Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Melvin the Mediocre 05-02-06, 03:00 PM	So a monk, a priest, and a mage walk into a bar.. er... sewer. Actually I have a group of third level characters (artificer, mage, cleric/rogue, and a monk.) They are likely going to attack a tiny, just formed theive's guild. The guard outside the main HQ is a 1/2 orc fighter of 3rd level with a spiked chain and all the associated nasty feats. On his death, a tattoo will burn brightly off his chest opening a locked port hole that will release a living spell (Stinking cloud.) The noise of the battle will alert the main baddie who is a 1/2 daelkyr 4rth level adept with living breastplate. He is surrounded by 4 experts with leather armor and scimitars. Is the party going to go total squish-squish or is this a reasonable fight? The adept is only apt to stick around for a few rounds before going invisible and running away. I'm just worried that the 3 back to back fights are to much. On the other hand I want it to be very hard and rewarding encounter.
Temjinstrife 05-02-06, 03:53 PM	It's perfectly acceptable, I've run harder consecutive combats by my group often. A single fighter of their level will fall quickly to concerted effort; the spiked chain will only slow that fall down a small bit. Living spells also die relatively easily, and 1st-2nd level experts are no match for a party of 3rd level characters. Just make sure the adept gets away... a Living Breastplate is no small treasure for any level party (it's so good it has no GP value, as I'm sure you're aware) and a 4th level baddie with four meat shields is not insurmountable, although it is more difficult depending on the level of tactics that you and your players use. I've found that 3.0 and 3.5 edition characters are disgustingly durable, personally; even a moderately well-prepared and armed party can surprise you by defeating surprisingly nasty creatures. If the adept wishes to get away, he should run on the first or second round of combat, possibly third, but no later. If you wait for him to drop to half hp or something like that, he will not get away short of a moderately-ranged teleportation effect. Anyways, barring player stupidity and dangerous rolls, the encounter should be okay, as long as they don't get their hands on that living breastplate.
Crystalforged 05-02-06, 05:26 PM	It sounds like it could be tough for you character's but probably not a TPK. The one thing that worries me is that living breastplate. It's an awfully potent trinket your giving to a fourth level adept, I don't have my books on hand but if I remember correctly it gives some potent DR, low ASF for its AC, a nice Con boost, and fortification. This could definitely be enought to turn a weak spellcaster into a monster. Another issue is that normally I believe they are only given to the Daelkyrs most valued servant which once again raises the question of how the Adept got it even if he is a half-blood. Finally like Temjinstrife said a living breastplate is definitely something you don't want falling into the hands of a 3rd level party for the same reasons I mentioned above. Overall I would suggest getting rid of the armor and replacing it with some other symbiot or a couple of symbiots.
allenchan 05-03-06, 02:15 AM	Agreed. Everything is okay except for the Living Breastplate (essentially an artifact) and why a 4th level adept would have one is beyond me.
Setherial 05-03-06, 02:38 AM	The chain fighter should go down very fast and if your party plays it well they take him out without a scratch. The rest should be ok as well, they are going to be fine if they are experienced players.
Korhal_IV 05-03-06, 03:20 AM	Your party doesn't have a real tank, so if the spiked chain dude gets a few lucky swings, he might do some severe damage to the party, but that's more luck of the dice than anything else. The spiked chain is a pretty powerful weapon; perhaps you can equip him with a longspear or something instead?
Sereno 05-03-06, 09:58 AM	The one thing that worries me is that living breastplate. It's an awfully potent trinket your giving to a fourth level adept, I don't have my books on hand but if I remember correctly it gives some potent DR, low ASF for its AC, a nice Con boost, and fortification. This could definitely be enought to turn a weak spellcaster into a monster. Another issue is that normally I believe they are only given to the Daelkyrs most valued servant which once again raises the question of how the Adept got it even if he is a half-blood. Finally like Temjinstrife said a living breastplate is definitely something you don't want falling into the hands of a 3rd level party for the same reasons I mentioned above. Overall I would suggest getting rid of the armor and replacing it with some other symbiot or a couple of symbiots. For what it's worth, one of the antagonists in Keith's City of Towers novel appears to have both the living breastplate and a tentacle whip ... and he's not even a 1/2-Daelkyr. Since it is a living creature, it probably isn't that hard to manufacture/breed. :yuck: I can't really imagine PCs wanting to use the thing; it's absolutely repulsive and there's almost no way to completely hide it from view. Any PC dumb enough to wear the thing in public is going to be an object of horror. Any Gatekeeper druid who spotted it would probably attack the PC on sight as a co-conspiritor with the aberrations!
ekomega 05-03-06, 04:39 PM	I think the PCs will have a real hard time with the 1/2 daelkyr. Your mage will probably use all of his spells against the previous monster fights, and so will be ineffective against the 1/2 daelkyr. The DR of the living breastplate is 10/byeshk. Unless your PCs have a byeshk weapon, they are going to be doing no damage to this guy. And with the wizard out of spells, they will have a real problem killing him. If the PCs have no byeshk, really the only way to kill the living breastplate wearer is magic. And with all the other combatants, the mage will likely use all his spells. Plus, the stinking cloud is going to severely impair the party's ability to damage anyone afterward. Since you have a cleric, it might be worth using a damage dealing living spell instead, so that the party isn't overwhelmed by the next fight. Of course, if the party has a byeshk weapon, then this should be fine.
Melvin the Mediocre 05-04-06, 01:57 PM	I can't really imagine PCs wanting to use the thing; it's absolutely repulsive and there's almost no way to completely hide it from view. Any PC dumb enough to wear the thing in public is going to be an object of horror. Bingo. I have my party thoroughly disgusted by symboits- they don't even know what they are yet. Plus the guy is going to flee as soon as he can. The party has seen and spoken with everyone in the encounter before, so I can't really change the spiked chain or the living armor unless I make up a new symbiot armor; but again I don't think it is an issue. My players are not experienced and the cleric doesn't memorize many cure spells, and can not spontaneously cast them either. They have a few heal potions and the artificer is beginning to understand what his scribe scroll feat is for, so hopefully they will have some healing power. I just think the stinking cloud spell is a better fit for the encounter (in the sewers) and just makes for a more interesting ooze. A living cause light wound spell just seems to much like "wandering damage". Thanks for the input everyone. You've given me much to mull over. Edit: Hey my sig is gone!!!!
Cutlass 05-04-06, 06:52 PM	Depending on your account settings your sig will only post once per "page".
Magagumo 05-05-06, 10:37 PM	Hmm, if the Living Breastplate's potentcy is a true issue for some (I agree, it is considered a minor artifact), then perhaps an item with such a powerful ego is, in fact, the master of the adept, and not the other way around. Granted, the adept is a 1/2 daelkyr, but an individual with 15 PB-generated stats (13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8) and 4 adept levels (an honest CR 2 if you follow the MM's rules on non-associated classes) is hardly going to have the willpower to stand up to the breastplate's Ego score. Hmm.. I may have to steal this 1/2 daelkyr adept concept for my own "Living Breastplate Mastermind" adventure :P