General Notes
I'm going to target these encounters at groups of 4 PCs, which was the original assumption of the module. I'll let the EL of the original encounter be my guide for numbers and types of foe. I'm planning to go back over the list when I'm done with the first cut, and total up XP, and maybe redistribute if there's too much or too little. Treasure I plan to recalculate based on the new DMG guidelines, but stash largely where it is in the original.
Since there is much more variety in the low-level beasties, I'm going to try to make the groups of N monsters a little more heterogeneous.
I'm not really sure yet what to do about the kobold section. I don't really want the players to need those XP, as things will really go better for them if they can make nice with the kobolds against the goblins. On the other hand, if they do decide to farm the kobolds, I don't want them to over-level. I'll have to check out what the new DMG has to say on the subject.
Wandering Encounters
En route to the citadel (p4), EL 2/3. Twig blights (2).
Just to go easy on the PCs for their first ever combat, how about:
3 twig blights (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
Wandering monster table (p9). Again, these are generally fairly light encounters in the original module, so I'm intentionally low-balling the XP values of these groups.
- Kobolds (3). EL 1/2
2 kobold skirmishers (level 1 skirmisher), 1 kobold slinger (level 1 artillery). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
- Dire rats (2). EL 1
Mix in some other rats?
2 dire rats + 1 swarm = 325 XP
2 dire rats + 4 giant rats = 300 XP
- Goblins (2). EL 1/2
Since these are wandering parties, how about:
1 goblin blackblade (level 1 lurker), 2 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
- Hobgoblins (3). EL 1
2 hobgoblin soldiers (level 3 soldier). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
- Skeletons (2). EL 1/2
2 skeletons (level 3 soldier). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
- Twig blights (4). EL 1
3 twig blights (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
Keyed Areas
1. Creatures (EL 1): dire rats (3).
This encounter is meant to be a little easy as an intro combat. So I'm keeping it at three rats (a little under the guideline for level 1).
3 dire rats (level 1 brute). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
3. Trap (EL 1/2): trapdoor pit. Creatures (EL 1/3): dire rat (1).
1 false-floor pit (level 1 warder), 1 dire rat (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 200 XP.
5. Trap (n/a): needle trap. Creatures (EL 1): skeletons (3).
Treat the needle as an attack +4 vs Reflex for 2 points of damage. DC 20 Perception check to notice, and 20 Thievery check to disable it.
2 skeletons (level 3 soldier). Level 1 encounter. 300 XP.
6. Creatures (EL 1/3): dire rat (1).
Strongly tempted to not even bother with the rat.
7. Trap (n/a): musical globe.
The globe's music is an attack +5 vs Will. Leave the other modifiers as-is. The globe has 20 HP (AC/Reflex 5, Fortitude 10).
8. Trap (EL 1/2): arrow trap.
10. Creature (EL 3): Jot.
12. Creature (EL 3): "Dragonpriest."
Significantly down-level a troll, and strip some powers?
14. Creature (EL 3): water mephit (1).
15. Creature (EL 1/6): Meepo.
16. Trap (EL 1/3): arrow trap. Creatures (EL 1/2): kobold bounders (3).
Trap?
2 kobold skirmishers (level 1 skirmisher), 2 kobold slingers (level 1 artillery). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
17. Creatures (EL 1): cave rats (8).
3 rat swarms (level 2 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 375 XP.
18. Creatures: goblin prisoners (3).
As standard goblins, but significantly reduced HP? Use minions?
19. Creatures (EL 1/2 - 5 1/2): kobold bounders (3).
Described as "an elite guard" in the module; how about some kobold dragonshields, then?
20. Creatures (EL 1/2): kobold bounders (3).
2 kobold skirmishers (level 1 skirmisher), 2 kobold slingers (level 1 artillery). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
21. Creatures (EL 3): kobold bounders (6), Yusdrayl.
The wyrmpriest from the Monster Manual doesn't really fit Yusdrayl as literally written, but I think would probably work OK. This seems like a good encounter to have some minions. (But should maybe start as a skill challenge if the players are trying diplomatic channels?)
4 kobold minions (level 1 minon) 100 XP
2 kobold slingers (level 1 artillery) 200 XP
2 kobold dragonshields (level 2 soldier) 250 XP
Yusdrayl kobold wyrmpriest (level 3 artillery) 150 XP
= 700 XP = level 4 encounter
23. Creatures (EL 1/2): kobold bounders (3).
2 kobold skirmishers (level 1 skirmisher), 2 kobold slingers (level 1 artillery). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
24. Trap (EL 1/2): pit trap.
26. Fountain.
27. Trap (EL 1/2): scythe trap. Creatures (EL 1 2/3): skeletons (5).
Trap?
