Balancing modules for solo play [Archive] - Wizards Community

Balancing modules for solo play [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sad_genius
09-27-04, 11:37 AM Let's say I'm going to run RtToEE for a single player; the adventure is for 4th level characters and up, which means it's been balanced for a party of four 4th lvl characters - if my PC is going in there alone, and I want a fair and balanced game, should she be 16th level?

Any help or advice graciously recieved

M
Gryllmyre
09-27-04, 02:11 PM Levelling is going to be pretty fast for one character.

I figure a party of 4th level characters are about equal to a single 8th level character. (4 CR 4's = EL 8)

One hold person or paralysis and the person's dead, though.
krichaiushii
09-27-04, 08:42 PM I would strongly recommend an NPC or three join him - either use those provided or craft your own. Bright enough to follow orders (and be DM mouthpieces), but not so bright that the PC relies on them to solve problems.

Try for scouting and fighting types, and I recommend that none of the NPCs be spellcasters - due to the daily choosing of spells, and headache it will cause you.
SnowbearK
09-28-04, 12:00 AM Having run it for 2 players, yes, levelling is going to be real fast. I started them into RttToEE at 5th level, and by the time they were done, they had both died once each and attained 17th level.

I never took it easy on them, I never adjusted any encounters except to replace fallen NPCs when they "returned" later -- Lareth the Beautiful, for instance, was replaced with a very similar-in-ability NPC...I just changed the name and demeanor.

They knew what they were getting into from the start, I warned the players "This is a deadly adventure. Use your heads, know your limitations."

Being somewhat experienced players (combined 28 years of experience) they understood that they couldn't treat even the most simple of encounters with a cavalier attitude, and made plans, made friends, made contacts, and took their time. They came up with very clever plans, including the use of two dozen thunderstones and a corpse torso to collapse the ceiling on a manticore. I won't even go into the grell fiasco...

And let me tell you, there's nothing funnier for a DM than running a guerrilla warfare game underground with a human and an elf, neither of which can see in the dark, because the elf just had to collapse their only known escape path behind them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sad_genius 09-27-04, 11:37 AM	Let's say I'm going to run RtToEE for a single player; the adventure is for 4th level characters and up, which means it's been balanced for a party of four 4th lvl characters - if my PC is going in there alone, and I want a fair and balanced game, should she be 16th level? Any help or advice graciously recieved M
Gryllmyre 09-27-04, 02:11 PM	Levelling is going to be pretty fast for one character. I figure a party of 4th level characters are about equal to a single 8th level character. (4 CR 4's = EL 8) One hold person or paralysis and the person's dead, though.
krichaiushii 09-27-04, 08:42 PM	I would strongly recommend an NPC or three join him - either use those provided or craft your own. Bright enough to follow orders (and be DM mouthpieces), but not so bright that the PC relies on them to solve problems. Try for scouting and fighting types, and I recommend that none of the NPCs be spellcasters - due to the daily choosing of spells, and headache it will cause you.
SnowbearK 09-28-04, 12:00 AM	Having run it for 2 players, yes, levelling is going to be real fast. I started them into RttToEE at 5th level, and by the time they were done, they had both died once each and attained 17th level. I never took it easy on them, I never adjusted any encounters except to replace fallen NPCs when they "returned" later -- Lareth the Beautiful, for instance, was replaced with a very similar-in-ability NPC...I just changed the name and demeanor. They knew what they were getting into from the start, I warned the players "This is a deadly adventure. Use your heads, know your limitations." Being somewhat experienced players (combined 28 years of experience) they understood that they couldn't treat even the most simple of encounters with a cavalier attitude, and made plans, made friends, made contacts, and took their time. They came up with very clever plans, including the use of two dozen thunderstones and a corpse torso to collapse the ceiling on a manticore. I won't even go into the grell fiasco... And let me tell you, there's nothing funnier for a DM than running a guerrilla warfare game underground with a human and an elf, neither of which can see in the dark, because the elf just had to collapse their only known escape path behind them.