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I'm running RotRL for a group of six players right now and I am noticing that they have fallen behind just a bit on the XP front. Normally this isn't much of an issue, there are more of them then in a normal group so thats to be expected, and they are tactically minded enough when it comes to combat that it helps keep things a good challenge for them. However, I can see just how much of a killer the last fight of the chapter is going to be, and I want to help catch them up for that at least, so its not more of a massacre then its needs to be.
My idea was that I could leave the adventure more as is and have Shalelu find them and tell them of some trouble she has seen while out scouting(perhaps being curious about her father) and she could guide them that way now, giving them some time with her and a chance to flesh out the town before they go there, so perhaps their choice to be brought there in the future feels more reasonable(plus they could see paradise and the like now, giving more pieces that will fit together later).
My setback is that the characters just defeated Aldern last session, we ended without having divided up the stuff they found, but one of the characters was really affected by his works. The characters are all heroes and would certainly go to save the town if Shalelu came to them with its troubles, especially since that is an immediate threat to people while with Aldern dead his 'Mistress' is likely to have to take some time to find a new agent, but as soon as Aldern's note is found I have a feeling that player is going to want to press forward immediately(Like, 'No you guys don't need to sleep, lets get to Magnimar and stop this now' kind of immediately). This means that the introduction of Shalelu to give them that information would be ackward, there is no reason for her to go to Magnimar to look for them and even her just happening to catch them on the trail would be pretty obviously staged.
So the way I see it I have two real options. Either I can let them go to Magnimar, and just not find the clue they need yet(perhaps the faceless stalkers found it already) so they hit something of a dead end and I can redirect them(which could take a while if they decide to go asking about where the cages are from and any number of other things) and then let some agents come to attack them later after they return to snooping around after the side mission, and let them find further evidence on the agents.
Or instead of putting them on a side quest, I could simply buff up and add some pre-Xanesha fights. I think that adding another level of two to most of the skinsaw men would make them more reasonable combatants with a higher CR, especially when most people have claimed them to be easy fights. However, they are about half a level worth of XP from 6th level right now(which is the suggestion for when they head to Magnimar) and I figure they should be at or close to 7 when they reach Xanesha. I don't know if thats going to cut it, at least not without throwing a -lot- of added strength to the baddies.
I suppose a final option would be just to tell them that I think they are a bit under-powered and that I want them to go on a small side quest first, but thats the sort of meta-gaming I really try and avoid.
As a side note, in case it sparks someones ideas, I altered things slightly early on to have tsuto be ironbriars son. Tsuto was arrested and basically found innocent. Lyrie fled thistletop and went to tell Ironbriar to sway this, but after tsuto scorned her for Nualia there she came to tell the PCs this information as a sort of vengence. It means when they are in town they may go talk to Ironbriar or want to see Tsuto, but right now they just think of him as a father who used his position of power to get his son off, rather then involved in anything, and they know Tsuto was found innocent so attacking him would get them in trouble. However the idea of a skirmish after they show up with some thugs, thinking Ironbriar sent them to basically tell the players to leave them alone would work as well.
The PCs also haven't yet deactivated the pool in the catecombs of wrath yet either, because it hasn't seemed like much of a threat and they were considering studying it. Some trouble could come from that as well, though I haven't been creative enough to come up with anything beyond a handful of sinspawn.
If anyone has any ideas or opinions on which way I should take things I would greatly appreciate any feedback. I've got a bit over a week to prepare so plenty of time to layout whatever is decided.
Thanks a lot.
-Tarlane
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I boosted quite a few of the encounters for my group as they are all quite optimized. At the Hambley farm, I added some class levels to the main ghoul and increased their numbers a bit. I also felt that they were going to roll over Ironbriar and the Skinsaw cultists so I grouped most of them together on the fourth level and added two cultists with fighter levels and feats from the Art of the Duel PDF, which I was extremely excited to try out. I thought it fit into the setting as I described Magnimar as a bustling port city, so pirate-like duelists would seem appropriate. My PCs however, beat the pants off them due to some super rolling. Xanesha is next....should be exciting.
My suggestion would be to do the above, add some creepies to Foxglove Manor, or have a nice side battle always ready, maybe on their travels from Sandpoint to Kingsholm. One of my PCs was an orphan with an unknown background and I am using the Reth Dekala from ToB to "hunt" her. She has some inate fire abilities and I am tying it into the Reth's history and bloodline. It has really come in handy when things get slow or they need to get caught up level wise. Plus, she has no idea why they are seeking her out. Perhaps one of your many PCs has a piece of background info that could be very helpful...plus PCs love to have their characters be the center of attention for a night. Maybe the player who's least involved out of the six you have could be the focus.
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I just had a secondary thought to add to the above... The character who is likely to be wanting to press ahead immediately is a devote follower of Desna, leaning towards moving into the Spherewalker prestige. Perhaps a Lyrakin intervention, or does that seem to railroaded as well?
I can see her sleeping and having dreams of her goddess when she awakens to find the tiny form standing on her chest, looking down at her. Then Shalelu could burst into the clearing puffing and out of breath while the Lyrakin points out that he told her he could find the group.
Shalelu could then add that there are Fae going wild in turtlebeck ferry and they need some help(perhaps even admitting why she was there) and that Fort Rannick hasn't been able to help much because they have had their hands full with the ogres. I think HMM mentions that the rangers had lost men before the fort was actually attacked trying to scout out the ogre's capabilities.
I'm still just casting about for ideas though, do toss out any that you may have.
-Tarlane