3 skeletons (level 3 soldier), 2 decrepit skeletons (level 1 minion). Level 2 encounter. 500 XP.
28. Creatures (EL 1): dire rats (3).
4 dire rats (level 1 brute). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
29. Trap (EL 1/2): Naihuine trap.
30. Creatures (EL 1 3/4): dire rats (3), Guthash.
Make Guthash an elite? Call it level 2 encounter at 200 + 3 x 100 = 500 XP, comes out right.
32. Creatures (EL 1/2): goblins (2).
2 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher), 1 goblin sharpshooter (level 2 artillery). Level 1 encounter. 325 XP.
33. Creatures (EL 1): goblins (4).
4 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
34. Creatures: kobold captives (3), Erky Timbers.
Some bloodied kobolds? (Make them minions?) Use the gnome arcanist for Erky? (Or make him an actual gnome wizard?)
35. Trap (EL 1/2): pit trap.
36. Creatures (EL 1): goblins (4).
4 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
37. Creature (EL 1): Calcryx.
40. Creatures (EL 2-3): goblin bandits (4), hobgoblin bandits (3).
3 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher), 2 hobgoblin archers (level 3 artillery). Level 2 encounter. 500 XP.
41. Creatures (EL 4): goblin bandits (4), hobgoblin bandits (3), Durnn, Grenl, twig blight (1). Trapped chest (EL 1/2): needle trap.
The Monster Manual doesn't have stats for a goblin cleric type (or any non-leader caster), so I may need to brew up something custom for Grenl (start with the hexer, and swap out some powers?). As for the rest...
4 goblin cutters (level 1 minion) 100 XP
2 hobgoblin archers (level 3 artillery) 300 XP
Grenl (level 3 soldier? controller?) 150 XP?
Durnn hobgoblin commander (level 5 soldier) 200 XP
= 750 XP = level 4-5 encounter
42. Creatures (EL 1 1/3): twig blights (2), skeletons (2).
2
twig blights (level 1 skirmisher), 2 skeletons (level 3 soldier). Level 2 encounter. 500 XP.
43. Creatures (EL 2 2/3): Balsag, Grip and Fang.
Let's assume that the characters will be level 2 by the time they reach the lower level of the dungeon.
Balsag (level 5 elite brute), 2 dire rats Grip and Fang (level 1 brute). Level 3 encounter. 600 XP.
45. Creature (EL 2): thoqqua (1).
I'm seriously considering changing the thoqqua encounters to nests of kruthik. They fit the same physical environment, and are actually in the new Monster Manual.
47. Creatures (4x EL 1/2): goblins (4x2).
4x 2 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 200 XP.
48. Creature (EL 2): bugbear (1).
Against a party, a long bugbear needs some help.
1 bugbear warrior (level 5 brute), 2 shadowhunter bats (level 2 lurker). Level 2 encounter. 500 XP.
49a. Creatures (EL 1): goblins (4).
4 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
49b. Creature (EL 2): thoqqua (1).
See 45, above.
49c. Creatures (EL 1): skeletons (3).
3 skeletons (level 3 soldier). Level 1-2 encounter. 450 XP.
49d. Creature (EL 2): bugbear (1).
See 48, above.
50. Creature (EL 2): shadow (1).
No shadows in the new MM. Elite specter or wraith? Bodak is along the right lines in feeling, but way too high level. Shadar-kai might be good to loot for powers.
54. Creatures (EL 1): goblins (4).
3 goblin warriors (level 1 skirmisher), 1 goblin blackblade (level 1 lurker). Level 1 encounter. 400 XP.
55. Creatures (EL 3): twig blights (10).
By the encounter guidelines, 10 critters would be a lot to expect a party of even 3rd level PCs to account for. To keep the original EL...
6
twig blights (level 1 skirmisher). Level 3 encounter. 600 XP.
56. Creatures (EL 6): Belak, Kulket, Sharwyn, Sir Braford, twig blights (3).
Big, no-mook fight. Keeping the same EL (pretty steep unless the party is third level at this point) gives an XP budget of 1000. That could break down like this:
Kulket (omit)
Sharwyn (level 1 elite artillery?) 200 XP
Sir Braford (level 1 elite soldier?) 200 XP
Belak (level 3 elite controller?) 300 XP
= 1000 XP
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