common sense, let alone tactics, haven't they seen the number of critters with DR already in this Adventure Path?

I remember in a previous thread I started about how easy it was to destroy weapons with sundering, rust monsters, etc people were saying any fighter that spent half his money on a magic weapon was an idiot.

Now they are idiots if they don't.

 

[Bagpuss]

What else should a fighter be spending his money on? Besides it isn't that easy to sunder and rust monsters aren't that common either.

 

[Jarrod]

http://www.zathras.net/game/index.php/2006-01-08

Short version: instead of it smashing the elevator, the PCs fled up the mine shaft. The dwarf in the party was able to (profession: miner) collapse the mine behind them, giving them a few hours to prepare. They tried to get the local guard to help, but the guard figured that the PCs were drunk hooligans and instead tried to detain them. Some fast talking got the guard to say "Well, maybe... why don't you stay and keep an eye on things, eh?"

Come dawn, the Aspect emerged from the wreckage, and there was a mighty fight.

That'd be my suggestion: let them run away after seeing the Aspect (and possibly getting smacked around some), fail to get help from anyone else (who doesn't believe _squat_), then rest and attack it. You also can have some mook guards get squished if the party needs breathing room.

 

[Warren Okuma]

I remember in a previous thread I started about how easy it was to destroy weapons with sundering, rust monsters, etc people were saying any fighter that spent half his money on a magic weapon was an idiot.

Now they are idiots if they don't.

No, since fighters are nerfed, it is idiotic to be a fighter.