Help needed Mournlands Conundrum [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help needed Mournlands Conundrum [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Hobkoblyn
02-05-05, 09:07 AM Hello fellow Eberron fans!
I'm an old school Dm that has not run a game of D&D for many years.
Anyway my girl of 14 got interested in this new edition of the rules through some friends of hers and I thought why not start running a game for them. So I bought the core books and sat down started reading and lo and behold I was enchanted by the look and feel of this new edition ( it was a pleasure getting up to speed).Then I went out to find a good module for them to play and I end up getting all the Eberron books (I'm a sucker for racy pulp/action). Now we have played a few games and we are just starting Shadows of the last war. Here is my problem, I'm reading through the adventure and looking at what the party has to fight in the Mournlands and I think there is no way in the world that they are going to survive without healing but on page 188 of the main Eberron book it says that healing won't work out there.
Now am I making some sort of mistake or is this module killer tough?

Thank you for your time
Sincerely
Rusty Dm
Bluebrush
02-05-05, 09:23 AM Well, my players had a fairly easy time of it, but there were five of them, and they did use 32-point equivalent characters. Plus I did allow them to leave the mournlands to heal and go back in after the fight with the carcass crab.

Encourage them to be very careful. Fight defensively, use ranged weapons, make use of cover and, even if it's not strictly optimal under normal circumstances, use shields. Avoid fights if at all possible.
If one of them is any sort of martial-style character (With full BAB) remind them that these tactics are possible.

The Mournlands is meant to be tough. It's not the kind of place you want to go under the best of circumstances.

If one of the party is a warforged, things get much easier. Especially if they're the group's main damage absorber.

In my opinion, the fights in SotLW aren't as tough as in normal adventure to take account of this. There aren't many monsters wandering the dungeon except the "Bosses" and your players should be careful about fighting bosses anyway.
NeoMorpheus
02-05-05, 11:41 AM I ran a modified version of SotLW for my players and here is what I did for healing: I had the player (in this case, the cleric of the Sovereign Host) make a Spellcraft check (DC 15) each time he cast a healing spell. If he succeeded, he casts the spell at half its efficacy. If he failed, well... :eek: It seemed to work pretty well; keeping the Mournlands mysterious and (not-quite-as) dangerous.
aelryinth
02-05-05, 12:42 PM The general consensus was that the quickest way was to use Rope Trick, access the extra dimensional space, and heal normally inside. Of course, this means you need a mage along.

Another alternative is using necromancy to drain life from an enemy and give to yourself. Vampiric Touch and all that.

===Aelryinth
GoodGuy89
02-05-05, 12:55 PM Not having actually played SotLW, but with a party who previously visited the Mournlands, I must say that, yes, the Mournlands ARE killer...if your PCs are as stupid as mine were, that is.
As stated by Bluebrush, stealth is of outmost importance when venturing into the mists. Be sure to remind your PC's of that, (several times if you have newcomers in the group). A single gung-ho character can kill off the entire party if the DM decides not to pull the punches. As long as they don't take unnessecary (sp?) risks ("I charge after the mysterious lights! Perhaps there's treasure!"), make too much noise ("HEEELOOO! RICHIE! OVER HERE!"), or play rough ("Come on, I have, like, 21 HP left. We can take it!"), they can make it through with the party relatively intact.
If fighting is the only option left, however, be sure to remind them of the various methods of dealing damage without putting themselves at risk. Also, as the DM, be sure to monitor the situation carefully. Be ready to pull the punches, and allow them to take a breather after most encounters.

Good luck with the campaign!
Hobkoblyn
02-06-05, 07:31 AM Thank you all very much for your help.
I have quite a bit of food for thought now.

(looks like they might just scrape by heh heh)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Hobkoblyn 02-05-05, 09:07 AM	Hello fellow Eberron fans! I'm an old school Dm that has not run a game of D&D for many years. Anyway my girl of 14 got interested in this new edition of the rules through some friends of hers and I thought why not start running a game for them. So I bought the core books and sat down started reading and lo and behold I was enchanted by the look and feel of this new edition ( it was a pleasure getting up to speed).Then I went out to find a good module for them to play and I end up getting all the Eberron books (I'm a sucker for racy pulp/action). Now we have played a few games and we are just starting Shadows of the last war. Here is my problem, I'm reading through the adventure and looking at what the party has to fight in the Mournlands and I think there is no way in the world that they are going to survive without healing but on page 188 of the main Eberron book it says that healing won't work out there. Now am I making some sort of mistake or is this module killer tough? Thank you for your time Sincerely Rusty Dm
Bluebrush 02-05-05, 09:23 AM	Well, my players had a fairly easy time of it, but there were five of them, and they did use 32-point equivalent characters. Plus I did allow them to leave the mournlands to heal and go back in after the fight with the carcass crab. Encourage them to be very careful. Fight defensively, use ranged weapons, make use of cover and, even if it's not strictly optimal under normal circumstances, use shields. Avoid fights if at all possible. If one of them is any sort of martial-style character (With full BAB) remind them that these tactics are possible. The Mournlands is meant to be tough. It's not the kind of place you want to go under the best of circumstances. If one of the party is a warforged, things get much easier. Especially if they're the group's main damage absorber. In my opinion, the fights in SotLW aren't as tough as in normal adventure to take account of this. There aren't many monsters wandering the dungeon except the "Bosses" and your players should be careful about fighting bosses anyway.
NeoMorpheus 02-05-05, 11:41 AM	I ran a modified version of SotLW for my players and here is what I did for healing: I had the player (in this case, the cleric of the Sovereign Host) make a Spellcraft check (DC 15) each time he cast a healing spell. If he succeeded, he casts the spell at half its efficacy. If he failed, well... :eek: It seemed to work pretty well; keeping the Mournlands mysterious and (not-quite-as) dangerous.
aelryinth 02-05-05, 12:42 PM	The general consensus was that the quickest way was to use Rope Trick, access the extra dimensional space, and heal normally inside. Of course, this means you need a mage along. Another alternative is using necromancy to drain life from an enemy and give to yourself. Vampiric Touch and all that. ===Aelryinth
GoodGuy89 02-05-05, 12:55 PM	Not having actually played SotLW, but with a party who previously visited the Mournlands, I must say that, yes, the Mournlands ARE killer...if your PCs are as stupid as mine were, that is. As stated by Bluebrush, stealth is of outmost importance when venturing into the mists. Be sure to remind your PC's of that, (several times if you have newcomers in the group). A single gung-ho character can kill off the entire party if the DM decides not to pull the punches. As long as they don't take unnessecary (sp?) risks ("I charge after the mysterious lights! Perhaps there's treasure!"), make too much noise ("HEEELOOO! RICHIE! OVER HERE!"), or play rough ("Come on, I have, like, 21 HP left. We can take it!"), they can make it through with the party relatively intact. If fighting is the only option left, however, be sure to remind them of the various methods of dealing damage without putting themselves at risk. Also, as the DM, be sure to monitor the situation carefully. Be ready to pull the punches, and allow them to take a breather after most encounters. Good luck with the campaign!
Hobkoblyn 02-06-05, 07:31 AM	Thank you all very much for your help. I have quite a bit of food for thought now. (looks like they might just scrape by heh heh)