The Kap'n's Last 3E game

Xeviat · April 18, 2008, 11:12:30 PM

I began playing D&D just after I finished High School in 2001, and started DMing right away. I instantly took to creating stories, and as most of you know, to tweeking and rebuilding the rules to suit my tastes.

Now we are about one month away from the release of "Keep on the Shadowfell", the first 4E adventure. In that time, I can squeeze in one more adventure.

In the spirit of going out with a bang, I want to run a high level game (not epic). Currently, I think I can get 4 games in (if we play weekly), so I intend to have the players start at 17th level so their last encounter can take place at 20th level.

I spoke to my regular players and we decided we want to run a Tome of Battle game, using only classes from that book. My idea for the campaign will utilize the mythos from the book; the players will be storming the fortress of a warlord who has amassed an army of demons and other monsters, along with a dark monastery of "ninjas" and a sect of dedicated orc warriors. The leaders of this horde are trying to finish what the original Shadow Hand and Tiger Claw masters couldn't.

So I'm looking for some basic or specific ideas on how to flesh out this adventure. But it won't really be possible to rest once inside the keep, so taking the keep itself would have to be done in one day (perhaps the leaders can escape and the party can follow for the final showdown). Granted, ToB characters have much more endurance in a day (especially if one of them is a healing Crusader).

So, any ideas for encounters, or general advice on running something so grand?

Higgs Boson · April 18, 2008, 11:20:14 PM

Don't let them multiclass into Eternal Blade unless you plan on min/maxing your BBEG's and such to the fullest (Using some cheesy tricks they can do insane damage only rivaled by cheesy semantics with casters).

Don't let White Raven Tactics' target: "Ally" also mean the initiator (CustServ on wotc says so, but seriously...).

ToB characters' maneuvers work on a per encounter basis, so there really is no need to call it a day in an all ToB party.

Maybe you could let them find the Legacy weps from the book? Maybe Reshar is imprisoned there. Possibility for a undead Reshar as a BBEG slave?

Xeviat · April 19, 2008, 12:38:29 AM

Or an epic Reshar as THE BBEG!?

Xathan · April 19, 2008, 02:28:00 AM

If you're going Reshar as the BBEG (perhaps a sword-lich? Shouldn't be /too/ hard to throw one together) or really, for any really nasty ToB BBEG - consider making the villain a gestalt Monk. Seriously, my players have come to love and dread my BBEGs ever since I started Gesalting them, because it makes the fight that much more memorable.

The gestalt alternative would be a BBEG that's a gestalt Warblade/Swordsage, which is also rather brutal.

Also, while your players are limited to ToB classes, there's no need to limit yourself the same way. The "ninjas" could be actual Ninjas, or multiclass Ninja/Swordsages, or Rogue/Swordsages, the Orcs could feature Barbarians among their ranks, or the aforementioned Monks, or perhaps even a Duskblade as a mini-boss. It's been awhile since I read ToB, but I'd say add some other goblinoids/giants into the mix - a Troll Warblade would be brutal foe, or an Ogre Mage Swordsage, or a cadre of Half-Red-Dragon-Orcs Bloodstorm Blades dual wielding throwing axes. At 17th level, the sky is the limit!

Xeviat · April 19, 2008, 02:39:15 AM

Well, since I am going to utilize the mythos from the book, Hobgoblins are the masters of the Iron Heart school. One of the sessions could revolve around the party trying to secure the Hobgoblins' help in the battle.

I'm not particularly a fan of Gestalt, though.

Matt Larkin (author) · April 19, 2008, 08:04:34 AM

QuoteBut it won't really be possible to rest once inside the keep, so taking the keep itself would have to be done in one day

I'm not particularly a fan of Gestalt, though. [/quote]
Me neither. Especially if it's not a gestalt game for the PCs.

Sounds like a fun adventure.

Captain Obvious · April 19, 2008, 09:22:14 AM

what's a reshar? i don't recall that

Xeviat · April 19, 2008, 03:45:20 PM

Reshar was the first Master of the Nine, the first person to master all nine schools. He formed the Temple of the Nine Swords and chose nine disciples. After Reshar left on a quest, the master of Shadow Hand and the master of Tiger Claw tried to kill another master. The sword of Diamond Mind was stolen, and Tiger Claw and Shadow Hand masters were banished. They later returned with a horde and destroyed the temple, and the swords were lost to the winds.

