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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CapnZapp" data-source="post: 7391717" data-attributes="member: 12731">First session play report (of Omu, using the above version of the city): We didn't get too far. Easily defeating the initial ambush. I was pleased I added so many Yuan-Ti - the Tabaxi barely had time to show off Copper Bell's snake burst poison before the combat was over. The players worry a lot about conserving resources now that they see the extent of the city, and me reaffirming that, no, there is no free long-resting in the city or anywhere close. They studied the main Chult map and concluded Shilku was probably the closest river/coast where they could count on a rest. (Obviously this was before finding the first Ubtao shrine)Conversation with the Tabaxi. I played them as chilled-out defaitist hippie senior citizens, which I think impressed the group the most <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />They were very wary in the Pyramid Fruit house, so the appearance of King of Feathers came to very little - the affected character just ran away (instead of wasting any resources on attacking the figment). Since the dino is described as looking down on the PC through a hole in the roof, I realized it could not effectively pursue. I didn't want to spoil its special abilities, but in retrospect I should probably have mentioned the buzzing noise from its swarms.They managed to save the Grung without fighting the Vegepygmies. Once character joined their trance dance as distraction (they were very distractable) while another cast levitate on the Grung as it was pushed off the cliff <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> They almost abandoned him when they saw through his empty promises though. Then they walked around the city perimeter with the intent to rope down right above the Nangnang temple. Gargoyles and Yuan-Ti dissuaded them from this course of action (the signal color of the grung does not exactly help in staying undetected! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> )Then it was a close call - they almost decided on sniping Yuan-Ti from above the city. Of course they would initially have an easy time of it, but if one of the players hadn't started worrying about losing the ability to move about freely in the city, they would have short-circuited the scenario. I would have described how the city goes into lock-down, and perhaps one or two feeble attempts at a counter-attack (that they would easily repulse). But then Ras Nsi would have taken charge, and stopped using low-level tactics against an obviously not-low-level attack. Using lieutenants to fly invisibly to scout out the threat, for example. And most importantly: forming a massed response. What is the problem with this, isn't that a fairly natural outcome? The problem is that there really is only two ways this can go:1) the party manages to fight off all counter-attacks. This removes a large part of the tension of the chapter since there is no longer a looming threat hanging over the party's head while they explore the city. Basically it rewards the PCs for stupidly arrogant and belligerent - if coldly rational - play.2) a TPK, assuming Ras Nsi together with all his major lieutenants will overwhelm the party (and if they don't, the party is too high level for this adventure). The probable outcome, however, is somewhere between 1 and 2: they perform a protracted withdrawal. This is possibly even worse: all play time is spent out in the featureless jungle rather in the cool city.Luckily, they abandoned this idea at the last moment. I possibly helped in that I didn't call for attack rolls, and simply said "you kill a bunch of guards", giving off the strongest signal I can (without breaking immersion and outright telling them) this kills the adventure.Let me also say: I don't blame the players. They are after all not low level any longer. If there's any blame to be had, I should take that blame myself for thinking I could use Omu for level 9 heroes.They found the defaced Shrine to Ubtao, and rolled a decent "5" on their d10 - every PC except the Rogue (who abstained) now has "Ubtao's Favor" and are assured one regular long rest.Anyway, we ended the session with a failed attempt at getting Shagambi's puzzle cube. Of course they all focus-fired the first Clay Gladiator that appeared! The Rogue rolled a natural 20 on his final Investigate check, so by now they know why they failed (not fighting honorably), that they may try again tomorrow, that the Gladiators aren't restricted to merely the small Pit (but the entire shrine) and that they can short-circuit the puzzle by finding four Omuan bronze spears* if they don't fancy fighting the Gladiators one-on-one or four-on-four.</blockquote>

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