I am a newer DM running Wild Sheep Chase for 5 of my friends soon. They are all new to D&D (only one has played and it was once). I heard good things about this one-shot, but it is for level 4 or 5 characters. I had been planning to do a one-shot at level 3, just so there are fewer things for new players to learn but there is more to do than at level 1. Any suggestions on how to balance the planned encounters?
Also, I was going to provide my players with pre-made characters since everyone is too busy to sit down and make characters with them. Any suggestions for a good party makeup? OR where I can find some premade characters? I was thinking fighter, rogue, barbarian, cleric, and warlock?
Do another one shot designed for 1st level. Being a new DM, the issue is not can you down grade an existing one shot for 3rd level, but can you adapt in the middle of combat to scale it up/down as needed on the fly.
As everyone is new you really need a 1st level one shot to get people to learn the most basic rules. The other thing is some individuals like to have a premade some do not. You need to find that out and from from there. Those that do not, will get no connection and can just be done, but then there are the others that need a preset PC or they will never get into the game.
No warlock, keep it simple and there is a good chance a one shot for 1st level contains premade characters.
Do another one shot designed for 1st level. Being a new DM, the issue is not can you down grade an existing one shot for 3rd level, but can you adapt in the middle of combat to scale it up/down as needed on the fly.
As everyone is new you really need a 1st level one shot to get people to learn the most basic rules. The other thing is some individuals like to have a premade some do not. You need to find that out and from from there. Those that do not, will get no connection and can just be done, but then there are the others that need a preset PC or they will never get into the game.
No warlock, keep it simple and there is a good chance a one shot for 1st level contains premade characters.
if you are new/ trying to get others into the game, don't go straight in with a 3rd level party. Tone it down to level one and find a one-shot out there that is designed to be beginner friendly. You can also run Lost Mines of Phandelver or Dragons of Storm wreck Isle. They are designed by WotC to get newer folks into the game and to help learn how to play easily. I have played both and would highly recommend them.
Also, they have many choices here on DnD Beyond for pregenerated characters that you can easily print out for play.
He doesn't have much besides the skin on his bones. Me: I'll take the skin on his bones, then.
"You see a gigantic, monstrous praying mantis burst from out of the ground. It sprays a stream of acid from it's mouth at one soldier, dissolving him instantly, then it turns and chomps another soldier in half with it's- "
For some more context, I am not new to d&d. I've also been DMing technically for about 2 years (but its a campaign w/ very busy people so we don't meet that often). I'm not always the most confident, which is why I say "newer." I've also taught others how to play. It's mostly just the player that are actually new. Not sure if this changes any opinions
The Wild Sheep Chase is such a great module that it would be delightful to have a version for a lower level party.
I don't have much experience modifying combats, but I have run this adventure. So, I'm going to make some suggestions, and I'd honestly love to hear a critique so I can learn to scale better.
Spoilering for anyone who maybe has wandered in here and doesn't know the enemies.
My 5th level party, as a wily group, talked its way around some of the expected combat, drafting the tavern bear as their new best friend and persuading the 2/3 apes to stay out of the fight. The final battle was a good challenge for them.
In the tavern, I'd maybe reduce it from Guz + 1 bear + 3 wolves to a single wolf and bear, and lower Guz' hit points by around a third, from 67 to 45. Guz is CR 2 and can hit two targets +5 to hit for an average 10 damage. Alternately, keep the wolves and drop the bear.
They should handle this fine but if not have someone at the tavern offer the party some healing potions after they successfully deal with the threat.
At the wizard tower, the bear is in an outhouse and I'd leave him there unless disturbed by the party (or you need more power). Similarly, you could leave one of apes asleep while the other two sit by the campfire, and only bring it into combat if the party is finding it too easy.
The bed dragon (CR4) is the coolest enemy and is also the most dangerous. I'd reduce the bite attack to average 10 (so maybe 1d10 +4 instead of 2d10+4) and the splinter breath to 4d6 (instead of 7d6).
They can probably handle Noke (CR2) as is, and you can play him a little less aggressively if you need to.
The gibbering mouther is pretty great. It's a CR 2 so they should be okay as is.
I ended up seeding the wizard tower with a bunch of funky magic items that would be things Noke wouldn't try or know to sell, which amused me greatly. They found bags of wool that might be a little bit magical, bunny slippers, a dancing broom, and a bag of holding in the back of a drawer that had more weird stuff inside, like some curious rocks. They had a lot of fun poking into all the corners.
Anyway, I'm curious to know if anyone has actually run this for a lower level party and how they adapted it. The story works really well as an intro for either players or DM and I've wondered about trying to run it at 3rd level myself, so I'm interested to learn how others would approach it.
