Taroot's page

In our game (~75% History of Ashes, 4 member 10th level party) we also use medium xp track. And for that place game still look nice balanced. I just start wonder how SoS will be work with 11th level party but - no brain, no pain.
Individual chapter's work pretty nice, even if party was one level "weak" then game engine provides. But if you wanna more xp, then between parts it's so many oportunities to "put in" more content. Best for was Kaer Maga where party can at least get close to 10th. And in story like CoCT Ad Hoc and "roleplay" xp fit's great.
But if You wanna to your game be challange for players - don't bother yourself for that until HoA. Then You can add some side encounters (ah, Cinderlands hazards ;) ) to "cathc up" right level.

Just yesterday, my old-school party (Dw Fighter, Hmn Cleric, Gnm Ilusionist, Dw Rouge) deal with Cindermaw. *#^@yeah. It was, pretty epic. No more, no less. First rounds - Beast toying around with party, after that fighter was eaten and we start split-screen scene.
One side of table - Dwarv inside the beast who try to cut out by his Bulette-tooth-own-made dagger. Aye, Protection from energy/Resist Energy work pretty fine for heat and "inside fire" but for bludgeoining ah...it was only cleric Shield Other what save him from from beign consumed (I choose to deal full amount of dmg each round he was inside Clan Eater).
And the other side of table - rest of party try to keep worm at surface. Almost like duck-bait running away from big, fire-infused pac man. Yelling, shooting, spellcasting, getting aggro - then runing via Fly/Air Walk. And "To Victory" from 300 playing at background ^^ Iconic moment.
No Hold Monster, no cheating, No false image. And hell yeah - they beat it ^^ And this is 10 lvl party (PFR medium xp track). That's how we do it at midlle-east europe ^^ Grtz from Poland.