Making this campaign work for a party of three?

[CaptainCortez]

Hey guys,

I don't usually ever DM, but it's pretty much my turn to do it, and I've decided to run this AP in about a months time.

However, due to most campaigns usually being a huge challenge for a party of four, I was trying to make things work for a party of 3 (due to only having three players).

The usual DM's rule a 20 point buy system, and usually just stuff from Core and APG.

However, as I'm wanting the party of three to be fairly successful, I've changed the rules to my own, as I feel it'll help the party survive.

I've allowed the following Races:

Aasimar
Changeling
Half-Ogre
Tiefling

I've also ruled that it'll be a 25 point buy system, but don't know if I'll allow Ultimate Magic or anything else other than the races I stated above.

So far the only person to have made their character has come up with a not so powerful Barbarian:

Barbarian build:

Str - 18
Dex - 14
Con - 16
Int - 10
Wis - 10
Cha - 10

Race - Human (Shoanti), Gender - Male, Age 17, Height - 6'6", Weight - 280 lb

Class - Barbarian, Alignment - Chaotic Good

Fort - 6, Ref - 2, Will - 1, HP - 16, Speed - 45 ft, Initiative - 4

Skills, Climb - 5, Perception - 4, Survival - 5, Swim - 5

Feats - Totem Spirit (Tamiir-Quah), Country Born

Traits - Heart of the Wilderness (Human), Exile (Campaign), Resilient (Combat)

GP - 42

Equipment - Earth-Breaker, Hide Shirt, Backpack, Waterskin x 2, Meat x 10, Flint and Steel.

Attack - +5, 2D6+6

AC - 16

I was hoping that with the added classes and points, being a Barbarian he would have dump stat-ted his Wis, Int or Cha and gone with being a Half Ogre, as he'd be incredibly strong, but he wants to be the above, which I'm prefectly fine with, but just feel he'll be too underpowered.

The other party members will most likely be a Changeling Rogue and a Magus (though he hasn't said anything about his ideas as he doesn't want to think about Pathfinder for a month - helpful).

Is there anything else I should include?

I don't want to add my own character as I feel playing a character and DM'ing would be too much hassle.

Thanks very much!

I'd also love it if you guys could recommend me any custom/fan made encounters that could help keep things interesting, and contradict the plot, making it so when they find certain things out, they'll have even more of a surprise. :)

[hazardousindex]

I'm thinking of running this for 3 players, as well. Honestly, I think if you simply do not convert the AP from 3.5 to Pathfinder, but allow your players to make full Pathfinder characters, the challenge will probably be just fine. Pathfinder characters are about 50% more powerful than their 3.5 counterparts, so 3 players will work.

Also, why not let them roll stats? It makes for more powerful characters, and stops the generic "18 and 10s" situation you have above.

[CaptainCortez]

hazardousindex wrote:

I'm thinking of running this for 3 players, as well. Honestly, I think if you simply do not convert the AP from 3.5 to Pathfinder, but allow your players to make full Pathfinder characters, the challenge will probably be just fine. Pathfinder characters are about 50% more powerful than their 3.5 counterparts, so 3 players will work.

Also, why not let them roll stats? It makes for more powerful characters, and stops the generic "18 and 10s" situation you have above.

Ah, I figure that will make them TOO powerful, but it's alright now thanks. I made another topic in Advice that got moved back here and answered for me. :)

I'm going with a 25 point buy and just following the creature stats as the DM Adventure Path books state. Only changes I'll be making are a few NPC's I'm going to give unique stats to.

Thanks anyway though, and good luck with your camapaign. :)