Umbranar
2015-05-20, 03:39 AM
Hello playgrounders,
First of all my players should leave now.
Then my question to those who stay:
Currently I am running the Way of the Wicked Adventure Path and the following happened:
-The party managed to ambush Captain Varning and 6 of his rangers in the woods;
-The party has taken control of the Gate House;
-They have Grumblejack with them;
-They rendered the rookery useless;
-They fired the rocket once they controlled the Gate House.
For those not familiar with the Adventure Path, it doesnt really matter because my question is about ECL and if my party can handle it.
The party consists of a Barbarian, a Druid, a Summoner, a Rogue, a Dread Necromancer and what I expect to be a cleric (new player in the campaign) all level 4. We use the d&d 3.5 rules and classes with exception to the Barbarian who is allowed to use rage powers from PF and the Summoner which I backported. The party has an Ogre named Grumblejack with them who wields a large greatsword and has a large breastplate. The gatehouse they are on has 3 points on entry: two hatches to the roof and one iron reinforced door that is accessible only by flight or a 10 ft wide 60 ft long bridge. From the gatehouse you have a 360 view though arrow slits (so +8 ac, +4 reflex and improved evasion). The party has to hold out until the Bugbear horde comes to overrun the castle. Dwarven crossbowmen and archers will prevent that the party can use the gatehouse roof or set foot outside without being peppered.
I figured I will attack the party in waves while they hold up in the gatehouse.
Wave 1: A CR 5 Icegolem with DR 5/adamantine and about 80 hp, vulnerable to fire and his level 7 evocation magic.
The goal of this wave is to destroy the door to allow other soldiers to get in.
Wave 2: 6 level 2 warrior soldiers with a level 1 cleric and a level 6 fighter leading them. The cleric will only use a couple of cure light wounds, when out of spells he will use a mace. I expect the soldiers to die quickly by the attacks of the Ogre, the barbarian and the summoners Eidolon. The captain (fighter) will be the great challenge, he is mainly focused on tripping with a halberd. This first wave will aim to subdue the pc`s.
Wave 3: 6 level 2 warrior soldiers with 2 level 1 clerics and a level 6 fighter leading them. This time their goal is to take out the party and catch atleast one if they can. If not possible they will aim to kill.
Wave 4: A level 6 cleric, a aristocrat2/paladin7 commander 2 level 1 clerics and 2 level 2 warriors. This is the final wave. The commander will give them one last chance to surrender.
According to ECL calculators each wave will be a very difficult fight but the calculators doesnt take their fortified position into account. The party can overlook the bridge and pepper the incoming wave. Still I`m not sure weather or not this is too much and result into a (near) TPK.
Hope you can help me out, feel free to ask more information.
EDIT: as for gear, they have a couple of potions of CLW and a wand of CLW with 20ish charges.
EDIT 2: I have decided to let the wizard fly around, only attempting to fireball the arrowslits when his Golem tries to open the door. When the other waves attack he will be on perimeter defence, checking for other creatures or helping the archers to keep the PC`s inside.
First of all my players should leave now.
Then my question to those who stay:
Currently I am running the Way of the Wicked Adventure Path and the following happened:
-The party managed to ambush Captain Varning and 6 of his rangers in the woods;
-The party has taken control of the Gate House;
-They have Grumblejack with them;
-They rendered the rookery useless;
-They fired the rocket once they controlled the Gate House.
For those not familiar with the Adventure Path, it doesnt really matter because my question is about ECL and if my party can handle it.
The party consists of a Barbarian, a Druid, a Summoner, a Rogue, a Dread Necromancer and what I expect to be a cleric (new player in the campaign) all level 4. We use the d&d 3.5 rules and classes with exception to the Barbarian who is allowed to use rage powers from PF and the Summoner which I backported. The party has an Ogre named Grumblejack with them who wields a large greatsword and has a large breastplate. The gatehouse they are on has 3 points on entry: two hatches to the roof and one iron reinforced door that is accessible only by flight or a 10 ft wide 60 ft long bridge. From the gatehouse you have a 360 view though arrow slits (so +8 ac, +4 reflex and improved evasion). The party has to hold out until the Bugbear horde comes to overrun the castle. Dwarven crossbowmen and archers will prevent that the party can use the gatehouse roof or set foot outside without being peppered.
I figured I will attack the party in waves while they hold up in the gatehouse.
Wave 1: A CR 5 Icegolem with DR 5/adamantine and about 80 hp, vulnerable to fire and his level 7 evocation magic.
The goal of this wave is to destroy the door to allow other soldiers to get in.
Wave 2: 6 level 2 warrior soldiers with a level 1 cleric and a level 6 fighter leading them. The cleric will only use a couple of cure light wounds, when out of spells he will use a mace. I expect the soldiers to die quickly by the attacks of the Ogre, the barbarian and the summoners Eidolon. The captain (fighter) will be the great challenge, he is mainly focused on tripping with a halberd. This first wave will aim to subdue the pc`s.
Wave 3: 6 level 2 warrior soldiers with 2 level 1 clerics and a level 6 fighter leading them. This time their goal is to take out the party and catch atleast one if they can. If not possible they will aim to kill.
Wave 4: A level 6 cleric, a aristocrat2/paladin7 commander 2 level 1 clerics and 2 level 2 warriors. This is the final wave. The commander will give them one last chance to surrender.
According to ECL calculators each wave will be a very difficult fight but the calculators doesnt take their fortified position into account. The party can overlook the bridge and pepper the incoming wave. Still I`m not sure weather or not this is too much and result into a (near) TPK.
Hope you can help me out, feel free to ask more information.
EDIT: as for gear, they have a couple of potions of CLW and a wand of CLW with 20ish charges.
EDIT 2: I have decided to let the wizard fly around, only attempting to fireball the arrowslits when his Golem tries to open the door. When the other waves attack he will be on perimeter defence, checking for other creatures or helping the archers to keep the PC`s inside.