Breakstone
First Post
Sounds good, Rel!
Help me finalize this one-shot game (MY PLAYERS STAY OUT)
- Thread starter Rel
- Start date
Kilmore
First Post
Have more encounters than you think you need. If the clock gets close to the deadline and your party has done good gaming, but there's encounters you haven't used yet, save them for later. But if the characters sail through them or avoid them altogether, and the deadline is still a long way off, pad it a bit to bring them closer to the deadline. Don't let them know how many encounters they're supposed to face.
But of course, you've already thought of that.
But of course, you've already thought of that.
One-shot game
While I'm not familiar with 3E, (I've also been Dungeon Mastering for about 20 years) I do have one comment.
The pirates at the end could be a good encounter but if they are well organized, they could cream the players. If they get one guy and he can scream for help, what are the other pirates going to do. While they may not run to their friends help, they are likely to be wary of any problems.
I do believe there are a lot of monsters for a party with so low ACs. Either that or your relying too much on your spell-casters. I haven't counted the amount of spells available to them but here a choice of spell different from what you were envisionning could land your player characters in hot water (pun intended).
The mimic is nasty. I like it. If a 10 feet section of the bridge is the mimic, what happens when the mimic dies. Does it fall off leaving a 10-foot gap in the bridge (oops)? As for treasure, the mimic could have posted bait on either side of the bridge to entice characters in crossing it. If he's smart enough to bull-rush them, he's smart enough to bait them.
While I'm not familiar with 3E, (I've also been Dungeon Mastering for about 20 years) I do have one comment.
The pirates at the end could be a good encounter but if they are well organized, they could cream the players. If they get one guy and he can scream for help, what are the other pirates going to do. While they may not run to their friends help, they are likely to be wary of any problems.
I do believe there are a lot of monsters for a party with so low ACs. Either that or your relying too much on your spell-casters. I haven't counted the amount of spells available to them but here a choice of spell different from what you were envisionning could land your player characters in hot water (pun intended).
The mimic is nasty. I like it. If a 10 feet section of the bridge is the mimic, what happens when the mimic dies. Does it fall off leaving a 10-foot gap in the bridge (oops)? As for treasure, the mimic could have posted bait on either side of the bridge to entice characters in crossing it. If he's smart enough to bull-rush them, he's smart enough to bait them.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
Thanks for the additional replies. I just needed a bit more reassurance that I wasn't missing any major pitfalls in my plan.
I'm going to adjust things as follows:
The Kobolds will have a few javelins to throw. This will give them a bit of extra oomph and also provide the party with some extra missile weapons to take on the Mimic.
To respond to a point brought up by Meleck, if the Mimic is killed and falls into the chasm, the party should have no problem getting across the bridge. The rogue could jump that 10 feet in his sleep and if necessary, the Sorcerer can just cast Spider Climb. As a bonus, they aren't encumbered by armor! One last note about the Mimic: I stole this idea from somebody here at the boards but I can't recall who. But thanks to whoever it was.
If they are really beat down by the time they get to the Myconids, I might have them toss in a few extra healing potions for the party so that the cleric can feel a bit more latitude to do some buffing or use spells to repair the weapons and armor they have scavenged along the way. Also note that while not exactly a stellar combatant, Quick Spore (the Myconid worker who the party will be escorting off the island) can make two +3 slam attacks for 1d6+1 so he can at least contribute a bit to the battles after he joins the group. I'm also having the king Myconid give him a couple of potions (Bulls Strength, Cure Moderate Wounds and Resist Elements) that will make him a more valuable member of the party.
After thinking about the Magmin/Ash Rat thing a bit, there is no reason that they shouldn't do just fine at that encounter. If they protect themselves from the heat (via the Sorcerers spells, the Clerics spells or the potions from the Myconids) this encounter might just be a bit of a pushover. If they don't protect themselves, they are just being dumb (the'll have the potions and the Sorcerer can cast Endure Elements any time he wants) and deserve whatever they get.
I'm going to monitor the clock as we go and if they haven't made it to the Grimlocks by 10:00, I think I'll drop that encounter out. I'll still keep the steam filled room and let them worry a bit, but no nasties will attack them. That will give me plenty of time for the climactic battle with the Pirates.
