*** Spoilers below for the second adventure ***
We are about halfway through the second mod in the advenure path. I usually DM, but am taking a break and am a player in this one. Our group has 3 "casual" players and 2 "hardcore" players (I qualify for the latter). The "casual" players have a hard time being effective, they just don't know the D&D rules at all (more interested in fluff than crunch).
Last night our 4th level chars stumbled into an EL9 (yes, that is average level PLUS FIVE) encounter (the halfling spellcaster, 2 ettercaps, and harpoon spider). This shocked both myself and the other experienced player (as DM I would never even DREAM of throwing a level + 5 encounter at my party). We only survived because of one well timed and placed spell from me, and lucky die rolls all around (good ones for us bad ones for them).
The setup was one where retreat was not an option because of the sticky spider strands in the previous room that required slow movement to avoid getting stuck. I can understand designing encounters that the PC's are supposed to run from, but the combination of a killer EL and no retreat is a real bummer.
I talked to the DM briefly and he told us this adventure is supposd to be designed for four 4th level characters, so it is not a case of our party being below the level curve.
Is the rest of this campaign going to be like this? I am deeply concerned and we are considering dropping this campaign like a hot potatoe because of this...
I would appreciate any insight from those of you more familiar with this campaign path as our gaming time is valuable (it is in short supply) and I hate to waste it on a poorly designed campaign.
Arkelos
The campaign is designed for six characters, not the standard four. And it is a difficult campaign. Poorly designed? No. Difficult? Yes. Since it is designed for 6, your DM may want to bump the group a level.
The encounter in question only happens when the complex is on alert (they know you are there). With stealth you can avoid it.
CEO
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*** Spoilers below for the second adventure ***
I talked to the DM briefly and he told us this adventure is supposd to be designed for four 4th level characters, so it is not a case of our party being below the level curve.
Is the rest of this campaign going to be like this? I am deeply concerned and we are considering dropping this campaign like a hot potatoe because of this...
I would appreciate any insight from those of you more familiar with this campaign path as our gaming time is valuable (it is in short supply) and I hate to waste it on a poorly designed campaign.
Jeff:
As noted above, the SC campaign is designed for 6 characters, so your group IS under the level curve. Also, it sounds like your DM is running this out of the magazines instead of from the hardcover book. When we created the hardcover book, we added a new adventure between Life's Bazaar and Flood Season just because we found that characters were underpowered going into Flood Season and needed an additional adventure to get their level up. When your DM threw you right into Flood Season, it sounds like you are underpowered for the CR of the various encounters.
Perhaps your DM will provide you with some appropriate side quests to get your group up to the level you need before it becomes a blood bath.
Good luck!
Lisa Stevens
CEO
Jeff:As noted above, the SC campaign is designed for 6 characters, so your group IS under the level curve. Also, it sounds like your DM is running this out of the magazines instead of from the hardcover book. When we created the hardcover book, we added a new adventure between Life's Bazaar and Flood Season just because we found that characters were underpowered going into Flood Season and needed an additional adventure to get their level up. When your DM threw you right into Flood Season, it sounds like you are underpowered for the CR of the various encounters.
Perhaps your DM will provide you with some appropriate side quests to get your group up to the level you need before it becomes a blood bath.
Good luck!
Lisa Stevens
CEO
OK, thanks for the comments, I will pass them on to the DM. Yes, he is borrowing my Dungeon mags to run this for us.
I must say I am still concerned about all the comments I am seeing on how difficult the campaign is. I doubt our casual players are up to the challenge.
Jeff
You never know, some people thrive on being put on spot. So with luck your casuals might blossom into some decent hard core players :)
Otherwise your existing hard core players might be able to seize the opportunity and help school and nurture them along a little and increase their DnD learning curve.
Good luck 8D
You never know, some people thrive on being put on spot.
That would be people who are not me. I'm a slow thinker and I do quite poorly when rushed.
You never know, some people thrive on being put on spot. So with luck your casuals might blossom into some decent hard core players :)
Otherwise your existing hard core players might be able to seize the opportunity and help school and nurture them along a little and increase their DnD learning curve.
Good luck 8D
Heh! I doubt that. Two of them have been playing in our weekly game for over 20 years, and the third for over 10. If they haven't gotten it by now they never will...
It doesn't matter. We decided this week to drop the SCAP campaign and try something else, dungeon crawls just aren't our cup of tea and the DM says that's about all there is to look forward to in the series... Nobody was enjoying it and that's a sure sign that it's time to move on.
Thanks!
Jeff
that's really too bad. There is much more to SCAP than dungeon crawls. Although admittedly, they are an important part of the campaign.
Hope you enjoy whatever your GM throws at you next time.