Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Kensan_Oni Nov 03, 2008 0:55:45	Okay. So I have just started running the Scepter Tower of Spellgard, and I find it an interesting little scenario... and I realize that my party doesn't clean every room, but I find it very possible that the party COULD do it. So, I did some calculations. Your party, if they start straight at 2nd level, will be about halfway into 6th by the time they wrap up every encounter. (Total Experience split 7 ways is a little over 6000). So using that as a guideline, I checked the treasure. ... Well, it seems better then their normal go. I mean, they got the monitary funds right. You get about 6040 gp's for successful completion of the adventure, which is about the right amount of gold. The problem comes down to items. There are 7 magic items through the entire adventure. Of those, 5 are junk (+1 Magic Weapons, 1st level items). The last two, one of them is an Uber Pick (2 Wands in one) and the other one favors light armored people (Darkleaf Armor). Am I missing something? There is like 12 magic items missing that the party should be acquiring. 13 if you don't count the Uber Wand twice. The Defenders get really hosed, and the Arcane people get more items then they will ever really use, and Leaders get NADA. Do they intentionally design these things with not enough treasure for customization, or do they just forget that they need to add more? ... In anycase, if I could have recommendations on where to add some of the missing loot, I'd be appreciative.
#2 wannabesuperman Nov 03, 2008 6:26:47	I just completed my first read-through for this adventure, and we'll be running through it in two or three weeks. At first blush, it doesn't seem to be lacking "treasure" since the single most important piece of treasure is the prophecy the characters should receive, but it's definitely not generous in its rewards.
#3 Kensan_Oni Nov 03, 2008 9:27:44	But you see, that isn't a real treasure though. What that is, you see, is a Wish. More importantly, it's a contract. The players are going to each ask a question, telling you what they want to do in the game. You, as DM, are obligated to make that wish come true in a convoluted and exciting fashion. That however, will hardly make up for the fact that they will be seriously lagging behind in equipment. I'll see what I can do to even things out.
#4 Mr_Miscellany Nov 07, 2008 0:07:02	Not an exact answer: I go a similar vibe off of the Keep on the Shadowfell adventure, so I decided to swap out magic items for ones the characters in my group can use. I don't know about you, but my players are already keen on finding items to supplement their class abilities.
#5 serphet Nov 11, 2008 23:10:56	I came to this realization after my palyers finsihed the wererat warrens (and got level 3) I basically added magic items in the chest with the copper bars. I am not sure where I'll add from here, however it is a crypt next, so its not hard to place them for that part.
#6 gloreindl Nov 13, 2008 13:02:17	DM's always have the descresion of adding or removing anything they wish from a module, so if you want to add more magic items, and make them appropriate for your players, do so. I do have to add, though, as a player I am not that happy with how 4E seems to require players to have certain magic items. My favorite campaign (that I was not the DM) was a 2E one in which I didn't even see a magical weapon till my PC was seventh level. The PC's in that campaign, and there were only 3 PC's, did just fine w/o magical weapons and only the occasional potion and/or scroll, plus we didn't have a Cleric. Just a Fighter, a paladin, and myself, a Wizard/Ranger (so most scrolls of Wizard spells went into my spellbook).
#7 waltkovacs Nov 18, 2008 2:38:59	I'm going to start a group into it soon, I have the first level worth of XP worked out, based on the stuff in the campaign guide, but upped the treasure to fit with what is suggested in the DMG. I'll likely do the same thing in the with Scepter Tower once I pick it up. Probably work out bette than what I did with KotS where I just cut the stuff that didn't fit the party and swapped for equal level stuff. I adn't noticed until I looked back that there was a lower than expected (by the DM guidelines) ammount of treasure in the adventure paths ... but it sounds like this is particularly lacking.
#8 serphet Nov 18, 2008 8:16:24	It seems like they just expect the DM to place it based on character needs, instead of them guessing (makes a bit of sense really)