So I’m planning on running servants of the cinder queen as a funnel in a weeks time.
How would you go about adjusting some of the enemies to fit the funnel scenario? For example I noticed the guardian of the library had 4 armor which would mean the villagers couldn’t really land blows plus it’s 1d8+4 damage would outright kill a villager (Which I’m fine with but could do with a few surviving past the library). Should I keep the stats the same and have them hope they can find a way to subdue it? or lower its armor slightly to make it a tough but winnable fight? or just adjust a bit on the fly as to how its going?
Also for anyone who’s played the module as a funnel or regular DW, when/how many times did you encounter Thorde Skull? Did he get to the book of rains first? Any suggestions related to the module or not welcome.
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That guardian almost killed our level 1 group, but they managed to kill the thing with some lucky rolls and thinking outside the box (i.e., not just rolling hack and slash repeatedly, but mixing in other moves). I think of it as a costly lesson in how to play the game and/or knowing when to run away, and would personally run it as-is in a funnel. But I don’t think it’s a terrible idea to reduce its armor and damage by 1-2 each if you feel merciful.
I had them find notes from Thorde Skul to foreshadow him, but I didn’t introduce him in the flesh until the end because I knew they’d find a way to kill him instantly that I couldn’t talk my (his) way out of. I was right.
That’s a long the lines I was thinking and the players I have I believe will be creative. If lots die then I guess there are reserves from the pit of despair to venture forth if needed
In the funnel your villagers start of in the pit of despair, so I was thinking the grim portent would occur just as they escape, so they will just catch a glimpse before he vanishes as the path is cleared. My only thought was why would he pass through the library to the Caldera without the book of rain?
Did your guys get into any of the vaults? Those items could be interesting in level 0 villagers hands :p as well as the scrolls in the library. Possibly lending towards what class they become.
FWIW, in all the times I’ve run Servants, as a Funnel or otherwise, the only time the Guardian was ever “defeated” was when an enterprising dwarf shattered the support columns with his magical warhammer while everyone made for an exit, bringing the whole library down on the Guardian’s head. Part of my hope for that encounter is that it will force people to get creative; I second Jason Tocci suggestion to run it as-is. Funnel characters who treat combat as a viable option in general will soon learn the error of their ways.
Yep, the point of a funnel is not that the victims can defeat everything in the dungeon!