Invisible stalker How hard a challenge?

[Infiniti2000]

Am I wrong using the estimation that a party of 5 4th level characters is approximately the same effectivness as a party of 4 5th level characters.

Yes. This is especially true with a multiclassed party. You have no good arcane spellcasters and thus lose out on two key abilities: see invisible, glitterdust. The druid could use faerie fire but apparently didn't. Nonetheless, I would stick with using 4 for CR/EL.

The IS losing reach might be worth a CR of 1. The lack of a miss chance will probably also drop it a 1, but the huge increase in AC brings it back up.

It's too late now, but what I would have suggested to begin with is reduce the IS by 2 HD, making it a possible candidate for lesser planar ally. Reduce the size to Medium and include all modifiers that entails. I still think that's a little strong and wouldn't use it against a resting party, so maybe giving it below average hit points and less natural armor would be appropriate.

 

[Snowy]

by the way, thank you everyone for taking the time to post, I am keen to make this game work as all the players are really fired up about it and keen on their characters.

I like the setting very jungly ritual heavy with barter and trade rather than shops is the intent, its worked so far but then they haven't had chance or inclination to get any loot yet.

 

[Snowy]

messing up the armor class modifier was a stupid mistake!

I didn't give myself time to prepare to reduce the HD I was trying to do a quick and dirty version but messed it up basically didn't I?

Any suggestions for the portal/artifact that summons them, I'm thinking on top of the cliff/mountain of the dwarven fortress in a circle of standing stones/jagged rocks exposed to the sky and to some steep drops.

I expect the party to have leveled up before they reach that so 4 level 5 and one level 4 characters possibly another elvel 4 if he comes back to swansea before then.

 

[Stalker0]

Probably one of the biggest things (besides the AC) was you overestimated the drop in CR based on the changes you made. The IS greatest asset is of course his invisibility, even with minor changes elsewhere he still has it, so his danger threat hasn't really dropped that much.

 

[shilsen]

What -2 to hit for being invisible?

Whoops! I misremembered the +2 to hit an invisible attacker gets. Thanks for the correction.

 

[moritheil]

It's interesting watching everyone's responses. I personally am of the school of thought that a party should not be given any leeway for ineffective builds or for being at rest, but I do believe that sending a CR 7 creature in was a grievous error, as was considering five level fours equal to four level fives, and upping the AC. The best thing you can do as DM is acknowledge that mistakes were made and give your party more normal encounters for a while.

Regarding invisibility, sometimes spells are more valuable for their psychological deterrent effect than for their actual game mechanics. Invisibility is a prime example of such a spell. Do not be surprised if your party develops a (well-founded) paranoia regarding invisible attackers in the future.

 

[frankthedm]

And when dealing with larger parties, more creatures are better than stronger creatures.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I personally am of the school of thought that a party should not be given any leeway for ineffective builds ...

I disagree very strongly about this, but it's another topic entirely and probably suited to the general forum.

 

[moritheil]

I disagree very strongly about this, but it's another topic entirely and probably suited to the general forum.

Please let me know if you start a thread there on this topic.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Please let me know if you start a thread there on this topic.

Here you go

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=2976238#post2976238