Azure Trance
First Post
And I plan to celebrate by trying to kill off at least one PC during my game session tonight. Unfortunately, this isn't a game of Paranoia. Their entering the caves of chaos from return to the keep on the borderlands. First waves of kobolds, unless they enter the wrong cave entrance and bump into a cave troll or three.
The party is 8 characters:
4 3rd level (Psion, Psychic Warrior, Bard, Martial Artist (Ess. Monk)
2 2nd level (Wizard, Barbarian)
2 1st level (Fighter, Illusionist)
They killed a landshark last session after they were going snarky on my ass for a combat fest before we ended. I picked the Landshark because I thought it would instill the fear of God into them, which it did at first. First round it incapacitated the Bard and Ranger, then nearly destroyed the tanks. I was feeling leniant though (ie, it spent time after getting hit hard by the Wild Elf Barbarian underground so party could heal up in its limited capacity), and didn't feel as if killing a character then would be fair as they wanted I suspect a nice diversionary encounter. It still felt unfulfilling though - maybe they knew they weren't really going to die, or were resigned to doom, I don't know.
Might as well try again until it does feel fulfilling, like the new session tonight ;D Seriously though, whats a rat bastard tactic to shockingly introduce a large, powerful yet low level group from the sleepy villages they were tromping through into a satisfyingly dark and gritty fight for survival if only for a single session? My ideas below, seperated in case any of you are playing in Return to the Keep on the Borderlands.
=CAVES OF CHAOS LAYOUT=
They'll enter the kobold caves first, because if they do later it'll only become easier ;D
-Borrowing descriptive vile element to show the Kobolds off as monsterous creatures instead of easy to kill annoyances - maybe a half dead goblin chained up that they overpowered and is torturing for info on Goblin caves to raid, or for fun? Half eaten mammals in cages still alive. etc.
-Instead of that fake mummified Kobold standing as guard perhaps a more powerful undead creature - IIRC if PCs are fighting one creature it's easier for them to kill it, so it should be sufficently powerful for a stiff fight - unfortunatly I'm not sure what to pick that won't get beaten in one round.
-Instead of that gob of honeygoo they pour on the characters to immobilize them, it's acid with little chunks of flesh and bones still in it, and IT TASTES LIKE BURNING!
-There are 20 Kobolds in one room. In book, they throw javelins and flee. I'd give them warrior levels but they kind of suck as cannon fodder even then, and just give more XP for a not much harder kill. What can I do creatively with 20 Kobolds without giving them PC levels? (20 kobolds times x PC levels each = lotsa easy XP)
-Theres a trap where a boulder is sent down a hallway which explodes with a hornets nest inside. Replace entire boulder trap or fill it with something else (plausibly) better?
-Boring spiderweb room which burns from the torches and creates smoke. Sure, I could use spiders but I'll flip through the MM to hopefully find another surprise.
-Treasure room with fake treasure or in copper. Has dragon egg in it for future plot in CoC. I'll probably leave this as is with no traps ... since I can't think of a good one.
-Kobold King. In game, parody since King died many years ago though in 2nd Ed terms 1% chance on save vs. spell that Kobolod God takes notice and curses them. Maybe use a real Kobold King - cleric, or undead one since he was ressurected, or something else entirely. Though undead one sounds nice. Undead cleric, maybe, with a magical item which can resurrect the slain kobolds as skeletons, providing an endless wave to fight against. Unfortunatly that helpful 1/2 slash + piercing damage isn't helpful when it has only 3hp for a small creature. Though perhaps it'll add together behind the characters = 2 is medium size with 6 hp, 4 is large, etc for a nice surprise when their flanked.
Opinions?
From an atagonistic point of view, perhaps the most satisfying action I've done is restrict their treasure. My previous post on their powerfulness showed that most people simply limited their magic items at lower levels. Though the wild elf barbarian can do 10+D8 damage per hit at +7 attack during her rage, they have hundreds upon hundreds of gold, and fine masterwork weapons - they don't have any magic items of any sort, except for potions. Those are sold at outraegous prices for only a few. (They only bought 3, and used one during the Bulette attack).
