I'm thinking of stating my players on CotKK and although they are at 2nd level 3 out of 4 of them are within 300xp of level 3. Do I need to crank up the ELs?
I'm thinking of stating my players on CotKK and although they are at 2nd level 3 out of 4 of them are within 300xp of level 3. Do I need to crank up the ELs?
I don't think so. This module presents a fairly decent challenge.
I'm thinking of stating my players on CotKK and although they are at 2nd level 3 out of 4 of them are within 300xp of level 3. Do I need to crank up the ELs?
I read it when it first came out, but I'd say keep it the way it is and don't give XP until the end of the module.
If they seem to be dispatching the kobolds (due to treasure gained already and such), toss in a wandering guard or an extra kobold every so often.
I read it when it first came out, but I'd say keep it the way it is and don't give XP until the end of the module.
You should almost certainly not do this. If the PCs are 2nd level when they get to Merlokrep, he will eat them alive.
As for modifying the fights, I'd play it by ear, groups are fairly different anyway. If it seems like they are walking through everything, add a few more kobolds! You shouldn't need to add levels or Hit Dice to anything though.
You should almost certainly not do this. If the PCs are 2nd level when they get to Merlokrep, he will eat them alive.
Especially if its a predominantly Human party, like mine usually are. A buffed kobold king with a human bane axe? Thats just nasty ;-)
Yeah, that Human Bane Axe is a bit rough.
Yeah, that Human Bane Axe is a bit rough.
True, but he wouldn't be the King if he couldn't down at least one PC. Gotta make them earn that cool Crown. (I'd love it if Seoni had that unique magic item in her gear for E1)
Yeah, that Human Bane Axe is a bit rough.True, but he wouldn't be the King if he couldn't down at least one PC. Gotta make them earn that cool Crown. (I'd love it if Seoni had that unique magic item in her gear for E1)
That's a very tasty idea...Jeremy take note!!! :-)
Edit: Cause the manuscript's outta Tim and my hands for that one now!
Yeah, that Human Bane Axe is a bit rough.True, but he wouldn't be the King if he couldn't down at least one PC. Gotta make them earn that cool Crown. (I'd love it if Seoni had that unique magic item in her gear for E1)That's a very tasty idea...Jeremy take note!!! :-)
Edit: Cause the manuscript's outta Tim and my hands for that one now!
I'm not sure if you could fit the stats for the Crown into Seoni's 1/4 page mini-statblock... but it'd be awesome if you could!
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Speaking from experience, the dungeon can be very tough.
I had an oversized party of six characters, 32 point buy and started them at the entrance of the dungeon at level 2. Not a problem since this was a one shot, and the party did very well against kobolds and the rest. The gelatinous cube caused some hiccups, but the skullthrowing skeletons got blasted by the cleric's turn.
And then they ran into the Forge Spurned.
Who more or less dominated the party, shattered the only magical weapons they had, and completely killed the ranger in a single round (33 points from hammer + chain).
And some of the encounters in the lower dungeon are worse than the spurned. Freezing the XP gain is a very good way to get a TPK.
PS: As an aside, the Forge Spurned is an absolfreakinglutly awsome monster. The semi-evil sorcerer of the above group claimed the soul chain as his own - causing him to become a spurned, and allowing the original one to ressurect pretty much in the middle of the party while they were resting. -That- was a TPK.
Even if the party doesn't claim the chain, the spurned will probably come for them if they spend too long in the dungeon - they make for great recurring monsters.
PS: As an aside, the Forge Spurned is an absolfreakinglutly awsome monster. The semi-evil sorcerer of the above group claimed the soul chain as his own - causing him to become a spurned, and allowing the original one to ressurect pretty much in the middle of the party while they were resting. -That- was a TPK.
Ahhhh, you just made my day Sean.
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Ahhhh, you just made my day Sean.PS: As an aside, the Forge Spurned is an absolfreakinglutly awsome monster. The semi-evil sorcerer of the above group claimed the soul chain as his own - causing him to become a spurned, and allowing the original one to ressurect pretty much in the middle of the party while they were resting. -That- was a TPK.
It's really a pity I couldn't photograph the looks on my player's faces when the monster that more or less mauled them popped up - and now there's TWO! - smack in the middle of camp. Because this means I can't share them here.
Still - I thought you'd like that.
It kinda matched the look on the barbarian's face when his only magic weapon (Glintaxe's +1 battleaxe) got sundered by the Forge Spurned. He didn't have a good night.
the forge spurned was one of my only true concerns with this module. i was wondering what might happen to a party of 4 2nd-3rd level PCs in that encounter. but i absoluely fell in love with the spurned, and indeed the entire history of the dwarves, which fits in perfectly with my NPC Dwarf ranger's backstory (willing exile to atone for his ancestors sins).