Are my PC's gonna get slaughtered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are my PC's gonna get slaughtered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DesperadoIV
04-09-05, 09:55 PM Im starting up a level 4 Forgotten Realms campaign and am relatively new to the DM'ing, having only run 2 or 3 adventures in the past. The first battle I was going to have would be a battle between two ships, theirs, on which they are prisoners, and your generic pirates. If there are 6-7 PC's, level 4, and hordes of level 2 warriors, with a level 5 warrior leader, will they die mercilessly, kill mercilessly, or will it be a fair challenge? Keep in mind this is close quarters fighting, with archers harassing them from the other boat (also level 2, with ½ cover). I was thinking that only 2 or 3 will be on the front lines, taking all the brunt, and they only have limited equipment (basic weapons and a shield, no armor). There will also be NPC allies, so not all of the pirates will be fighting them. My campaign is running tomorrow, so please reply as soon as is possible. No rush, of course. ;)
MinusInnocence
04-09-05, 10:09 PM I dunno. Based soley on EL, the 5th level NPC may go either way, as it is a level above what is recommended. How many NPCs will be there to fight off the minor pirates? When talking about the 2nd level NPCs, how much is "hordes?" How much wealth are you going to give each of the NPCs, if you refuse to give them the recommended amount?
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple
04-09-05, 10:15 PM Just a head's up, I would highly reccomend starting players at level 1 until you have a few more campaigns under your belt. Other than that, not every combat needs to showcase the PC's. Toss them some warriors every now and then to keep them busy, but make it clear that everyone on the ship has some warriors of their own, and there's some tougher people than they are duking it out too. Let it be part of the campaign exposition... the first encounter probably shouldn't showcase the PC's skills, but rather force them to rolleplay. Build flavor, setting, tone, and pace in the first session, and include numerous chances for people to define their character's opinions, views, and general reactions to dilemmas. Beyond that, it helps build party dynamic and introduce a villain or rival or two to more easilly ensnare them in your hooks in later campaign sessions.

In this current situation, it depends on the party and the dice. If they're smart and don't draw too much attention, I'd say the 5th level warrior is offed by a cinematic arrow shot from someone in the back of the combat and the arches for the pirates kill a couple of their own people on accident. If they're stupid and decide they're going to take the full brunt of the attack by themselves, I'd say that in the melee, just as it seemed like they were winning, more pirates climb over the edge of the ship who had apparently jumped overboard their ship before the attack was made and pulled along by a good length of rope dyed blue in order to swim near the two vessels just in case reinforcements were needed or a pincer attack could be set up.
DesperadoIV
04-09-05, 10:18 PM As for wealth, none. They are prisoners, and only out of neccessity did the crew call them up to help. They are gonna get sold as slaves and that will lead to gladiatorial fights or something after.

The crew and pirates on the one side will pretty much have an even fight, though if the PC's choose to help, they can, (though im not sure if they will have too many of their own problems). The 5th will have a pistol, so he may die by ranged before he even gets close. I was thinking 12-15 pirates too. As I said earlier though, im not sure. I could look it up in the DMG, but what's in the rulebooks may or may not lead to it being very fun.

And to gnome dragon disciple, I have played in upwards of 10-12 mini-campaigns, being that my friends are real lazy, and having previously run a level 1 and having just come from a level 1, I wanted to change things around a bit.
Kaligrad
04-10-05, 10:31 AM Technically, most of the pirates should be 1st level warriors, given how armies are supposed to work. If everyone were a 2nd level fighter, then that would be one elite ship, since in the DMG I seem to recall that that would basically make everyone the equivolet to a mercenary lieutenant.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DesperadoIV 04-09-05, 09:55 PM	Im starting up a level 4 Forgotten Realms campaign and am relatively new to the DM'ing, having only run 2 or 3 adventures in the past. The first battle I was going to have would be a battle between two ships, theirs, on which they are prisoners, and your generic pirates. If there are 6-7 PC's, level 4, and hordes of level 2 warriors, with a level 5 warrior leader, will they die mercilessly, kill mercilessly, or will it be a fair challenge? Keep in mind this is close quarters fighting, with archers harassing them from the other boat (also level 2, with ½ cover). I was thinking that only 2 or 3 will be on the front lines, taking all the brunt, and they only have limited equipment (basic weapons and a shield, no armor). There will also be NPC allies, so not all of the pirates will be fighting them. My campaign is running tomorrow, so please reply as soon as is possible. No rush, of course. ;)
MinusInnocence 04-09-05, 10:09 PM	I dunno. Based soley on EL, the 5th level NPC may go either way, as it is a level above what is recommended. How many NPCs will be there to fight off the minor pirates? When talking about the 2nd level NPCs, how much is "hordes?" How much wealth are you going to give each of the NPCs, if you refuse to give them the recommended amount?
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple 04-09-05, 10:15 PM	Just a head's up, I would highly reccomend starting players at level 1 until you have a few more campaigns under your belt. Other than that, not every combat needs to showcase the PC's. Toss them some warriors every now and then to keep them busy, but make it clear that everyone on the ship has some warriors of their own, and there's some tougher people than they are duking it out too. Let it be part of the campaign exposition... the first encounter probably shouldn't showcase the PC's skills, but rather force them to rolleplay. Build flavor, setting, tone, and pace in the first session, and include numerous chances for people to define their character's opinions, views, and general reactions to dilemmas. Beyond that, it helps build party dynamic and introduce a villain or rival or two to more easilly ensnare them in your hooks in later campaign sessions. In this current situation, it depends on the party and the dice. If they're smart and don't draw too much attention, I'd say the 5th level warrior is offed by a cinematic arrow shot from someone in the back of the combat and the arches for the pirates kill a couple of their own people on accident. If they're stupid and decide they're going to take the full brunt of the attack by themselves, I'd say that in the melee, just as it seemed like they were winning, more pirates climb over the edge of the ship who had apparently jumped overboard their ship before the attack was made and pulled along by a good length of rope dyed blue in order to swim near the two vessels just in case reinforcements were needed or a pincer attack could be set up.
DesperadoIV 04-09-05, 10:18 PM	As for wealth, none. They are prisoners, and only out of neccessity did the crew call them up to help. They are gonna get sold as slaves and that will lead to gladiatorial fights or something after. The crew and pirates on the one side will pretty much have an even fight, though if the PC's choose to help, they can, (though im not sure if they will have too many of their own problems). The 5th will have a pistol, so he may die by ranged before he even gets close. I was thinking 12-15 pirates too. As I said earlier though, im not sure. I could look it up in the DMG, but what's in the rulebooks may or may not lead to it being very fun. And to gnome dragon disciple, I have played in upwards of 10-12 mini-campaigns, being that my friends are real lazy, and having previously run a level 1 and having just come from a level 1, I wanted to change things around a bit.
Kaligrad 04-10-05, 10:31 AM	Technically, most of the pirates should be 1st level warriors, given how armies are supposed to work. If everyone were a 2nd level fighter, then that would be one elite ship, since in the DMG I seem to recall that that would basically make everyone the equivolet to a mercenary lieutenant.