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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Benimoto" data-source="post: 4282637" data-attributes="member: 40093">So, I haven't begun the laser-focus on each encounter that others have so far.  Instead, I did a sort of conversion roadmap, where I mapped out the roles/levels in each encounter, so I could get a handle on how much XP in in the whole adventure, and what levels the PCs will be when.  As it turns out, a lot of it converts pretty smoothly.  My roadmap takes 5 PCs from the beginning of level 6 all the way to halfway through level 12.It looks like I have to sneak in a little more XP in each part to hit my goals.  I hope to do this with a few random encounter, and adding a few additional skill challenges, or maybe some quest XP. I've converted most of the obvious skill challenges in the adventure, but as it turns out, they're exclusively negotiation.  I'll have to see where I can sneak some in that emphasize different skills.Anyhoo, here's my conversion roadmap.  It's a first draft and still very rough, but comments are welcomed.PART ONE:[sblock]Marauder Attack: level 9, 2058 xp1 hobgoblin priest (level 5 controller)1 hobgoblin bladebearer (level 5 soldier)12 hobgoblin warrior (level 8 minion)2 hell hounds (level 7 brute)Notes: Do I make custom monsters for the priest and bladebearer, or do I use the commander and the warcaster?Riding Into Town: 200 xpMinor skill challengeNotes: Convince the guards to trust you.Jorr's Cabin: 200 xpMinor skill challengeNotes: Minor XP award here?*Causeway: level 6, 1250 xp1 bad fen hydra (level 6 solo brute) 1250Notes: What to do here?  Probably make a custom low-level hydra.Gardner's Shack: level 6, 200 xpDecrepit Shack trap!Notes: Hazard!Wolf Stables: level 6, 1200 xp3 dire wolves (level 5 skirmisher) or 3 rage drakes (level 5 brute) 6003 goblin riders (level 5 skirmisher) 600Notes: Dire wolves are large and lack the association with goblins, but they fit well otherwise.  Alternately, the goblins could ride rage drakes.  That would be more dragonny, and foreshadow the stormlizards in part 4.  On the minus side it might ramp up the fantasy quotient too fast.  The smooth transition from low-fantasy humanoids to high fantasy dragons and demons is a great feature of this adventure otherwise. Added one more pair of mount+rider.  Need custom rider stats.Spike-littered nest: level 5, 1000 xp1 manticore (level 10 elite skirmisher)?Notes: Is a single elite a good encounter?  Probably, since he'll join other encounters anyways.Barracks: level 6, 1350 xpKarlilan, minotaur fighter (level 7 elite brute) 6005 hobgoblin soldiers (level 3 soldier) 750Notes: Need custom stats for Karkilan.  Probably keep him large.Wyrmlord Koth's Quarters: level 6, 1200 xpWyrmlord Koth, bugbear wizard (level 7 elite controller) 6004 imps (level 3 lurker) 600Notes: Added imps, which may be unnecessary if Koth just hears fighting downstairs and joins that combat.*Old Wracklegnaw: level 7, 1500 xpMajor skill challenge or fight!Notes: Use severly de-leveled fomorian?  Cyclops?Skull Gorge Bridge: level 10, 2504 xpOzyrrandion, young green dragon (level 5 solo skirmisher) 10002 hell hounds (level 7 brute) 600 1 hobgoblin commander (level 5 soldier) 2008 hobgoblin warriors w/longbows (level 8 minion) 704Notes: Hobgoblin veterans downgraded to warriors in this encounter?  Should I use “real” archers, even though that pushes it up to a 3000 xp level 11 encounter?Goblin Raid: level 7, 1500 xp3 dire wolves (level 5 skirmisher) 6003 goblin riders (level 5 skirmisher) 6001 hell hound (level 7 brute) 300Second Wave: level 8, 1704 xp2 hobgoblin war adept (level 10 artillery) 10008 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 704Notes: Again, the goblins could ride rage drakes instead.  Need war adept stats.  War adepts need to last until part 4, so level 10?  Or should they be lower-level elites?  How will I keep them different from mindbenders?  Probably have them as artillery, and mindbenders as controllers.*Chimera Attack: level 7, 1500 xpgood question!Notes:  I need an encounter here since the Chimera is a level 15 elite.  Maybe a pair of blackscale dragonspawn on griffons?  What to do about blackscale dragonspawn?  