Risk Assessment - Thunderspire Labyrinth (no spoilers plz)

[Herobizkit]

Our group ran through Keep on the Shadowfell and found that adventure to be the slog that everyone said it was. In fact, with our inexperienced DM, we inexperienced players, and the badly written module in general, it was the perfect storm of terrible experiences all around.

We have a new PC group, and we're looking to try Thunderspire. But here's the rub - there's only three of us.

We three are playing Essentials classes, classes which I've found to eliminate much of the headache from, and deliver a sizeably stronger punch, than earlier edition classes.

Half-Elf Skald (Bard) 3
Kobold Air Elementalist (Sorcerer) 3
Drow Ninja (Assassin/Executioner) 3 with Blink Dog companion
+1 NPC 'archery' companion

The module calls for a minimum party (which I assume to read five members) of level 4.

***WITHOUT SPOILING THE PLOT OR DUNGEON ELEMENTS***, can someone give me a rough estimate as to whether or not we can take the module as is? If not, there's an option to add in a second NPC Dwarf Runepriest statted up as a DMG2-style companion, one that would run more defender-y than leader-y.

Caveat: The DM still doesn't quite have the flair for correctly balancing encounters, so less work for him is better for us in the short- and long-term.

 

[jacktannery]

Question: are you updating the monsters to MM3 levels? If you are not, you will easily complete it with three PCs only (no need for NPC). If on the other hand you are updating the monsters to reflect the most recent errata, than your party is perfect with the added NPC archer. The reason you are well matched is because Thunderspire uses relatively fewer minions than some other adventures, so controllers (like a wizard) are less critical.

Myrhdraak has already gone back and updated all the stats in the Thunderspire Moduel to modern MM3 levels here, http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19921178/H1-H3:_Demon_Prince_of_Undeath_Conversion, so you should provide this link to your GM. (The MM3 errata/update generally increases monster damage and decreases monster hp and defences, to make combats more dangerous and shorter)

 

[Balesir]

Hmm, well, my experience running it was that TL was an adventure that I had to expand, modify and tweak a fair bit, even without the modifications I made to encounters for a seven PC party. There's a lot of good stuff in it, but there are also some strange non-sequiturs and areas where a skill challenge as an addition/alternative would have been more than useful.

As to "will you survive it", I would say "take the companion". It depends a lot on approach and DM leniency/attitude, but a few of the encounters are fairly tough.

 

[Balesir]

Question: are you updating the monsters to MM3 levels? If you are not, you will easily complete it with three PCs only (no need for NPC). If on the other hand you are updating the monsters to reflect the most recent errata, than your party is perfect with the added NPC archer. The reason you are well matched is because Thunderspire uses relatively fewer minions than some other adventures, so controllers (like a wizard) are less critical.

Good points - the MM3 upgraded monsters play better, definitely.

Myrhdraak has already gone back and updated all the stats in the Thunderspire Moduel to modern MM3 levels here, http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19921178/H1-H3:_Demon_Prince_of_Undeath_Conversion, so you should provide this link to your GM. (The MM3 errata/update generally increases monster damage and decreases monster hp and defences, to make combats more dangerous and shorter)

Now where was that when I ran it?!? It would have been really handy! That'll teach me to be an "early adopter"...

 

[Myrhdraak]

If you are playing 4 characters (where one is a NPC but a "full character" with equipment and HS working as a PC) then I think you will do fine. However, your DM probably will have to adjust some of the boss fights and allow short rests between encounters in order for the party to stay alive.
/Myrhdraak

 

[MarkB]

If you are playing 4 characters (where one is a NPC but a "full character" with equipment and HS working as a PC) then I think you will do fine. However, your DM probably will have to adjust some of the boss fights and allow short rests between encounters in order for the party to stay alive.
/Myrhdraak

I'll echo that. Our group, with fluctuating membership between 3 and 5, managed just fine through most of this adventure, but we also suffered one of the few TPKs I've experienced in a 4e game.