Starting Level for Temple of Elemental Evil (PnP)

[Nebuchadnezzar]

My DM is considering starting a Temple of Elemental Evil (ToEE) campaign with only three player characters. As the adventure recommends (and seems balanced) for four PC's, what do you think the DM should do to compensate? We've thought about letting the PC's start out at a higher level, maybe fifth or sixth. In that case, which of the two starting levels do you think would be the most proper considering the circumstances?

 

[Darkness]

You mean Return ttToEE, no?

If so, I'd say let them start at 5th level if you want them to be about as strong as four 4th-level characters; three 6th-level characters are quite a bit more effective than four 4th-level.

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Ops

Sorry, I meant RtToEE. So starting just one level higher will compensate for the loss of a PC?

 

[Darkness]

Re: Ops

So starting just one level higher will compensate for the loss of a PC?

I think it should (provided they get appropriate starting gold for their level); raising level by two ought to double their effectiveness (on paper, at least), which might be a bit much.

Still, RttToEE is deadly enough that raising starting level by an additional level shouldn't make the adventure too easy - so their being level 6 ought to work well enough, too.

It of course also depends on other factors such as ability scores, what classes they are (or rather, aren't - e.g., a party without a cleric is probably looking at trouble), etc.

 

[hong]

Don't forget also that reducing party size not only reduces combat ability, but also flexibility. If you don't have a rogue, the traps will hurt that much more; if you don't have a wizard, monsters with DR or special powers will be harder to kill; if you don't have a cleric, be prepared to retreat a lot to heal up; etc. So bumping the party up to 6th level doesn't seem too outrageous to me.

I didn't mention fighters because there never seems to be a shortage of fighters.

 

[zorlag]

Fighters

Yeah, on low levels... However, fighters on high levels (read Epic) are rarer that spotted elephants.

Z.

 

[Agnostic Paladin]

Yeah, I'd say you want to start (and hopefully stay) two levels higher than expected. Most times I'd say just one higher, but the Return is too dangerous to play at the standard levels for four characters to begin with.

 

[Radius]

Using the same logic, would a party with 5 characters do okay starting the module at 3rd level?

 

[LGodamus]

well I say level 6 would be good.....that dungeon is a meat grinder for parties that arent combat optimized.

 

[Creamsteak]

Actually, if your party isn't going to have the natural flexibility, and we are talking about a truly deadly adventure, you would be best set to start at level 7 with a Cleric. You'll be 2 levels away from having the ability to raise dead after combat... which, once achieved, pretty much makes up for anything short of a TPK.