Well, it looks like things are going to take a turn for the interesting in the Siege of Sandpoint, seeing that my players decided to offer the Black Arrows (augmented with Orik, but minus Kaven who is currently on a barge heading to Sandpoint where he will be inducted into the town guard after one player urged for redemption and basically guilt-tripped the other players into agreeing - after all, his character has been on a long-term redemption tour and he couldn't just let Kaven get killed).
Basically, in exchange for the Black Arrows helping against the Giants, they get all the magic items looted from them from the ogres back. Seeing the group has Teleport now, the Black Arrows felt it was a good deal and agreed to it - meaning Sandpoint will be beefed up in its defenses. Not only will they have the "SWAT team" with heavy armor, tower shields, and battle axes (and another crew with breastplates, heavy iron shields, and longswords), but they also will have Black Arrows protecting one area. So I decided to alter how things are going to play out.
One thing that's going to happen is that the barbarian character is being retired (thus leaving the group with three PCs and the NPC Arcane Trickster/Swashbuckler). Seeing the Barbarian is going to remain in Sandpoint, I decided he, his orcish mother (who's got barbarian levels and considers her half-orc son "weak" and needing a nice strong girl to settle down with), and the cohorts will face the wall.
The Black Arrows will face the Beer or Death crew, which leaves the center two fights (and the Dragon) for the core group. I've beefed those encounters up a little... and then added one last encounter to make things interesting.
I'm actually using the new classes for this - a Slayer armed with a two-barrel pistol (and alchemical cartridges) assisted by a Bone Shaman. It should prove most interesting, seeing that this will be their first encounter with firearms, and the assassins are ONLY here for Tongs. If they succeed in taking him out, they immediately retreat (after a possible Animate Dead on Tongs' body - still thinking that part out).
So all in all, the attack on Sandpoint will likely not be nearly as hectic as what some groups have faced. The giants probably won't prevail, though it'll be interesting to see how the dragon does seeing he's going to be attacking different areas than where the PCs are defending.
And now they're talking caltrops. Giant-sized caltrops.
I could double the number of giants in this battle. I don't think they'd survive. I must admit some morbid curiosity as to what they will plan to do about the dragon. ^^;;
I might have the attack happen before they get too prepared, a well prepared party is the death of the most climactic battles, its the classic invasion on town, make them crap their pants:)
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Or better yet!
have some of the giants see the giant caltrops and break out some boulders and start playing Jacks with them :D
Oh, I've plans. I'm going to run the raid similar to how it's done in the book (note the lack of spoilers - I know I've a player who occasionally looks through these forums and after he ensured the death of Radosek in my other campaign, I'm more cautious). I did toy with the idea of them showing up DURING the raid but I figure that's too cruel. ;) (One player said "no, you being evil is our showing up, finding Sandpoint burning and in ruins, and the giants and dragon waiting for us." So looks like that's out... ^^)
And the recommended tactics for a certain enemy in the invasion does guarantee that things won't be a complete cakewalk. As it is, I already reskinned said enemy as a level 4 Slayer, while one support unit has two levels of Sorcerer (partly because his spellcasting abilities were missing from the Hero Labs write-up).
Not to be the spoiler police guy. Okay I guess that's a lie since I'm posting... But the very title of this thread needs a spoiler tag. Players of the AP shouldn't know even the information in title until they reach that point in the AP.
An alternate form (admittedly less engaging) would be: An alternate approach to the beginning of Book 4.
The no-fun police will go away now. Please return to your regularly scheduled dialogue.
First, there is a spoiler bit added to the end of the thread title. Unless you mean the title warns people what is going to happen.
Second, the group KNOWS the giants are coming. Pretty much only a non-observant group that killed Barl and then didn't search the cavern he's in wouldn't know, seeing Barl will tell you to save his hide, and there's a note by M also stating in no uncertain terms about the attack (and dragon).
Yes, I meant the title warns people what's going to happen. And yes, everyone who completes Book 3 knows a giant attack on Sandpoint is coming. But players who are have yet to complete 1, 2 or 3 don't know that. Yet.
If you're worried that people will see my little title, decide "Sandpoint needs defenses badly!" and start beefing up the town... well, you know something? Between a goblin invasion and threat of a second one, and a massive ghoul infestation, I wouldn't blame any party for wanting to improve defenses in Sandpoint. Though it's not exactly feasible seeing the river's edge is completely built up and you can't really put walls there or anything.
since your party is clearly going to expect the Jacks i recommend having
i get what Latrecis is saying,