Greetings, fellow travelers,
and thank you very much for the stat blocks, Julian! This looks like a nice challenge and a big surprise for my players - the right mixture between fun for me, but not outright doom for the players.
Concerning Vordakai's actions after waking up, I think it is mentioned in the AP, that he is quite happy to learn, that his kin is gone from the region, which gives him the opportunity to establish a lasting rulership (boy, if he would know my players...) over the lands.
Concerning APL for the confrontation with Vordakai I hope I can use the centaurs to caution the PCs, that approaching the crypt before a certain level (phrased differently ingame) would be suicidal. Hopefully, my group is not going to murder these "beastmen" outright...
I have thought about using the skeleton of the Linnorm not only as the holy site described but enhancing it to be more significant: Either I will create some real-life-material-world encounter like an ambush of sorts - other centaur raiding party, bandits - kidnapping the shaman who was to perform some "baptizing" the PCs (remember, that the shaman's daughter (?) is missing and the PCs can be seen as heaven sent help for her rescue), so that the PCs are side-tracked.
Or they encounter the rearguard of the host, which has cleared out the silver dragon's lair (hm, would need some tweeking concerning the time of the killing, concerning loot and concerning the skeleton of that beast as well), which they need to defeat/chase/deliver somewhere to side-track the PCs.
Or I can think of some First World-imaginary/dream-encounters around a "good luck and bountiful hunting" ceremony held by the centaur shaman, where they are assaulted by fey or some ghost-version of the Linnorm itself to let the players gain more experience.
I like the last option best, because my campaign is more "feyish" anyway, and that would add to the eerie feeling around certain places in my Stolen Lands (like the Temple of the Elk, the tower on the island of Candlemere Lake and so on).
Ruyan.
Greetings, fellow travelers.
As far as I read it, on page 9 it is written, that they PCs can
"expand their nation until it reaches a respectable size of 50–60 hexes or so (perhaps even extending into the Nomen heights to the west of the Tors of Levenies) before beginning this adventure - emphasis mine.
Also, it is mentioned, that the adventure is not on a timer and the vanishing can take place, whenever you as a DM decide it should happen (meaning that some prisoners are beyond aid or are able to wait for rescue for some time) - so Varnhold can already be devoid of citizens, before the PCs start annexing hexes to the east.
I have given the Fort some thought and I will have Rostland handle the outpost over to the PCs' kingdom as a last act of friendship, with the plea to watch Rostland's back (Rostland will claim it has been over-run by bandits).
Finally, the Nomen will - according to their history - definitely get hostile, if the PCs claim hexes off of the Dunsward (see page 33, Under the Nomen).
Ruyan.
Greetings, fellow travelers,
and thank you very much for the stat blocks, Julian! This looks like a nice challenge and a big surprise for my players - the right mixture between fun for me, but not outright doom for the players.
Concerning Vordakai's actions after waking up, I think it is mentioned in the AP, that he is quite happy to learn, that his kin is gone from the region, which gives him the opportunity to establish a lasting rulership (boy, if he would know my players...) over the lands.
Concerning APL for the confrontation with Vordakai I hope I can use the centaurs to caution the PCs, that approaching the crypt before a certain level (phrased differently ingame) would be suicidal. Hopefully, my group is not going to murder these "beastmen" outright...
I have thought about using the skeleton of the Linnorm not only as the holy site described but enhancing it to be more significant: Either I will create some real-life-material-world encounter like an ambush of sorts - other centaur raiding party, bandits - kidnapping the shaman who was to perform some "baptizing" the PCs (remember, that the shaman's daughter (?) is missing and the PCs can be seen as heaven sent help for her rescue), so that the PCs are side-tracked.
Or they encounter the rearguard of the host, which has cleared out the silver dragon's lair (hm, would need some tweeking concerning the time of the killing, concerning loot and concerning the skeleton of that beast as well), which they need to defeat/chase/deliver somewhere to side-track the PCs.
Or I can think of some First World-imaginary/dream-encounters around a "good luck and bountiful hunting" ceremony held by the centaur shaman, where they are assaulted by fey or some ghost-version of the Linnorm itself to let the players gain more experience.
I like the last option best, because my campaign is more "feyish" anyway, and that would add to the eerie feeling around certain places in my Stolen Lands (like the Temple of the Elk, the tower on the island of Candlemere...
