Playing CoCT as a Pathfinder campaign. So far, so good.
However... if I pathfinderize the adventure (using the conversions floating around this board),
While encounters can get tough from time to time, I see no way in hell how a APL 9 party is possibly supposed to beat this monstrosity (we are talking an APL+6 encounter, after all; which in my opinion pretty much spells TPK). The fact that both proposed fights with the Rakshasa goons are full-fledged EL 12 encounters (APL+3 appears a tad heavy-handed to me for some mere 'in-between fights') does not exactly help much, either.
Am I seeing something wrong; or is a full pathfinderisation of the monsters a tad over the top here?
I am toying with ideas like
Am I worrying to much? Are there any other ideas floating around?
A friend of mine adapted the 3.5 rakshasa for Escape, justifying it that generations of decadence had weakened the Arkonas. Glorio and Vimanda then got the Advanced template, however. Unfortunately, I've misplaced the conversion notes he gave me...
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Playing CoCT as a Pathfinder campaign. So far, so good.
However... if I pathfinderize the adventure (using the conversions floating around this board), ** spoiler omitted **
Am I seeing something wrong; or is a full pathfinderisation of the monsters a tad over the top here?
I am toying with ideas like ** spoiler omitted **
Am I worrying to much? Are there any other ideas floating around?
It's late so my math and stuff may be wrong.
Classes marked with a “—” increase a creature’s CR by 1 for every 2 class levels added until the number of levels added are equalto (or exceed) the creature’s original CR...
And since a Rakshasa is a combat and spell role we're good.
Vimanda gets a 2 level down grade. Making her a level 4 monk and a CR 12 threat.
A friend of mine adapted the 3.5 rakshasa for Escape, justifying it that generations of decadence had weakened the Arkonas. Glorio and Vimanda then got the Advanced template, however. Unfortunately, I've misplaced the conversion notes he gave me...
I actually had the same question a while back, and this was James Jacobs suggested I do. Actually, this is exactly what I did.
Of course, this makes them very potent foes that can easily waste a well-prepared party (speaking from experience). Especially Vimanda, whose AC can now be classified as "ridiculous" due to her incredible Wisdom and Dexterity.
Here are my conversion notes:
Arkona Rakshasa
LE medium outsider (native, shapechanger)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 19 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural)
hp 84 (8d10+40)
Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +7
DR 15/good and piercing; SR 25
OFFENSE
Spd 40 ft.
Melee mwk kukri +13/+8 (1d4+3/18-20), claw +7 (1d4+3) and bite +7 (1d6+3)
Special Attacks detect thoughts
Spells Known (CL 7th, concentration +10)
3rd (5/day)- lightning bolt (DC 16), suggestion (DC 16)
2nd (7/day)- acid arrow, invisibility, minor image
1st (7/day)- charm person (DC 14), mage armor, magic missile, shield, silent image
0- dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), mage hand, mending, message, prestidigitation
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +8; CMB +11; CMD 26
Feats Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +18, Diplomacy +14, Disguise +22, Perception +12, Perform (oratory) +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +8 Disguise
Languages Common, Infernal, Vudran
SQ change shape (any humanoid, alter self)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Detect Thoughts (Su) A rakshasa can detect thoughts as per the spell of the same name (CL 18th). It can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. When a rakshasa uses this ability, it always functions as if it has spent three rounds concentrating and thus gains the maximum amount of information possible. A creature can resist this effect with a DC 18 Will save.
Bahor was a level 10 rogue (rake) with the advanced template. Vimanda was a level 6 monk (hungry ghost) with the advanced template. Don't forget that monsters with character class levels have +4 to two ability scores, +2 to two other ability scores, and -2 to another ability score. This is gonna sound lazy, but I'm not going to post Vimanda or Bahor's stat blocks because it would take an incredible amount of time to format it.
If anybody wants, I can set up a fileshare that has the word document containing my preparation notes. There will be a few differences between EfOK and my notes, however, as I made some customized adjustments to fit the story in my version of CotCT. Those shouldn't affect the Arkonas in any way though.
Thank you!
I can go from there...
And that is why I love these boards.
Rich
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Also thanks from my end for the good advice on toning down the Rakshasas - my two "Curse of the Crimson Throne" groups are advancing to the final showdown in "Seven Days to the Grave" and I just finished the Pathfinder conversion of Bahor (always doing this myself) and threw my hands up in horror. There's no way in the 9 hells the players will be able to beat this atrocious monstrosity. As Midnight_Angel noted they'll already have a damn hard time fighting two of the regular Rakshasa at once.
Then I thought "Oh well, they don't actually have to fight him..." but knowing my players (especially the rogue/wizard who is convinced since the first round that these "accursed" Arkonas are behind everything) I already see them smiling when they realize they'll have a one-on-one private discussion with Glorio believing this to be their lucky moment to take out one of the mean string pullers.
Alright - back to the drawing board. Let's see how Bahor is turning out this way. After all if the PCs want to have his "shinies" they have to work for it ;-).