Saturday June 19th

[thormagni]

Interesting. I always assumed that the high-level NPCs would put up more of a fight against equally high level PCs, of course having never played in or run in a true high level game, I don't know. I wonder how much of that imbalance is due to the GM having to juggle the actions and abilities of several high level monsters/NPCs while the players only concentrate on themselves.

Even in lower-level games, I find myself forgetting to use monsters' secondary or obscure attacks because I just don't think of it. Surely, however, the monsters would remember to use that attack, or I, as a player, would remember that extra attack if I were running the monster as a character, if you see what I mean.

Overall, I think we learned that high level *combat* in D&D lacks the excitement that lower level fights tend to have -- especially when so many safety nets are imposed.

 

[fred_jaboobi]

ummmm...

Interesting. I always assumed that the high-level NPCs would put up more of a fight against equally high level PCs, of course having never played in or run in a true high level game, I don't know. I wonder how much of that imbalance is due to the GM having to juggle the actions and abilities of several high level monsters/NPCs while the players only concentrate on themselves.

Even in lower-level games, I find myself forgetting to use monsters' secondary or obscure attacks because I just don't think of it. Surely, however, the monsters would remember to use that attack, or I, as a player, would remember that extra attack if I were running the monster as a character, if you see what I mean.

I doubt the NPC's and PC's were evenly matched. The PC's outnumbers the NPC's in both battles and the PC's were of higher level than the NPC's (I am guessing here, but I bet Krenikath and Gaspar were higher level than the NPC's we fought.)

 

[BobProbst]

I doubt the NPC's and PC's were evenly matched. The PC's outnumbers the NPC's in both battles and the PC's were of higher level than the NPC's (I am guessing here, but I bet Krenikath and Gaspar were higher level than the NPC's we fought.)

Both true but here's what Khren did:
Bestow Curse (and the dragon only needed a 3 to beat the save -- which he failed)
Wall of Force
Wall of stone (to create a platform for non swimmers)
Summon 8 (a Vrock that never acted)

Gaspar kicked out a Destruction which killed the mindflayer
Amrah killed the Bullit (150hp)
Varn killed the Illithid dragon

By and large though, I found the adventure interesting and *was* fearful.

I think Vince sort of gave up there at the end -- not having us reroll for initiative. Had they acted first, we might have been in a similar situation.

 

[Fyrestryke]

It's fair to note that Varn perished in the adventure and Khren was badly hurt -- death, however, was swift for anyone who ended up a target for more than a couple rounds. (wasn't Iisha in rather dire circumstance, being grappled by the Black Dragon?)

Overall, I think we learned that high level *combat* in D&D lacks the excitement that lower level fights tend to have -- especially when so many safety nets are imposed.

Yeah, that is true that Varn died. I'm sure Zografos will do something about that.

Yeah, the safety nets sure change things alot. I still say we wouldn't have fared as well if we'd had a more traditional party.

 

[Fyrestryke]

I think Vince sort of gave up there at the end -- not having us reroll for initiative. Had they acted first, we might have been in a similar situation.

That might've made a bit of a difference. The Buelette was CR20ish, the Half-Dragon (Blue) Illithid was around CR16, and the Half-Illithid Drow Priestess was around CR18 (16th Level Cleric). I don't know the CRs of the Dragons themselves.

Had it got the drop on us and a charge, that Buelette would have severely hurt the party. The ½Dragon Illithid was immune to bonus damage from the slayers because he was a Dragon and not an Illithid. That didn't stop Varn tho.

We could play that battle out a dozen times over and come up with a different ending each time.

 

[fred_jaboobi]

???

Yeah, that is true that Varn died. I'm sure Zografos will do something about that.

What is Zografos able to do about that besides look for another mindflayer foe hunter?

 

[Fyrestryke]

What is Zografos able to do about that besides look for another mindflayer foe hunter?

Oh, I thought you had some way to get her back. You seemed to imply that Saturday. I must've misunderstood ya. I figured you could do some freaky Tome of Vulthois shadow stuff.

 

[fred_jaboobi]

well...

Oh, I thought you had some way to get her back. You seemed to imply that Saturday. I must've misunderstood ya. I figured you could do some freaky Tome of Vulthois shadow stuff.

Zografos can bring Varn back, but he will not go through what it would take to bring her back. He did set it up so Gaspar could use that method to bring himself back to life.

 

[gaspar]

Zografos can bring Varn back, but he will not go through what it would take to bring her back. He did set it up so Gaspar could use that method to bring himself back to life.

Gaspar lives again. I talked to Vince about it Saturday and he is ok with it. The only thing is, I think he is going to stop playing high level d&d for awhile. So we will see when gaspar comes out.