Advice (Needed for My Gm Side)

[JuliusCromwell]

This is my First time Gming and Saturday I planning my groups first Battle.

Right now there aboard a Massive ship that Acts as a combat Training / Mercenary Guild. (its large -Like city large)

I want either a Good pc or some monsters for my group of players to fight.

As for my players (they Are starting out at level 8)

They Are made of

1st: A Magus. (Eldritch Archer) uses a Gun-sword. Long-sword - Musket

(This player as Been playing for years in other d20 dice games but still has not gotten a good understanding of combat.) No Optimization

2nd: is a Monk ( Martial Artist) Dual wields Butter-fly swords
(focuses on stunning fist) Has an Ac around 30 (slight optimization)

3rd: Is a Path of war - Stalker - Can Add 1D6 to his attack and saves rolls as well as some skills so many times per day. can Deal heavy damage due to his martial fighting style (Broken Blade) and being a precision damage class.
This player Gm the other game i play in and knows what he's doing.
More than likely he'll carry the other two. not to say the other two won't be of help in the fight. but there is a clear cut difference

The wealth / item of players Are as of a character for there level.

each one is level 8.

I want this fight to Be more than easy but less than ultra challenging

[VoodistMonk]

What flavor of battle are you looking for?

Is this city sized mercenary guild ship something opposing factions or pirates would attack?

Does the city sized mercenary guild ship ever come in to port, or does it send smaller crafts for supply runs and recruitment?

Random beasts, or introduction of a main story feature?

[JuliusCromwell]

VoodistMonk wrote:

What flavor of battle are you looking for?

Is this city sized mercenary guild ship something opposing factions or pirates would attack?

Does the city sized mercenary guild ship ever come in to port, or does it send smaller crafts for supply runs and recruitment?

Random beasts, or introduction of a main story feature?

Little back story for ya.

Humans are the main Race.

the other Main Races

Elf. Halfing , gnomes and such are considered monsters

How ever those monsters are considered ok but are treated poorly. kinda like lesser people.

the main goal of the Ship is to hunt monsters. like Dragons, giants and all other types.

the group is put in to a Squad of the three (4th player ended having to work these days) I Want a Pc who can give the group a good fight.

just not sure what level or what class would be good challenge them

[VoodistMonk]

I believe full PC level enemies have a CR equal to their level. CR usually is based on a party of 4, so your enemy should probably be lower level than your party. Maybe some minions, as needed, so the party doesn't just tee off on a lonely enemy.

Lots of pirates available through archetypes of different classes. Someone with a reach weapon to give the monk a challenge, high AC to make the gunblade work for his money, The stalker is going to do whatever he has to in order to make sure the party survives.

Maybe. Or target their weakest saves, capture one of their minds, or make them test their reflexes from a breath weapon. They are on a boat, have a sea monster wreck their little craft and now they have to swim in their gear. How well does that gunblade work with wet powder? You are in a marine environment, after all.

[JuliusCromwell]

VoodistMonk wrote:

I believe full PC level enemies have a CR equal to their level. CR usually is based on a party of 4, so your enemy should probably be lower level than your party. Maybe some minions, as needed, so the party doesn't just tee off on a lonely enemy.

Lots of pirates available through archetypes of different classes. Someone with a reach weapon to give the monk a challenge, high AC to make the gunblade work for his money, The stalker is going to do whatever he has to in order to make sure the party survives.

Maybe. Or target their weakest saves, capture one of their minds, or make them test their reflexes from a breath weapon. They are on a boat, have a sea monster wreck their little craft and now they have to swim in their gear. How well does that gunblade work with wet powder? You are in a marine environment, after all.

well what would be a good monster im thinking of having a creature invade the ship.

[VoodistMonk]

Sirens and Giant Hermit Crabs and Giant Moray Eels are CR 5
Sea Drake or Saltwater Merrow or Sea Scourge are all CR 6
Giant Jellyfish and Giant Seasnake and Ghost are CR 7

[VoodistMonk]

Sorry if those are overly generic suggestions, by the way. With only three people in your party and only one of them is a veteran, you have to test the waters before you drop full PC level enemies on them. In my opinion.

[JuliusCromwell]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Sorry if those are overly generic suggestions, by the way. With only three people in your party and only one of them is a veteran, you have to test the waters before you drop full PC level enemies on them. In my opinion.

True. What do you think I should throw at them?

I have only been playing a few years but I have general understanding and just ask for help on things I don't quiet understand.

But half my party still can't grasp the actions in combat

[VoodistMonk]

So choose CR 5 enemies, like the classic sirens... add as many as needed to be effective. If they haven't been wise and started with the proper equipment, a ghost or misquote swarm may kill them.

[JuliusCromwell]

VoodistMonk wrote:

So choose CR 5 enemies, like the classic sirens... add as many as needed to be effective. If they haven't been wise and started with the proper equipment, a ghost or misquote swarm may kill them.

I see. About how many sirens dose it take to give a party a challenge.

Say my party?

[VoodistMonk]

I would start with two, because I am demented and mean and believe characters should know the fear of dying in a campaign. But honestly, your party should probably start with one, and have another, or any number of lower minions to make sure it's a challenge If they are decent with the first one.

[VoodistMonk]

You are starting at level 8, I would treat a 3 person optimized party as the standard 4 person party and play the equivalent CR for encounters, but you have your specific 3 person party, and you have to adjust to a lower CR per encounter, or they will surely burn and die.

[VoodistMonk]

There are a lot of really young dragons in this CR level if that fits your campaign better, I chose sea related beasts because you are on a boat.