My players are getting pretty close to fighting Kazmojen. I started them off at level 2 and I'm not using XP, i.e. I'm just going to have them reach their next level whenever I think is a good time. So by the first fight in "Flood Season" they'll be at level 4 (probably after the Demonskar ball), and some time between now and then they should hit level 3.
My question is: should I have them reach level 3 before fighting Kazmojen or afterwards? The party consists of a melee fighter, a ranger archer, a warlock, a thief, a mage and a mostly noncombatant cleric/dragon shaman.
I figure they can probably tackle Kazmojen and Prickles at their current level, considering they have a bunch of healing in wand and potion form if necessary. The only down side is that the mage has cast all his spells already and I don't know if the cleric/shaman will contribute much more than healing so they're of limited use.
Any thoughts? (If any of my players are reading this, erase your memories immediately!)
My players were 3rd for this fight and they did fine.
A lot will depend on how they fared right before they reached him.
Dedekind
I would recommend third level, since Kazmojen regenerates (in my memory, at least, his statblock underwent a few changes for the big campaign book) and has reach, along with Prickles. If he ends up too easy, you could always add a few more hobgoblin troops and Pyllrak.
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I would recommend third also, unless your party is incredibly good with tactics, especially if they're going in without rest. Kaz has fast healing and a really high AC for low level PCs, as well as pretty good damage dealing capacity. As James said, you can always have some hobgoblin reinforcements arrive, or have the durzagon attack from invisibility if things are looking too easy.
We did this at 3rd and found it exceptionally tough but managed not to lose a PC (we did lose some of the rescued prisoners). At 2nd it would have been TPK for sure; the Web was the only reason we survived.
I personally think I would have enjoyed SCAP a lot more if the PCs had been one level higher than the listed level throughout. But mileage definitely differs on this one.
Mary
My players were actually 2nd level when they defeated Kazmojen. It was extremely dangerous, but they eventually whittled him down. The only reason they survived was the wand of cure light wounds they had purchased in town. Many potions and wand charges had to be used to keep the characters from dying. The fighter was at -8 or -9 hp on three seperate occasions.
As a player, Kazmojen was a difficult fight. Our party consisted of seven characters, all level two ecexpt for our dwarven barbarian at level 1 and our tiefling fighter (archer) and ECL 3. The rest of our party contained a half-elf bard, elf druid, human rogue, human paladin, and I as a human (dragonblood) sorcerer.
We even took Kazmojen by surprise, but the howler went on full offensive. Due to a few well places spells, I drew the howler's ire and he killed me in a few rounds due to some great rolls by our DM. With the howler injured though, it fell easily and the party focuses on Kazmojen, but it just wasn't enough. He dropped several other party members to dying, and the DM moved up our encounter with the beholder (no spoilers please as we are only in Chapter 4 currently and I am under the impression that he will be back). It stormed in and turned Kazmojen to stone, rescuing us while also putting us in a very uncertain position as he took Tereme.
It made for a great scene, but I felt the combat was a bit too tough for us at that point and I certainly didn't like the penalty I took for dying, as well as not being able to participate with the beholder. Everyone walked away witha sense of dread, in a good and a bad way. The fight should be tough enough to scare the players into realizing how difficult things will be in the campaign, but not enough to discourage them as well.
Thanks for the responses, folks! I might increase everyone's level to 3 just before fighting Kazmojen, including getting some new spells for the spellcasters. I'll probably characterize it as "drawing on reserves you didn't even know you had". Tactically, the party is fairly decent but not "S.W.A.T. team" level.
Thanks for the responses, folks! I might increase everyone's level to 3 just before fighting Kazmojen, including getting some new spells for the spellcasters. I'll probably characterize it as "drawing on reserves you didn't even know you had". Tactically, the party is fairly decent but not "S.W.A.T. team" level.
As you have 6 players I would recomend leveling them to 3 in the elevator. I have 2 groups of 4 players. one hit him at 4th level and it was a good fight. the 2nd group I held back at 3rd level and the howler schooled them badly. even with the help of the Striders, they still ended up grabbing the kids and makeing a run for it.
As you have 6 players I would recomend leveling them to 3 in the elevator. I have 2 groups of 4 players. one hit him at 4th level and it was a good fight. the 2nd group I held back at 3rd level and the howler schooled them badly. even with the help of the Striders, they still ended up grabbing the kids and makeing a run for it.
I should point out that they skipped all of Jzadirune, thanks to a dwarf rogue and an elf ranger with maxed out Search skills. The hobgoblins in the elevator were practically their first fight!
I think I'll level them up after their next fight with the hobgoblins (to give the mage more to do than fire off his wand).