The grand return: Building a PF1e encounter

[TheHalfAasimar]

Hello there! I know I haven't been active lately (more like about a month) but I decided to build a Pathfinder 1e encounter, because why not? It'll be a basic goblin camp with a few changes, though.

1. These goblins are EVIL
These goblins are pure evil. How do I know that? Because I'm making the encounter. But here's the group of goblins:
Goblin Chief - Template: Hellbound Creature
3 Goblin Sneaks - 3 Wizard Levels. +4 INT for a total of 12, as well as +2 HD. Spells: 0 -level: Acid Splash, Ray of Frost, Resistance. 1 level spells: Alter Winds, Break, Burning Hands, Dazzling Blade, Invisibility Alarm. 2 level: Demand Offering, Fire Breath. Template: N/A

Tactics: They will start by using Alter Winds if they see any boats, using the wind to push the boats away. The chief won't fight, they'll just hang back until the goblin sneaks are dead. The goblin sneaks will also, after using the debuff spells, apply Invisibility Alarm. They'll also make sure to hide while the PCs aren't watching.

Treasure: The Sneaks will have spellbooks that a party Wizard or Magus can copy out of for the spells that the goblins used. The chief also is using a negative Greyflame + Flaming Burst longsword, which the PCs can get, if they want. The others are using pretty generic equipment, although one of them has a ring that gives a +1 spell damage.

So, is it any good? First attempt at building an encounter for any RPG, really.

[ciopo]

Nite the very small area of alter winds, and it's immobile to boot

[Kurald Galain]

One thing about PF1 goblins is that they absolutely and violently loathe writing. That makes them much more likely to be sorcerers rather than wizards.

[TheHalfAasimar]

One thing about PF1 goblins is that they absolutely and violently loathe writing. That makes them much more likely to be sorcerers rather than wizards.

Ah, I see. Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

[LecternOfJasper]

It looks like Greyflame weapons are powered by expending Channel Energy charges - would the Goblin chief be able to use that (or, if not, know about that ability of the weapon)? Giving him some ability to channel energy would likely be fun and let him smash face better.

Further, the Chief is CR 10 and the other goobers are CR 3 or 4 (not entirely sure how PF1e adds them up). Depending on what level the party runs into them at, the wizards might be a bit inconsequential. Especially if they're at 12 intelligence, they'll have spell save DCs around 12 or 13. They might need to be beefed up a bit if the party is close to level 10.

Hellbound template is cool, free demons is always nice!

[TheHalfAasimar]

It looks like Greyflame weapons are powered by expending Channel Energy charges - would the Goblin chief be able to use that (or, if not, know about that ability of the weapon)? Giving him some ability to channel energy would likely be fun and let him smash face better.

Further, the Chief is CR 10 and the other goobers are CR 3 or 4 (not entirely sure how PF1e adds them up). Depending on what level the party runs into them at, the wizards might be a bit inconsequential. Especially if they're at 12 intelligence, they'll have spell save DCs around 12 or 13. They might need to be beefed up a bit if the party is close to level 10.

Hellbound template is cool, free demons is always nice!

Good point. Maybe I should stack more wizard levels onto the goblins (with the wizard levels.) to make them comparable to the Chief, but only like a CR 8 or 9, so they aren't quite as strong as the leader. I wanted to make a very difficult encounter for levels 9-10, but it would definitely be on the easier side for levels 11-12.

[Kurald Galain]

Good point. Maybe I should stack more wizard levels onto the goblins (with the wizard levels.) to make them comparable to the Chief, but only like a CR 8 or 9, so they aren't quite as strong as the leader. I wanted to make a very difficult encounter for levels 9-10, but it would definitely be on the easier side for levels 11-12.

I'm curious why you're using goblins, THE archetypical CR-less-than-one creature, as a CR 10 encounter?