OSR Greyhawk Adventures -- Dungeon Mag. and others (PF1e w/ Houserules)

Game Master Sebecloki

Sebecloki wrote:

Part of my understanding of OSR design is that there are 'instant die' effects like the wand of orcus or the sphere of annihilation in the demon mouth in the Tomb of Horrors, and I'm trying to experiment with non CR threats like happen in Rappan Athuk, where you might meet a CR 30 monster in a CR 10 area. I'm also still experimenting with encounter designs for these characters, which I WAY underestimated last time. It will take a few attempts to see exactly where to set things.

That sounds good! Especially with three rounds to react to things having this be essentially sudden death if we stand still sounds right in line with that (more so than simply losing initiative at the start of the fight being something that would get everyone killed; there's a difference between making decisions that can get us all killed (what's happening now or deciding to use the Sphere of Annihilation in the demon mouth,) and simply getting killed for going to the next part of the adventure.)

For what we need in terms of CR and what will be appropriate, I think we're going to be pretty sturdy, but we're not going to have the same damage output that we had last fight, so this encounter is one that should kill us all if we stick around and tackle it head on. Coming up with other approaches in a situation like this is I think what you're looking for us to do?

Yes, the idea is that there are certain encounters you can't actually just face head on. In old DnD the goal was to get treasure, not kill things, b/c the loot was how you got xp. That's the same principle here -- you don't need to kill anything technically in this encounter. The goal was to scout out the fort, and report what happened -- you could accomplish that by one person sneaking around and taking notes and stealing some evidence or somehow making a recording.

The mines are a bit different, but there are still more options that always battering down the door. You could arrange for a collapse and pick off opponents as they funnel out, try to make alliances for a larger assault, try to spread an illness via the river system, etc.

I think that we'll probably be able to settle into that more as we go (though this time we didn't actually try to break the door down; we tried to use that signal we were given and go in to talk and were attacked for it on their end. I'm going to take that as a step in the right direction!)

The journey of the Companions of the Broken Band along the narrow path through the Wailing Woods that leads Ruoyna's Rest to the Fort Zeltan is initially uneventful, yet still filled with foreboding.

The ancient trees hang low over the thin, unpaved path. Twisted roots disturb the path with gnarled tendrils of made of rough, black bark whose surface is rougher than sand paper. The over hanging branches likewise impinge upon the narrow thoroughfare of dirt with claw like appendages. It is as if the path is barely holding on to its tenuous life before being swallowed up by the dense forest.

After several hours, just as it seemed as if the Company had left behind all traces of civilization, a small clearing suddenly manifests by the side of the path. It contains a small, rustic log house distinguished by the elaborate, brightly-colored carvings of men, beasts, and stranger things which festoon its structural pillars, lintels, and dormers.

Just to clarify - this is a retcon back to the middle of this post?

yes

Stepping back into the trees, Brando picks up a fallen branch and after scratching runes on it and speaking a few words, a wooden snake weaves its way across the clearing.

"Hold back everybody" he says softly, "best to see if there's anyone here who's just too jumpy. Living in the wilds makes some people unfit for company, you know?"

Spending a spell point on the animate object talent, enhancement sphere. It doesn't give the object intelligence and I've just told it to circle the house and go back into the trees. I haven't told it to fight back if attacked.

Stepping back into the trees, Brando picks up a fallen branch and after scratching runes on it and speaking a few words, a wooden snake weaves its way across the clearing.

"Hold back everybody" he says softly, "best to see if there's anyone here who's just too jumpy. Living in the wilds makes some people unfit for company, you know?"

Spending a spell point on the animate object talent, enhancement sphere. It doesn't give the object intelligence and I've just told it to circle the house and go back into the trees. I haven't told it to fight back if attacked.

Looks like we may have lost some people, I'm going to make a re-recruitment thread.

Sorry, I thought it was information gathering or something so I was waiting to see what it came back with.

Stepping back into the trees, Brando picks up a fallen branch and after scratching runes on it and speaking a few words, a wooden snake weaves its way across the clearing.

"Hold back everybody" he says softly, "best to see if there's anyone here who's just too jumpy. Living in the wilds makes some people unfit for company, you know?"

Spending a spell point on the animate object talent, enhancement sphere. It doesn't give the object intelligence and I've just told it to circle the house and go back into the trees. I haven't told it to fight back if attacked.

So, can it report back in anyway on what it may/may not observe?

Nope. I observe what happens using my own eyes and ears, and if it vanishes without a sound on the far side of the house all I learn is that it didn't emerge. Which is still something.