[RttToEE]Does anyone ever wonder...

[Dave Blewer]

I have been running this scenario for a mind melting 23 sessions (session 24 tonight) and on the whole it has been fun.

However, I do agree that the Crater Ridge Mines really does Drrraaaggg. My players seem to be enjoying themselves, but I must admit that, until recently, I not anticipating the sessions with the excitement that I once did.

Things have changed however, my players have totally surprised me.

Sessions 21- 22: Involved an inventive plan to stone shape there way through the crater wall and ambush the Water Temple... This didn't quite work do to the positioning of the temple and a few logistical problems caused by not having a dwarhf in the party.

Session 23: Last session they completely blinsided me. With three temples down and a perceived weakness against fire based creatures, they decided that the only way to take the Fire temple was with surprise and hatched a cunning plan...

• He then scouted the caverns ahead, specifically looking for the Fire Temple.
• Once he found the temple (effectively Jumping through about 2 maps worth of encounters) he then found somewhere close to cancel the Gaseous Form.
• He then used Dimension Door to return to the rest of the waiting party picked up the sorcerer's familiar and DD back to his hidey hole.
• After studying this location through her familiars eyes, the Sorceress cast reduce on his remaining two party members and teleported to that location.
• Effectively bypassing all the outer defences of the temple they were able to attack the area from a position of total surprise, destroy the temple and get both the keys.

So this week they are thinking about making there first foray into the Outer Fane, probably a Month earlier than I expected!

I am so proud of them!

 

[TomServo]

Go cry.

At "barely" 10th -11th level, you can just about throw your own blade barriers. Don't whine when NPCs fling them at you. And while DC 25 is a bit high, it's still pretty reasonable for caster around 10th level. As a major boss type guy, Hedrak is going to be higher level as well. The Madness Domain just means that he gets the DC with using feats.

GMW is one of the best combat buffs around at your level. In the hands of a cleric with a Bead of Karma, it's especially effective. However, even if you only get +3, turning a +1 Holy or flaming weapon into a +3 Holy weapon for hours at a time is very effective. Not only does it defeat most DR, it also adds +2 to attack and damage.

And if the dungeon is providing the gear you need, then go to Verbenoc or make your own stuff. Here's a quick hint: Cloaks of Resistance are not optional.

Our party doesn't have time to make magic items. If we take the 2-3 weeks neccessary, we end up using them up fighting through previously cleared out areas that have been reinforced or repopulated.

Another problem I have with the module is this; If you don't play with a buffed out minmaxed party, you will most certainly fail. Also, there are encounters in there that seem designed to take away the few magic items you've managed to get, even considering that our DM has tried to level the field by adding a few more magic items.

 

[JDragon]

Well I just started running it for my group and they have almost finished the Moat house with out even really breaking a sweat.

This is a big mod, and it does have some difficult parts to get thru, but I think it will be a mod that people will be proud to have fought & died thru for years to come.

For me, those messed up fights are what make it interesting. I just hope I can do the mod justice and make my players check their shorts a few times before its over.

As for the CRM being huge and time consuming thats an understatment. From what I understand and have read in diffrent posts you don't have to clear the whole thing just enough to get the keys to get in the outter fane.

Regarding the concern about restocking, SO WHAT, that just means more XP and treasure. The fact is going straight in pushing your self to the breaking point over and over agian is not the way to do this. See whats going, determine where your party is lacking and go get/make the items you need, thats why the feats are there. Yeah there will be some more orcs or trolls or maybe even a demon there when you get back, but that just gives you a chance to test out your new toys before it really gets thick in an area you don't know anything about.

Well, back to work.....

JDragon

 

[Dave Blewer]

Regarding the CRM...

If I had my time agan I would replace the entire CRM with the Banewarrens module. CRM just serves to get the characters from 6th to 11th level and Banewarrens covers those exact levels as well...

Banewarrens is a damn good scenario too!

 

[TomServo]

Yup, and right after we finish fighting through the restocked areas, is when Hedrick and his buffed up minions (who scry and clairvoy us constantly) jump us. A desperate battle ensues, 2-3 characters fall and/or die, and once again we are sent home licking our wounds. On two occasions we've had to get out so quickly, we;ve been forced to leave our comrades bodies. So even after bargaining with the temple of St. Cuthbert for a true resurrection, our party members come back sans any magic items.

 

[TomServo]

Yeah, Banewarrens does look pretty cool. But, after playing RTTTOEE, I don't think I want to get near another dungeon crawl for a long time.

 

[Dave Blewer]

Actually Banewarrens isn't your standard dungeon crawl... Although the scenario does revolve around a (well though out and "realistic") dungeon, the players don't spend ALL of their time in it. There is lots more going for it than just kicking in the door , killing monsters and taking their treasure.

 

[TomServo]

I'll have to give it another look. I only just browsed it. I hope it's not another meatgrinder though.

 

[Psion]

My biggest question is why after so many people agree with the problems with RTTTOEE it still gets 5's consistently in reviews.

Can anyone say fanboys? Oh wait I remember now. The fanboys charged over from Monte's website to create BS reviews of the product to increase it overall rating. I guess they didnt want everyone else to see an accurate honest ranking of the product.

So, I guess your own review is the only one that deserves the accolade accurate and honest? Sorry, fraid not. I am sure that they feel the adventure is great just the same way you feel it stinks.

 

[jgbrowning]

personally i didn't like the module. It was geared to much for seriously min/maxed characters. I played with a group that put role-playing way way way before min/maxing and the module simply does not accomidate for any other style of play. Especially when my group doesnt use anything outside of the core books. Which, IMHO, should be how all modules should be written.. from the core book only perspective.

My biggest gripe with the module though was the "doors that will not open unless you have the right key"... i mean, come on Monte, borrowing stuff straight outta Baldurs Gate to manipulate party movement/plot?.. that cheesed me.

joe b.