Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ryryguy Sep 25, 2009 0:05:26	Just getting underway with Bodrin's Watch, and the group is 3rd level, as recommended.  But I only gave out the parcels from Rivenroar, which is six magic items.   (I ran a couple of extra encounters, which maybe got them over the hump to 3rd, but only gave 50 gp of residuum from those encounters.)  If I had given out two levels worth of parcels according to the DMG, that would have been eight magic items.  Should I be giving another couple of items now? Bodrin's Watch also has six magic items in its parcels.  What's the expected PC level at the end?  Are you just expected to give a couple of extra encounters with extra items for each of the published adventures?
#2 jffdougan Sep 26, 2009 16:01:11	IIRC, Rivenroar should get them through all of 1st level and through about half of 2nd level. Bordrin's watch should get them to 4th level. It's roughly 1.5 levels per adventure. I sat down and did an analysis at one point, and over the course of the heroic tier (which was the only complete tier when I did this), the total of treasure parcels was only off by about 2 magic items.
#3 ryryguy Sep 30, 2009 16:44:14	Huh... well, it would definitely seem that the parcels are designed with 1.5 levels per adventure in mind... but then the second adventure (Bodrin's Watch) says it's designed for 3rd level characters, suggesting the PC's should get another half-level outside the written adventures.  (Or, with the extra wilderness and urban encounters provided.) It seems in this case the DM should award parcels for that "external" half level then.   On the other hand, I see the third module expects characters between 4th and 5th level.  In other words, that one does *not* expect the PCs to be gaining extra experience between the published adventures.   How much does the 1.5 levels per module pattern hold up, in terms of expected character levels, across the series so far?  I haven't peeked ahead past the third... (I guess in some ways it doesn't matter too much, you just have to keep track of the awarded parcels vs. actual experience level, and adjust accordingly.  That's not hard to do at all.)
#4 jffdougan Sep 30, 2009 21:49:00	The 1.5 levels/adventure seems to hold pretty well, aside from the wonkiness you indicate over the first few adventures. The treasure parceling tracks with it pretty well, once you account for quest rewards.