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I'm a sucker for static defense problems, everything from Rorke's Drift to the defense of Minas Tirith. I'd love to plan something like that for the early chapters of KM. (Before the mass combat rules are introduced, as I want max player involvement so they enjoy it as much as I will.)
Here are the two options that come to mind:
- At the end of KM #1,
--Site: Oleg's
--Enemy: Humanoid Bandits (after the defeat of the Stag Lord, or maybe with him leading the bandit assault)
- Near the end of KM #2
--Site: Oleg's or the Stag Lord's fort (whichever one isn't a city yet)
--Enemy: Hargulka and his troll band (This would replace the crawl through the troll outpost.)
I'll need to establish a motivation for the enemy and get the PCs just enough warning to prepare, but not enough to move major forces around the map.
Thoughts welcome.
Depending on how slow the PCs explore the area around Oleg's it stands to reason that Kressle would determine that Happs is likely dead, investigate the situation at Oleg's, and even possibly muster a force with the Stag Lord to take it out before it grows to being even more of a threat. It's something I've been considering as the PCs slowly circle around the trading post, rather than heading right after the bandits (even though they learned where they were thanks to a charmed bandit in the initial assault). Kressle's wily and dangerous enough that it seems likely she'd want to eliminate the potential threat that would be a group operating out of Oleg's, and it stands to reason that the Stag Lord would feel it was worth dealing with to avoid keeping the PCs from disrupting his little kingdom.
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Good point, DoS. I can use the sandbox design to drop the attack on them if they waste time and invite it, making it dependent on their actions.
I also think that with either scenario, the PC's success may have brought new people to the region, thus there'll be noncombatants taking shelter in the stockade that the PC's will need to defend.
If it's the trolls, the prep time the PCs get will be balanced out by the fact that they'll be getting hit with all of the trolls at once.
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I'd go for the end of KM1. After they players have spent a month or two exploring and cleared 50%+ of the hexes, have them see signs of bandits as they approach Olegs. Perhaps they could even face snipers up in trees or mounted archers that herd them to Olegs.
You could have the refugees you spoke of plus Kesten & the guards help the PC's face off a major bandit force - perhaps 10 to 1 odds (about 80 for a typical party). Have the Stag Lord & Davon oversee the attack. Maybe even bring Akiros as an observer. That should give you the perfect feel and setup to recreate a Rorke's drift scenario. Just ensure that the main lieutenants & the Stagdude don't get involved and killed.
Once the PCs win, the story goes back to how its written. Sounds like great motivation to hit Stag Hill.
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Underling,
I haven't yet. My players are still working through their intro scenario (where they all meet). After that, they'll make the decisions that either lead them to Sasserine, Brevoy, or a little town that's my own creation. Right now, I'm hoping they head north, but we'll see. If they do, I'll be sure to have a great fight planned, thanks to all this great input!