That Centaur with druid levels is not a pushover. I was also thinking of giving her two centaurs with 2 barbarian levels as body guards to even things out.
started this tonight
lots polticals as i wanted a connection to Varn beforehand
the Duke (PC) married Varns sister
so they go for a hunt to celebrate after the wedding
1st encounter....98 the CR 14 silver dragon (3 of the party are LE)....went ok, bit of cheek from an infernal sorceror
through heavy snow they trudge home having been reprimanded by the dragon and they rolled 4 stygirans as next encounter.....they are now going to live in candlekeep for a year and a day and watch
there is nothing the LN kingdom of MagnaMare will not ally with!!
... then it must be an hommage *duck*
I was reading the trap in W10. What is an Iris?
I am assuming that it is just a big slab of stone that stops the entire dungeon from being flooded.
It's an open/close mechanism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(diaphragm)
It's an open/close mechanism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(diaphragm)
thanks
In the sidebar about the lich's familar it says that if the PC's capture it the lich can destroy the bird or harm anyone nearby. It then references page 52, but I see no way to destroy the familiar or harm the pc's.
In the sidebar about the lich's familar it says that if the PC's capture it the lich can destroy the bird or harm anyone nearby. It then references page 52, but I see no way to destroy the familiar or harm the pc's.
ditto to this. was reading last night. i thought it was something to do with his McGuffin, but i couldnt see
I intended for the PCs to wrongly attribute the vanishing simply to the Nomens and to fight a low-grade war with them for years even as a result before ultimately discovering the truth. I think it has a certain dark, real-world feel to it that captures some of the tragic nuances during the Age of Colonization. Lots of folks got stepped on by people who would have considered themselves to be the "good guys" all in the name of progress.
Wow, this is really cool. I want to run with this.
How exactly were you thinking of this low-grade war playing out? Actually using the mechanics in book 5, or something more like mounting unrest and randomly losing buildings/hexes to raiders? The size of the Nomen settlement does make it seem like its not as simple as a basic attack for the PCs to drive them eastward.
It's me again. Shouldn't the lich's paralysis ability be a DC 22 instead of a 25
19 hit die + cha 16
10+9(half of 19)+3(mod for charisma)=22
If I missed something let me know.
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Here you go Ruyan, sorry the spoiler buttons didn't work for you. I spoilered them because of the length of the stat blocks!
Vordakai’s Champion CR 11
XP 12,800
Male graveknight cyclops antipaladin8 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 52, Pathfinder #27 84, Advanced Player’s Guide 105)
CE Large undead (giant)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +23
Aura aura of cowardice, aura of despair, sacrilegeous aura 30 ft. (DC 28)
Defense
AC 27, touch 9, flat-footed 27 (+7 armor, +0 Dex, +11 natural, -1 size)
hp 161 (10d8+8d10+72)
Fort +16, Ref +10, Will +17
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4, ferocity, rejuvenation; DR 10/magic; Immune cold, electricity, fire, undead traits; SR 22
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 greataxe +26/+21/+16 (3d6+17/×3 plus 4d6 fire) or greataxe with Power Attack +26/+17/+12 (3d6+29/x3 plus 4d6 fire)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks channel destruction, channel negative energy (4d6, DC 17), cruelty (fatigued, staggered; DC 17), devastating blast 3/day (12d6 fire, 30-ft. cone, DC 22), smite good 3/day (+3 attack, +8 damage, +3 deflection bonus to AC while smiting), touch of corruption 7/day (4d6 negative energy), undead mastery (DC 22)
Spell-Like Ability (CL 8th)
At will- detect good
Spells (CL 5th)
2nd- corruption resistance, invisibility
1st- inflict light wounds, protection from good
Tactics
Morale Vordakai’s champion fights until destroyed, fully expecting to rejuvenate.
Statistics
Str 32, Dex 10, Con —, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 16
Base Atk +15; CMB +27; CMD 37
Feats Alertness, Cleave, Dreadful Carnage, Furious Focus, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Intimidating Prowess, Lightning Reflexes, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Ride-by Attack, Toughness
Skills Handle Animal +8, Intimidate +35,...
