DM Needs Advice - PotA Chapter 1 (***SPOILERS***) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Avross Apr 30, 2015 7:00:05	So forgive me if this has been discussed elsewhere. My group has just completed the three "Into the Wilderness" scenarios, and next week, I'm going to start the "Tomb of Moving Stones" section. As I'm reading through it, I'm thinking that I've really missed something important. The first set of scenarios had a total max XP award of 300, enough to get the brand new characters to 2nd level. They definitely hit this max, which was great because some of my new players missed a week. But this next scenario has a max of XP award of 600...and with the small number of creatures listed in the tomb ...I'm not sure how PCs would even come close. I know I can adjust the difficulty of encounters based on my party, but that I'm not supposed to add encounters. PCs are supposed to be 3rd level for the next section (both according to the Encounters PDF and the full adventure book). How am I supposed to get them there?
#2 Ainulindalion Apr 30, 2015 9:13:16	Personally, I upped the difficulty by adding more monsters of the same type and going through the Random Encounters list to see what made sense to stick in the dungeon. For example: Show Grund is in a room by himself waiting for people to come down the hallway. There's no reason there couldn't be other protections in that room, especially as the defining feature of a thug is their pack tactics. By himself, Grund is weaker than he could/should be. As it is an "Earth Cult" complex, I added a gargoyle also sitting by the far door.
#3 Oraibi Apr 30, 2015 20:31:54	It's not just you, yeah. Basically if you want your players to stay on level with the adventure, you'll need to start throwing in "random" encounters just for the XP value. In a non-AL game, you could just give RP experience or use milestone advancement, but neither is an option for Adventurers League, unfortunately.
#4 Avross May 01, 2015 7:34:58	Thanks. Ainulindalion, I like some of those ideas and will be playing around with them. The group has already returned to Red Larch, so I can't hit them with a random encounter before the scenario...but I think with some of your suggestions, I can get them at least halfway to the XP goal...I'll just need to keep throwing random encounters at them and adjusting encounter difficulties until they catch up. It just helps to know that I'm not just missing something obvious.
#5 Ainulindalion May 01, 2015 7:47:23	Another potential solution is to run the 'level 3' side trek from the book. It's not actually very difficult (unless people are stupid), and can lead to some fun RP.
#6 Byakugan01 May 01, 2015 15:29:28	I am really glad other people are using my ankheg suggestion for the cave in . I was planning that one before the hard cover book came out. Then they added an ankheg encounter to the book. There is plenty of room to place random encounters in the shallow graves event on their way to Feathergale spire. A pack of wolves makes sense being drawn to the scent of the bodies. Or an assortment of nearby air cultists, or earth/water followers there to spy on the air.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Avross

Apr 30, 2015 7:00:05

So forgive me if this has been discussed elsewhere. My group has just completed the three "Into the Wilderness" scenarios, and next week, I'm going to start the "Tomb of Moving Stones" section. As I'm reading through it, I'm thinking that I've *really* missed something important.

The first set of scenarios had a total max XP award of 300, enough to get the brand new characters to 2nd level. They definitely hit this max, which was great because some of my new players missed a week.

But this next scenario has a max of XP award of 600...and with the small number of creatures listed in the tomb ...I'm not sure how PCs would even come close. I know I can adjust the difficulty of encounters based on my party, but that I'm not supposed to add encounters.

PCs are supposed to be 3rd level for the next section (both according to the Encounters PDF and the full adventure book). How am I supposed to get them there?

Ainulindalion

Apr 30, 2015 9:13:16

Personally, I upped the difficulty by adding more monsters of the same type and going through the Random Encounters list to see what made sense to stick in the dungeon.

For example:

Show

Grund is in a room by himself waiting for people to come down the hallway. There's no reason there couldn't be other protections in that room, especially as the defining feature of a thug is their pack tactics. By himself, Grund is weaker than he could/should be. As it is an "Earth Cult" complex, I added a gargoyle also sitting by the far door.

Oraibi

Apr 30, 2015 20:31:54

It's not just you, yeah.

Basically if you want your players to stay on level with the adventure, you'll need to start throwing in "random" encounters just for the XP value.

In a non-AL game, you could just give RP experience or use milestone advancement, but neither is an option for Adventurers League, unfortunately.

Avross

May 01, 2015 7:34:58

Thanks.

Ainulindalion, I like some of those ideas and will be playing around with them. The group has already returned to Red Larch, so I can't hit them with a random encounter before the scenario...but I think with some of your suggestions, I can get them at least halfway to the XP goal...I'll just need to keep throwing random encounters at them and adjusting encounter difficulties until they catch up.

It just helps to know that I'm not just missing something obvious.

Ainulindalion

May 01, 2015 7:47:23

Another potential solution is to run the 'level 3' side trek from the book. It's not actually very difficult (unless people are stupid), and can lead to some fun RP.

Byakugan01

May 01, 2015 15:29:28

I am really glad other people are using my ankheg suggestion for the cave in . I was planning that one before the hard cover book came out. Then they added an ankheg encounter to the book.

There is plenty of room to place random encounters in the shallow graves event on their way to Feathergale spire. A pack of wolves makes sense being drawn to the scent of the bodies. Or an assortment of nearby air cultists, or earth/water followers there to spy on the air.