Before I spend the time to do the research and math on my own, does anyone have a feel for how level progression goes in "Tides of Dread"? My players' characters were barely 9th level at the start; is there enough XP in the standard encounters to reach 11 by the final battle, or should I toss in a pseudo-random encounter or two?
Before I spend the time to do the research and math on my own, does anyone have a feel for how level progression goes in "Tides of Dread"? My players' characters were barely 9th level at the start; is there enough XP in the standard encounters to reach 11 by the final battle, or should I toss in a pseudo-random encounter or two?
Sben, I write most of my adventures with assumption that the PCs are usually going to be somewhere on the low side of the halfway point between the recommended level and the next level higher. If your PCs are barely into 9th, I'd add a couple of encounters along the way from the encounter tables. Just be careful you don't throw anything at them you feel will be too much of a challenge. Ending a campaign with a TPK brought on by a random encounter just sucks! ;)
[I]s there enough XP in the standard encounters to reach 11 by the final battle, or should I toss in a pseudo-random encounter or two?Sben, I write most of my adventures with assumption that the PCs are usually going to be somewhere on the low side of the halfway point between the recommended level and the next level higher. If your PCs are barely into 9th, I'd add a couple of encounters along the way from the encounter tables. Just be careful you don't throw anything at them you feel will be too much of a challenge. Ending a campaign with a TPK brought on by a random encounter just sucks! ;)
Cool; thanks. I'm going to prep the encounters ahead of time, so I should be able to be challenging and flavorful without being too deadly.
(I'd skipped an encounter in the previous scenario, the black pudding, on the basis that getting your equipment dissolved when you're miles away from a good magic shop is Not Fun. I'd also skipped the masher in the previous scenario, for pacing. So being on the low side isn't entirely surprising.)
I think with a 25% per hour encounter rate with Terror Birds they will soon catch up. My players said it reminded them of the old "Deserts of surprisingly heavy traffic" which is what they renamed the Deserts of Desolation to as they were anything but...
Are the PCs intended to receive an XP award for successfully interacting with the couatl in the rakasta temple? It doesn't explicitly state so, so I'm assuming the answer is "no", but would like to know if that was the intent, or if other DMs have done that.
Are the PCs intended to receive an XP award for successfully interacting with the couatl in the rakasta temple? It doesn't explicitly state soReally? Hm... I coulda sworn it stated this. ... It'd be a shame if PC's that went around attacking couatls got to level up quicker.
I could be wrong, but in reviewing for tonight's session, I thought I looked over that encounter pretty carefully.
If there's not meant to be an XP award, it would be in contrast to the encounter with Lithira in "Here There Be Monsters", which was similar in terms of threat to good-aligned groups, but which did award XP.
Sben, I did, indeed, intend for the couatl encounter to net the PCs some XP. I would award a bit more if the PCs entreat the creature peacefully and get what they need that way. Award a bit less if they are good characters that resort to violence. Either way, they should get something out of it for sure.
Sben, I did, indeed, intend for the couatl encounter to net the PCs some XP. I would award a bit more if the PCs entreat the creature peacefully and get what they need that way. Award a bit less if they are good characters that resort to violence. Either way, they should get something out of it for sure.
Thanks so much for the clarification. (And I'll post back tomorrow if I find that the award is there but I'd missed it.)
Sben, I did, indeed, intend for the couatl encounter to net the PCs some XP. I would award a bit more if the PCs entreat the creature peacefully and get what they need that way. Award a bit less if they are good characters that resort to violence. Either way, they should get something out of it for sure.Thanks so much for the clarification. (And I'll post back tomorrow if I find that the award is there but I'd missed it.)
There was no mention of an award; the Shrine of Zotzilaha had an "Ad-hoc experience" section, but the rakasta temple did not.
Turns out that with a few pseudo-random encounters (a treeleg spider, three megaraptors, and a giant squid), my players will hit level 11 after the battle at the end of the scenario. If they don't screw it up.