Starting EfoK; help with the first encounter

[Douglas Muir 406]

Okay, am starting EfoK. It's not such a great module to read through but, hell, let's see what we can do.

In terms of combat, this breaks down into three bits:

1) warmup at Orsini's house;
2) the Emperor
3) the Arkonas and their dungeon

I would expect most of the module's play time to be in the latter two; correct?

(N.B., one oddity of this module is that only the Emperor stuff actually needs to be in Old Korvosa. I'm moving Orsini's house and the Arkona's place into the main city; it's not going to make much difference.)

Anyway. The PCs should be heading for Orsini's house shortly. As per the module, they will find

Spoiler:

Red Mantis assassins waiting for them.

A problem immediately arises. One, the PCs are pretty tough: there are six of them, APL 7, and they're tolerably well optimized. Two, they've faced the Mantis a couple of times now, so they're familiar with their tactics. Worse yet, the Mantis are no longer scary; the PCs now perceive them as one-trick mooks. So unless the PCs are very careless -- unlikely -- they'll probably roll right over the Mantis in a round or two.

So, my question: how to beef up this encounter and make it more threatening / interesting / scary? Simply increasing the numbers is boring. I'm thinking to add another creature. But what? What would be unexpected, scary, and synergize well with the encounter-as-written?

Thoughts?

Doug M.

[Xenomorph 27]

Spoiler:

Most of the combat will be at the Arkonas. The Emperor was a bit of a walkthrough for my group. To beef up the Orsini house. Have a Fire Elemental(s)(threatening) as an ally to the Mantis. More of a reason for the fire to spread more rapidly or outright replace the mantis fire tactic. This was difficult for my group being that the fire moved quickly and some were caught on fire. The Mantis blocked their escape. If you want something more, perhaps a large mantis monster(unexpected/scary). Maybe there are a few more urgathoa priests about looking for revenge. If you feel the party is really strong, perhaps Cinnabar(interesting) could make an early appearance before the Cinderlands.

[walter mcwilliams]

Spoiler

:

I think the environment (as written) is how to beef up this encounter and make it more threatening / interesting / scary? The PC's are bound to be suspicious and on alert, but the bad guys are well trained in ambush and have had the time to prepare. Give them "20" on there hide checks. If a PC percives the physical clue that something is amiss "bamm" spring the ambush.

Change their tactics, if the pc's have faced them then the orgaization has had time to study and learn from the PC's tactics.

Mantis are the most deadly assassin guild on Golarion, these dudes succeed or die, so they are good play them as such like a team of PC's they are going to have a plan and know there enemy.

The purpose of this encouter, as written, is to introduce the Mantis as I don't believe they make an official appearance prior to this. That is why the encounter is a little under ELR I believe.