One player, 5 DM gauntlet. [3.PF]

[jguy]

Okay, I came up with a scenario for my players to help them be better players and see what it is like on the other side of the screen for a chance. This is also a challenge for me to help me be more creative and multitask better.

The scenario is this. I have 5 players. Each player will design 2 self-contained encounters for 4 level 9 characters. Their goal will to party-wipe me. My goal will to crush their encounters. I will take my 4 guys through 5 encounters in a row before I can rest for spells. After the first 5 go through, if I live, the players will be allow to adjust their remaining encounter to tactics I have used.

I put it to you, the playground, what would your optimal 4 man party be? I have several ideas so far but what party would you construct for this gauntlet? And remember, these encounters can be literally anything and don't have to have any narrative connection.

[GreenETC]

An optimal 4-man party for ECL 9?
The primary concern is whether or not "encounter" constitutes a fight or not, or if a hallway of endless traps could count as one.

I'd probably want a Wizard focused on debuffing and set up for reliability and huge numbers of spells per day, a Cleric focused on DMM: Persisting to boost the whole party, an Ubercharger, and a Tripper Rogue with a Spiked Chain. If there's no need for trapfinding, I'd say just do some ToB shenanigans for your two melee guys.

[jguy]

well they have 25600 xp per self contained "area" to use on enemies, traps and whatnot. Anyone DM can cause a TPK by sending things 4 or 5 CR above the party, it takes creativity to make it fair and unfair at same time.

[atomicwaffle]

displacer beasts. Lots and lots of displacer beasts.