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I am a newer DM running Wild Sheep Chase for 5 of my friends soon. They are all new to D&D (only one has played and it was once). I heard good things about this one-shot, but it is for level 4 or 5 characters. I had been planning to do a one-shot at level 3, just so there are fewer things for new players to learn but there is more to do than at level 1. Any suggestions on how to balance the planned encounters?
Also, I was going to provide my players with pre-made characters since everyone is too busy to sit down and make characters with them. Any suggestions for a good party makeup? OR where I can find some premade characters? I was thinking fighter, rogue, barbarian, cleric, and warlock?
Do another one shot designed for 1st level. Being a new DM, the issue is not can you down grade an existing one shot for 3rd level, but can you adapt in the middle of combat to scale it up/down as needed on the fly.
As everyone is new you really need a 1st level one shot to get people to learn the most basic rules. The other thing is some individuals like to have a premade some do not. You need to find that out and from from there. Those that do not, will get no connection and can just be done, but then there are the others that need a preset PC or they will never get into the game.
No warlock, keep it simple and there is a good chance a one shot for 1st level contains premade characters.
Do another one shot designed for 1st level. Being a new DM, the issue is not can you down grade an existing one shot for 3rd level, but can you adapt in the middle of combat to scale it up/down as needed on the fly.
As everyone is new you really need a 1st level one shot to get people to learn the most basic rules. The other thing is some individuals like to have a premade some do not. You need to find that out and from from there. Those that do not, will get no connection and can just be done, but then there are the others that need a preset PC or they will never get into the game.
No warlock, keep it simple and there is a good chance a one shot for 1st level contains premade characters.
if you are new/ trying to get others into the game, don't go straight in with a 3rd level party. Tone it down to level one and find a one-shot out there that is designed to be beginner friendly. You can also run Lost Mines of Phandelver or Dragons of Storm wreck Isle. They are designed by WotC to get newer folks into the game and to help learn how to play easily. I have played both and would highly recommend them.
Also, they have many choices here on DnD Beyond for pregenerated characters that you can easily print out for play.
He doesn't have much besides the skin on his bones. Me: I'll take the skin on his bones, then.
"You see a gigantic, monstrous praying mantis burst from out of the ground. It sprays a stream of acid from it's mouth at one soldier, dissolving him instantly, then it turns and chomps another soldier in half with it's- "
"When are we gonna take a snack break?"
For some more context, I am not new to d&d. I've also been DMing technically for about 2 years (but its a campaign w/ very busy people so we don't meet that often). I'm not always the most confident, which is why I say "newer." I've also taught others how to play. It's mostly just the player that are actually new. Not sure if this changes any opinions
The Wild Sheep Chase is such a great module that it would be delightful to have a version for a lower level party.
I don't have much experience modifying combats, but I have run this adventure. So, I'm going to make some suggestions, and I'd honestly love to hear a critique so I can learn to scale better.
Spoilering for anyone who maybe has wandered in here and doesn't know the enemies.
My 5th level party, as a wily group, talked its way around some of the expected combat, drafting the tavern bear as their new best friend and persuading the 2/3 apes to stay out of the fight. The final battle was a good challenge for them.
In the tavern, I'd maybe reduce it from Guz + 1 bear + 3 wolves to a single wolf and bear, and lower Guz' hit points by around a third, from 67 to 45. Guz is CR 2 and can hit two targets +5 to hit for an average 10 damage. Alternately, keep the wolves and drop the bear.
They should handle this fine but if not have someone at the tavern offer the party some healing potions after they successfully deal with the threat.
At the wizard tower, the bear is in an outhouse and I'd leave him there unless disturbed by the party (or you need more power). Similarly, you could leave one of apes asleep while the other two sit by the campfire, and only bring it into combat if the party is finding it too easy.
The bed dragon (CR4) is the coolest enemy and is also the most dangerous. I'd reduce the bite attack to average 10 (so maybe 1d10 +4 instead of 2d10+4) and the splinter breath to 4d6 (instead of 7d6).
They can probably handle Noke (CR2) as is, and you can play him a little less aggressively if you need to.
The gibbering mouther is pretty great. It's a CR 2 so they should be okay as is.
I ended up seeding the wizard tower with a bunch of funky magic items that would be things Noke wouldn't try or know to sell, which amused me greatly. They found bags of wool that might be a little bit magical, bunny slippers, a dancing broom, and a bag of holding in the back of a drawer that had more weird stuff inside, like some curious rocks. They had a lot of fun poking into all the corners.
Anyway, I'm curious to know if anyone has actually run this for a lower level party and how they adapted it. The story works really well as an intro for either players or DM and I've wondered about trying to run it at 3rd level myself, so I'm interested to learn how others would approach it.