The players are really trying to live up to their characters (Aciryas has low self-esteem, Erjg is taciturn, Hans makes snap decisions etc).
I think it will make for a fascinating adventure if you all stay in character, and it’s my responsibility to balance the dungeon.
Cullen has no Metal Armour, so reaches the far side of the clearing undetected.
He has a range of 240 feet on Entangle, and has three choices on area of effect:
just the Giant and Koblold Shaman
just the 12 Kobolds
most of the clearing (two or three inhabitants would not be in the spell effect)
You’ll need to give some idea how you plan to lure Kobolds into the [COLOR=Blue]Entangle.
My Druids can’t pass through Entangle (their power is to move through e.g. Plant Growth)[/COLOR]
Mmmm… Given that there will be an Entangle up, Cadogan will consider simply pounding away at the Shaman until he’s forced to fight in melee. However, there’s also something to be said for staying mounted- how much of a Move Silently and a Hide penalty will I take staying mounted?
Salazar, your sleep spell would be ideal against the kobolds here. I recommend that.
Who else has a ranged attack? Erjg or Hulfgar, maybe? That Shaman can’t have more than a couple hit dice- if we can put several arrows into him quickly, we’ll stand a good chance of killing him straight off.
It will have much to do with what the giant does, but I will shout to draw the Kobold’s attention once things start to happen in the clearing.
I will also sling a bullet at one.
Although your Warhorse will fight (even near the fire), he is a huge horse, so on his back you will be seen as soon as you ride in.
The Warhorse will attack whoever you fight.
Hey, the shaman can yell “He’s using an old gnomish mind-trick, you weak-minded fool!” if he likes.
Hans is not so impulsive that he’ll go anywhere near the giant. He’ll stay in the bushes and maintain concentration on the Phantom Force as long as it seems to be doing anything, then go to sling against anything he can shoot without endangering friends. If any kobolds wander within reach he’ll take them on with his axes. No sense wasting any more spells for now.
Because you have a battle-trained Warhorse and know [COLOR=Purple]Horse Riding, you will be able to attack in the round after shooting. (Otherwise there would be a full round’s delay.)[/COLOR]
I’m going to assume that Hans has taken the shortest route to the clearing. (Because of the fire and forest, there is good cover all round.) So Hans will have the kobolds nearest him and be facing the Giant and Shaman.
(For reference, Cullen will be on the opposite side of the clearing i.e. nearest the Giant.)
Please could all characters give a rough idea where they are relative to Hans and Cullen (there’s enough room for everyone!).
Just a general note for all missile users firing into combat:
if a human party member is fighting in melee with a Kobold, you are far more likely to hit your side (because Kobolds are so small)
if a party member is fighting in melee with the Giant, you are far more likely to hit the Giant (because Giants are so large)
if a mounted party member is fighting in melee with the Giant, you are far more likely to hit your side (because a mount and rider are so large)
Unfortunately your maximum range is 90 feet (as per character sheet) and, although you are not noisy, you will probably be seen before getting that close:
If I can get close enough I will cast hold person on the smaller fighters that are not looking likely to get trapped by the entangle. I will then stand at the ready with my hammer and shield hoping not to melee if I can help it, but willing to smash the heads of the evil loki worshiping human eaters if necessary.
IF ABSOLUTLY NECESSARY I am willing to cast spirit hammer on the largest most deadly warrior within range, but would rather save that for a more dangerous situation if possible.
Cast Unseen Servant and Invisibility before moving off.
Move round the clearing so that I have a clear approach line to the wain.
After the fighting starts, move quietly (with my Unseen Servant) to the wain. There I will tell John (in a whisper) that I am here to rescue him, that I’m invisible so the monsters don’t kill me, and he should take my hand and come with me. He should be very quiet so the monsters don’t hear us and stop us getting away.
Then I’ll make him Invisible too. The Unseen Servant will crawl under the tarpaulin and huddle there pretending to be John. We’ll make our away out of the clearing.
Hopefully the others will be up to the task of dealing with the monsters without my help.
“Anyone have any … suggestions? Better ways to … do things?”
Good point. If the spirit hammer is needed to save the party or help take down the Giant, whack him around the head and neck with it.
I would at least like to attempt to hold off casting it until we are able to give our second wave of instructions, but I will let you make the decision to cast or not in this first set of rounds since you will have a better handle on how the action is unfolding.
