It depends critically on how you evaluate your party.
If they are mostly core-rules classes/races and otherwise not optimized, and you expect them to stay that way, I would worry a lot about money. If there are more than 4 I would also worry about money, as it is much more expensive to equip 6 than 4, and equipping to lower levels eventually stops working.
For a party of 6 PCs, core rules races and classes, some sub-optimal designs made for roleplaying reasons, we found SCAP to be brutally hard--too hard to really be fun. Money woes were a significant contributor. There was never enough, and the PCs constantly passed up interesting options (for example, they did not go to the Demonskar Ball) because they had to pinch pennies. The GM complained throughout the campaign that the PCs' armor classes and saves were not as high as he expected them to be.
If your players cover this sort of thing with splatbook options, prestige classes, etc., and if there are only 4 PCs, you may not have money problems.
Mary
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If your players cover this sort of thing with splatbook options, prestige classes, etc., and if there are only 4 PCs, you may not have money problems.
Mary
This is true to a point - but even if there's only 4 players they may need a little treasure boost due to the party not being as diverse and powerful as a party of 6.
Truth be told - it also depends a bit on the DM play style. Do you prefer to have tougher encounters with low treasure games? or does your group do better with a bit more treasure and magic?
Robert
I think it is generally accepted that the SCAP is below CR target on treasure. That lends to the difficulty level.
I have 7 players with fairly well optimized PCs, and they know how to use them. We're only half way through Flood Season, so not very far, and I have even taken a little treasure away (only gave them half the cash and none of the art from the Lucky Monkey). My plan is to string them out a little bit and then provide some items more specifically designed to fit the PCs.
I just finished the first chapter of SCAP this last saturday as well after about the same amount of time spend working on it. I also was very concerned with much of these same issues.
Here is what I did:
- Had the final slave released lead them to Kaz's room and tell them he over heard some guards talking about a hidden room that he stored his treasure in (and they then spent some time searching and found it).
- I then computed their total value and how much they needed to make this up. (average of about 1700 gp now, so I needed around 1000 gp each). I then went through compendium of magic items and gave them each an item or items up to that value that helped with the issues they had in the adventure... the paladin complained of not having the speed to get into combat, so she got acrobatic boots that let her speed into combat occasionally, the sorcerer an everlasting wand of magic missiles, a healing belt for the cleric, and so on).
Anyway... we'll see how they do after this.
Sean Mahoney
The best way to make up for lack of wealth in the SCAP is to add in unique magical items that are custom-tailored to your players. I don't mean giving them the ideal item... I mean giving them something that adds flavor and depth to the game, rather than simply another +1 weapon.
For example, the fighter in my group has found the sword of Surabar Spellmason. I gave it powers similar to Alakast, and in turn made Alakast more powerful. By giving him the sword, I foreshadow Alakast while adding to his character wealth. Also, he wouldn't dare sell Surabar's sword for gold, so it makes items more meaningful.
I just finished the first chapter of SCAP this last saturday as well after about the same amount of time spend working on it. I also was very concerned with much of these same issues.
Here is what I did:
- Had the final slave released lead them to Kaz's room and tell them he over heard some guards talking about a hidden room that he stored his treasure in (and they then spent some time searching and found it).
In my campaign, the group went from room to room and cleaned out Jzadirune. The halfling rogue in the group was a searching god, so they found the hidden rooms upstairs with ease.
Heading down to the Malachite Fortress, they killed Kazmojen and retreated. The hobgoblins, realizing their leader was dead, headed back into the Underdark. But before they went, the hobgoblins tried to sneak into Kazmojen's storage room for some treasure. Upon getting attacked by the guardian in there, one of them died in the doorway, while the rest ran for their lives. This kept the door open, making it easier for the group to find. I balanced this with the hobgoblins getting a rust monster and taking the gems from the statue.
They had loads of treasure by the end, and then spent it on a house. They are now in debt still for the house, and the costs for the lessons for the Demonskar Ball have piled up, along with the costumes. I'm at the point now where I am not sure if they will take the money from the Lucky Monkey because it was stolen from the patrons and the owner. (I have a good set of roleplayers that are actually moral in their actions)
Money should be tight. It gives them incentive to adventure. If they fail to gear up (as mine did), they should be held accountable for it. (I introduced a new NPC when one of the PCs left, and he brought a +1 sword with him, allowing them to defeat Tongue-Eater. The party learned their lesson though, as they couldn't easily hurt it until the NPC got into the fray)