Party Level VS Orcs

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

TrustTymora

Mar 04, 2015 22:14:42

Assuming 4 party members of same level. What level should they be to take on 3 Orog and a Orc Eye of Gruumsh (all Challenge 2 creatures)?

#2

Coredump00

Mar 04, 2015 23:11:05

They are each 450, so 1800XP, there are 4 of them, so double to 3600XP

 

So that is easy for 11-12th level

Medium for 8th level

Hard for 6th level

Not quite Deadly for 5th level, way past Deadly for 4th level

 

Thats from the DMG.... but it doesn't seem right.  I don't think they would be nearly that difficult to deal with. 

#3

grendel111111

Mar 05, 2015 0:29:40 		Those were the numbers I came up with as well.
#4

Rhenny

Mar 05, 2015 2:53:28

I agree.  It all depends on circumstance.  If the party surprises. If the party has spell power available. If the foes have another motive beyond just killing the pcs.  

 

It seems as if a level 3 party could succeed. And since the foes are cr 2 the party should be at least level 2.  

#5

Coredump00

Mar 05, 2015 6:46:43

I just don't see it as 'hard' for 4 6th level characters.....   nor medium for 8th level.

(Reply to #5)

Rhenny

Coredump00 wrote:
#7

Archon007

Mar 05, 2015 7:49:54

Coredump00 wrote:
#8

iserith

Mar 05, 2015 8:11:37

Replace the Eye of Gruumsh's augury with animal messenger and put it on an elevated platform 30 feet or so in height. He has some level of cover from attacks coming from below. The platform's sides are lined with spikes and blades taken from vanquished enemies, making climbing the thing uncertain and dangerous. Some have heads impaled upon them. Flocks of crows circle about, alighting upon the dead meat to peck and scratch. Atop the platform is an altar to the God of Slaughter. Upon the altar is an elf to be sacrificed. At the commencement of hostilities, the Eye of Gruumsh casts bless and spiritual weapon, then focuses on his ritual.

 

The three orogs guard the base of the platform. Their role is to delay the adventurers so the Eye of Gruumsh can finish the ritual which takes three rounds - they grapple, knock the PCs down, harry their attempts to climb, shove them into the spikes (make them curved and serrated so they restrain maybe), take readied actions to absorb attacks directed at the Eye of Gruumsh, hinder PC attacks against the Eye of Gruumsh to grant disadvantage, and so on. On any round in which the Eye of Gruumsh is not dealt damage or suffers some other kind of effect the DM deems disruptive, the elf draws closer to being sacrified. If and when the elf is slain, an aspect of Gruumsh appears to deliver his servant an augury about something hugely significant in the campaign. The Eye of Gruumsh then casts animal messenger on a crow to deliver the words of Gruumsh to his chieftain who is miles away.

 

If that crow gets to the chief, this represents a major failure for the PCs. If the elf is slain, it's also a major or minor failure depending on who it was. On the same token, letting the augury be received and getting the message out of the crow would be a huge boon to the cause of the PCs or their patrons. (Decision time.)

 

This kind of setup would probably keep it fairly challenging even for higher-level groups. The encounter building guidelines are pretty unreliable. It really comes down to effective scene and challenge-building more than simple monster math.

#9

feartheminotaur

Mar 05, 2015 9:22:03

Archon007 wrote:
#10

Devils-Advocate

Mar 05, 2015 10:03:52

 

Also, make sure that your idea of what "easy", "medium", "hard", and "deadly" mean lines up with what the encounter building guidelines use them for. According to the DMG, a "deadly" encounter isn't used to mean its likely to result in a TPK, as the name might lead one to expect. It means an encounter with a real chance of character death, but that the PCs can win with clever tactics. That describes what I would normally call a "hard" encounter, but according to the DMG "hard" just means an encounter that will tax party resources and may result in character death if circumstances or the dice turn against the party. Personally, I'd call such an encounter "medium", but no. Medium is used to mean an encounter that the party is most likely to win without casualties, but will probably require them to expend some party resources. Sounds easy to me, but in fact the guidelines define "easy" as an encounter that poses no real challenge to the party, and can be won without needing to expend party resources.

 

(Reply to #10)

Rhenny

Devils-Advocate wrote:
(Reply to #7)

Coredump00

Archon007 wrote:
(Reply to #8)

crimfan07

iserith wrote: