I had a much better experience with this module in non-CORE. We had no Technology stuff (other than a brown e-pick from the previous adventure), so relied on the E-pick and Disable Device to figure things out. Resist Energy Fire makes the final encounter more do-able. And we had two Pre-Gens at the table (I think you played it with me at Kubla).
Yeah, that was a great game. That's what motivated me to run it twice. Despite the bad ending this time, I expect I'll run it again. I think the good outcome you & I shared when we played together is much more likely. I think the "bad ending" requires a lot of bad stuff to coalesce, and requires ignoring a lot of warning signs. So if I run it again, I suspect it'll go just fine!
However, it was definitely an indication that maaaayybe Core classes are a little weaker than non-Core classes. Maybe. They sure didn't have as many successes, at least.
It kinda makes me interested in Core games as a player, actually. I could use the challenge. I wonder how powerful or successful we could be if we're just a party of the normal wizard, cleric, fighter, and rogue. Maybe less able to "get stuff done" than a team with an investigator, bloodrager, warpriest, hunter, wizard, gunslinger, and oracle.
Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area North & East
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When I played through we had 4 players, but APL put us into low tier with no adjustment. That's a lot of portals for 4 players. We couldn't really do disable device and after failing the first engineering roll decided not to try that, and instead went with the mage doing spellcraft on the portals and the other 3 making strength checks on the batteries. When BBEG showed up, one of the strongmen (me) pulled off and pretty much solod him while the rest worked on portals. Used an (Outsider, Fire) Bane repeating crossbow on him - I love dipping into Occultist.
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I was asked to DM this at a con when the DM had to leave so I dmed it cold, and some of the things I did many not have been right. This is a very complex scenario.
When I DMed this the party could not convince TIG-0 to jump down the hole so they left him behind. I allowed them to talk their way out of the Azer fight. When they go to the boss battle the PCs were so hungry for tech gear they asked him what he would trade for his laser pistol. So he had them hook up their battery and start powering up the portal. Then he stalled the PCs as they became suspicious. the cleric stepped up attacked and got critted with a scorching ray. So the rest of the PCs not wanting him to kill the cleric negotiated a second time to not kill their friend and let them save him as the room started filling with smoke. So I allowed the PCs to save their friend and escape with no real fight.
They lost all his gear except the laser pistol which I felt they earned.
I allowed them to talk their way out of the Azer fight.
That's actually not a bad idea, whether you're running the game cold or not. The azers are the only way that I could find (in the module text) for the players to find out that Jethzerai is a wanted criminal. So, you really want the players to discover that, and if things are peaceful (or, at least 1 azer lives) you can have them spill the beans.
So, good job on that part, even if you didn't mean it. :)
Venture-Captain, Netherlands
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I allowed them to talk their way out of the Azer fight.That's actually not a bad idea, whether you're running the game cold or not. The azers are the only way that I could find (in the module text) for the players to find out that Jethzerai is a wanted criminal. So, you really want the players to discover that, and if things are peaceful (or, at least 1 azer lives) you can have them spill the beans.
So, good job on that part, even if you didn't mean it. :)
I figured talking the Azers down would be hard.
Then the ninja threw open the doors and said, "Hey pretty ladies, how are you all doing?" and got 29 on diplomacy. So I figured, hell, why not. It must have been lonesome down here for so long.
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I allowed them to talk their way out of the Azer fight.That's actually not a bad idea, whether you're running the game cold or not. The azers are the only way that I could find (in the module text) for the players to find out that Jethzerai is a wanted criminal. So, you really want the players to discover that, and if things are peaceful (or, at least 1 azer lives) you can have them spill the beans.
So, good job on that part, even if you didn't mean it. :)
I figured talking the Azers down would be hard.
Then the ninja threw open the doors and said, "Hey pretty ladies, how are you all doing?" and got 29 on diplomacy. So I figured, hell, why not. It must have been lonesome down here for so long.
Well I could not find a good reason for the azers to try to murder hobo the PCs. I had them all roll initiative and the azers took free actions demanding that the loot here was theirs to provide a reason for dialog. The oracle wanted everyone to not kill them to get a check box on his faction sheet.
From what I read the fight felt forced and I hate the realism of that.
Venture-Agent, Finland—Tampere
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There is something that slightly confuses me if I understood it right. So yeah, did I understand this right?:
Each round portals gain one charge(unless they are at 0) and THEN after they have gotten the new charge, they do effect based on number of charges.
Doesn't that mean that effect that happens with portals that have 1 charge never happen as 0 charge portals are inactivated and portals with 1 charge just do the effect for 2-3 charges?
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Contributor
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For your amusement - I created a bunch of small .mp3 files (the .zip file they're in is less than 2mb) of Tig's lines from the scenario (and a few possible replies to PC questions/actions) and uploaded them to the GM Prep site.
