Balance Check: 1st level party vs 1 Ogre Zombie

[NatureKing]

Starting a new game tomorrow night, and just wondered what the consensus would be on the balance for this encounter.

Brief story time: the party (hitherto unknown number, expected 3-5, unknown classes) are imprisoned for a crime they either have or haven't committed, who knows, or cares by now. They have been placed onto a prison hulk, and sailed to a penal colony, except the captain is a bit of a bastard, and instead throws the prisoners overboard during a storm, leaving them to drown or sink to shore. Who cares, not the captain. There, the party can spy a column of smoke further down the beach, suggesting some potential warmth and or shelter.

The party has no gear, but can salvage useful materials, a component pouch, Divine symbol, simple weapons and armour made from smashed timber/looted wreckage etc.

The party is set upon by Zombies, arising from the beach even as carrion picks them clean. One of the zombies is much larger than the others (the Ogre Zombie). He has a Sword buried in his chest, and is preventing entry to a walled encampment behind which the fire can be seen.

Okay, so, 1st level party, underequipped, trying to kill a CR2 Ogre, lacking armour or a decent weapon (until he pulls the shortsword out of his chest).

Fight mechanics were going to be:
Max HP, fights with his fists. Attacks are easily telegraphed and the embedded sword hampers his blows. Disadvantage on attack rolls, 2d4+str damage.
Less than half HP: on his next turn, uses action to pull ogee sized shortsword from chest: 2d6+4 damage to self. Later turns, attacks with sword, and no disadvantage.

Tactics: attacks only the nearest enemy, unless playing dead, or attention is distracted elsewhere.

Optional: Lair Action: (although a negative for the Ogre)
- Arrow shower--when the sword is pulled from his chest, or if a character is knocked unconscious/killed by the Ogre Zombie, the archers on the wall loose d4 shots from their shortbows. Resolve the shots as from a commoner using a shortbow.

How likely is this going to cause a party wipe?

[ShikomeKidoMi]

The party is set upon by Zombies, arising from the beach even as carrion picks them clean. One of the zombies is much larger than the others (the Ogre Zombie). He has a Sword buried in his chest, and is preventing entry to a walled encampment behind which the fire can be seen.
...
How likely is this going to cause a party wipe?

So, this is going to depend on several factors including:
A) How many normal zombies do they have to fight in addition to the Ogre Zombie.
B) what classes your players are running,
C) what 'simple weapons' they found (any ranged ones?), and
C) how experienced your players are.

[Lunali]

Depends greatly on the party makeup and the tactics they choose. Also, keep in mind that the undead fortitude is not factored into the creature's CR.

[NatureKing]

So, this is going to depend on several factors including:
A) How many normal zombies do they have to fight in addition to the Ogre Zombie.
B) what classes your players are running,
C) what 'simple weapons' they found (any ranged ones?), and
C) how experienced your players are.

1. As a CR2, I was not going to include any. There may be combat before.
2. This is going to be a big one. Unknown. I think there is one who wants to be a Cleric though.
3. Essentially, if the players ask for it, they'll be able to scavenge it with a successful Investigation check. Failure results in finding the item but it 'guarded' by some Zombies, which the party would then either attempt to sneak past ignoring the item, rush and grab the item then either run, or attempt to kill. This would hopefully get the used to undead fortitude abilities etc and what they would need to do for it.
4. There are 2 who have been playing for a couple of years and are pretty competent, but with a pretty bad DM (we formed out our group after putting up with his BS for too long), so unsure how 'Veteran' they are. The remainder are new people.
Depends greatly on the party makeup and the tactics they choose. Also, keep in mind that the undead fortitude is not factored into the creature's CR.

Hopefully there is a Cleric with Sacred Flame being taken. I think that was being discussed. The players are aware that the game is a combat heavy, lite-RP game, and that the early game sets them off against Undead.

[Dungeon-noob]

I think the lack of anything resembeling gear is going to hurt the most. If there are any ranged combatants, they can just kite the zombies into oblivion while the melee onlies (shouldn't be that many, throwing is a thing) distract or delay the zombies if by some mistake they do end up closing. So if they have passable ranged, should be easy unless they are too surrounded. If not, they'll get hammered easily, one hit almost guarantees they're down, and it has a higher attack modifier then they do. Not to mention lack of decent AC due to lack of armor. Fighting it in melee is a death sentence even with the disadvantage, it just hits too hard.

