First time posting here, and honestly haven't read many posts so apologies if I break convention. I'm new to not only DMing, but DnD in general. I've got a good grasp on rules, but just haven't played much so it's hard for me to tell what a fair encounter is. Anyways, I am going to be running a one-shot for a party of 3 players that are also relatively inexperienced (only played a couple of sessions before).
My story is a modified version of the Thundertree part of LMoP, influenced by Lunch Break Heroes edit to this part of the story. In this, Phandalin is experiencing a blight so the townmaster sends the party (3 level 3 characters) to Thundertree to ask for help from the Druid, Reidoth. Reidoth tells the party that the Young Green Dragon (Venomfang) that recently took roost in the guard tower must be to blame for the blight. He would go fight off the dragon in his adventuring days, but he is too old now to compete with it and it is taking all he has just to keep the dragon's magic from affecting his grove.
The players will then come across the Cult of the Dragon who have come to parley with Venomfang. They are holed up in the old barracks though, afraid of the night. They tell the party that plants (Vine/Needle Blights) have been attacking them at night and dragging them away towards the grove behind the Druid's house. They suggest that maybe the party is strong impressive enough to convince Venomfang to help.
If the party goes to Venomfang, he will tell them that the epicenter of the blight is indeed in the Druid's grove. It is what drew him to this area in the first place. He says the Druid's magic is too powerful for him to overcome alone though, and promises the party a reward for helping overcome the druid. He offers them the greataxe 'Hew' as a down payment.
If the party goes to Reidoth, he will tell them to not believe what the dragon is saying. Green Dragon's are known to spread lies and manipulate people, after all. He says that with the party's help, maybe they can take down Venomfang together.
If they believe Reidoth, they will go face Venomfang and perhaps that truly is the cause of the blight. If they believe Venomfang, they will go investigate the grove and find a Gulthias tree there and then fight Reidoth, who they discover has been twisted by the tree to serve it's purpose. When defeated, Venomfang can destroy the tree and end the blight.
Either way, I need to scale either of these encounters properly. If they fight Venomfang, I think leaving him as a book-written CR 8 Young Green Dragon will be too tough for the party, even with Reidoth's help. How should I scale down Venomfang? Maybe have him send two of his brood to prove themselves by attacking the players? Then the players would face 2 Green Dragon Wyrmlings (CR 2) and then perhaps some of the cultists that come to help Venomfang? How then to balance Reidoth? Perhaps have him "fight" Venomfang in the background (I would just narrate this, not actual have them take turns). If the party is successful I would have Venomfang fly away for "greener" pastures, believing that this area is not worth his trouble. Or should I scale down Venomfang to a CR 4 or 5 or so somehow and make him killable by the party? Maybe have Reidoth give them a all a Potion of Invulnerability or a Potion of Acid Resistance? Maybe have him just not use his breath weapon?
If they believe the dragon and go confront Reidoth, how should I scale him? Maybe make him a level 4 Land druid and have him/the tree summon a couple of vine/needle blights? How many? Similarly, Venomfang could be in the background attacking the tree. Maybe over level Reidoth and have Venomfang give the party information that if they cut down the Gulthias Tree, it will end the hold it has over Reidoth? And then essentially have Reidoth and blights be a defense against the characters getting to the tree, which would just have a set number of hit points?
First of all, your campaign sounds very interesting. Good job! As for scaling.
Venomfang:
Most importantly, I would make sure the party are the ones to fight, no matter who they choose to believe. If you have an NPC kill the BBEG without the players helping at all, it can leave them feeling disconnected from the story. Reidoth could certainly be helping but shouldn't be the main focus. I think it would be cool if Reidoth was able to neutralize the dragon's breath weapon, which is probably the main threat. But perhaps if Reidoth was injured in the process, or it took all his energy. Then the party would be able to fight Venomfang, and although still a hard encounter, it would be much more doable, and it wouldn't leave the party feeling disconnected.
Reidoth:
Your idea about having Reidoth and the blights defend the tree was interesting. Maybe if you gave Reidoth an ability to move players, perhaps with a wind gust, to keep them away from the tree. Until the party actually damages the tree, Reidoth would be more focused on keeping them away then killing them. Once the party can successfully get to the tree and attack it, that's when Reidoth would start using lethal damage. Then it would be a race to see if the party can survive long enough to kill the tree, or if they will die first. As for needle blights, maybe three. One to keep watch on each member of the party.
To summarize: I suggest you somehow neutralize Venomfangs breath weapon, and you don't actually scale Reidoth down at all instead making him not try to kill the party until they attack the tree, forcing the party to be more strategic.
This is all opinion, you can take bits and pieces of my suggestions and dump the rest, or take all or none! You are the DM, not me. Hope this helps either way!
