D&D 5E Princes of the Apocalypse campaign recaps

[Nebulous]

This is not even taking into consideration the BATTLE with the Queen, she'll easily go from (seriously?) 66 hp to 166, and I know, even that is low, but i don't want her to be a mega boss, just road bump worthy of her name she's been built up to.

Really, 66 hit points, what in the hell were they thinking?

 

[Uller]

This is not even taking into consideration the BATTLE with the Queen, she'll easily go from (seriously?) 66 hp to 166, and I know, even that is low, but i don't want her to be a mega boss, just road bump worthy of her name she's been built up to.

Really, 66 hit points, what in the hell were they thinking?

You should also consider giving windvane some spell like powers like I did with Ironfang. Shield comes to mind...maybe misty step and a few other reaction type spells or a few extra castings of higher level spells comes to mind. It worked well to make Marlos more formidable. It might not be as effective as her since she is already a caster...but reaction spells would be good

 

[Uller]

Whirlwind looks like the kind of spell you'd expect an elemental prophet to have...or even just an elemental to command...

 

[Nebulous]

Whirlwind looks like the kind of spell you'd expect an elemental prophet to have...or even just an elemental to command...

Yeah, Whirlwind, summon an elemental and maybe a counterspell or two as reactions, just to give her more oomph. I agree, what you did with Marlos and Ironfang was awesome, all of the Prophets need to be able to break the rules like that, and the weapons of power are the best answer.

My question is...Once the PCs acquire said Weapon of Power...how does that screw up that plan of the Evil Eye? If at at all????

 

[Nebulous]

It might be kind of cool if Aerisi's voice echoes out to the PCs throughout the complex like a megaphone. She knows they are there and is taunting them. Between Windharrow's description of the Queen (assuming they don't assassinate him off the bat), this will better flesh out her personality that has been built up now for SO many sessions and not just end in a 3 round fight. It will build tension over hopefully several sessions.....or just one.

"WINDHARROW! You spineless worm!"

I don't know. I have no idea what will happen, i'm just looking at trajectories.

 

[Uller]

In hindsight, whirlwind might be a bit too much for the power level of PCs that are supposed to meet her. But she does need something. I'm definitely boosting her HP like you did (oh...and I noticed she only gets one attack per round...nope...she needs at least two if she has to resort to melee).

Your question is a good one. My group came close to getting Ironfang. I haven't thought about what will happen with that yet. It seems to me that the way the game is meant to work is that all four prophets are in some sort of competition and the PCs are there to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. The Eldar Eye needs one prince to break into the world and then...???...Profit. I dunno...

My 17 yo son plays the paladin in my group. I was talking to him after the game and we agreed our group may be at an impasse with the earth cult. Right now they are camped out in the wilderness and haven't decided what to do next.

I tried to make it clear during the fight with Marlos that he was using his weapon to cast those spells but I don't think they picked up on it (seeing as how after the first round they were busy just staying not dead). I think I want to emphasize that more and help them realize that you can use one weapon to neutralize another. Windvane and Ironfang can neutralize each other as can Drown and Tinderstrike.

So what I think I will do is have Yarsha "escape" from the Temple of Black Earth and tell my PCs that the Air cult is weaker and if they can get that weapon then they can significantly weaken Marlos (maybe she will accompany them...and take it for herself...)

I am also trying to think of a way to have several weeks pass. I think now that a devastation orb has gone off that has some very interesting RP considerations for fledgling mid-high level PCs and NPCs. People in high places in cities that rely on this region for trade will want to make sure the area is secure. More importantly, everyone who thinks about armies and city states and such will take notice that someone has the capability to produce weapons that can take down a fortification inside of 15 minutes and the will to use it. I'm thinking advance parties for armies are going to show up within a few weeks. Then armies themselves. Heroes might be thinking how to prevent more of these things from being made or used. Generals and kings (and especially would be kings) will be thinking "how do I get my hands on one?" So I'm thinking Yarsha isn't that interested in being number two in the earth cult. She wants to delay the cult's goals and focus more on producing and selling devastation orbs. Bringing chaos to the Dessarin Vale is small potatoes. Making a fortune while exporting chaos to the world is where it's at.

 

[Nebulous]

Your question is a good one. My group came close to getting Ironfang. I haven't thought about what will happen with that yet. It seems to me that the way the game is meant to work is that all four prophets are in some sort of competition and the PCs are there to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. The Eldar Eye needs one prince to break into the world and then...???...Profit. I dunno...

Therein lies the problem, and it's what some others had also discussed earlier upthread. What IS the Elder Eye's goal in this? Get one Prince into the world? Get them all? How do the PCs mess up the plans? In a twist though, we'd like there to be a fifth and secret cult of the Eye with its own ulterior motives unknown to the Prophets...

To crib the plot from Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil:

The player characters must foil the plan of the cultists of Tharizdun who have again occupied the temple. They have to open the gates to each of four elemental nodes or Tharizdun's servants, the princes of elemental evil, will emerge and use an artifact to release Tharizdun from his prison.

Said "artifact" in this case is really 4 weapons of power used at once (?)

 

[Nebulous]

I think I will give Windvane Misty Step as a reaction, Gaseous Form once a day as a Bonus action, and take away her 3rd level gaseous form and replace it with counterspell.

Same with the skyweaver, take away a fly or lightning bolt and replace it with a counterspell. I want to see how the PCs react to have their magic automatically negated.

 

[Creamsteak]

One thing I had to learn about Misty Step was that since it is cast as a bonus action, you can't cast another spell with your action unless it's a cantrip. You might already know that, but I screwed that rule up in the first combat I had with the water genasi in womford.

Edit: I guess if it's a reaction that's a bit different. Might want to make that an ability with a unique name rather than using the spell.

 

[Nebulous]

One thing I had to learn about Misty Step was that since it is cast as a bonus action, you can't cast another spell with your action unless it's a cantrip. You might already know that, but I screwed that rule up in the first combat I had with the water genasi in womford.

Edit: I guess if it's a reaction that's a bit different. Might want to make that an ability with a unique name rather than using the spell.

Good point, I did forget that. That chain lightning spell can be brutal though, depending on how badly they're hurt already, damaged rolled and saves failed.