So, I started a Pathfinder RPG game using Curse of the Crimson Throne and so far everything's been going swimmingly (other than I forget to tell players when they're getting their Chosen bonuses...oops). Being the meticulous planner that I am, I've currently got the entire adventure stated up through Pilt's Palace and am now making my way through the Arkonas, however there seems to be a slight problem.
As of CotCT 3.5 Rakshasa's were (according to the guide) to have a CR of 8. In the Pathfinder Bestiary they have a stat block that is far more deserving of that CR 10 they had originally. This makes things more difficult, as although the PCs are level 10 by this point this still makes for a large number of CR 12 or CR 14 fights. And Bahor is CR 15 if you give him 10 rogue levels.
Does anyone have any suggestions for how to handle this? I'd like to keep the encounter levels about the same as they were in the original document and I'm not entirely sure how to go about "deducting" racial HD to lower the CR (wouldn't that also require me to reduce their special abilities too?)
Creative Director
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The best way to handle it is to just not "update" the rakshasas in Curse of the Crimson Throne; leave their stats untouched (with the possible adjustment of figuring CMB and CMD) and just go from there. Treat the Arkonas as rakshasas who have "slipped from power" and by living for so long among humans and as humans that they've lost their edge, a little.
OR! For the two main character Arkonas, just keep them as raw out-of-the-Bestairy versions without class levels.
The best way to handle it is to just not "update" the rakshasas in Curse of the Crimson Throne; leave their stats untouched (with the possible adjustment of figuring CMB and CMD) and just go from there. Treat the Arkonas as rakshasas who have "slipped from power" and by living for so long among humans and as humans that they've lost their edge, a little.
OR! For the two main character Arkonas, just keep them as raw out-of-the-Bestairy versions without class levels.
Got it, thanks for the suggestion. I also found an interesting section in the back of the bestiary about reducing Racial HD and associated CR, so I may try and use that for the reason that you suggested- they've slipped from power.
I got a pretty powerful group, so I'll be running them as updated versions. Hell, two bad rolls and they might go down to a Phantasmal Killer... ( btw, James, I thought save-or-die spells were out of the game >.< )
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Creative Director
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I got a pretty powerful group, so I'll be running them as updated versions. Hell, two bad rolls and they might go down to a Phantasmal Killer... ( btw, James, I thought save-or-die spells were out of the game >.< )
Nope. Save-or-die spells have been toned down, but the ARE still in the game here and there, because as it turns out, removing ALL of them from the game is, in my opinion, kinda lame.
That said, we HAVE taken steps to make all of these effects either be REALLY high level or have multiple levels of "safety nets." With the case of phantasmal killer, you actually have to fail two saving throws to succumb to it, and there's more ways than normal to be immune to it (or more resistant to it) than most death effects, since it's also a fear effect and a mind-affecting effect.
If you think that's still too unfair, rather than having it kill on a second failed save, have it reduce the victim to –1 hit points, or alternatively have it deal damage as if by slay living.
I was saddened by the loss of SODs but im surviving why isnt slay living strait damage like 5 points a level or somthing like all the higher level SODs are?
I got a pretty powerful group, so I'll be running them as updated versions. Hell, two bad rolls and they might go down to a Phantasmal Killer... ( btw, James, I thought save-or-die spells were out of the game >.< )
They should be fine if they're pretty powerful. If the dice Gawds betray them to character death ... ah well. :)
I got a pretty powerful group, so I'll be running them as updated versions. Hell, two bad rolls and they might go down to a Phantasmal Killer... ( btw, James, I thought save-or-die spells were out of the game >.< )Nope. Save-or-die spells have been toned down, but the ARE still in the game here and there, because as it turns out, removing ALL of them from the game is, in my opinion, kinda lame.
That said, we HAVE taken steps to make all of these effects either be REALLY high level or have multiple levels of "safety nets." With the case of phantasmal killer, you actually have to fail two saving throws to succumb to it, and there's more ways than normal to be immune to it (or more resistant to it) than most death effects, since it's also a fear effect and a mind-affecting effect.
If you think that's still too unfair, rather than having it kill on a second failed save, have it reduce the victim to –1 hit points, or alternatively have it deal damage as if by slay living.
Well, fair enough. Although Baleful Polymorph, Flesh to Stone and Polymorph any Object still are the insta-killers they always were, with no safety net at all ( yeah, I know that the Polymorph spells don't technically kill you. But after all is said and done you still end up as a racoon with many hitpoints. ). ^^
I got a pretty powerful group, so I'll be running them as updated versions. Hell, two bad rolls and they might go down to a Phantasmal Killer... ( btw, James, I thought save-or-die spells were out of the game >.< )They should be fine if they're pretty powerful. If the dice Gawds betray them to character death ... ah well. :)
Yeah, pretty much that. The two Red Mantis assassins in Vencarlos appartment were kind of a joke, since one died instantly to a Phantasmal Killer and the other was crowd-controlled to death. Not the kind of introduction to them I'd have wished. ^^
Yes - but a raccoon with many hit points takes a LONG while to be eaten alive by the dogs!! ^^
Save or Die is always bad if the PCs fail a save, but I think it adds a bit of drama (plus they always look so relieved when you tell them they pass). I've also had one of my bosses slain by save or die and the players (and myself) were very satisfied by it (then again, said boss was a half black-dragon war troll, so Save or Die was kinda the only way to kill it).
Also, I love baleful polymorph. More than once has the group rogue found himself transmogrified into a black cat (or the wizard a songbird). I generally pick animals I think matches the character's personality, race, and class (hence human rogue w/ dark skin and hair = black cat).
Actually this led to the rogue pawing at the wizard's face every round during combat with an elven enchantress/eldritch knight lich, trying to get her to dispel the polymorph (and forcing her to make a concentration check each round to ignore the cat pawing at her face).
Yeah, pretty much that. The two Red Mantis assassins in Vencarlos appartment were kind of a joke, since one died instantly to a Phantasmal Killer and the other was crowd-controlled to death. Not the kind of introduction to them I'd have wished. ^^
I was thinking about introducing the Red Mantis earlier than this in a manner similar to the Black Maga fight in Hook Mountain Massacre. I've edited Cinnabar's back story somewhat so that for a short time she was the partner of one of the characters when he worked in Riddleport. Her disappearance in Korvosa is what led him here, and his investigation concluded that she had probably been killed by Gaedren Lamm.
Around level 4 the PCs witness Neolandus fleeing the Red Mantis attack as he stumbles past them in the crowd. They have high enough perception scores to see Neolandus get cornered in an alleyway and will probably rush to help him (if not, he'll just luckily duck under the swing).
The PCs will engage the assassin, which will fight them for a few rounds before recognizing the rogue and, instead of killing everyone, simply continue the chase.