The party is 8 characters:
4 3rd level (Psion, Psychic Warrior, Bard, Martial Artist (Ess. Monk)
2 2nd level (Wizard, Barbarian)
2 1st level (Fighter, Illusionist)
They killed a landshark last session after they were going snarky on my ass for a combat fest before we ended. I picked the Landshark because I thought it would instill the fear of God into them, which it did at first. First round it incapacitated the Bard and Ranger, then nearly destroyed the tanks. I was feeling leniant though (ie, it spent time after getting hit hard by the Wild Elf Barbarian underground so party could heal up in its limited capacity), and didn't feel as if killing a character then would be fair as they wanted I suspect a nice diversionary encounter. It still felt unfulfilling though - maybe they knew they weren't really going to die, or were resigned to doom, I don't know.
Might as well try again until it does feel fulfilling, like the new session tonight ;D Seriously though, whats a rat bastard tactic to shockingly introduce a large, powerful yet low level group from the sleepy villages they were tromping through into a satisfyingly dark and gritty fight for survival if only for a single session? My ideas below, seperated in case any of you are playing in Return to the Keep on the Borderlands.
=CAVES OF CHAOS LAYOUT=
They'll enter the kobold caves first, because if they do later it'll only become easier ;D
-Borrowing descriptive vile element to show the Kobolds off as monsterous creatures instead of easy to kill annoyances - maybe a half dead goblin chained up that they overpowered and is torturing for info on Goblin caves to raid, or for fun? Half eaten mammals in cages still alive. etc.
-Instead of that fake mummified Kobold standing as guard perhaps a more powerful undead creature - IIRC if PCs are fighting one creature it's easier for them to kill it, so it should be sufficently powerful for a stiff fight - unfortunatly I'm not sure what to pick that won't get beaten in one round.
-Instead of that gob of honeygoo they pour on the characters to immobilize them, it's acid with little chunks of flesh and bones still in it, and IT TASTES LIKE BURNING!
-There are 20 Kobolds in one room. In book, they throw javelins and flee. I'd give them warrior levels but they kind of suck as cannon fodder even then, and just give more XP for a not much harder kill. What can I do creatively with 20 Kobolds without giving them PC levels? (20 kobolds times x PC levels each = lotsa easy XP)
-Theres a trap where a boulder is sent down a hallway which explodes with a hornets nest inside. Replace entire boulder trap or fill it with something else (plausibly) better?
-Boring spiderweb room which burns from the torches and creates smoke. Sure, I could use spiders but I'll flip through the MM to hopefully find another surprise.
-Treasure room with fake treasure or in copper. Has dragon egg in it for future plot in CoC. I'll probably leave this as is with no traps ... since I can't think of a good one.
-Kobold King. In game, parody since King died many years ago though in 2nd Ed terms 1% chance on save vs. spell that Kobolod God takes notice and curses them. Maybe use a real Kobold King - cleric, or undead one since he was ressurected, or something else entirely. Though undead one sounds nice. Undead cleric, maybe, with a magical item which can resurrect the slain kobolds as skeletons, providing an endless wave to fight against. Unfortunatly that helpful 1/2 slash + piercing damage isn't helpful when it has only 3hp for a small creature. Though perhaps it'll add together behind the characters = 2 is medium size with 6 hp, 4 is large, etc for a nice surprise when their flanked.
Opinions?
From an atagonistic point of view, perhaps the most satisfying action I've done is restrict their treasure. My previous post on their powerfulness showed that most people simply limited their magic items at lower levels. Though the wild elf barbarian can do 10+D8 damage per hit at +7 attack during her rage, they have hundreds upon hundreds of gold, and fine masterwork weapons - they don't have any magic items of any sort, except for potions. Those are sold at outraegous prices for only a few. (They only bought 3, and used one during the Bulette attack).