[Damon_Tor]

Path of Exile?

[NatureKing]

Path of Exile?

Well spotted! I know the early game story well enough to turn it into a story arc, I think. Planning on running the game up until 4th level, and taking on the Vaal Machine (Thinking of just using a Scaladar from WDMM as the stats here) and see if the players want to play through.

As for the game, it went really well. I've got;
- Krox; a TN Lizardman Monk Outlander (plans for Long Death)
- Qian Liang; a LG Human Polearm Master Barbarian Sailor (plans for Ancestral Guardian)
- Cantakerous LG Tancred the Tankered; A Dwarf War Cleric Soldier (War Cleric)
- Nea Sömerblüm; CG A Wood Elf Druid Hermit (plans for Shepherd)
- Nix; A NG Stout Halfling Fighter Guild Artisan (plans for Ranged Battle Master)

Nice, well rounded party, I think.

Quick write up;
After a long voyage, the ship has finally stopped movement. Well - stopped being under sail. All felt the anchor drop and heard the sound of the chain as it ran out. It didn't take long before the deckhands and various scum manning the brig-ship came down, clubs rattling the cages, and yelling loudly. Nearly a hundred prisoners were pulled out of the hulk's cells and pulled into the driving rain on the ship's deck. Wind howled, lightning crackled and thunder boomed, silhouetting the captain in his old leather coat. "Throw 'em overboard. We got the money, no sense risking the ship now. They'll be dead in a week at most anyway. No killin' though. That's the agreement, and I'll gut ye, and throw ye to the sea meself while you're still breathing if I see any of you laggards spill a drop of these exile's blood on my ship." The captain hadn't even gone down the stairs into his quarters before the first of the prisoners were being manhandled towards the gap in the rails. A few had their bonds cut, others didn't, without rhyme or reason, and they disappeared with a scream of horror as they fell into the sea - a few with a sickening thud against the hull of the ship.

A tall lizardman, bulkier than many of the men around him was pulled next. "Tell ye what. I love to see a struggle. Plus, I've got a bet on that you'll make it to shore. So I'll cut your hands loose. Don't disappoint!" And with that, the first of the party that was about to be formed was dumped over the side, bonds cut. Krox had time enough to see that already the sea predators were out in force, and making a meal of those unfortunates already not striking out for the shoreline, although even then they weren't successful. A dark-haired beauty of a Wood Elf was the only one to struggle with the swimming - despite a lifetime spent in the wild, never had she ventured into waters this dangerous, as surf churned crimson. However, well spotted by a dwarf, who'd love the opportunity to later crow that he saved the life of an elf, his strong arms pulled them to a flotsam raft, Qian using a spar of wood with skill to keep at bay any shark that looked like it wanted to test the platforms sturdiness. Seeing the large form of the Lizardman, the other party struck out to it, catching up with the Halfling who appeared to be an excellent swimmer and clearly had the same idea.

With only the 5 of them making to shore, no food or potable water, no weapons, no armour, plans were a little thin on the ground. Against the blackness of the sky, it was difficult to see the dark smoke of a campfire, but there it was in the distance, although the wreck strewn beach remained to be traversed. A few hodgepodge collections were made and found. A dozen spears scattered around the party, some knives made of flint, a shield of driftwood, a greatclub, and a net had been discovered. As the party got about halfway down the beach, they came across the ruin of a few men and women they knew from their all-too-long sharing of the cell on the ship. Most were dead, or dying after being hurled against rocks and splintered hulls. The few still alive however were facing off against zombies with little more than driftwood clubs or their fists, and not doing too well.

Comparatively well armed and equipped, the party made short work of the zombies, a couple of excellent Sacred Flames from Tancred burning the Zombies as they attempted to stand, but alas, it was too little, too late - one of Nix's long range throws had missed, and not been enough to save the last of the surviving exiles, her throat ripped out before Nea's mote of flame burned it to a crisp. Saddened at the loss, the party continued to move closer, replenishing materials and killing the odd zombie as they went when stealth failed, until they reach a small palisade wall. The lucky discovery of a berry bush allowed the Druid to enchant some of them into some form of healing for the party, and making them feel full, if not content - even Krox, who had been eyeing up the survivors still warm corpses hungrily.

