Well, now my PCs are about to assault the Spriggan-held fort, but the spriggans know they're coming. I need to figure out what they'd do in order to prepare. Simply treating it as if the alarm was sounded doesn't seem sufficient, since they should be able to attack the PCs as they're tring to climb up. In addition, the spriggans as-written (or even as modified by the 6-player conversion, which gives the a fighter level and crossbows), aren't really going to pose a threat without a major terrain advantage and decent tactics.
Anyone have suggestions or successful modifications to this encounter area?
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Don't underestimate the killing ground that is that fort. PCs going through the front door face a bunch of murder holes.
What Id recommend is having a couple of biggy-sized Spriggans roll barrels down the hill at PCs as the players approach. Add some boiling oil upstairs for any PC trying to climb the wall, and add a couple of Spriggans with bows to the roof to pick off any flyers.
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Well, now my PCs are about to assault the Spriggan-held fort, but the spriggans know they're coming. I need to figure out what they'd do in order to prepare. Simply treating it as if the alarm was sounded doesn't seem sufficient, since they should be able to attack the PCs as they're tring to climb up. In addition, the spriggans as-written (or even as modified by the 6-player conversion, which gives the a fighter level and crossbows), aren't really going to pose a threat without a major terrain advantage and decent tactics.
Anyone have suggestions or successful modifications to this encounter area?
I'd use a strength bow add more traps. Be careful if they are the spriggans all attack with bows at the wall and gate it can be a tpk if your pcs don't witdraw.
Good ideas, both. I need to keep reminding myself that spriggans aren't dumb - they may be CE, but they're still going to take the precautions that any humans holed up in that fort would.
On the hill: Waves of arrows/bolts from the arrow slits and either barrels or rocks. Any advice for how much damage the rocks would do? I'll probably call it 1d8 like a hill giant rock, unless someone has a better idea. If they're rolling, they don't add strength but do make trip attempts.
Inside the wall: more arrows/bolts from the keep and side platforms, with a few large spriggans on the ground, on top of the wolves (which are now dire wolves). Rocks from the murder holes if anyone gets close to the walls, with boiling oil for any lingerers. Any suggestions for boiling oil rules?
Inside the blockhouse: Arrows from L26 to L25, then room-to-room fighting for the rest.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
I'd give them tanglefoot bags, smoke sticks and thunderstones as well. The saves might not be that challenging anymore, but it certainly adds to the Spriggans tactics and again shows they are not dumb.
I advanced the spriggan by the fire and made him and a ranger 2 and made the wolfs dire wolfs as well - he'll be the 2nd in command after Agai.
Also, with their high Dex, sneak attack and the cramped spaces inside the blockhouse I've switched 2 skill ranks from Sleight of hand into Acrobatics - chances might be they tumble past the PCs to get into position for a sneak attack or two.
Would it fit Agais tactics to enlarge in order to block entrance to the kitchen and fight one at a time (vital strike with 3d6+15 base damage might be brutal)? Or would he want to stay mobile?
With flying opponents not being uncommon I enhanced the blockhouse with murder holes/arrow slits pointing upwards (located in the roof) as well.
Ruyan.
Concerning the boiling/burning oil:
I'd go with the an amalgam of Alchemist's fire and wall of fire.
If the barrel crashes and the oil catches on fire, the oil is similar to a wall of fire with an area of 10 ft x 10 ft and a height of 15 ft, dealing 1d6 damage to creatures moving into the area and for every 5 ft moving through the area (2d6 for moving all the way through), counts as difficult terrain, too. Splash damage of 1 fire damage to creatures adjacent to the cube. Burns for 2+2d4 mins. 10 cold damage or a large water-doused tarpaulin/sturdy blanket with at least 20 ft x 20 ft area needed to extinguish the fire.
Ruyan.
Concerning the boiling/burning oil:
I'd go with the an amalgam of Alchemist's fire and wall of fire.
If the barrel crashes and the oil catches on fire, the oil is similar to a wall of fire with an area of 10 ft x 10 ft and a height of 15 ft, dealing 1d6 damage to creatures moving into the area and for every 5 ft moving through the area (2d6 for moving all the way through), counts as difficult terrain, too. Splash damage of 1 fire damage to creatures adjacent to the cube. Burns for 2+2d4 mins. 10 cold damage or a large water-doused tarpaulin/sturdy blanket with at least 20 ft x 20 ft area needed to extinguish the fire.Ruyan.
Makes sense to me. Thanks!
Just a followup - we finally finished this tonight. One session for the approach and clearing most of the courtyard (including having the paladin fall into the pit trap... then get boiling oil poured on him), one for finishing up those outside the blockhouse and breaking into the first floor (using RuyanVe's suggestion for boiling oil rules to block the doorway), and tonight for the attempt to climb up to the second floor, fighting off the fires (as per the Catastrophe rules from CoT), and finally killing Agai. It was a very amusing session.
First, the inquisitor went up stairs, discovered three spriggans flanking the top, they all took readied actions, and she went quickly back down the stairs barely alive... Ouch. Then all the melee characters lined up in the stairs, before the fighter tried to push up to the top to bull rush Agai out of the way. He failed, due to the AoO provoked, and because of the lack of space (and the "Can't end movement in an occupied space" rule), ended up falling back down the stairs, taking the cleric with him, and ending up on top of the lightly armored inquisitor.
Then, their scout discovered the fire. I showed the player my map of what had already caught on fire and the book section headline about fire spreading. He announced it to the group by having his character shout "Fire! The building's on fire!".... And all the cross-talk suddenly died.
Then the whole party except for the paladin went "Quick - save the loot!" and went to go loot the floors on the lower room, leaving the paladin alone against three spriggans.
It kindof went downhill from there. We lost the paladin to a crit+hit from small-Agai and a hit from an enlarged spriggan, but he was then saved by a breath of life scroll and a lot of people rushing to his rescue and spending hero points.