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Message: <blockquote data-quote="bardolph" data-source="post: 4331972" data-attributes="member: 2304">I ran KotS with 6 characters:1) Dwarf Paladin - Axe and board2) Dwarf Fighter - Greataxe3) Dwarf Warlord - Inspiring4) Dwarf Rogue - Scoundrel5) Dwarf Warlock - Infernal6) Dwarf Wizard - Orb(It was my requirement to have an all-Dwarf party.  I figured it would promote group cohesion.)First encounter: I added a Kobold Slyblade (Level 4 Lurker) and converted the encounter to a toll negotiation instead of a straight ambush.The warlord decided to sell them some real estate.  A few Bluff rolls later, they managed to relieve the kobolds of all their gold and silver, and the kobolds ran home to go get more gold to complete the down payment on their new "meat farm."Result: no combat.Second encounter (kobold ambush #2): I decided that Irontooth wasn't too happy about the real estate deal from encounter #1, killed everyone except Artilla (the slyblade), and sent him back with new troops and a new mission on pain of death.  I ran the encounter as written, with the addition of the Kobold Slyblade.Result: about 5 healing surges spent during combat (between Lay on Hands, Inspiring Word, and Second Wind).  All Action Points and about half of the dailies were spent.  The Paladin seesawed between positive and negative hit points like an inflatable punching clown.  About 4 more healing surges spent after the encounter.The party was ready for more punishment, and pressed on to the Burial Site without an Extended Rest.Third encounter (burial site): The warlock taunted me into throwing in an extra drake, and this nearly resulted in total party death.  A wizard Sleep slowed the drakes down enough to take out all the humanoids, but 3 guard drakes on their own turned out to be a wrecking crew.  The paladin was downed and collected 2 save failures before getting rescued.  Same happened to the rogue, who got 2 strikes, was rescued, then went down again and collected 2 more strikes, and was rescued again.  The fighter died.  However, the player was a visitor from Atlanta, so we'll consider it good fortune that none of the primary PCs died.Halfway through the battle, when only half the party was up and functional, the Warlock was just about ready to run away and abandon his wounded companions.  Hmm... wasn't he the one who wanted the "extra challenge" in the first place?Lesson learned: 4e is pretty well-balanced as written.  I need to think carefully before casually throwing in extra monsters.</blockquote>

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