Nonstandard Classes in Shadows of the Last War? *spoilers* [Archive] - Wizards Community

Nonstandard Classes in Shadows of the Last War? *spoilers* [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ProfessorSockPuppet
08-02-04, 02:24 AM *probably loads of spoilers, so plz don't read if your DM is running Shadows of the Last War*

I'm running a level 4 eberron group this fall. I intend to run them trhough the Shadows of the LAst War module, but it's for level 2 characters. I hate playing characters under level 4 so I won't force it on my players, so I'm thinking of instead simply upping the EL of most of the encounters via either extra levels for NPCs, extra HD for mosters, or perhaps just upping the numbers.

If I decide to just up the numbers, I'm probably gonna add some NPCs with nonstandard class levels, otherwise all these Dragon issues, the Minis HB, and the Complete Divine/Warrior will go to waste.

The stuff in sharn I think is okay by itself, as an easy lead-in. I'll probably put more kobolds in and maybe give Cutlass an extra level, but that's all.

At Rose Quarry though the most important one is the obvious hornet's nest in the Emerald Claw camp. I got a feelin' my players are gonna throw rocks at it, so I'd better make sure it's going to hurt like heck if they do. As per the charts in the DMG, I'm gonna up the # of sodliers to 12 and add an extra warrior level to them (otherwise they'd be off the chart). Likewise, skeletons will be boosted in number to 10 (likely to mostly be turned anyway still). Since I don't want the mooks outweighing the heavies, I'll be boosting Keltis and Mallora to level 3 each.

Finally, to bring it all togethe, I figured that a bunch like this could use a commander to keep them in line. Who better than a toguh, drill-instructor of a Marshal from the Minis Handbook? This is an unfair encounter to begin with that should be avoided at all costs, so adding insult to injury (and bringing it to a total EL of 10) couldn't be that bad. With so many mooks, the Marshal's mass buffing ability is sure to shine.

Great idea, I thought, but why stop there? Why should the other three NPCs, not to mention poor Brother Garrow, be stuck with boring ol' standard classes? I'm already going to have to change theirlevel, changing them to an easily comprable nonstandard class couldn't be THAT much tougher...

So, to that end, what 20-level base classes from various noncore sources should I give the following Last War NPCs?

Brother Garrow (5th level cleric = 6th level ?)

Mallora (2nd level necromancer = 3rd level ?)

Keltis Doran (2nd level cleric = 3rd level ?)

Kaela (2nd level fighter = 3rd level ?)
ProfessorSockPuppet
08-02-04, 07:53 PM Okay, I realize that was kinda rambling and didn't have the best spelling or punctuation, but 100 views and no replies? C'mon!
UltimaGabe
08-02-04, 10:15 PM Well, I haven't finished reading over the adventure itself yet, but I'll just say that you know your players better than any of us. I, personally, have problems with people who hate low levels, but that's just me. You're the DM, and you can make whatever changes you want. Just be sure not to overdo it, and be sure to leave a way out of every encounter.
ENHenry
08-03-04, 02:21 PM [quote]So, to that end, what 20-level base classes from various noncore sources should I give the following Last War NPCs?

Brother Garrow (5th level cleric = 6th level ?)

Mallora (2nd level necromancer = 3rd level ?)

Keltis Doran (2nd level cleric = 3rd level ?)

Kaela (2nd level fighter = 3rd level ?)[quote]

Garrow: Cleric 7
Mallora: Necro 5
Keltis: Cleric 4
Kaela: Ftr3/Rog1

The idea is to get the party to hand over the pattern, so I wouldn't worry about whether the party will be creamed - the only thing I'd scale is the part who are left behind to finish off the party.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ProfessorSockPuppet 08-02-04, 02:24 AM	probably loads of spoilers, so plz don't read if your DM is running Shadows of the Last War I'm running a level 4 eberron group this fall. I intend to run them trhough the Shadows of the LAst War module, but it's for level 2 characters. I hate playing characters under level 4 so I won't force it on my players, so I'm thinking of instead simply upping the EL of most of the encounters via either extra levels for NPCs, extra HD for mosters, or perhaps just upping the numbers. If I decide to just up the numbers, I'm probably gonna add some NPCs with nonstandard class levels, otherwise all these Dragon issues, the Minis HB, and the Complete Divine/Warrior will go to waste. The stuff in sharn I think is okay by itself, as an easy lead-in. I'll probably put more kobolds in and maybe give Cutlass an extra level, but that's all. At Rose Quarry though the most important one is the obvious hornet's nest in the Emerald Claw camp. I got a feelin' my players are gonna throw rocks at it, so I'd better make sure it's going to hurt like heck if they do. As per the charts in the DMG, I'm gonna up the # of sodliers to 12 and add an extra warrior level to them (otherwise they'd be off the chart). Likewise, skeletons will be boosted in number to 10 (likely to mostly be turned anyway still). Since I don't want the mooks outweighing the heavies, I'll be boosting Keltis and Mallora to level 3 each. Finally, to bring it all togethe, I figured that a bunch like this could use a commander to keep them in line. Who better than a toguh, drill-instructor of a Marshal from the Minis Handbook? This is an unfair encounter to begin with that should be avoided at all costs, so adding insult to injury (and bringing it to a total EL of 10) couldn't be that bad. With so many mooks, the Marshal's mass buffing ability is sure to shine. Great idea, I thought, but why stop there? Why should the other three NPCs, not to mention poor Brother Garrow, be stuck with boring ol' standard classes? I'm already going to have to change theirlevel, changing them to an easily comprable nonstandard class couldn't be THAT much tougher... So, to that end, what 20-level base classes from various noncore sources should I give the following Last War NPCs? Brother Garrow (5th level cleric = 6th level ?) Mallora (2nd level necromancer = 3rd level ?) Keltis Doran (2nd level cleric = 3rd level ?) Kaela (2nd level fighter = 3rd level ?)
ProfessorSockPuppet 08-02-04, 07:53 PM	Okay, I realize that was kinda rambling and didn't have the best spelling or punctuation, but 100 views and no replies? C'mon!
UltimaGabe 08-02-04, 10:15 PM	Well, I haven't finished reading over the adventure itself yet, but I'll just say that you know your players better than any of us. I, personally, have problems with people who hate low levels, but that's just me. You're the DM, and you can make whatever changes you want. Just be sure not to overdo it, and be sure to leave a way out of every encounter.
ENHenry 08-03-04, 02:21 PM	[quote]So, to that end, what 20-level base classes from various noncore sources should I give the following Last War NPCs? Brother Garrow (5th level cleric = 6th level ?) Mallora (2nd level necromancer = 3rd level ?) Keltis Doran (2nd level cleric = 3rd level ?) Kaela (2nd level fighter = 3rd level ?)[quote] Garrow: Cleric 7 Mallora: Necro 5 Keltis: Cleric 4 Kaela: Ftr3/Rog1 The idea is to get the party to hand over the pattern, so I wouldn't worry about whether the party will be creamed - the only thing I'd scale is the part who are left behind to finish off the party.