Probably make them more brutal dragonborn.Desperate Council: level 5, 1000 xpmajor skill challengeNotes:  Total XP for Part 1: 18336Notes: This part should take the party from level 6 to midway through level 7.[/sblock]PART TWO:[sblock]Easy Skirmish: level 6, 1204 xp1 hobgoblin commander (level 5 soldier) 2001 hell hound (level 7 brute) 300 8 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 704Notes: Easy conversion.Dirty Rotten Looters: level 7, 1500 xpNotes: What to put here?  Probably a small mob of minions, with some tougher leaders, inciting them to looting.Mercenary Gold: level 8, 1750 xp1 ettin marauder (level 10 elite soldier) 10005 goblin skullcleaver (level 3 brute) 750Notes: One less ettin, one more goblin.  Hopefully the level disparity won't be a huge problem here.The Not-So-Sick Spy: level 8, 1750 xp1 bog hag (level 10 skirmisher) 5002 human berserkers (level 4 brute) 35012 human lackeys (level 7 minion) 900Notes: Poor Miha turns into a hag, making the awesome art useless.  She also managed to claim some lackeys  who defend her when she is exposed.Barghest Reavers: level 8, 1728 xp3 worgs (level 9 brute) 12006 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 528Notes: Are worgs good instead of barghests?  Are we sick of hobgoblin warriors yet?  Boy howdy!Marked For Death: level 10, 2590 xp1 ogre savage (level 8 brute) 3505 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 4403 blackscale raiders (dragonborn gladiators) (level 10 soldier) 15001 howling hag (level 7 controller) 300Notes: Like in the Living Greyhawk conversion, saving this for a dull point in part 3 might be a good idea.Total XP: 9022 for these optional encounters.A Roadblock: level 7, 1628  xp2 ogre savages (level 8 brute) 7002 hobgoblin commanders (level 5 soldier) 4006 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 528Notes: This converts suspiciously well.Spawn of Tiamat: level 5, 1000  xp1 greenspawn razorfiend (level 10 elite skirmisher?) 1000Notes: What to do about the single-monster encounter here.  Add some guard drakes, perhaps, maybe call them hatchling greenspawn?  Maybe some lizardfolk could be out hunting elves with the ol' harrowblade.Starsong Hill: level 7, 1500  xpskill challenge!Notes: Yet another diplomatic skill challenge.  I need some other types of skill challenges.Lizardfolk Huts: level 6, 1300  xp1 greenscale marsh mystic (level 6 controller)2 blackscale bruisers (level 6 brute)1 greenscale darter (level 5 lurker)2 greenscale hunters (level 4 skirmisher)Notes: Just using Monster Manual lizardfolk encounter.  Maybe switch between the two suggested for variety if the party goes on a lizardfolk extermination rampage?Bell Tower: level 5, 1100  xp6 hogboblin soldier (level 3 soldier) 9001 hobgoblin commander (level 5 solider) 200Notes:Roof: level 7, 1400  xp4 ogre skirmishers (level 8 skirmisher) 1400Notes: This should work okay.Boardwalk: level 5, 1050  xp3 ogre savages (level 8 brute) 1050Notes: Added an ogre.  Even so, 3 monsters is kind of on the low side of challenging, tactically.Razorfiend Hatchery: level 5, 1000  xp1 greenspawn razorfiend (level 10 elite skirmisher?) 1000Notes: This mod has a lot of elite monsters encountered alone.Ettin Guardpost: level 5, 1000  xp1 ettin marauder (level 10 elite soldier) 1000Notes:  Again with the elite monster encountered alone.  Then again, this should join in with other encounters unless the party is exceptionally stealthy.Interrogation Room: level 5, 1000  xpNurklenak, hobgoblin mindbender (level 10 elite controller) 1000Notes:  Elite.  Alone.  Again.Sarvith's HQ: level 3, 800  xpWyrmlord Sarvith, goblin ranger (level 9 elite artillery) 800Notes:  Sarvith is a chump encountered alone.  I really want him to be mounted on the dragon.  I'm eliminating his eagle.   I need a way for Sarvith, an archer, to work with Regiatrix.  The cloud of darkness is a problem.Regiatrix's Lair: level 10, 2500  xpRegiatrix, young adult black dragon (level 10 solo lurker) 2500Notes:  Young and adult Black dragons have the same abilities, so I just need to interpolate the stats to make Regi level 10.  His tactics have to change heavily, since black dragons are close-in fighters now.  Regi is going to be fighting close up and then fading away into the darkness, and Sarvith should compliment this.Total XP for Part 2: 15278 plus 9022 additionalNotes: The party should be level 8 by the time they hit the ruins of Rhest.  