Number of Minions in Factory Aflame encounter?

[Bruize]

Am I just failing at reading comprehension? I can't seem to find the recommended number of Flint Arsonists for the Factory Aflame encounter in the Dying Skyseer module.

My players are heading there directly after Cauldron Hill. They have a Daily or two left among them and are sitting between 2 and 5 healing surges each. Since we're using the "Firearms are Deadly" variant it will probably be easier for them than for a standard group.

 

[gideonpepys]

I couldn't find it either. According to other threads on this board there is an answer somewhere, but I don't think you need an answer. There are as many minions as you decide there are. I went for five, but made them two-shot minions (because I wanted 10, but 10 accomplices was too many). I also made them do high damage (with firearms) for the same reason.

You'll probably need as many, as 2 to 5 healing surges each is way more than a group can physically spend in an encounter. The dragonborn are tough, but only if they have a wall of minions to prevent the party getting the drop on them. As their priority is to flee once rumbled, you don't have to fret about a TPK if you make it too tough. Go on - frighten your players!

 

[mcmillan]

It's in the text of the description, last sentence before the section heading "Wildfire"

Now, with four human allies in tow, they begin setting up accelerants and long-burning firegems around the edge and roof of the factory.

Though gideonpepys has good advice to scale up if you need more of a challenge.

 

[Bruize]

Ah, so I do fail at reading comprehension! Good to know!

Initially, I had planned to throw 6 minions at them just in case. Our party wizard has hypnotism so I fully expect to see people being walked off the roof to their deaths even with the a saving throw so more minions might be a good thing.

 

[gideonpepys]

I put most of the minions in the alleyway, along with Eberardo. Valando and one or two accomplices were on the roof.

 

[Bruize]

Just a small update to this. I ran the encounter tonight with a total of 10 minions. Unfortunately for my PCs, they tried the divide and conquer method which didn't work to their advantage.

Through a combination of really sucky PC rolls, really really good DM rolls, and bad PC tactics (including the wizard trying to go toe to toe with Eberardo), I managed to outright kill 2 PCs and knock another unconcious.

The PCs did manage to kill Velando as he was fleeing. Eberardo escaped.

1 PC died from the combination of the greatsword and a dragonborn breath. The wizard was knocked out once by a dragonfang and greatsword but got a crit on her death save. The poor heroic warlord was trying to get to the roof to knock over the water tower onto the burning wagon below but took far too many AoOs in the process and was focused by Velando. He unfortunately died just before the party's paladin arrived on the roof.

I'll be posting a full blow by blow to our Obsidian Portal soon.

There was an amazing bit of Roleplay following the 2 PC deaths which will lead to a very interesting side quest after this module.