so im running my players though the hoard of the dragon queen but to clarify im running a 4 module long story and this module is the third on the list so even though this module is for 1st level players they are already level 8, i have been doing things to fill the level gaps by adding in additional enemies or harder monsters but i digress, my question is they have made it into the cultists camp, found leosin and have freed him, problem is now they are talking about taking out the watch towers which could quickly lead to them having to fight there way out of this camp, how do i handle such a scenario when the module basically assumes the group will sneak out, should i just send wave after wave until they run? im just not sure how to handle a combat situation when they are basically facing an army
Here's what I would do... have the party make intelligence checks, and anyone who beats a 12 knows that, if they get caught, they'll basically have to fight the entire army, and Leosin is in no condition to fight at this point (unless they cast Greater Restoration or something on him... higher level players have ways to deal with what he's gone through). I'd say let them challenge the watch tower, but put some kind of obvious warning sign on the tower itself... like a massive bell or a large horn. Something where they can tell that, if any one enemy gets near that, they're going to get the entire camp coming down on them. If they successfully clear out the Watchtower without anyone sending out a warning they should be rewarded... the DC to stealth out of the Camp successfully should be reduced. But if they fail and the camp is alerted they should be forced to deal with that. Run them against a large group of enemies, and gradually have more enemies join the battle each round so they know they can't just strongarm their way through this. Remind them that they're free to run away in case they seem single-mindedly focused on fighting off the cult. If they insist... literally make them fight 300 enemies. Keep a tally for yourself and introduce 10 more enemies every round until they either get the point or they manage to go 30 rounds without being knocked unconscious. If they succeed... well damn, that's an amazing story they have to tell and unfortunately a lot of work for you to rejigger the story to account for that. Maybe you could have the most important enemies flee during this huge battle and the story, for hte most part, continues as written from there. If, much more likely, they lose this battle... have them captured and put in stocks along with Leosin, which the book accounts for.
so im running my players though the hoard of the dragon queen but to clarify im running a 4 module long story and this module is the third on the list so even though this module is for 1st level players they are already level 8, i have been doing things to fill the level gaps by adding in additional enemies or harder monsters but i digress, my question is they have made it into the cultists camp, found leosin and have freed him, problem is now they are talking about taking out the watch towers which could quickly lead to them having to fight there way out of this camp, how do i handle such a scenario when the module basically assumes the group will sneak out, should i just send wave after wave until they run? im just not sure how to handle a combat situation when they are basically facing an army
Here's what I would do... have the party make intelligence checks, and anyone who beats a 12 knows that, if they get caught, they'll basically have to fight the entire army, and Leosin is in no condition to fight at this point (unless they cast Greater Restoration or something on him... higher level players have ways to deal with what he's gone through). I'd say let them challenge the watch tower, but put some kind of obvious warning sign on the tower itself... like a massive bell or a large horn. Something where they can tell that, if any one enemy gets near that, they're going to get the entire camp coming down on them. If they successfully clear out the Watchtower without anyone sending out a warning they should be rewarded... the DC to stealth out of the Camp successfully should be reduced. But if they fail and the camp is alerted they should be forced to deal with that. Run them against a large group of enemies, and gradually have more enemies join the battle each round so they know they can't just strongarm their way through this. Remind them that they're free to run away in case they seem single-mindedly focused on fighting off the cult. If they insist... literally make them fight 300 enemies. Keep a tally for yourself and introduce 10 more enemies every round until they either get the point or they manage to go 30 rounds without being knocked unconscious. If they succeed... well damn, that's an amazing story they have to tell and unfortunately a lot of work for you to rejigger the story to account for that. Maybe you could have the most important enemies flee during this huge battle and the story, for hte most part, continues as written from there. If, much more likely, they lose this battle... have them captured and put in stocks along with Leosin, which the book accounts for.
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that sounds fair to me, thank you