MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW
Hi,
Some of you have hopefully read through this by now:
Im going to be running this in a couple of motnhs and Ive had my first cursory examination.
I noticed 'the reward' characters can receive if things go bad (and I think they definetly could go awry)
Ive cut and paste it below for ease to read here:
Persona Non Grata. The High Blade of Mulmaster has branded you a traitor and a fugitive of the law in City of Danger. During any future encounter taking place within the city of Mulmaster, you have a 1-in-4 chance of attracting the attention of a squad of six Soldiery knights that immediately attempts to arrest you. Should you be captured, you are incarcerated and eventually executed.
I have a few questions
A) 'An Encounter' is a 'combat encounter'? Im running a combat involving Bandits/Ruffians in Mulmaster, so I roll a d4 at the start to see what happens. Can an encounter be a roleplaying encounter?
You get to the bar to Interview Zora Bloated about her son. 6 knights emerge from a Side street and charge towards the Sorcerer!?
B) Logically the whole party is gonna get this (unless.. well Im not sure how one wouldnt get it if a different party member did). So I roll a d4 at the start of every combat encounter and If I roll a 1 I get 6 knights turn up?
2 Issues here:
A) What happens if the scenario does not have the Stats for the Knights listed? Do I keep a copy on me from a previous scenario with them? From memory they are the ones wearing Plate and with a Greatsword and Leadership
B) Lets say we have a party of 5. From the RAW text I could concievably get 30 knights appearing (5x6) assuming I rol 1 5 times on a d4. Even 6 knights entering the Fray (which lets be honest would be a significant challenge for the PARTY) would be an issue. Obviously the party would be seeking to protect the person about to be arrested (although they might not)
This isnt an issue for me yet, but I often run a table of higher level guys who A) always play together B) Dont always get the desired result out of a scenario.
THe final point Id like to make here is : How will the DM determine that the person has Persona Non Grata. Is it their job to ask? Are we expecting the player to put forth that information? Does it become part of my start of game character introduction
'Hi Im playing Bob the Human Fighter and former Circus Freak. I attempted to change the poltical paradigm of Mulmaster last session and now the city hates me and Im Persona Non Grata'. : Do you think we wont get players asking what that does if they dont have it themselves? Will we get a lot of players NOT put forth that info?
Im probably one of the few dms that occasionally checks over Log sheets either just before the game or just after (I had a few issues early on with people filling in a logsheet incorrectly and its habit Ive kept after they have all mostly worked it out), so I might occasionally pick this up.
I dont think this is going to be a big issue. A lot of the higher level season 2 scenarios take place generally outside of Mulmaster, but I think the first time it arises, it will DEFINETLY become an issue.
What are others thoughts on it? Like I said Im not expecting there to be tables of characters dying to Knights, but its certainly sooner or later going to come up. Im looking forward to seeing someone post and say on their table of 6, they had 18 knights turn up 
If there's a new player I'm not familiar with at my table I'll generally look over their sheets to get a good idea of their character.
Let's me grab needed scores (AC/Passives/Slots) and avoid any problems later on in the session.
Ravix: I would say the majority.. if we need a number lets say 90 percent dont.
I think for a more laid back casual shop game this might not so much be an issue. Imagine a Convention though with their strict 4 hour sessions. People are in and out very quicky. Adding in 6 Knights in a combat (or 2) could easily inflate the time required to play and as a higher tier game to begin with you are already pretty close to that 4 hour limit.
Thats also not to mention I would put money on most Con AL dms not looking at your Logsheet in any game you play.
I just think Persona Non Grata could cause more than its share of issues down the track.
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On a different tack. I have a Human Fighter/Paladin who is an open worshipper with Bane who has 'ties' to the Church of Bane in Mulmaster. The quest to remove the High Blade who is so tied to the Church of Bane will not fly with that character. Im sure he will do what he can to alert/ the High Blade as to what is going on. How would others approach this? Sefaril would abviously diminish the role of Bane in the City.
Tyranthraxus wrote:
When it comes to dilemma's such as this, always look for the roleplaying angle so that you can say "Yes" to the plot rather than "No".
Always build on what happens - never negate.
For Example: In season 1 I played a Paladin of Tiamat. My characters role within the church was as an inquisitor. She was the scaple which excised the diseased wounds of the church, which prevented it from prospering.... To that end, she ferreted out corruption, and weakness and eliminated them (by killing off those individuals in the church). She also believed that the Cult of the Dragon was somehow manipulating or tricking her Dark Majesty... She did not believe they had changed their tune, and sought to uncover their true motivations while also infiltrating and destroying their operation.... She held a major grudge against the cult for having spent centuries corrupting Tiamat's children and transforming them into undead abominations and was somewhat blinded by her intolerance.
How can you find the roleplaying angle to say "Yes" to this plot-arc given your divided loyalties?
Some examples were given above (cryptic vision from your god, believing that it is Bane's will as Mulmaster has become soft, believing that the church's retaliation would strengthen the church, and so the loss of the weak members is a justified sacrifice to motivate the rest, etc).
You can justify anything as long as you think it through....
The module you're describing doesn't really match Sword of Sefaril at all...
<Major Spoiler>
I think you might have gotten it mixed up with Black Heart of Vengence. That being said, your DM ran it kind of weird... There's a max of 6 extra guardians that can arrive if you take 12 rounds to clear our the people in the Lord's Alliance Special Mission and that's if you decide to hunker down. (They shouldn't get a surprise round on you unless your perception is ****)
As for the other encounters at the end, you should have been able to encounter them earlier and separately.
Either way, I don't share the opinion of it being easy to TPK the party unless the players aren't used to combat at this level.
Thanks for the advice on this.
I think this scenario for me as it reads is a bit... railroady. There is only 'one conclusion' that can be reached, and leaves no room for the party to actually side with the current government. I find it interesting that a character could effectively cut Sefaril down or impede his ability in the duel or.. other.. and they would still be label persona non grata. Im actually wondering if any characters have already tried this (whether they think the City well pay more than Sefaril can etc). The Fighter/ Paladin of Bane could concievably impair Sefaril in the final battle or use boosts on the High blade so the High blade could win. What then? Would they become Persona Non Grata.
Lets be honest here. Both potential rulers here are probably evil. What we are essentially being asked to do here is challenge who is possibly the greater evil for less evil
Ravix wrote:
If anyone does get an usual ending to this scenario when they run it, please let us know here.