Awesome stuff Julian, thanks. I'm running Kingmaker for 6 players (twice a month) so it'll be some time before I get to this part... but Vordakai's Champion (either version) seems like a PERFECT addition to the AP... especially with an additional 2 players. I've listed this as well... so I can refer to it as needed. :)
Regards,
Dean; The_Minstrel_Wyrm
session 20:
quite poor session
the murder of crows managed to blind 2 party members, as the group of 7 level 7 PCs seemed dumbfounded by the murder of crows.
they have holed themselves in the church, terrified and clueless what do to do about the mighty spriggans waiting outside.
everyone seemed off the ball a bit tonight
I should really have the spriggans just leave now humans are back...
on the plus side
go to use the temple, farmstead and graveyard map-packs from paizo!!
I think it has a certain dark, real-world feel to it that captures some of the tragic nuances during the Age of Colonization. Lots of folks got stepped on by people who would have considered themselves to be the "good guys" all in the name of progress. I understand if folks would prefer a less morally ambiguous game than that to cater to a more escapist style of play. But I like how it plays out, and I think a GM can provide the incentive for the Nomen conflicts to escalate or be resolved as best fits that particular gaming group.
My group was preconditioned to make an alliance with the Centaurs after successes with the kobolds and lizardfolk, but the years of distrust made it much more difficult in this case. The party managed to get over the difficult diplomacy DCs, but even then Silverfire the leader asked them to either retrieve Skybolt (a dangerous side quest I put in) or kill some marauding Cyclops (disguised ogre mages causing trouble) before she would permit them to enter the Valley of the Dead.
Of course, half the party wanted to just go to the Valley anyway, while the other half was determined to start a new era in Centaur-humankind relations. All-in-all very satisfying, especially when the "Cyclops" asked the PCs to kill Silverfire in exchange for the Dunsward lands and the party said no and shed blood for their would-be allies.
Looking for feedback from anyone who has run the last encounter on how it went. Running this in a couple of weeks. Worried about the DR on the boss being too tough on the one hand, but also his missing a save and going down too early on the other. My group is 5 8th level PCs, including a necromancer (halt undead, command undead, etc. have been handy in the tomb) and an inquisitor with a holy slashing weapon (party's biggest damage dealer).
Looking for feedback from anyone who has run the last encounter on how it went. Running this in a couple of weeks. Worried about the DR on the boss being too tough on the one hand, but also his missing a save and going down too early on the other. My group is 5 8th level PCs, including a necromancer (halt undead, command undead, etc. have been handy in the tomb) and an inquisitor with a holy slashing weapon (party's biggest damage dealer).
I should be running it this weekend. I will let you know how it went. I did notice that there is nothing to stop the meleers from going directly to the BBEG. That seems like a good way to lose, and a lot of his spells are not battle winners. His thing is the paralyzing touch. I plan to change his spells out so he can cast wall of force or wall of stone. While the party is trying to get though it I will use summon monsters 5 to get 1d3(?) animals from the lower summon list, and do the same with summon monster 4.
I have to deal with: All currently level 71.Hi AC fighter
2.A paladin
3.Witch/sorcerer
4.warforged monk. I am playing in eberron. I think they are immune to paralysis so I have to keep him away.
5.wizard/cleric/MT.
PS: There is a magical bludgeoning weapon somewhere in the book to help you out. They also provided scrolls of freedom of movement, among other items. I have learned Paizo likes to hand out helpers.
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I ran the final encounter a few weeks ago, and my players really enjoyed it. We had a witch, a cavalier, a sorcerer (elemental bloodline - ice) and a ranger (skirmisher), plus the cavalier's cohort, a rogue.
The boss stated out with waves of fatigue, then when he got flanked, he turned round and phantasmal killer'd the rogue, dropping her dead on the spot. Through talking to the centaur captive, they'd learnt the creature could paralyse (no-one had knowledge: religion!) so they all had freedom of movement up. They beat on one another for a while, nobody being able to break the boss's DR.
The boss eventually dispelled the freedom of movement on the cavalier, which got a nice 'oh crap' moment. They were manuvering to get the ring from the earlier area onto the cavalier's finger when the boss hit his threshold and dim doored away. They got 1 minute to poke around, used their potions of remove paralysis and lesser restoration (to fix that pesky fatigue), found the flail and the jars, acidentally broke one and had a single terrified villager cowering in a corner.
Boss came back for round 2, but he was very low on spells. Since the flail was cold iron, they tried it on him, and were delighted to find that 'cold iron' broke his DR! (:P) Between the flail and the witch spamming cure spells (mostly from scrolls by this point), he went down pretty fast.
For them, undoutably the game-winner was the sorcerer with dispel magic. He managed to take down all of the boss's buffs by the end, and dispel the ranger when she got suggested.
