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So my group is on the last leg of Kingmaker (we're in the First World and coming down the home stretch) and I've offered to run Reign of Winter next. Everyone is looking forward to the new AP, especially one with such an iconic presence in it. We've only just begun fleshing out character concepts and I'm looking at some major problems already... and I haven't even seen the module yet.
First some background, my group consists of longtime friends (like 20+ years) who have all been gaming since the 80's. Everyone is well versed in all the previous incarnations of D&D and PF (as well as quite a few other rpgs). Without dredging up all the past issues we've had, it will suffice to say that the group is quite dysfunctional. Between the power-gaming and meta-gaming, and the incessant desire to "one-up" each other I'm not sure I was in my right mind when I made the offer to run Reign of Winter.
Before we've even started generating PCs I already have a major issue. According to the guys, they intend to have a group consisting of 1 Barbarian and 3 Arcane spell casters. I'm regretting making the offer already! I don't typically like to force things on players in a game, but this just seems like a train wreck waiting to happen.
My question is, would you "strongly recommend" a different party composition... or would you just let them play through and watch them try to stay alive with no Healer to speak of?
I'm really psyched for this AP and want it to succeed, but it seems the deck is stacked against me due to these player shenanigans...
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They'll be fine if the arcane casters aren't stupid. If one of them is a witch (especially in this AP, why wouldn't there be one?), they basically have a healer.
Is one of the casters a Sorcerer, Witch, Inquisitor, or Bard? Witch and Inquisitor both get healing spells so they can operate wands and healing scrolls for stuff like Restoration and Remove Disease, and Witch, Sorc, and Bard all get UMD for the spells they don't have on their lists. Witch even gets Reincarnate and eventually Resurrection.
That party composition should be fine, really. But yeah, some more details on which 3 caster classes they're using would help.
I'd say let the players run, if nothing else they will have to come up with how they survive, and would make an interesting tale. Not every story has a healer following the protaganist. I think I would remind them about the death and dying section of the Player Guide. (DC 10 con check to stabilize, with penalty equal to current HP. So if they at -9 HP, they have a roll a 19 + con to get it... or they fall down some more.) Not counting what its like to recover without aid...
If they persist with no alternative survivability. I don't think i'd take particular mercy on them for it...
I havent seen the module, but yea... seems like the deck is stacked... depending on what kinda casters...
Wizards... d6 HD... rogues... d4 dagger + 1d6 sneak + str.... *ponders*
Is one of the casters a Sorcerer, Witch, Inquisitor, or Bard? Witch and Inquisitor both get healing spells so they can operate wands and healing scrolls for stuff like Restoration and Remove Disease, and Witch, Sorc, and Bard all get UMD for the spells they don't have on their lists. Witch even gets Reincarnate and eventually Resurrection.
That party composition should be fine, really. But yeah, some more details on which 3 caster classes they're using would help.
Well, Inquisitor isn't an arcane caster :P
If one of them's a Samsaran, they can also pick up a few healing spells from the witch/bard list.
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Of the 3, I know there will be a Sorcerer (that has already decided on pursuing Dragon Disciple). The other 2 haven't narrowed it down yet and I think they are waiting to review the Player's Guide before deciding...
Ok, I guess it may not be as big a deal as I was thinking. But yeah, they won't be receiving any additional healing help. Not that I'll GM the game in "Super-Jerk Mode", but I certainly won't be pulling any punches. I just see it as an unnecessary hindrance. Then again, they are all very experienced so maybe they're looking for an additional challenge...
Well, Inquisitor isn't an arcane caster :PIs one of the casters a Sorcerer, Witch, Inquisitor, or Bard? Witch and Inquisitor both get healing spells so they can operate wands and healing scrolls for stuff like Restoration and Remove Disease, and Witch, Sorc, and Bard all get UMD for the spells they don't have on their lists. Witch even gets Reincarnate and eventually Resurrection.
That party composition should be fine, really. But yeah, some more details on which 3 caster classes they're using would help.
Derp derp. Hence why I shouldn't post pre-caffeine!
As a GM, I usually make some recommendations but leave the ultimate choices up to the players whenever I can. If they're having trouble, let them figure out their solutions, just be prepared to enable reasonable ones. For example, I usually allow the party to hire NPCs to fill gaps even without having Leadership. That NPC usually requires a pretty decent share of the loot, though.