They should be level 9 by the time they finish here.[/sblock]PART THREE:[sblock]Varinthian's Lair: level 10, 2500  xpVarinthian (level 10 solo monster) 2500Notes: Will have to make a custom monster here.  How was this EL 8 in the original mod?The Lion's Path: level 8, 1750 xp1 ghost dire lion (level 8 elite controller) 7003 ghost brute lions (level 8 lurker) 1050Notes: Man, those ghost brutes were the worst (as in ineffective, bad) monsters in the original mod.  We'll have to see what we can do for a conversion.Guardroom: level 5, 1050 xp3 doom fist monks (level 8 skirmisher) 1050Notes: Do we need more monks here?Ooze Pit: level 7, 1500 xp1 grey ooze (level 7 solo brute) 1500Notes: Let's just throw away the Monster Manual for this part.  All custom monsters, all the time!  Guest Quarters: level 11, 2950 xp3 doom fist monks (level 8 skirmisher) 10502 hobgoblin clerics (level 8 controller) 700Ulwai Stormcaller (level 11 elite artillery) 1200Notes: Since I'll again be designing this from the ground up, this is all pretty theoretical.The Pool of Rebirth: level 9, 2100 xp6 lesser bonedrinkers (level 8 soldier) Notes: Level up some ghouls?Chamber of the Betrayed: level 13, 4000 xpThe Ghostlord (level 13 solo controller) Notes: Yay for liches.  It will be hard to make him intentionally over-CRed, like the Ghostlord was, but I'll try.  Hopefully that won't just make him boring.Shrine of Blight: level 7, 1400 xp2 ghost dire lions (level 8 elite controller) 1400Notes: Two lions here?  Need something to make this interesting.Total XP for Part 3: 17250Notes: Not a single monster in this part from the Monster Manual, argh.  The party should be level 10 by the time they finish this part.[/sblock]PART FOUR:[sblock]Audience With the Lords: level 10, 2000 xpmajor skill challengeNotes: Divide this up into 3 parts?Save the Walls: level 11, 3200 xp4 hill giants (level 13 brute) 3200Notes: Is 4 giants too many?  Is 3 better?Abithrax's Rampage: level 13, 4000 xpAbithrax, young adult red dragon (level 13 solo soldier)Notes: Need to de-level Abithrax a little to fit.Streets of BloodNotes: Up to 5 waves.  Maybe not-quite short rests between waves?  Perhaps recover encounter powers, but only 1-2 healing surges allowed?  Come up with effect for elf strafing run if the party is friends with the elves and needs help.  The party has some help here.Streets of Blood, First Wave: level 9, 1928 xp1 manticore (level 10 elite skirmisher) 10002 hobgoblin commanders (level 5 soldier) 4006 hobgoblin warriors (level 8 minion) 528Notes: Is this okay with only 1 manticore?  Streets of Blood, Second Wave: level 10, 2400 xp8 blood ghost berserkers (level 7 brute) 2400Notes: Should be easy to make these.Streets of Blood, Third Wave: level 11, 3000 xp5 bluespawn stormlizards (level 9 brute?) 20005 goblin riders (level 5 skirmisher) 1000Notes: Woo, stormlizards.Streets of Blood, Fourth Wave: level 12, 3500 xp3 greenspawn razorfiend (level 10 elite skirmisher?) 30001 kulkor zuul mindbenders (level 10 controller) 500Notes: Only one controller, who is like Nurklenak, but not elite.  Probably run this regardless of whether the PCs clear the hatchery.Streets of Blood, Fifth Wave: level 13, 3850 xp2 ghost dire lions (level 8 elite controller) 14003 ghost brute lions (level 8 lurker) 10504 lesser bonedrinkers (level 8 soldier) 1400Notes: Slightly reduced numbers, since nobody needs to fight 11 things at once.  Hopefully, it won't come to this.Sniper Attack: level 11, 3000 xp2 hobgoblin war adepts (level 10 artillery) 1000Skather, blackspawn ninja (level 14 elite or level 9 solo) 2000Notes: What to do with Skather?  I find it unlikely that the PCs will fight this whole fight at once, so maybe break it into two parts, with the war adepts as elites and Skather as a solo.  This would make it easier to keep Skather's level reasonably close to the PCs.Final Battle: level 12+, 3600+ xp4 ogre thugs (level 11 minion) 6002 hill giants (level 13 brute) 1600Wyrmlord Kharn (level 12 elite soldier) 1200Notes: Hopefully, the sudden reappearance of minions won't be too jarring here.  