I didn't like the fact that the PC's had a direct line to the boss. I change out some of his spell to summon spell to harrass the casters, and I gave him wall of force, and another similar spell. They wont the first part of the fight so he left to "recharge". Before he gets back he will cast his remaining buffs, and I expect to have at least one prisoner. The 2nd half of the fight is tomorrow. I will post the results here.
My players are taking the "vanishing" very seriously and see it as a major threat to their kingdom. I am concerned though, that they will go straight to Varnhold, then to the Nomen, then to Vordakai.
With that direction, they will not be of appropriate level to deal with Vordakai. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?
My players are taking the "vanishing" very seriously and see it as a major threat to their kingdom. I am concerned though, that they will go straight to Varnhold, then to the Nomen, then to Vordakai.
With that direction, they will not be of appropriate level to deal with Vordakai. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?
My players did exactly that this Sunday and have just entered room W9 (snuck past the creature in W8 with a low level summon after taking some heavy damage).
Since they have little interest in most of the quests inside the cover nor random exploration I give out story awards at various points (e.g. clearing Varnhold of Spriggans, Securing an alliance with the Nomen's, eventually successfully locating Vordakai etc.) to make up for it and they should reach lvl 9 just before meeting Vordakai. If they don't I'm sure they'll manage anyway (the party's barbarian kicks ass with enlarge, rage, bulls strength and power attack). Or worst case they'll have to escape and come back stronger.
My players are taking the "vanishing" very seriously and see it as a major threat to their kingdom. I am concerned though, that they will go straight to Varnhold, then to the Nomen, then to Vordakai.
With that direction, they will not be of appropriate level to deal with Vordakai. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?
Let them lose, just don't kill them. After all, Vordakai wants information, not to kill everyone and everything. Have him alter his tactics to capture one (or more) party members; fodder for his one (or more) remaining soul jars.
Give the party plenty of time to realise they are overmatched - perhaps including a few rounds of villain monologuing, if necessary - and let them escape. If you have a player who's up for that sort of thing, have one of the PCs captured and let him play an NPC or replacement character for a few sessions until the inevitable rescue attempt.
In short, don't panic, but don't hold up a sign saying "You can't yet!" either. The goal is to get them to realise they need more help/levels/hirelings/expendable resources to tackle the big guy without being explicitly told.
My players are taking the "vanishing" very seriously and see it as a major threat to their kingdom. I am concerned though, that they will go straight to Varnhold, then to the Nomen, then to Vordakai.
With that direction, they will not be of appropriate level to deal with Vordakai. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?
Let them lose, just don't kill them. After all, Vordakai wants information, not to kill everyone and everything. Have him alter his tactics to capture one (or more) party members; fodder for his one (or more) remaining <i>soul jars</i>.
Give the party plenty of time to realise they are overmatched - perhaps including a few rounds of villain monologuing, if necessary - and let them escape. If you have a player who's up for that sort of thing, have one of the PCs captured and let him play an NPC or replacement character for a few sessions until the inevitable rescue attempt.
In short, don't panic, but don't hold up a sign saying "You can't yet!" either. The goal is to get <i>them</i> to realise they need more help/levels/hirelings/expendable resources to tackle the big guy without being explicitly told.
That is what I was going to do but my players got lucky and won.
I have a few questions regarding the vanishing part before I'm sending my players through the rest of the tomb. (They are in W9)
In room W23 there are the bodies of 33 colonists with their skulls cracked and brains eaten. Were they released from their soul jars and then put in this room to be lich-dinner? (Since they all vanished from Varnhold without trace I'm assuming that's what happened).
Also it's written that Willas Gundarson in room W22 recovered from the beckoning and tried to fight his way out. Did the power of the mass charm monster effect from the oculus of Abbadon continue to work after the souls had been trapped in the soul jars and also after being released again?
And last where are the empty soul jars of the already dead colonists? (not really important considering they can't be reused, but helps explain to the players what happened).
Thanks for any help clarifying this. :-)
I have a few questions regarding the vanishing part before I'm sending my players through the rest of the tomb. (They are in W9)
In room W23 there are the bodies of 33 colonists with their skulls cracked and brains eaten. Were they released from their soul jars and then put in this room to be lich-dinner? (Since they all vanished from Varnhold without trace I'm assuming that's what happened).