The palisade wall is clearly not in the best condition, the Dwarf and the Halfling in agreement over it's shoddy nature, but it still able to keep out the random punches of the massive creature lumbering in front of the sealed gate. As the party get closer, they hear a shout; "Don't shoot them lads, they ain't zombies! You there - kill the big bastard, or get him away from here, and we'll let you in! Can't, and won't open the gate while he's near, sorry!" The "big bastard" is twice their size, but he has a few arrows sticking out of him, and a sword driven through his chest, causing his blows to be unsteady and robbed of much of their force. The party think they can take it. Qian begins to Rage, while Krox has locked on with his jaws around the arm of the Ogre Zombie, and the rest of the party are peppering him with spells and javelins. Despite the danger nearby to him, and the damage it does, the Zombie rips the sword from his chest, and deals a savage blow to Krox who is forced to let go as unconciousness takes him. Seeing this Qian redoubles his efforts, attacking recklessly to pull his attention from the prone Lizardmen, and unleashes a vicious strike (21HP on a Crit) - telling the other two to go first, Tancred waits for the perfect opportunity to cast Sacred Flame, making sure that it would be the final blow. And final blow it was, as the beast keeled over, whatever foul presence animating him now scoured by the cleansing flames. Nea forces her final goodberry down the throat of the heavy bleeding Krox.

The man who addressed them on the walls opened the gate, and strides out to greet them, offering his apologies for the cold welcome. He introduces himself as Tarkleigh, almost embarrassed to admit that he is the defacto leader of the settlement, built on the ruins of a fort called "Lioneye's Watch". Seeing the state of Krox and the other battering the party has taken, he recommends they spend a night at Nessa's, explaining it's the nearest thing to an Inn they have, and that Nessa is the mother to all of them. The Watch is sparsely populated. Only two people were with Tarkleigh on the palisade, and their bows were poorly made, everyone looks haunted and scrawny, huddled up against the rain around the fire coming from Nessa's "hut" that must have been what the party could see.

After spending the night, and eating some of the horrible, gamey gruel that served as food, (Axebeak Soup, apparently), they hear the story of the Ogre Zombie. Captured during one war or another as a child, he was expected to be a gladiator or perhaps just some trophy kill in the arena for another Gladiator to fight, but fate had a funny way of changing things up. He ended up getting apprenticed as a blacksmith, and getting the name "Hillock", due to his size, but after a while, his natural stupidity, and a love of drink caused him to turn violent. Violence on a 12ft tall mountain of muscle as a blacksmith saw him able to squash people's heads with his bare hands. Arrested, Imprisoned and Exiled, he was sent to the coast as many other exiles were, but the wound caused by the sword his blacksmith "father" pierced his chest with before Hillock crushed his skull (it still hadn't been removed, for few people cared, and those that did, didn't want to get close) grew to be infected. Hillock died eventually on the beach, but a few days later was seen again. Grey skinned, dead eyed, and just as lustful for murder as he had been in life. Other exiles tried to hunt him, but none were successful - the lucky ones escaped. But now, he was dead, again, and would hopefully stay that way.

Further investigation revealed it wasn't clear why there were so many undead - it was a new phenomena, in recent months. Tarkleigh thinks it may have something to do with the Water Source, and it may be worth investigating it up by the mud flats further up the coast. Thanking Nessa for the food and hospitality, the party desire to repay the favour in any way they can, and Nessa requests the assistance in locating medical supplies. Tarkleigh pipes up that there was a survivor of a very recent wreck - Bestel, a bard of some sort - who might be able to give the party some advice. The following morning, they seek out Bestel, wearing a Captain's Hat, and singing a mad little ditty to himself. Oh indeed he knows of one, his old ship the "Merry Gull" beached recently, and it had a well stocked supplies. The only trouble is the two warring clans of Cannibals, and the ever present curse of the Giant Crabs patrolling the beach. One band, the large Firefuries have the beach, but can't attack the Tidal Island where Hailrake's tribe is holed up - their allegiance with the Merfolk and the defensible position meaning it's difficult to get to - and guess where the crashed ship is - slap bang on the Tidal Island.

The game drew to a close then and there, but we're continuing next week :)

All things good so far.