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<blockquote data-quote="Philip Benz" data-source="post: 8710299" data-attributes="member: 6975782">I'm really sorry to hear you've had a bad experience. I've been running a homebrew campaign for over 2 years (and just started another one) but I have heard a few TPK horror stories about the published campaigns. I'm still convinced that a DM can &quot;finesse&quot; any published campaign, though. Certainly, a lot depends on how the players react to monsters. Here's some of my thoughts:<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">You shouldn't be using adversaries more than +1 level above the party level when they are 1st-3rd level. I wouldn't go more than party level +2 through 5th party level, and wouldn't use a +4 level adversary before, say, tenth level. That may mean some serious alterations to published APs, especially the early ones.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Players need to learn a few things, like not always charging into the middle of a fight and staying there, using teamwork to apply conditions to adversaries, and being ready to run like hell if things go south - even if that means abandoning a couple party members to a gruesome death.</li>
</ul>-DMs shouldn't always try to use the most optimal actions against their PCs. Occasionally using maneuvers instead of an attack can help, and intelligent adversaries should sometimes try to withdraw to better carry out their evil plots, rather than fight to the death.This said, I can fully understand why Retreater has pulled back and switched game systems. His players don't like their PF2 experience, and a good DM has to respect that. Good luck with your alternate choices!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Philip Benz, post: 8710299, member: 6975782"] I'm really sorry to hear you've had a bad experience. I've been running a homebrew campaign for over 2 years (and just started another one) but I have heard a few TPK horror stories about the published campaigns. I'm still convinced that a DM can "finesse" any published campaign, though. Certainly, a lot depends on how the players react to monsters. Here's some of my thoughts: [LIST] [*]You shouldn't be using adversaries more than +1 level above the party level when they are 1st-3rd level. I wouldn't go more than party level +2 through 5th party level, and wouldn't use a +4 level adversary before, say, tenth level. That may mean some serious alterations to published APs, especially the early ones. [*]Players need to learn a few things, like not always charging into the middle of a fight and staying there, using teamwork to apply conditions to adversaries, and being ready to run like hell if things go south - even if that means abandoning a couple party members to a gruesome death. [/LIST] -DMs shouldn't always try to use the most optimal actions against their PCs. Occasionally using maneuvers instead of an attack can help, and intelligent adversaries should sometimes try to withdraw to better carry out their evil plots, rather than fight to the death. This said, I can fully understand why Retreater has pulled back and switched game systems. His players don't like their PF2 experience, and a good DM has to respect that. Good luck with your alternate choices! [/QUOTE]

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