Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Mar 27, 2007 8:41:23 GMT -5
So I just got this new module that looked really sweet. Used to run the old Ravenloft (I6, I think...) back in the day, and got all nostalgic in the store. Anyway, few questions...
Has anyone ever run this specific version of the module?
If so, is it just me, or is it possibly scaled incorrectly? I mean, it says 4 PCs should start at level 6, but dear God, the encounters are massive for that level, IMHO.
What is a good party composition (using 4, 5, or 6 PC teams)?
If you have run this to completion, how long, in gaming sessions did it take?
Anyway, looks great, just a lot of stuff there to sort through, and the CRs are really tough, I thought. Lookin for a little feedback...
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Post by grond on Mar 30, 2007 19:30:40 GMT -5
If experience has proven anything, no matter what the setting, a cleric and a blaster (damage mage) are huge helps in dealing with bad odds. Without a rogue, you usually wind up stuck, or wasting vital resources to get past simple problems. Then a useful asset would be a nature orriented character (ranger, druid Barbarians will do in a pinch). That makes 4. The rest should probably be fighters to eat damage. (barbarians, palladins, monks and rangers also work in these spots)
So-
Arcane caster (damage spells)
Cleric
Rogue
Nature expert
2 Melee experts
A nature based cleric combines healing with wilderness skill, opening another slot. You should have 2 sources of healing. A rogue with a wand works well for a second healer. Palladins combine melee with healing making another good 2nd healer.
It seems to be a good idea to have multiple sources for each specialty (a primary and a secondary, or back up)- healing, spell damage, wilderness skill, melee combat and stealth/ door openning).
Rogues are the best suited to multi-tasking. They have good melee potential, can use magic items, and have a wide range of skill and skill points. I say, as long as they're honest, the more rogues the better. + they can help keep each other honest.
BTW, I've never played the Raven Loft dealy so I don't know what exactly it entails
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Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Mar 31, 2007 9:49:56 GMT -5
Ravenloft is an undead-heavy campaign - very undead-heavy.
Kinda like Count Dracula, with a bunch of extra stuff dealing with wandering gypsy-like folk, a zombie invasion, and really nasty vamps and extraplanar creatures. Really neat adventure - they actually made a campaign setting based off of it, pretty decent if I recall. Very gothic horror kinda stuff...
Your party make-up works for me, maybe using an extra cleric and a paladin as a tank. But what got me was "module for 4 level 6 characters".
Just hate starting something like that thinking my PC's will never survive...
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Post by grond on Mar 31, 2007 10:45:18 GMT -5
Cautious PCs and a non-blood thirsty DM can get through just about any situation together. The important thing is to let them know how dangerous the setting can be. Also, level 6 is pretty buff.
If you're still worried, start out with a few lower intensity encounters. You should probably expect the adventure to take several gaming sessions.
If undead are a major issue, replace the arcane caster with a power turner (cleric focussed on undead turning). The radiant servant of pelor (prestige class, complete divine)
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Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Apr 3, 2007 6:18:03 GMT -5
Radient Servant of Pelor... that's the other rub... (Begin Mild Rant) Probably gonna run this as a core books only (PHB, DMG, MM1), 7 standard races, 9 standard classes, prestige class by DM permission only game. I know there are a lot of neat new classes out there, and cool new spells and feats and the like. But without spending a bajillion dollars to pick up the new material and 47 hours reading it, you can still have a great experience by using a little creativity. Most of my players are fairly new to the game (or haven't played since 1st edition), and just getting them all to agree to run 3.5 was a struggle. The newbs thought it was uber-confusing (it can be) and the old timer of the group thought it wasn't "right" if it wasn't TSR. In the end, I think that the supplements are best used by experienced to players to flesh out a cool character concept in a roleplaying venue... I really don't wanna run a powergaming twinkfest just so folks can thump their chest about how uberleet they are. And sadly, that is what I see most of the supplements encouraging - powergaming at the expense of roleplaying and social interaction. (End Mild Rant) Please, anyone who reads this, understand that I am not criticizing anyone who owns these books... I have Complete Arcane myself, and plan to pick up Complete Warrior or Divine soon. They are not the source of all evil (the Book of Vile Darkness is  ). But with new folks, getting them in the proper frame of mind to roleplay is usually tough enough... too many hours playing Diablo, perhaps. And, in all honesty, I usually look at the new classes for each book and think their might be one that is cool - the others all seem like filler to give WotC enough pages to make another book. Besides, most of them can be similarily produced from careful feat selection and multiclassing in the PHB1. PS - Found out that it is going to be a five man group, probably a human rogue4/ranger2, human cleric6, dwarf paladin6, elf undecided specialist wizard6, gnome cleric3/wizard3. The cleric/wizzy might go bard instead, or possibly full ranger. Anyway... |
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Post by grond on Apr 8, 2007 17:31:54 GMT -5
Do you have room for 1 more? I've been wanting to play a core books only game to get back to basics a little bit. Of course, that depends on what day(s) you're running it and whatnot. But if there is room, I think I would like to join.
