Our usual group is about 6, is that too many to use without scaling up the encounters any?
I had six, I ended up having to highten the challenge of a few of the encounters.
I had six, now it's seven. You'll need to up the creatures a bit. With the focus fire, baddies will disappear pretty fast no matter how many hp they have. I've taken to using the Advanced template and adding in minions with the bad guys so the characters have multiple creatures to face.
I used Kilcoyne's recommendations for the first book (very good by the way, worked really well!) and with the 2nd & 3rd books, I've taken to just running things a bit more off the cuff. I try to just add in a minion or two, add in armor if the creature could wear it, Advance creatures, etc. In short, whatever I think will make it more of a challenge. Then I normally just the same xp they would have gotten if they'd been a 4 person group who beat the regular encounter in the book.
Use the first book, and the beginning of the second to feel out your pc's strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to do alot more impromptu changes so that you can challenge the characters more.
I have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.
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I have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.
As I wanted my players to be 20 point buy characters, I run for 5 20 point buy characters as though I am running for 6, using my conversion. Neither fights were cake walks for the group, they were hard earned victories, with a party member being dropped (and almost one shotted by a 27 damage longbow crit from Happs...)in both combats.
I have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.As I wanted my players to be 20 point buy characters, I run for 5 20 point buy characters as though I am running for 6, using my conversion. Neither fights were cake walks for the group, they were hard earned victories, with a party member being dropped (and almost one shotted by a 27 damage longbow crit from Happs...)in both combats.
My PCs took no damage against Kressel. They stormed the place, used obscurring mist to get close while the rogue snuck arround in the cover. He poped out and s+%~ Kressel for 9, and then an addition 5 on her readied action that provoked an AoO. The inquisitor charged her, hitting for 10 before she got a second attack in.
Against Happs there were 3 hits. Happs dropped in the suprize round before attacking. Later, I rolled well enough to hit 3 times, once for max damage and scaring a player, and once I dropped a player with an attack of opportunity, but he was standing next to the cleric who had nothing better to do than heal. If instead of casting he attacked, he would have dropped the bandit rolling a 8 or better to hit.
I rolled, and my players are higher point buy than 20, but significantly less optimized. If they did 20 point buy, they would be much worse with dump stats and higher core stats. The lowest AC is 17, with 3 of the 5 over 20, and the oracle took shield of faith. Bandits don't stand a chance of hitting them once they get cover.
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I have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.As I wanted my players to be 20 point buy characters, I run for 5 20 point buy characters as though I am running for 6, using my conversion. Neither fights were cake walks for the group, they were hard earned victories, with a party member being dropped (and almost one shotted by a 27 damage longbow crit from Happs...)in both combats.My PCs took no damage against Kressel. They stormed the place, used obscurring mist to get close while the rogue snuck arround in the cover. He poped out and s&!* Kressel for 9, and then an addition 5 on her readied action that provoked an AoO. The inquisitor charged her, hitting for 10 before she got a second attack in.
Against Happs there were 3 hits. Happs dropped in the suprize round before attacking. Later, I rolled well enough to hit 3 times, once for max damage and scaring a player, and once I dropped a player with an attack of opportunity, but he was standing next to the cleric who had nothing better to do than heal. If instead of casting he attacked, he would have dropped the bandit rolling a 8 or better to hit.
I rolled, and my players are higher point buy than 20, but significantly less optimized. If they did 20 point buy, they would be much worse with dump stats and higher core stats. The lowest AC is 17, with 3 of the 5 over 20, and the oracle took shield of faith. Bandits don't stand a chance of hitting them once they get cover.
You need to make some changes to the AP to compensate, IMHO.
You need to make some changes to the AP to compensate, IMHO.
I already have been.
What I would like to know is how other people are not running into the same issue. I have yet to play a PC in pathfinder with an AC lower than 20 by level 2. Sometimes I need a buff or 2, but 20 is the magic number at low levels for AC to me.
After the kobolds, I don't expect as much a problem though.
I have been following your campaign in the PBP area of the board.
You just like rolling those natural 20's against Casimir (or was it Edric)!
-- david
Papa.DRB
I have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.As I wanted my players to be 20 point buy characters, I run for 5 20 point buy characters as though I am running for 6, using my conversion. Neither fights were cake walks for the group, they were hard earned victories, with a party member being dropped (and almost one shotted by a 27 damage longbow crit from Happs...)in both combats.
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I have been following your campaign in the PBP area of the board.
You just like rolling those natural 20's against Casimir (or was it Edric)!
-- david
Papa.DRBI have 5, and the first 2 bandit encoutners were cake-walks. Even with me adding 2 bandits to the first one and 4 to the second. I didn't add a level to Kressel, but it wouldn't have mattered the way my PCs overkilled her before she attacked a second time.As I wanted my players to be 20 point buy characters, I run for 5 20 point buy characters as though I am running for 6, using my conversion. Neither fights were cake walks for the group, they were hard earned victories, with a party member being dropped (and almost one shotted by a 27 damage longbow crit from Happs...)in both combats.
Heh... Edric took the 27 damage crit and almost got critted by old Tusky, but to be fair Casimir has been dropped twice too; just not with crits!