Also it's written that Willas Gundarson in room W22 recovered from the beckoning and tried to fight his way out. Did the power of the mass charm monster effect from the oculus of Abbadon continue to work after the souls had been trapped in the soul jars and also after being released again?
And last where are the empty soul jars of the already dead colonists? (not really important considering they can't be reused, but helps explain to the players what happened).
Thanks for any help clarifying this. :-)
I assumed the soul jars were of people that were still alive, just so the PC's would have someone to interact with, and to officially agree to be ruled. I really did not check to see if that is how it goes by the book. As far as charm monster it only works for hours per level so even if it is cast at level 20 it should be worn off since Varnhold stopped communicating about 3 months before the PC's are sent to investigate.
I assumed the soul jars were of people that were still alive, just so the PC's would have someone to interact with, and to officially agree to be ruled. I really did not check to see if that is how it goes by the book. As far as charm monster it only works for hours per level so even if it is cast at level 20 it should be worn off since Varnhold stopped communicating about 3 months before the PC's are sent to investigate.I have a few questions regarding the vanishing part before I'm sending my players through the rest of the tomb. (They are in W9)
In room W23 there are the bodies of 33 colonists with their skulls cracked and brains eaten. Were they released from their soul jars and then put in this room to be lich-dinner? (Since they all vanished from Varnhold without trace I'm assuming that's what happened).
Also it's written that Willas Gundarson in room W22 recovered from the beckoning and tried to fight his way out. Did the power of the mass charm monster effect from the oculus of Abbadon continue to work after the souls had been trapped in the soul jars and also after being released again?
And last where are the empty soul jars of the already dead colonists? (not really important considering they can't be reused, but helps explain to the players what happened).
Thanks for any help clarifying this. :-)
Yeah, I didn't think it would still be active, but to me it seems that Vordakai took them out of the soul jars while they were still alive and under the effect of charm monster before he began feasting on their brains, but he didn't finish them all yet, thus leaving 42 for the PCs to find.
With the mention of Willas having recovered from the charm monster right before the feasting (though assuming after being released from his soul jar), and no mention of empty/broken soul jars it seemed like some details were missing.My players tend to ask all kinds of plot related questions and while I can just decide that there are lots of empty jars near the already dead colonists, it'd be nice to have some clarifications. :)
The typical soul jar can only hold creatures with 5 or less HD. Most of those being feasted upon were the highest-level creatures in Varnhold, so those were presumably never soul-jar'ed, but only came there due to the beckoning of the Oculus.
The typical soul jar can only hold creatures with 5 or less HD. Most of those being feasted upon were the highest-level creatures in Varnhold, so those were presumably never soul-jar'ed, but only came there due to the beckoning of the Oculus.
My problem with that is that Vordakai captured all of them in soul jars, or so it says, and if they had walked due to the beckoning it would both leave more traces of them disappearing and the spell would likely expire before they even reached the tomb (assuming it follows normal duration rules).
edit: As Greg A. Vaughan pointed out earlier though, Maegar Varn would be a "LN male human (Taldan) aristocrat 4/bard 3 (colonial governor)", so I guess he got hit with dominate person along with up to two other high levels.
The soul jars were added when Vordekai was changed from his prior unique undead form to a lich, so some of those details got overlooked. I would say put some used soul jars in the feasting chamber and assume that he just used the occulus again when they emerged for the feast but Willas made his save and faked it or something like that.
Ah ok, thanks for replying and clearing that up. :)
Double post.
Anyone else had their players rip out one of their eyes and put the Oculus of Abaddon in?^^
The NE Wizard of the Old Gods in one of my groups figured it was a really nice item and ripped his left eye out, then proceeded to buy/make a hat of disguise so it wouldn't look so bad.
They found the room with the Oculus focus, but didn't dare do anything and don't know what it is/does. (I found the one way teleport to the nearby room to be a bit dull though).
Does anyone have any good ideas regarding the Oculus that could increase the fun for my player and group (and me^^) regarding this item?
Double post.
Anyone else had their players rip out one of their eyes and put the Oculus of Abaddon in?^^
The NE Wizard of the Old Gods in one of my groups figured it was a really nice item and ripped his left eye out, then proceeded to buy/make a hat of disguise so it wouldn't look so bad.
They found the room with the Oculus focus, but didn't dare do anything and don't know what it is. (I found the one way teleport to the nearby room to be a bit dull though).
