It's situations like this that help groups realize that they can't rely on the same tactics over and over again.
If the Paladin didn't bring a bow (and won't use a smite) to hit it, Dispel Magic can take it out. And if they're completely outclassed, they can run to one of the other sides of the bridge and take shelter until the summon expires.
The only thing that is going to ensure a kill is if they decide to stand in the middle of the bridge doing nothing while it rains arrows on them.
It's situations like this that help groups realize that they can't rely on the same tactics over and over again.
If the Paladin didn't bring a bow (and won't use a smite) to hit it, Dispel Magic can take it out. And if they're completely outclassed, they can run to one of the other sides of the bridge and take shelter until the summon expires.
The only thing that is going to ensure a kill is if they decide to stand in the middle of the bridge doing nothing while it rains arrows on them.
+1
The Erinyes in Council of Thieves is the same problem. It isn't a problem if the PCs are a bit more versatile. Any melee dude should still carry a ranged weapon. And Scorching Ray doesn't work against a whole HEAP of enemies, any caster worth his salt knows not to rely on only fire damage.
Would dispelling leave the Equipment (Sword and Bow) as loot or only killing?
It doesn't matter if they kill it, dispel it or wait for the duration to run out. Creatures called with a summoning spell don't leave any of their equipment behind.
Oh!!
The Ranger in our group is still waiting to find a magic weapon:-). This one would have fit nicely...
Well, it wouldn't be too hard to squirrel one away somewhere in the building. ;)
Allowing summonings to leave their equipment behind becomes a problem the moment the players have access to summons that come with items. They just need to spend a few days summoning things, killing them and selling the stuff they're getting for free.
Oh!!
The Ranger in our group is still waiting to find a magic weapon:-). This one would have fit nicely...
Really? Because Erinyes use a Composite Longbow with a +5 Str bonus it's seriously unlikely that a Ranger PC (if he is made by using 15 Point Buy, as is the norm) will have the needed Str 20 to wield it properly. Same goes with Trolls (and this one would have even greater str score, because he's an advanced troll).
Really? Because Erinyes use a Composite Longbow with a +5 Str bonus it's seriously unlikely that a Ranger PC (if he is made by using 15 Point Buy, as is the norm) will have the needed Str 20 to wield it properly.
Do most people really use the recommended point buy? Every group I've seen mentioned here barring one seems to have upped it to 20.
Do most people really use the recommended point buy? Every group I've seen mentioned here barring one seems to have upped it to 20.
Really? Because Erinyes use a Composite Longbow with a +5 Str bonus it's seriously unlikely that a Ranger PC (if he is made by using 15 Point Buy, as is the norm) will have the needed Str 20 to wield it properly.
My group uses a 20 point buy, and from what I've seen on the board that does seem to be what people usually use. But I will admit that I could very well be wrong about that.
Oh well, it's not that big of a difference, really. My group uses 15. Point is, even with 20 PB, there aren't going to be many Archery Rangers with Str 20 running around. :D
Point is, even with 20 PB, there aren't going to be many Archery Rangers with Str 20 running around. :D
Yeah, all of the new combat styles finally gave the greatsword wielding ranger something else to do than have backup archery feats, just in case. I always found the 3.5/early pathfinder ranger "Archers" who had ten or twelve dex amusing. They did get a lot of use out of ranger spellcasting at least, usually spending a few rounds buffing themselves into semi-reasonable ranged combatants if the situation demanded it. In fact I'm not sure the two handed style IS actually better than that kind of versatility.
But this is clearly a topic for another thread, and another forum category as well for that matter. Carry on!
Hey everyone,
I am thinking the Erinyes Encounter CR 8 might be too hard for my party.
This thing is flying and the Paladin tank will not be able to hit it?The Sorcerer has scorching ray which doesnt help either... I am thinking if this encounter may be a little too hard?
what do you think?
How did your group handle it?
I always advise my players get a ranged weapon. If they don't they just have to deal with the consequences.
