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So Im getting ready to start DMing, which I have only ever done in 4e, though ive played 3,5 extensively. Im going to run my group through RotRL, converted to Pathfinder, and I have a few questions Im hoping for some suggestions on, in general to DMing.
What are your thoughts on character death? Im not looking for something as extreme as "your new character starts off at lvl 1 with just starting gold and nothing else", as that can be kinda harsh, especially once you get avg party level above 3.
Do the APs (and RotRL specifically) do a good job of keeping the amount of treature so that its balanced towards what they are playing againsst? Im playing with 6 players, so obviously Im going to need to add more treasue to balance out, but I wonder if just adding half again as much as was set will be enough.
(For RotRL specifially) Siunce Im running with 6 players, obviously I need to make the fights more difficult, else the party will have too easy of a time to begin with, but quickly become overwhelmed while everything else levels accordingly, and they dont. Should I assume the 3.5 and Pathfinder methods of assigning exp are close enough so I can just make each fight 1.5xs hader than it was supposed to be, and it will work out close enough? Example: If a fight lists 4 goblins, can I just make it 6, and assign exp accordingly, or do I need to figure out what the ECL for the 4 goblins was, divide by 4 players, multiple by 6 players that I have, and then figure out how many goblins that is in PF?
If this is posted in the wrong area, then my apologies, as Im still fairly new to these boards. Feel free to move it to the correct location, mods.
Thanks for the help, though I may have some more questions later on, lol.
Good going! DMing is a great job.
Character death: You get two types of deaths, really. One is when it unexpectedly happens in the game, the other is when a player wants to switch characters, whether the player tells you so or not. Thus, letting a character death sting for a little while is okay and probably necessary. However, you don't need to be harsh, it's already an unfun situation. I have used the principle that they begin one level lower than the others. I also level by fiat, which the APs work pretty well for due to the level suggestions for the different adventures. In such a system, the new PC begins at one level lower, then levels up alone after everyone else has leveled up, bringing them to the same level of everyone else.
Treasure: The amount of treasure is only a problem if the PCs find the battles too hard. Otherwise, my suggestion is simply to run with it and see. I am running Burnt Offerings now, and using this strategy. Adding more treasure is never a problem, in my experience. Oh, and you should know that Burnt Offerings is very focused on small equipment, which could be a problem for you. One more thing worth considering. Let replacement PCs begin with very little equipment, since their last character's wealth likely went to the party pool.
Creatures: Don't do too much work on this. Add a few extra creatures to the encounters, up various hp and the like. From time to time, put in an extra main opponent. However, generally it is better to simply enforce that noisy battles attract enemies and let each fight they have be bigger.
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The treasure in RotRL is only really available to serious scavengers
You need to sell off every dogslicer and piece of small or tiny equipment, to search each room carefully, to find the very well hidden (in a midden) goblin treasure and be committed to getting a gigantic helmet out of Thistletop to get all of the treasure.
So, keep an eye on your party and add what you think you need to.
Difficulty: RotRL is not an easy adventure path and has some seriously challenging encounters. You won't always have to boost the encounters (Xanesha is a real toughy, especially with what they have to fight past just to reach her. Malfeshnekor is also a challenge not to be sniffed at).
As for death: I usually just let my players create a new character at the same level as the group. That suits my group (no cheese, into their characters, not looking to 'game' the system) but might not suit everyone.
For us, the death of the character who you have invested a lot of creativity and attention into is a bad thing: the GM doesn't need to punish anyone for it.
Until "Skinsaw Murders" two characters died which is quite aproblem since the group neither has the money to resurect, nor does Abstalar Zantus have the skills to do it.
The two really heavy fights in Burnt Offerings were vs. the annoying imp and the really hardcore Barghest-you should encourage your group to visit him later (maby after clearing Foxglove Manor in the second part of the AP).
When a new character enters the party we handle his Xp like this: Get the average of all PC's Xp and subtract 10% from it.
Hope this helps