Does anyone have any good ideas regarding the Oculus that could increase the fun for my player and group (and me^^) regarding this item?
I took away the connection it had to the "dungeon". I also allowed it to summon 1d3 of those things that drain wisdom 2/day. My players found the entrance on the cliff, and tried to come in through the backdoor, but they failed the dispel magic check, so I sent after them. They decided to camp again so I sent one advanced version.
PS: The owner of the Occulus has the option of using one advanced version of the soulstealers(?) instead of trying to pull 1d3. I did not like the room, because there were no knowledge checks to figure out how to get it to work.
My players sold the Occulus. They will regret that later on.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
I am currently making additional notes to #3 and I came about the abandoned lair of the Culchek spriggans.
My idea is to have some monsters occupying that space (it's a 15 rooms appartment, after all!) which is not too difficult, but I want to have more than just another random encounter in that area.
Does anybody else have toyed with that idea and would share his/her thoughts?
Also: would the cave be built for small humanoids or for large ones?
Thanks for the help!
Ruyan.
My players sold the Occulus. They will regret that later on.
Uh, who exactly do you sell that thing to? Who buys crap like that?
I would also argue that selling an item of that type is an evil act in-and-of itself.minor RotRL spoiler:
My players sold the Occulus. They will regret that later on.Uh, who exactly do you sell that thing to? Who buys crap like that?
I would also argue that selling an item of that type is an evil act in-and-of itself.minor RotRL spoiler:
** spoiler omitted **
I am pretty sure there are evil people who would buy it. There is even a villain in AoW who specializes in such transactions.
PS:It is only crap to us good aligned people. Well the dwarf has CG on his character sheet, but he is really more CN and greedy. The party is basically neutral in action, with enough good deeds sprinkled in for me to not bother making alignment changes.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
I am organizing my notes for V.'s abode, also it is a bit early, since we are still in #1.
Anyways, I am sure my group will not be able to clear the whole dungeon in one go. They will have to rest. How did you handle that? Did your group rest in the dungeon/Was your group so stupid and rested in the dungeon - and what happened? I mean, I would assume, that since V. knows they are coming after him, he would have come and finish them off (I know I would).
Thanks for your help and insight!
Ruyan.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
I am organizing my notes for V.'s abode, also it is a bit early, since we are still in #1.
Anyways, I am sure my group will not be able to clear the whole dungeon in one go. They will have to rest. How did you handle that? Did your group rest in the dungeon/Was your group so stupid and rested in the dungeon - and what happened? I mean, I would assume, that since V. knows they are coming after him, he would have come and finish them off (I know I would).** spoiler omitted **
Thanks for your help and insight!
Ruyan.
V actually has several monsters in the dungeon, and my idea was for them to be worn down by the monsters. I did play him as arrogant until he started losing, but I also changed his spell list. As written the PC have a clear shot to him. No caster fights in melee when I run them, no arcane caster that is.
I added some summon spells, and well spells. I also added invisibility. When I dimension doored away and healed up I cast haste and invisibility on before coming back into the room. Unfortunately I flubbed the stealth check and the PC have high perception modifiers so they became aware V was back in the room. I saw no reason to hold back so I charged into the fray. I used grease to lock the paladin down in one square. When the cleric started to heal people, I used the 2nd dimension door to pay her a visit. The issue, which I did not realize until it was to late was that I was basically trapped. In the end V went down, but it was a good fight.PS: One thing I did with the Wall of Force spell was create a barrier. Then I starting summoning backup. Due to 2 lucky crits my backup did not stay around for long though.
Using mirror image is a good idea also.
Greetings, fellow travellers and thanks for your input, wraithstrike.
I know about the monsters in the dungeon, but the other big one is stationary, IMO. And the ghoul-thingies are not tough enough, I think.
So, I will add the *watchamacallit* from Julian in W23.
What I am not clear about (and I know, it's my game and ultimately I will have to decide that question):
Will V. actually send his minions (or go himself) after the party _OR_ is he really that arrogant and is awaiting them in this throne room (giving a melodramatic speech)?
I will definitely change his spell list according to your suggestions (I have read them in another thread already and really liked your thinking). What I want to avoid is an anti-climatic battle at the end of a tough dungeon, with the big guy down in one round due to the paladin's aura of justice (and giving the party enough rest in between to make it a sunday afternoon walk in the park).
Hm, maybe after 2/3 of the dungeon I will see how my group copes with it's inhabitants and decide ad hoc.
