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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pokedigimaniac" data-source="post: 2698028" data-attributes="member: 36208">Hmm. I've run into a bit of a dilemma.Earlier in the thread, I really liked the idea of replacing Longtail (Region A) with a Kyton, as well as the other details of that encounter. I'm running two groups through the WLD, so I figured I would use the Kyton for one and Longtail for the other.One of my groups has been doing fine, save a high attrition rate - three out of the four original party members are now dead, and have been replaced by both new characters and orcs from the remainder of the orc clan that has allied with them. This is the one that I was thinking of running Longtail for.The other group is far more balanced than the first one, and has managed to ally with the kobolds and the lizardmen (the alliance is tenuous, though...) and has cleaned out most of the region with no casualties. I had intended to run the kyton encounter for them, both as a change of pace (they've fought a bearded devil in this region before, so it won't be a complete shock) and as a way to thin the ranks of their army a little bit... get rid of some kobolds, probably, if nothing else.The problem with this setup is that the second group ran into a really bad RPing snag last week, where I had to cut the session short because people were cranky and tired OOC, which was bleeding into their characters. One of the characters' greatest desires for the last two or three sessions has been "to ballsap Longtail." Yes, he's that nasty. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> Another  character, the paladin, wants to cleanse the evil from the region. The final two members could care less, to be honest - they're more interested in their own things, which include escaping and collecting gems.Anyways, this RPing snag blew up into a bit of unpleasantness between the players and myself, which I've spent most of the week reconciling. One of my players had this to say just a moment ago:Player: Oh, just another thing, I think the whole D&D slump will go away once we actually finish our encounter with Longtail.Player: I think we're all looking forward to that in and out of character, so the sooner we get to it the better.Me: That was my thinking as well.Me: Believe me, I've been looking forward to that encounter as well. ^^Me: Hmm.Me: I just have to do some thinking now. X_XMe: But, anyhow, thanks for dropping me the IM.Player: No prob.So here's my dilemma. I think that as they are, the group will crush Longtail readily - they have the numbers and the inclination, (the kobolds REALLY want to kill Longtail at this point) and could just charge him with all hands and grapple/sneak attack him into nothing. (Granted, he has some ways for getting around this, but even so... Fly doesn't save him, as nearly all of the party is equipped with ranged weapons and can do some serious damage with them)I guess what I'm looking for here are two things. First, opinions on whether I should switch the encounters so that the second party goes against Longtail and the first goes against the kyton, or leave it as I had originally planned. (The trouble is that I've already laid foreshadowed hints that something's not quite right up where they believe Longtail to be...) Second, suggestions on how to run Longtail effectively to present a good challenge to a Level 4 party (gnome paladin, gnome sorceror, halfling rogue, xeph soulknife), along with 7 kobolds (includes one Level 4 kobold wizard, one Level 2 kobold rogue, five Level 3 kobold warriors, and one Level 2 kobold expert) and 2 lizardfolk (one Level 3 druid and one Level 3 ranger). [Yeah, it's a ridiculous army, I know. Another reason to run the kyton, as it will thin the ranks of the kobolds considerably.)I'm not sure how much of Longtail's stats I can copy here (copyright reasons and all that jazz), but I'll at least copy some of the basic things:Longtail, Wererat Sor 7Spells known:0 - acid splash, daze, detect magic, light, mage hand, ray of frost, read magic1 - detect secret doors, expeditious retreat, magic missile, shield, sleep2 - blur, eagle's splendor, invisibility3 - dispel magic, flyAs written, he enters having expeditious retreat, shield, and eagle's splendor all cast already on him. Fly is one possibility, but I already mentioned the ranged weapons previously. Invisibility is another, but they have the paladin's Detect Evil at will. Of course, they'll also have to contend with the constantly-invisible imp familiar that keeps stinging them, so there's THAT, at least.Anyhow, I've written enough. Any and all thoughts and tips would be appreciated, as I run tomorrow at 4:30 EST. Thanks in advance!</blockquote>

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