| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Mascifin
Acolyte
4 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Jan 2006 : 02:40:49
|
In my current campaign, my PCs are about to depart their home just north of Scardale Town, a small fishing hamlet, to heed Lord Ulath of Deepingdale's call for help dealing with the Storm King's demands of tribute. (A hook straight from the FRCS  )
Now, I have a couple of problems.
A) The party is actually a bit of an oddity -- each person plays 3 characters at three levels, all members of the same adventuring company. We have a group currently around level 9, a group at level 6, and a group at level 3. One session focuses on one of the three. However, due to the large nature of this job, they decided to bring along the whole crew.
Now, I can think of some fairly straightforward and reasonable ways to split the group up once they get to Highmoon. The problem is trying to challenge them on the way there. Not only would each player be playing three characters, plus one of the level 9's cohort, but the widely disparate levels would make a combat challenge extremely messy. On a couple of levels.
The group plans to escort a caravan headed towards Deepingdale to gain some extra gold. I'm having some trouble coming up with a decent encounter for the trip. Maybe nothing would be better something forced, just the traveling red line from Indiana Jones.
B) Right now, the plan is that the Storm King is preparing lay waste to much of Deepingdale, leading up to an outright invasion and siege of Highmoon. Of course, there has to be a secret behind it all -- long story short, a long dormant disciple of Moander from the time of Netheril has awakened in a drastically changed world. After several months of cautiously exploring his new world, he is manipulating the Storm King through an acolyte. During the chaos caused by the invasion of Deepingdale, minions of Moander's last disciple secretly enter the Darkwatch and investigate the evil there (perhaps releasing it...eventually).
My problem here is how to stall the players. I anticipate that the mid- and low-level characters will take up various roles in defending Deepingdale and Highmoon, with the high-level characters heading into the Thunder Peaks with the intention of slaying the Storm King himself. The Storm King, a cloud giant sorcerer, is far too powerful, and too smart, to be taken down personally by a group of 3 or 4 level 9s.
I'm kinda hitting some DM-block here. Assuming that the level 9s depart Highmoon looking to slay the Storm King, what manner of obstacles and interferences make sense to either prove the mettle of these adventurers and ultimately make them powerful enough to face the Storm King on his own ground or force them to turn back?
|
|
|
Firhyanda
Learned Scribe
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2006 : 04:00:41
|
Greetings
For the low level characters an Ork tribe, driven before the Storm King and his storms they whishes to shelter in Highmoon. Will a diplomatic solution be possible or will there be a battle for Highmoon. Highmoon has around five thousand inhabitants how large a militia can be raise and how quickly. Can the town counsel be convinced that the real threat lies with the coming storm?
For the mid level characters Trappers from the thunder peaks lie dieing in the snow as the sudden winter storms leave many trapped in hunting cabins and remote farms or berried by sudden avalanches. A mated pair of bear hounds MM3 pg 16 hunt the injured and the dieing as the PC race across the snow in dog sleds to save them. Will the PCs be in time?
And for the high level party a large or huge elemental storm MM3 pg 48 and of course storm giants and hill giants along with an avalanche and the storm kings watch dragon an adult white male. Remember the first rule of DM inspiration is if you have a map you have an adventure. I would draw up some ice caves for the Storm king to use fore a lair. I would place this whole thing in the year of lightning storms and play up the whole fluke colder then cold weather thing. My two cents worth for what its worth.
|
 |
|
|
Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2006 : 04:07:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mascifin
The group plans to escort a caravan headed towards Deepingdale to gain some extra gold. I'm having some trouble coming up with a decent encounter for the trip. Maybe nothing would be better something forced, just the traveling red line from Indiana Jones.
Split them up. Have the higher-level groups scout as a foreguard(preferably have the 9th level group do it by air) and have the 3rd level group guard the caravan. Then you can throw a separate encounter at each, especially if it's a coordinated ambush.
quote:
I'm kinda hitting some DM-block here. Assuming that the level 9s depart Highmoon looking to slay the Storm King, what manner of obstacles and interferences make sense to either prove the mettle of these adventurers and ultimately make them powerful enough to face the Storm King on his own ground or force them to turn back?
Have them run into the army and turn back. Use them as an elite unit in the defense of Deepingdale, and have them gain 4 levels in the process. Then send them after the Storm King-you can add at least 4 sorcerer levels at that time, and possibly more if they encounter more dangers on their way to slay him. |
Edited by - Arivia on 28 Jan 2006 19:30:32 |
|
|
|
Fletcher
Learned Scribe
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2006 : 15:42:35
|
How about hit them with an encounter around ECL 8. It would frighten the daylights out of the low level guys and they can ooh and ah over the power and ability of the high level fighters.
At 9th level they should be able to keep most, or even all of the people alive, especially if the 6th level guys do cleanup of anything that leaks through the 9th level guys. |
Run faster! The Kobolds are catching up! |
|
|
|
Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2006 : 19:00:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by Fletcher
How about hit them with an encounter around ECL 8.
ECL is not CR is not EL is not LA. Learn to use the correct one, or else you'll have problems.
quote:
At 9th level they should be able to keep most, or even all of the people alive, especially if the 6th level guys do cleanup of anything that leaks through the 9th level guys.
Nope. It's very hard to combat shape a battle involving low-level folk against mid-level folk, especially as the mid-level folk have access to viable area spells, such as fireball. I'd really suggest splitting them up-the 3rd level folk are in great danger in that encounter. |
|
|
|
Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2006 : 10:21:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mascifin
My problem here is how to stall the players. I anticipate that the mid- and low-level characters will take up various roles in defending Deepingdale and Highmoon, with the high-level characters heading into the Thunder Peaks with the intention of slaying the Storm King himself. The Storm King, a cloud giant sorcerer, is far too powerful, and too smart, to be taken down personally by a group of 3 or 4 level 9s.
In that case I'd see 2 possibilities: firstly the PC are able to find powerful allies (thunderpeaks are close to Cormyr, Deepingdale close to Sembia - in either place are powerful NPCs, the problem would be to motivate them to help) or secondly, the PC get badly, very badly bruised if they try alone.
I can't imagine how a party of level 9 could ever possibly defeat a frost giant in his own lair
- Important note: as a DM you are not responsible for the PC to survive!!! |
'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
Edited by - Iliphar1 on 28 Jan 2006 10:23:06 |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2006 : 20:33:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by Iliphar1
- Important note: as a DM you are not responsible for the PC to survive!!!
However, at the same time, a DM should set things up so that the PCs can survive...
Me, I can't think of any way to run this particular scenario. I think you're better off having only one group, and scaling the scenario to them. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
|
|
|
Mascifin
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2006 : 22:17:04
|
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I think I have to agree with Wooly Rupert; I can't think of an encounter for the trip out that would be fun. I can let the higher-ups show off (and maybe I will), or I can really massacre the lower group, but nothing reasonable to challenge both. I'll probably just describe the trip and allow the PCs the opportunity to instigate their own trouble.
As for once they're in Highmoon, I'm definitely thinking I'll use the white dragon and rescue scenarios. I'm also thinking that the goblinoid forces have a secret weapon, an enslaved mountain troll. That should keep the higher-ups scrambling. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Campaign Dilemna: The Storm King