Ruyan.
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Greetings, fellow travellers and thanks for your input, wraithstrike.
I know about the monsters in the dungeon, but the other big one is stationary, IMO. And the ghoul-thingies are not tough enough, I think.
So, I will add the *watchamacallit* from Julian in W23.
What I am not clear about (and I know, it's my game and ultimately I will have to decide that question):
Will V. actually send his minions (or go himself) after the party _OR_ is he really that arrogant and is awaiting them in this throne room (giving a melodramatic speech)?I will definitely change his spell list according to your suggestions (I have read them in another thread already and really liked your thinking). What I want to avoid is an anti-climatic battle at the end of a tough dungeon, with the big guy down in one round due to the paladin's aura of justice (and giving the party enough rest in between to make it a sunday afternoon walk in the park).
Hm, maybe after 2/3 of the dungeon I will see how my group copes with it's inhabitants and decide ad hoc.
Ruyan.
What are the ghoulie things? Do you mean the dread cyclops zombie?
Those things still have the ability to choose any one dice roll as a nat 20. They have a low intelligence, but they could have reasonably been instructed to pull the melee types out of the range of the channeling of cleric, and drop a crit on them.Paladins are not immune to being paralyzed :). My paladin got beat up by a grease spell. Paladins don't have great reflex saves so trapping him in a wall of stone is possible. Blindness/Deafness on the arcanist is not a bad idea. Using Babau to break the paladin's weapon is not a bad idea either. When the party is outside fighting the element I am sure V knows about it. I would put up a wall of force. I know the spell is not memorized, but trading in sold gold item he does not need for a few scrolls increases the things he can do to the party. He has about 175 hit points, and a decent AC. Ray of enfeebling the paladin drops his attack rolls. Actually having him be invisible when the party walks into the room behind the wall of force is not a bad idea. They will see the summons. The wall will drop when V dismisses it, and the fun begins.Having him sneak around to the back of the party where the casters are seems like fun also.
PS: If the summoning is completer before they enter the room the summons should be on the far side of the room. Allow the paladin to go over to fight them. V then appears behind the party casters. By the time he gets back at least one of them should be paralyzed. I was not smart enough to do this for my group, but hindsight is 20/20.
After seeing the thing Julian created I can only say +1.
Awesome.
Yeah, ghoulie-things = zombies...
And I completely missed their SQ...
I can totally see an BBEG acting as you described, and I lean heavily to your side, but he is an arrogant lich, 10000s of years old.
On the other hand, their faces! I can totally see my party being flabbergasted at the tons of stuff I can unload on them!
Well, thanks again for your input, it is highly appreciated.
Ruyan.
PS: Now, they only have to survive the Stag Lord and the trolls and the owlbear... but the future for me as a maniacly grinning DM seems so much brighter.
V toasted tonight
once dispel magic had got rid of his displacement he got pretty well shredded in quick time
Party bard failed his know:arcana so they are not sure what to do with they occulum
see how that goes next time
Looking for feedback from anyone who has run the last encounter on how it went. Running this in a couple of weeks. Worried about the DR on the boss being too tough on the one hand, but also his missing a save and going down too early on the other. My group is 5 8th level PCs, including a necromancer (halt undead, command undead, etc. have been handy in the tomb) and an inquisitor with a holy slashing weapon (party's biggest damage dealer).
I finally ran this encounter last night, and both and I and the party were pleased with how it played. Thanks to those who supplied input on this capstone encounter.
I dropped his shield spell to reflect his 'arrogance' and swapped enchantment spells for necromancy, but that was about it. On round 1 he did waves of fatigue, round 2 ray of exhaustion and quickened magic missile, and round 3 'burning blood' from 3.5 to reflect his lost lore. His biggest unanticipated advantage was paralyzing reach related attacks of opportunity as party moved in for attacks.
The party's strength is spell-casting and the newly leveled Inquisitor was able to use searing light to strong effect, and the oracle had holy smite. They used 3 remove paralysis scrolls from the emergency trove in the Varnhold church to stay in the fight.
When he was down to 50 hp or so, he left and healed and party did the same; he then came back with fireball and cone of cold. Again, magic missile and sound burst chipped him down and party eventually took him down with the holy sword but not before he critted once with his touch attack.
Overall, pleased the encounter ran several rounds and his hp, dr, high will save, and undead immunity to fortitude save spells lent good staying power.