I'm getting ready to run the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition for 3 players with 4 PCs between them, and in my preparation I've noticed how deadly some areas can be (Thistletop and Xanesha especially). I've also noticed that Sandpoint's spellcasting is limited to 4th level and Magnimar's isn't much better at 8th. The problem is, the lowest level revival that I know of is Raise Dead, which requires a 9th level Cleric. Is there any way, without utilizing Rule Zero, that the PCs can obtain a Raise Dead or other form of revival in the first two chapters? Would Magnimar have scrolls for the spell since they fall well below the town's base value despite being above the city's spellcasting level?
The PCs are starting at level 2 with 25pb, and they usually play well, but long, draining dungeons are a new concept for them and I half expect them to fight their way through the first level of Thistletop, realize they're exhausted, and then get themselves killed by camping out inside one of the rooms, assuming that they're safe from everything below them. For anyone who cares, the current party comp is a Witch (Healer), Druid, Barbarian (Titan Mauler), and Fighter/Wizard (Going EK).
And on the opposite hand, if they are just dealing with a few fights a day they generally fight really well (or at least, can dish out huge amounts of damage), and I like our crazy little aasimar too much to let her go down without an epic struggle (and I'm hoping one of them attempts to redeem her). I'm considering reworking the Nualia encounter because of this. Would a restatted Nualia with levels of Anti-paladin instead of Fighter (losing Power Attack to gain Smite and better saves) and an additional level of Cleric (allowing her access to two 3rd level spells and domain spell, in this case I'd go with a modified version of Vision of Hell that ignores Demons rather than Devils, Animate Dead, and Rage), and a templated (two-headed) yeth hound be too much for the PCs to handle? Has anyone run Nualia as an Antipaladin 2/Cleric 5 here that can offer insight?
(Reasoning for changes: For the Yeth Hound, I wanted the one that never left her side to be her child-by-Tsuto, but the Fiendish Template for a 4 HD creature is all but useless. Deformities are seen as blessings by the Lamashtu followers though, and two-headed makes the beastie a little tougher without making it overpowering I think. Also running the Sandpoint Devil as her child, its first appearance being at the old church at the Sandpoint Fire. As for the Anti-Paladin levels, well, I read James Jacobs' thing saying that she started out as a Fighter and he builds characters from personalities, not optimization standpoints, but the beautiful, sheltered Aasimar daughter of a priest starts out as a fighter? I don't buy it. Besides, retraining rules exist now.)
Actually, the spellcasting level doesn't mean the level of the spell caster. It means the level of the spell that can be cast. So Magnimar would be able to cast 8th level spells.
I'm prepping Burnt Offerings to run, and honestly I'd not make her Cleric 5 because she gets 3d6 channel to blast EVERY party member with as a standard action. It's really one of her best tools, I think, and she probably should be using it. Multiple uses of 3d6 is a potentially problematic difference from 2d6. And 3rd level spells (like dispel magic, prayer, etc.) vs. level 3 or 4 creatures is rough. I'd leave her cleric level alone.
If you want possible redemption stories, someone should try and turn Orik V. after he's defeated. He's a decent fighter and could help with Nualia and the hound.
Ah, alright thanks for the correction Odraude (That's what I get for reading Magnimar's section at 2 am), that will make things a lot simpler.
You make a good point Paladin, I only picked spells that would be cinematic for the fight but I didn't consider the implications of the extra d6 on Channel. I think I can mitigate that though by having her only use it if surrounded, preferring to fight with sword and claw (not two-handed. Even without power attack, her two-handing is lethal)