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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wik" data-source="post: 5290969" data-attributes="member: 40177">There are a few problems:1)  You're setting up multiple encounters which are set up with a predetermined outcome in mind.  This is okay in single-party games, but in a game where there are two "sides", you're basically asking for problems.  What happens if a PC dies in the first encounter?2)  Stage multiple encounters, or else PCs will just blow all their dailies at the start of a fight - PCs WILL go nova in these encounters.  If you say up front that there will be two (or three) combats, they might reserve judgement.  3)  Were it me, I'd stage the combats as two competitions, with each competition part combat and part non-combat (sort of like a capture the flag mission).  Killing PCs in these encounters should not be the main goal.  Each win grants a boon (or more) to the winning party;  these boons are used ONLY in the last encounter.  4)  Last encounter should be a battle royale - a plain ol' fight to the death.  5)  A skill challenge to "win the favour of the crowd" could be cool to have ongoing during the fights, consisting of a sort of sliding scale.  PCs could take skill checks as attack, move, or minor actions, with a success in a relevant skill upping their sides "favour" by a set amount - while lowering the enemy's by the same amount.  At set levels, each member of that side gets an associated bonus (no penalties, though) to attack and damage.  Things like Crits, natural ones, PCs going unconscious, and spending dailies in a round (the number should get higher the longer the fight goes on;  spending a daily later in the fight should be rewarded) - all these should also change this "favour" meter.  6)  Stress a friendly, party atmosphere at the table, and do it with PCs that the players have no connection to - this way, PC deaths won't be taken as harshly.  7)  Have fun!</blockquote>

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