While lesser monsters can be a boon, it's easy to break an encounter. 6 level 6 Adepts(Cr 4 each) is a CR 9 Encounter. But we know most PCs can't survive 36d6 damage at level 6. This is apparently an epic encounter.I disagree. You can do wonders with lesser mosnters. By the other hand, single BBEG tend to die quickly, we all know that.The game has it's tools for adjusting encounters to be more difficult but not to elongate encounters.That's true... The only effective way to make an encounter last significantly longer is adding more enemies that fall into "not that much of a threat" category.
It is assumed by level 9, you have Elemental resistance or good saves (Cloak of Resist) as NPCs have low DC's.
I think most APL 9 Parties can take that battle.
I even bet someone post the Ionics, boost them to WBL (I doubt they are) and they'd win. Maybe lose Valeros, but he always dies.
|
Valerie actually isn't that bad. He hits often and does solid damage. His ac seems a bit small from what I recall. Or maybe it does hit 30-wish. He is probably the one iconic I feel safest using next to Kyra. At low levels amiri is a death sentence. In fact, she is the only pfs permanent death I have ever had.
Valerie
who?
In game where Wizards (etc.) exist?
I see ten times as many threads worried about how to "deal" with gunslingers who have managed to jury rig the system into letting them full attack or dual wield or sword+pistol(strange how a build that has its own feat and archetype support doesn't actually work without a lot of effort) or how to shut down AoO optimized Babarians than I do honestly about the entire T1 pantheon combined.
Sure, by spending all his feats and a lot of WbL on a single niche ability he can probably drop a dangerous target in one round. Probably.
Meanwhile the Wizard is dropping a good spell or two and shutting down the entire enemy team in the same amount of time before he goes back to remaking reality in his own image. So why is the first one the most distressing?
It is very easy for a player with a good grasp of the rules to wield the higher reaches spellcasting power in an understated fashion. Indeed, countless volumes of virtual ink have been spilled on these forums in providing advice on how to do so.
It is notably harder to wield the higher reaches of mundane power in an understated fashion.
In other words,
Mundane power can often be more in-your-face than spellcasting power, even if it is not as strong.
While lesser monsters can be a boon, it's easy to break an encounter. 6 level 6 Adepts(Cr 4 each) is a CR 9 Encounter. But we know most PCs can't survive 36d6 damage at level 6. This is apparently an epic encounter.Level 6 adepts only get level 2 spells. They would have to be level 8 and then they get 1 single level 3 spell. They are stuck using lightning bolt so they also aren't hitting everyone. With npc array their dex is at best +2. If they take Improved Initiative they are still almost certainly losing to a competent arcane caster. A level 8 adept has saves of 3/4/6, maybe 1 more with a cloak. Level 5 PC's are likely to be throwing stuff with DC's in the region of 19-20. I don't fancy their chances.
If you stick with the level 6 group they could go with scorching ray. If you give them Varisian Tattoo they get two rays for 8d6 damage potential each. They are only attacking at +5, probably against touch AC's around 13-14. If they all gang up on one person they will probably kill that person if they act first unless the target has resist energy in which case they are boned.
My bad. Scorching Rays are are incredibly nasty as well. 24d6 will instagib most folks as well. If you do the Varisian Tattoo, 48d6 will easily gib two party members.
For a CR10 encounter vs an APL 7 group, we can have our cultist adepts in the rafters of a cathedral for favorable terrain.