Hi all,
First time posting here, and honestly haven't read many posts so apologies if I break convention. I'm new to not only DMing, but DnD in general. I've got a good grasp on rules, but just haven't played much so it's hard for me to tell what a fair encounter is. Anyways, I am going to be running a one-shot for a party of 3 players that are also relatively inexperienced (only played a couple of sessions before).
My story is a modified version of the Thundertree part of LMoP, influenced by Lunch Break Heroes edit to this part of the story. In this, Phandalin is experiencing a blight so the townmaster sends the party (3 level 3 characters) to Thundertree to ask for help from the Druid, Reidoth. Reidoth tells the party that the Young Green Dragon (Venomfang) that recently took roost in the guard tower must be to blame for the blight. He would go fight off the dragon in his adventuring days, but he is too old now to compete with it and it is taking all he has just to keep the dragon's magic from affecting his grove.
The players will then come across the Cult of the Dragon who have come to parley with Venomfang. They are holed up in the old barracks though, afraid of the night. They tell the party that plants (Vine/Needle Blights) have been attacking them at night and dragging them away towards the grove behind the Druid's house. They suggest that maybe the party is strong impressive enough to convince Venomfang to help.
If the party goes to Venomfang, he will tell them that the epicenter of the blight is indeed in the Druid's grove. It is what drew him to this area in the first place. He says the Druid's magic is too powerful for him to overcome alone though, and promises the party a reward for helping overcome the druid. He offers them the greataxe 'Hew' as a down payment.
If the party goes to Reidoth, he will tell them to not believe what the dragon is saying. Green Dragon's are known to spread lies and manipulate people, after all. He says that with the party's help, maybe they can take down Venomfang together.
If they believe Reidoth, they will go face Venomfang and perhaps that truly is the cause of the blight. If they believe Venomfang, they will go investigate the grove and find a Gulthias tree there and then fight Reidoth, who they discover has been twisted by the tree to serve it's purpose. When defeated, Venomfang can destroy the tree and end the blight.
Either way, I need to scale either of these encounters properly. If they fight Venomfang, I think leaving him as a book-written CR 8 Young Green Dragon will be too tough for the party, even with Reidoth's help. How should I scale down Venomfang? Maybe have him send two of his brood to prove themselves by attacking the players? Then the players would face 2 Green Dragon Wyrmlings (CR 2) and then perhaps some of the cultists that come to help Venomfang? How then to balance Reidoth? Perhaps have him "fight" Venomfang in the background (I would just narrate this, not actual have them take turns). If the party is successful I would have Venomfang fly away for "greener" pastures, believing that this area is not worth his trouble. Or should I scale down Venomfang to a CR 4 or 5 or so somehow and make him killable by the party? Maybe have Reidoth give them a all a Potion of Invulnerability or a Potion of Acid Resistance? Maybe have him just not use his breath weapon?
If they believe the dragon and go confront Reidoth, how should I scale him? Maybe make him a level 4 Land druid and have him/the tree summon a couple of vine/needle blights? How many? Similarly, Venomfang could be in the background attacking the tree. Maybe over level Reidoth and have Venomfang give the party information that if they cut down the Gulthias Tree, it will end the hold it has over Reidoth? And then essentially have Reidoth and blights be a defense against the characters getting to the tree, which would just have a set number of hit points?
Any help is appreciated!
Hello,
First of all, your campaign sounds very interesting. Good job! As for scaling.
Venomfang:
Most importantly, I would make sure the party are the ones to fight, no matter who they choose to believe. If you have an NPC kill the BBEG without the players helping at all, it can leave them feeling disconnected from the story. Reidoth could certainly be helping but shouldn't be the main focus. I think it would be cool if Reidoth was able to neutralize the dragon's breath weapon, which is probably the main threat. But perhaps if Reidoth was injured in the process, or it took all his energy. Then the party would be able to fight Venomfang, and although still a hard encounter, it would be much more doable, and it wouldn't leave the party feeling disconnected.
Reidoth:
Your idea about having Reidoth and the blights defend the tree was interesting. Maybe if you gave Reidoth an ability to move players, perhaps with a wind gust, to keep them away from the tree. Until the party actually damages the tree, Reidoth would be more focused on keeping them away then killing them. Once the party can successfully get to the tree and attack it, that's when Reidoth would start using lethal damage. Then it would be a race to see if the party can survive long enough to kill the tree, or if they will die first. As for needle blights, maybe three. One to keep watch on each member of the party.
To summarize: I suggest you somehow neutralize Venomfangs breath weapon, and you don't actually scale Reidoth down at all instead making him not try to kill the party until they attack the tree, forcing the party to be more strategic.
This is all opinion, you can take bits and pieces of my suggestions and dump the rest, or take all or none! You are the DM, not me. Hope this helps either way!