Otherwise, we could use “real” ogres and make Kharn level 10 or so.Total XP for Part 4: 30478, or 26628 without Streets of Blood fifth wave.Notes: This part all takes place in one day, so the party might be extremely stretched for healing surges.  Perhaps allow the party the effects of an extended rest after the Streets of Blood without actually taking 6 hours?  The party should be very close to 11th level by the time they finish here.[/sblock]PART FIVE:[sblock]The Mark of Tiamat: level 13, 4000 xpTyragun, adult blue dragon (level 13 solo artillery)Notes: Tyragun is almost perfectly suited for this scenario.  He has his lightning burst ability to make up for the wand of fireballs he's missing.The Mark of Tiamat: level 9, 2000 xpTiamat Trap!Notes: It's a trap!Foyer: level 9, 1900 xp2 blue abshai (level 11 skirmisher) 12002 zombie hulks (level 8 brute) 700Notes: What to do with the abshai?  They should probably lose their summoning abilities and get something to let them take better advantage of their flight.Guard Barracks: level 10, 2500 xp5 blackscale raiders (dragonborn gladiators) (level 10 soldier) 2500Notes: One less blackspawn.  Do I need to make the blackspawn more skirmishers than soldiers?Torture Chamber: level 10, 2600 xp3 chain devils (level 11 skirmisher) 1800 xp4 legion devil hellguards (level 11 minon)Notes: Chain devils are better torturers anyways.  Should I just do 4 chain devils, or stick some legion devils in there for variety?Priest Cells: level 11, 2800 xp2  red hand warpriests (hobgoblin hand of bane) (level 8 elite soldier) 1400 xp4 hobgoblin clerics (level 8 controller) 1400Notes: Maybe those clerics need to be minions, and the warpriests need to be level 11.Laryssa's Kitchen: level 10, 2600 xpLaryssa, night hag (level 14 lurker) 10002 bearded devils (level 13 soldier) 1600Notes: Bearded Devils are a little tougher now.  Hopefully these high-level enemies won't be an overpowering challenge.Great Temple of Tiamat: level 10, 2500 xp5 wyverns (level 10 skirmisher) 2500Notes: Easy conversion.Cavern of the Guardian Spawn: level 11, 3000 xp3 greenspawn razorfiend (level 10 elite skirmisher?) 3000Notes: Seems like lurkers might be more appropriate here.  Still, the razorfiends were great, dangerous fun in my 3rd edition playthrough.Outer Sanctum: level 13, 3800 xp2  red hand warpriests (hobgoblin hand of bane) (level 8 elite soldier) 1400 xp4 hobgoblin clerics (level 8 controller) 14004 mad wraiths (level 6 controller) 1000Notes: This is a lot of monsters.  Are the mad wraiths going to be effective at all?  Maybe I should level the regular lurker wraiths up to level 10 and have 2 of them.High Wyrmlord's Chambers: level 10, 2000 xp2 succubus (level 9 controller) 800Notes: Aaaannnd what else?  This is a very small room.Treasury: level 13, 4000 xpWall of Tiamat's WrathDragonchest Traps!Notes: This is another difficult conversion.  The dragonchest traps shouldn't count towards the main encounter XP, and the wall of wrath should be more interesting and involved.  The actual monster(s) should be more like controllers, with some capability to lure or move the PCs into the wall of wrath trap.Inner Sanctum: level 14, 5000 xp5 blue abshai (level 11 skirmisher) 3000High Wyrmlord Azarr Kul (level 14 elite soldier) 2000Notes: I found that Azarr Kul was somewhat of a misstep in the original mod.  The suggested tactics included a 10-round buffing spree, but he still went down in the first few rounds.  Hopefully the magic of 4dventure will change that.  Let's make him awesome.  On a side note, two things to ponder: how does the party get up here without the easy availability of flight in 4e, and should any other effect replace the silence effect?Tiamat's Wrath: level 15, 6000 xpAspect of Tiamat (level 15 solo brute)Notes: Breathe + 4 bites + sting?  That may be way too many attacks for the 4e philosophy.  Maybe breathe + 1 bite as a standard action, and the sting as a triggered immediate.Total XP for Part 5: 44700Notes: The party should be around level 12 by the time they hit the Inner Fane.  Any of the level 10 encounters in the Outer Fane could benefit from a gang of guards busting in halfway through the fight. I don't think there's enough XP to make them level 13 by the time they face the Aspect, but they should be well into 12th level.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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