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 benhamtroll
Cherub
(10/6/03 6:46 pm)
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ezSupporter
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My First TPK
Well, i threw Ukemil and his lions at the group as they camped outside the CRM on their way back to Rastor.
The lions are INCREDIBLY nasty.
I fudged things a little, since everything up to this point has been pretty much a cakewalk. I didn't give listen check, so the only person up and ready was the fighter on watch. Ukemil shows up and tells them that they have been causing too much trouble and Hedrack is tired of them. He then sends the lions in.
The party was down some HP after the fight with the fire temple, and the lions almost immediately take out the tank and the wizard with area effect spells. The thief manages to get on his feet, but the lions move on to the other wizard and lay him out cold and dead. Three lions gang up on the watch fighter, and she goes down in short order. The final lion follows the thief into the woods, and the gnome has no hope of escaping.
I was a bit shocked, but impressed at the power of these beasts. However, since I had fudged stuff in favor of the baddies, I decided we could re-do the combat, by the book this time. Things start similar as before, but the lions do not get almost two entire rounds unchallenged. It STILL takes the tank nearly six rounds to get his sword and shield out, but once he does things improve. Once again, the area-wizard gets knocked unconcsious quickly, but the others work together to take out two of the lions, and knock Ukemil down about halfway.
I decided a while back to give Ukemil a scroll of Word of Recall to take him back to the Inner Fane if things get dicey, and he decides that losing two of his prize lions is dicey enough, so he falls back, calling them to him. The tank decides to charge and try and take the trog out, but he only has about 8 HP left, so when the lion swats him he drops. A spell note from the fighter/bard disorients Ukemil, but he finally manages to get away with his skin and two lions. Hedrack is going to be very upset, and the party is looking forward to a very difficult time when they get back from Verbobonc.
Anyway, it was an exciting battle, and I wanted to share. I finally found something to challenge these guys.
the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. .
www.benhamtroll.com
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Cordo Crowfoot
Dynama
(10/6/03 10:49 pm)
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Re: My First TPK
Thanks for posting, I'll almost definitely be running that combat this Sunday.
I was thinking one thing that might hurt the lions is overlaping charge lanes and the new way that 3.5 strictly interprets the ability to charge, which would cut their ability to use their pounce. Fighting outdoors would sure help a lot with that, however.
So what did Ukemil do? Attack grappled characters for sneak attack damage?
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benhamtroll
Cherub
(10/7/03 7:28 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: My First TPK
Actually, he hung back for the most part and used spells, with little effect. The lions were being so effective that he didn't feel the need to risk himself too openly. He moved in once for a sneak attack, but totally whiffed it, and then got smacked on a bit before falling back to escape.
My party rolled amazingly on their saves, which really helped them survive. They've already experienced the pain of both Hold Person and Random Action, as well as Trog stench.
This one a really tough combat, much tougher than I expected. Although, my DM skills are increasing, so it may be the fact that I played it more competently than some of the others.
the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. .
www.benhamtroll.com
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Andorax
Cherub
(10/7/03 9:09 am)
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Re: My First TPK
Quote:
"The lions are INCREDIBLY nasty."
"...the lions almost immediately take out the tank and the wizard with area effect spells."
Dang, those are some nasty lions...pounce ability AND area effect spells. I must have missed that page. 
Seriously, condolences on the TPK. You'd be surprised how quickly some encounters (Howler, lions, bebilith) can get out of hand.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
benhamtroll
Cherub
(10/7/03 11:16 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: My First TPK
Heh. I guess the empowered fireballs were too much.
I'm really expecting this group to end up entering the inner fane through the fire door, too.
the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. .
www.benhamtroll.com
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