My group of PCs just arrived in Feldgrau.
Up to this point, they have had a pretty easy time with things. The group consist of a rogue, an oracle (heals), a magus, a barbarian, and a ranger(switch hitter).
I don't want to make Feldgrau impossible, but I do want to make them sweat and struggle and face a little more challenge.
Any advice, especially tips with Vrood, to make them feel the horror of Feldgrau?
Set dressing?
My player (solo campaign) was able to sneak around, hide behind things, and wipe the floor with most of the cultists and curates. Turns out clerics have a hard time with casting when they're pinned. The enemies were not what caused fear in the heart of my player.
The inspiration for Feldgrau is (from the AP) Zombie Apocalypse and (from James Jacobs) post-WWI destruction. The moment I looked at Feldgrau I saw neither of these. I saw Silent Hill.
The sun never shone in Feldgrau, an oppressive fog closed around everything living and dead, the sky would darken at strategic intervals, and I liberally used the various undead while cutting down on the number of actual cultists. Sounds close by were muffled while those farther away were magnified. Ash still fell from the sky as the town itself remembered what had happened to it and took its fury out on every living thing there, including the cultists and the werewolves. And to top it off I wouldn't let them leave the area. Anyone. Until the townsfolk had their burial and the town put to rest. For now.
Neither PC even carried bashing weapons for use against skeletons, they had to fall back on that most ubiquitous of Silent Hill weapons, the two-by-four.
If your PCs haven't dealt with an encounter in Feldgrau yet you could fracture reality in that Silent Hill way and have both them and any living enemies lost, confused, and trapped until the town is appeased. My player hadn't even played Silent Hill and was still that perfect balance of scared, confused, and utterly thrilled.
Just an idea.
Very cool idea. Maybe Vrood can especially mess with the oracle in a place like that...
Just something to consider: most challenges in the AP up until this point have been in the form of solitary enemies (or rarely a duet). It takes certain builds and certain strategies to be good at this type of opponent. I'm guessing your party is somewhat specialized in this respect. (The large group size alone will be a big factor here.)
In Feldgrau, you have hordes of undead. It's just a different challenge. Their biggest advantage (their groupsize) will be eliminated. I doubt they will be as specialized against it. You might not have to change anything.
I guess what I'm saying is: don't make drastic changes without testing the waters first.
I saw Silent Hill.
The sun never shone in Feldgrau, an oppressive fog closed around everything living and dead, the sky would darken at strategic intervals, and I liberally used the various undead while cutting down on the number of actual cultists. Sounds close by were muffled while those farther away were magnified. Ash still fell from the sky as the town itself remembered what had happened to it and took its fury out on every living thing there, including the cultists and the werewolves. And to top it off I wouldn't let them leave the area. Anyone. Until the townsfolk had their burial and the town put to rest. For now.
As a huge Silent Hill fan, I think this is a bloody awesome idea. My group is just finishing up TotB, but when they get to Fedlgrau...I am so mirroring your take...Thanks!