Here is how I look at it. My tire is not going to avoid going flat just because I don't have a spare so why should flying monsters not appear just because I refuse to carry a ranged weapon?
Hey everyone,
I am thinking the Erinyes Encounter CR 8 might be too hard for my party.
This thing is flying and the Paladin tank will not be able to hit it?The Sorcerer has scorching ray which doesnt help either... I am thinking if this encounter may be a little too hard?
what do you think?
How did your group handle it?
I always advise my players get a ranged weapon. If they don't they just have to deal with the consequences.
Here is how I look at it. My tire is not going to avoid going flat just because I don't have a spare so why should flying monsters not appear just because I refuse to carry a ranged weapon?
A person who plays in my group actually refuses to buy a reach or ranged weapon and sells those he has. He's a phalanx soldier archetype fighter, so it's not like he has a lot of options when he can't bring the fightening to people.
His argument is "I am only good at one thing."
I personally don't even know, but, to each his (sitting by himself for five rounds of a fight that took nearly two hours that is taking place 5 feet out of his reach) own.
A smiting paladin plays significantly above their level when fighting a smitable foe. Like +3/4 levels easy.
You mean... almost EVERY foe in the APs? :D
The Erinyes in Council of Thieves is the same problem.
Man, that fight was brutal. Our monk was down most of the combat, I had to air walk the Cavalier and then I fled with the Oracle (who wasn't healing the monk for reasons that I'm unsure about). We survived, but only by the skin of our teeth (the Oracle may have been unconscious, I'm having trouble remembering).
But no, we survived. Not all fights should be easy. That said, I'm unsure what level we were at that stage compared with Carrion Crown.
Do most people really use the recommended point buy? Every group I've seen mentioned here barring one seems to have upped it to 20.
Pathfinder Society even uses a 20 point buy.
I always advise my players get a ranged weapon. If they don't they just have to deal with the consequences.
I started playing 3.5e D&D with Pathfinder. Even I know enough to always have a ranged weapon (whether its javellins, crossbow, a number of daggers). I think that's a fair call.
His argument is "I am only good at one thing."
Well with an attitude like that, of course he's only good at one thing. I've got a wizard who from level 1 has had a crossbow. I'm not amazing at it (in fact, I'm pretty awful), but it allows me to contribute SOMETHING to each combat no matter how small that something might be.
That said, I'm unsure what level we were at that stage compared with Carrion Crown.
In my opinion the Erinyes is a totally OK encounter, and it will show which PCs are solely focused on melee. But I agree that an Erinyes is a difficult opponent. However, if our current Serpent's Skull group met her, she would be dead: Our sorcerer would cast Fly on the barbarian, and he would grapple her to death. Against them, she's a simple fight.
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I'm running CC on 15 point buy. Working fine. I tend to follow what they suggest. The Erinyes encounter was brutal for my group. If the GM plays her smartly she will TPK most of the group on the bridge. When the group set off the trap on the bridge she has aerial dominance and half the group decided they didn't need a ranged weapon. She had 4 of the 6 PC knocked out before the summon duration ran out. Saved by the bell.
What hurt the most is my group does not do teamwork all that well. So on tactical aspect they were everywhere. Most of the group was smart enough to get off the bridge and into one of the buildings.
One of the harder encounters in Trial. The other one being the guardian of the tower who killed s PC.
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Hey everyone,
I am thinking the Erinyes Encounter CR 8 might be too hard for my party.
This thing is flying and the Paladin tank will not be able to hit it?The Sorcerer has scorching ray which doesnt help either... I am thinking if this encounter may be a little too hard?
what do you think?
How did your group handle it?
I recently got a taste for player death, and I got a grim but smug satisfaction that I managed to kill a couple players now. I don't normally encourage a DM vs. Player setting, but I definitely try and make my encounters within their parameters as lethal as possible. Oddly enough, my players have said they like the new lethal me.
So, now that I've decided that I like this grim satisfaction of a death well done, I'm looking forward to a few of these fights to see what kind of damage I can wreak in their numbers....hehehe