One looming question will be how they get to the sea cave to try to board the boat. The can enter through the minehead and work their way through the caves encountering some Hobgoblins and the two Ogres who were their principal jailers (which will probably be some fun revenge). Alternatively, if they are feeling sneaky, they could enter through the sea cave itself using Spider Climb (which the Sorcerer has) or maybe Water Walking by the Cleric. That way will be easier but it will use up some of their spells (then again, so will fighting their way through the caves).
Once there, I've put the Pirates (6 of them) in three distinct areas of the caves so it will take a bit for them to come to each other's aid. They are all level 4 characters and decently equipped (although not nearly as well as a PC would be) so this will be a tough battle. But the party doesn't have to kill them all, just hold them off long enough to steal a boat and paddle away.
Hopefully the timing will work out so that lava comes pouring into the sea cave just as they flee out onto the open sea.
Thanks for the help on this. If there are any other suggestions, feel free to post them. I'll check in the morning before I make my final preperations for the session.
I'm going to adjust things as follows:
The Kobolds will have a few javelins to throw. This will give them a bit of extra oomph and also provide the party with some extra missile weapons to take on the Mimic.
To respond to a point brought up by Meleck, if the Mimic is killed and falls into the chasm, the party should have no problem getting across the bridge. The rogue could jump that 10 feet in his sleep and if necessary, the Sorcerer can just cast Spider Climb. As a bonus, they aren't encumbered by armor!
One last note about the Mimic: I stole this idea from somebody here at the boards but I can't recall who. But thanks to whoever it was.If they are really beat down by the time they get to the Myconids, I might have them toss in a few extra healing potions for the party so that the cleric can feel a bit more latitude to do some buffing or use spells to repair the weapons and armor they have scavenged along the way. Also note that while not exactly a stellar combatant, Quick Spore (the Myconid worker who the party will be escorting off the island) can make two +3 slam attacks for 1d6+1 so he can at least contribute a bit to the battles after he joins the group. I'm also having the king Myconid give him a couple of potions (Bulls Strength, Cure Moderate Wounds and Resist Elements) that will make him a more valuable member of the party.
After thinking about the Magmin/Ash Rat thing a bit, there is no reason that they shouldn't do just fine at that encounter. If they protect themselves from the heat (via the Sorcerers spells, the Clerics spells or the potions from the Myconids) this encounter might just be a bit of a pushover. If they don't protect themselves, they are just being dumb (the'll have the potions and the Sorcerer can cast Endure Elements any time he wants) and deserve whatever they get.
I'm going to monitor the clock as we go and if they haven't made it to the Grimlocks by 10:00, I think I'll drop that encounter out. I'll still keep the steam filled room and let them worry a bit, but no nasties will attack them. That will give me plenty of time for the climactic battle with the Pirates.
One looming question will be how they get to the sea cave to try to board the boat. The can enter through the minehead and work their way through the caves encountering some Hobgoblins and the two Ogres who were their principal jailers (which will probably be some fun revenge). Alternatively, if they are feeling sneaky, they could enter through the sea cave itself using Spider Climb (which the Sorcerer has) or maybe Water Walking by the Cleric. That way will be easier but it will use up some of their spells (then again, so will fighting their way through the caves).
Once there, I've put the Pirates (6 of them) in three distinct areas of the caves so it will take a bit for them to come to each other's aid. They are all level 4 characters and decently equipped (although not nearly as well as a PC would be) so this will be a tough battle. But the party doesn't have to kill them all, just hold them off long enough to steal a boat and paddle away.
Hopefully the timing will work out so that lava comes pouring into the sea cave just as they flee out onto the open sea.
Thanks for the help on this. If there are any other suggestions, feel free to post them. I'll check in the morning before I make my final preperations for the session.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
If anybody wants to see how it came out, here's a link to the Story Hour I wrote about it:
Return to the Dungeons of the Slave Lords - One Shot Adventure Guest Starring Old One
Return to the Dungeons of the Slave Lords - One Shot Adventure Guest Starring Old One
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