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Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Apr 8, 2007 18:51:22 GMT -5
At this point, I have room for 6 more...
Haven't started running it yet, was thinking about incorporating it into a campaign I have been trying to run (kinda Lovecraft oriented) but I can't seem to get everyone started.
If there is interest, i can probably get my wife in (probably a bard, but who knows), maybe another person (sister, likely a rogue or rogue ranger multiclass). At this point that is all I have so far that are consistent.
Anyone interested let me know (via thread or PM). Be looking at once a month, no specific day, but have to coincide it with my step-kids and their visitation with their dad.
If I need to talk to someone in power here about starting an LGG5 for this, let me know as well, please. I'd be looking for a core books only campaign, probably just running Ravenloft starting at level 6 (unless everyone wants to run a long, long campaign starting at level 1). If this gets somewhere, details can follow. If this goes no where, then so be it - no sweat.
But thanks for the interest Grond... I love DMing, but haven't had a consistent group in years - might be fun to get back into...
dmitri
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Post by Rincewind on Apr 9, 2007 9:41:28 GMT -5
Yeah, I'd enjoy doing it, but I'm busy enough that it would depend entirely upon what day of the week it was.
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Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Apr 9, 2007 12:11:15 GMT -5
Well, as to day of the week, I don't see Sunday as being feasible with four other groups that seem to play on those days.
I was thinking along the lines of Saturday, afternoon or evening game (probably evening if at all possible). Weeknights are right out... can't see any of these working...
Anyway, let me know how this all looks, might take a little to get it off the ground, but I think it'll be fun, perhaps...
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Post by grond on Apr 9, 2007 16:17:02 GMT -5
I'm not sure I'm up for being in another long run campaign (I'm in 2 and running 1 myself), but ravenloft lvl 6 sounds good. Saturday, day or evening works for me, but I'm not sure what I'd play, I'm thinking dwarf cleric for now.
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Dmitri
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Post by Dmitri on Apr 12, 2007 6:20:22 GMT -5
As this has generated interest, this thread has turned into LGG5. It is located under the Lacaster Gaming Groups boards. Come on over, check it out!
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Post by MjolnirH on Apr 24, 2007 16:13:14 GMT -5
well keep in mind that in ravenloft the undead have all of the advatages, most of them are at maximum strength, goes with the realm. another thing is that for the most part turning undead is tougher as well most undead counting as 2 HD or higher for clerics turing undead. I ran the origianal ravenloft adventure as well and then got the new 3.5 castle ravenloft book, like the one you got, for christmas. they have totally fleshed out barovia!!! and it kicks ass. LOL I wouldn't want to have a summer home there |
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). But with new folks, getting them in the proper frame of mind to roleplay is usually tough enough... too many hours playing Diablo, perhaps. And, in all honesty, I usually look at the new classes for each book and think their might be one that is cool - the others all seem like filler to give WotC enough pages to make another book. Besides, most of them can be similarily produced from careful feat selection and multiclassing in the PHB1.
