Suggestions for Deadly Module for Optimized Characters

[Mama Loufing]

I need a little help from my fellow GMs out there. I'm running two campaigns at the same time, so my prep time is becoming limited. Five of my players would like to try a 2-night (approx 8 hour) game where they will get to be total optimizers (all roll, no role-playing) to test their combat abilities. They would like to create characters somewhere from Level 8 to Level 10. Any suggestions? I don't have time to go all original material. They have fond memories of the deadly nature of the Swords of Sin module. They want me to go all out and try to kill them (fairly, of course). (They plan to have back-up characters just in case I succeed--and I will.)

Any thoughts? I don't mind converting something to Pathfinder.

The Grand Melee at Paizocon this year was particularly tough. Something like that could work.

Suggestions?

[Taliesin Hoyle]

The Tomb of Horrors for 3.5

[Edgar Lamoureux]

Taliesin Hoyle wrote:

The Tomb of Horrors for 3.5

This.

[Mama Loufing]

Tomb of Horrors is an excellent choice but one of the players is very familiar with it. Anything else like it out there?

[Endoralis]

Edgar Lamoureux wrote:

Taliesin Hoyle wrote:

The Tomb of Horrors for 3.5

This.

+1 OMG why..make sure they have like..50 char sheets

[Edgar Lamoureux]

This might work. It's another in the "S" Series of modules. There were four; Tomb of Horrors, White Plume Mountain, Expedition to Barrier Peaks, and this, The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. This particular one is written for 11th level PCs.

There's also this, but it's for 7th level PCs. This one is White Plume Mountain.

The other "Special" Module was never rereleased under 3.5 rules.

[Captain Deathbeard]

Plus, if you run Tomb of Horrors and they survive, they can buy the bumper sticker "I survived the Tomb of Horrors" and proudly put it on their cars!

[Mama Loufing]

I appreciate all the input. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth is a great thought. Anything else I should consider?

I've heard that Maure Castle was tough, particularly the levels added in Dungeon magazine. Does anyone know which magazines they were in?

[redcelt32]

Thanks for the links, I remember these fondly...might be fun to use them with my current group :)

[hogarth]

Mama Loufing wrote:

I appreciate all the input. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth is a great thought. Anything else I should consider?

I've heard that Maure Castle was tough, particularly the levels added in Dungeon magazine. Does anyone know which magazines they were in?

Dungeon #112. It's for 12th level characters.

[Edgar Lamoureux]

@Redcelt32, Oh NO. I've done a terrible thing! :P

[Mama Loufing]

Is there anything especially deadly from Necromancer? Perhaps a level of Rappan Atthuk? I'm still open for more ideas.

Thanks for the links. They were great! Also, does anyone know whether the Grand Melee Pathfinder Society game will be made available?

[Fenrisnorth]

The adventures Dragon Mountain and Gates of Firestorm peak were intense, but they are from 2nd ed, so it would be quite a lot of work to convert

[Glutton]

Temple, Tower, and Tomb.

[brreitz]

Tomb of the Mud Sorcerer from Dungeon 138. It's an update of the original from Dungeon 37, which was designed as a tribute to Tomb of Horrors.

Oh, it is glorious. I ran it for some overpowered PCs, and it was good fun.

[DreamAtelier]

If what they want is a straight up fight to test their ability to combat optimize, you might consider something along the lines of what wizards did at a few of the conventions towards the end of 3.5, where you take a single high powered enemy and pit them against it.

For instance, there were scenarios they'd done up to make use of each of the oversized dragon miniatures that were literally just "your party takes on this dragon" and which they anticipated it taking 4 hours or so to successfully complete the combat.

I don't have links, unfortunately. But something like a pair of those back to back could be fun.

[Mama Loufing]

A back to back tough fight is a great idea. I was also considering setting up an arena tournament type of fight and actually preparing groups of monsters to provide a challenge and then letting them take turns running the monsters against the rest of the party. Letting them take turns at showing off their knowledge of combat by trying to kill the others.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I had forgotten about Tomb of the Mud Sorceror. I'm going to dig my Dungeon copies out and reread that one.

[roguerouge]

Mama Loufing wrote:

A back to back tough fight is a great idea. I was also considering setting up an arena tournament type of fight and actually preparing groups of monsters to provide a challenge and then letting them take turns running the monsters against the rest of the party. Letting them take turns at showing off their knowledge of combat by trying to kill the others.

Age of Worms has an excellent tournament scenario, with multiple teams, one team on one team, a monster fight and show-stopping finale. I recommend it.