Higgs Boson · April 19, 2008, 05:43:02 PM

Quote from: Xathan WorldsmithThe gestalt alternative would be a BBEG that's a gestalt Warblade/Swordsage, which is also rather brutal.

Now that might be too brutal. Imagine someone who runs up to you, deals upwards of 300 damage, before teleporting 50 ft. away and restoring all the maneuvers he just used to do it again next turn. Not to mention dual boost, stance mastery, can't be flanked, and has access to Stormguard Warrior? Make your BBEG this if you want your players to cry. Gestalt in ToB = crazy antics. Oh! I forgot to mention one thing about said gestalt swordsage/warblade. If you attack him, and miss (which you probably will, due to his insane AC, he just gets harder to hit!

Xeviat · April 19, 2008, 09:31:56 PM

Alright, here's the layout for the 4 sessions:

*Session One: The party are already great heroes, and they even possess some of the Legacy Swords. They have joined in the defense of a great city as the horde descends upon it.
*Session Two: After defending (or losing) the city, the party is lead to take the fight to the leaders of the horde itself. They have to fight through the horde to reach the leader's keep.
*Session Three: The party will either be captured by the horde or will infiltrate the keep. Either way, they'll get to fight through the keep and face the masters of the Shadow Hand and Tiger Claw schools (a ninja and an uber orc).
*Session Four: The leaders will try to get away, or the party will discover that they were merely pawns. Something will lead the party to the ruins of the Temple of Nine Swords, where they'll fight their way to one last opponent.

Any ideas for individual encounters? I know I want a dragon fight (probably at the defense of the city portion).

Higgs Boson · April 19, 2008, 11:10:53 PM

Don't have the Shadow Hand and Tiger Claw masters confront them face to face, have them ambush them. LIke, the group gets into the throne room, and they hear a savage scream as the TC master jumps off a ledge (or who knows what), and while they look up at thim the SH master Shadow Jaunts in and stabs one. Perhaps they are wearing the color or symbol of an organizaiton the characters have run into before, showing that they are pawns.

For the final opponent, I suggest a level 20 gestalt NPC, or a dragon. A crazy idea (if they are going to play with you in 4e), is have the BBEG do a "kill" effect on them, but it really doesn't kill them, it simply reincarnates them (with their current knowledge, personality, etc. locked away) into a new form. The BBEG could be a recurring character in 4e.
If you were using other sources, I would have suggested for the BBEG (if gestalt) Totemist 20//Barbarian 6/Fighter 2/Warblade 2/Frenzied Bezerker 10.

Xeviat · April 20, 2008, 04:34:04 AM

I'm actually only going to use ToB classes, and the NPC Warrior for mooks. I do like the idea of the ambushes; that's a definite.

Xeviat · April 21, 2008, 06:09:04 AM

So Reshar will be the final fight; I haven't yet determined the reasoning for it. He will be stated out as a 20 Warblade/5 Master of Nine. I will cheat with him and have him know all maneuvers and have all readied, but I will keep track of what he's used and require him to refresh. I might also have to cheat and give him two turns, or more counters, to make it a viable single threat vs. the entire party (looking at 4E solo monster design principles).

He could be the risen spirit of Reshar, or Reshar could be attacking to determine if the PCs are worthy enough to restart the Temple (though I don't like that one so much, I want the final fight to be fatal, not an honor fight). Any ideas here would be appreciated.

Higgs Boson · April 21, 2008, 10:14:33 AM

Vampire Reshar? Lich Reshar? How big is your party?

Matt Larkin (author) · April 21, 2008, 10:38:45 AM

Quote from: Higgs BosonVampire Reshar? Lich Reshar? How big is your party?

Vampire lich Reshar?

According that 4e DMG preview, you can apply both templates to turn an ordinary monster into a solo monster.

And, of course, I'm a fan a revenants.

Or maybe it's his evil simulacrum. Or he's possessed. By a demon. Or a sentient weapon has taken control of him.

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The Kap'n's Last 3E game

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