Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ghost_of_a_robot Jan 25, 2015 16:56:59	Hello all. I am still new to DMing. My group is 5 members right now and may turn to 6 members at the start of Hoard of the Dragon Queen. What is the reccomended starting level for Hoard of the Dragon Queen? We are finishing the Lost Mines of Phandelvern and that will put us at level 5. Thank you for any help or advice.
#2 AaronOfBarbaria Jan 25, 2015 17:06:38	The starting level for chapter 1 of Hoard of the Dragon Queen is 1st - but you can jump into the tale a few chapters in with higher level characters, increase the challenges presented in the first few chapters to match the higher level characters, or even just run the first few chapters as written with higher level characters knowing that they'll be easier than intended.
#3 Coredump00 Jan 25, 2015 19:39:18	This is what I would do.   I would not give out all of the LMoP experience, just keep back enough to leave them at lvl 4.   Then run them through HotDQ from the beginning. Some parts will be fairly easy, but you can make them tougher by adding some folks, or using better tactics.  The First episode has a lot of optional missions, use them all with no short rests. (But be a little careful, it can still be deadly for a lvl 4 party)   Episode 2 is a sneaky mission, and they will still have to sneak, so thats cool.    They will eventually pop to 5th, but thats okay.  If you want, you can then give them the XP you held back from LMoP.   The HotDQ should be more fun if they are in it from the beginning.....
#4 ghost_of_a_robot Jan 25, 2015 21:28:51	Awesome. Thank you both that helps a lot.
#5 Xaspian Jan 26, 2015 0:40:35	I've just finished running chapter 1 of HotDQ with a level 5 party. They really enjoyed the feeling of just mowing down the kobolds and cultists, and really feeling like heroes, blasting through the whole thing wihtout resting. I modified some parts of the chapter to make it a bit more challenging too. I boosted Landedrosa up a few levels (and even then he didn't pose a massive challenge), replaced a few regular cultists with Dragonclaw cultists, and made the assault on the Sally Port coincide with the dragon's attack on the roof to force the PCs to split up if they wanted to counter both threats.   I'm using milestone levelling, but will slow it down during HotDQ, levelling the party at every other milestone until they're about the right level for the ongoing adventure.
#6 ghost_of_a_robot Jan 26, 2015 9:00:45	Ok that will work. I have read some reviews saying that it is not that great. Have you noticed your party enjoying the campaign? All I am really concerned is that they have fun with it.
(Reply to #6) 7he_professor	ghost_of_a_robot wrote: