cooperjer's page

I'm about 3/4 complete in setting up Malevolence on Roll20 for my group. We had one 4 hour game in which they defeated a level 5 creature on the grounds. This was a long combat. That creature seems to have a lot of HP for it's level. I have my PCs start at level 4 because my players like a game with a little less tactical combat than a typical Pathfinder adventure.

At session zero I talked with the players about which swarm creatures are acceptable. We eliminated creatures such as swarms of: ants, bats, centipedes, cockroaches, scorpions, and ticks. This helps eliminate creatures that make my players squirm.

For the adventure, I'm assuming Crook Cove has a small crafting shop to meet my PC needs. I understand from the text that the town was abandoned for a long while (maybe a couple years), but now it's being reestablished. I don't want my PCs to make a long journey to the capital of Ravounel for fundamental or property runes in the levels this adventure takes place.

Double check the treasure amount for this adventure if you also start your PCs at recommended level +1. You may need to add some consumable and permanent magic items to meet the recommendations in the core rule book chapter 10, table 10-9.

Hopefully your game is going well.

Why is it a fortitude dc for grapple instead of a reflex dc which makes more sense as you are triying to grab someone which has more to to with movement than how hardy you are?

I'm coming from 5th ed. Why isn't a roll against an Athletics or Acrobatics DC?

I feel like the stat chosen for this DC is probably very flexible depending on the DM. It could be that they rolled a die during the meeting to determine which stat was used. I feel a DM could change it from Fortitude, to Reflex, Athletics, or Acrobatics and not mess with the balance of the game. Such a change may also help reinforce some key characteristics of a monster.

... Both valid. So far it looks like there are other more damaging spells. In my mind they have counters, so I'm giving them lower weight. Some monsters aren't affected. If those aren't typical big baddies, also not going to get weighted as high. ...

I'm watching Knight of Everflame on the Geek and Sundry channel. Jason used three Zombie Hulks and one Skeletal Hulk as big bad guys in a city assault. This is for level 5 characters. I admit these are not the end game NPC leading it all, but it's a significant encounter.

The value of the spell will vary on the campaign. In a campaign where undead are a majority of the enemy the spell will feel like a bad choice. In a campaign that takes place in the frozen North, it'll feel much more powerful than cone of cold.