GM Query: Viperwall

[Johnny Destroyer]

(Crossposted on Reddit. If you play in a game where Mike is an orc and used to be a frog and before that was Wonder Woman, you are looking at spoilers.)

So there's Viperwall. What is an appropriate level for a party of about five (four to six depending on the week) to go in there? I've heard a lot of complaints directed at me about staging recent adventures at higher difficulties than the PCs can handle (before Restoration and Remove Disease were available). So what levels of divine and arcane can handle an all-poison all the time dungeon?

While we're on the subject, what do you think we find in Viperwall? What kind of dangers?

Let me know what you think.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Umm, well... has this been detailed in an AP or anywhere? If not, four to 6 PCs should be... whatever level you want to challenge them at. For example, if they're level 1 drop a bunch of mundane serpents, kobolds as the minions, some lizardfolk as elites and finish it off with an advanced tatzlwyrm insulated by deadly traps.

Alternately, if the PCs are 7th level then drop in dire vipers with the Giant template, advanced tatzlwyrms, serpentfolk all over and use a dragon with the poisoned dragon template as the BBEG.

If you're asking when PCs can typically work around poison with ease, I'd say about 3rd level or higher. Consider that Delay Poison comes online for many casters as a 2nd level spell giving PCs hours worth of immunity to the poison's effects. After it wears off you better have a plan b in place, but until then you're fine.

[Dave Justus]

Johnny Destroyer wrote:

So what levels of divine and arcane can handle an all-poison all the time dungeon?

I think the nature of the poison makes a huge difference there. A poison that does 1 point of nonlethal damage with a check every hour is a different beast than a poison that does 1d6 CON damage every round.

I think also the amount of warning makes a huge difference. Knowing you are going to be facing an environment like that makes it fairly easy to be ready for it, especially if you can by consumable magic and alchemical items to help. Being dropped in it without warning is another level of challenge altogether.

[Johnny Destroyer]

These are excellent recommendations - thank you.

It's been suggested I dig around in my copy of Potions & Poisons for stuff to seed for the party before they go in, as well. Good stuff.