You have to look into the encounter itself to see if it works. There are baddies in all systems that are too strong for their level (and some that are too weak), and others that synergize when combined in ways that aren't reflected by the numbers alone.
*That* is the task of a game developer.
(Fin)
High-risk encounters, especially when they are intentionally rated "extreme" are totally fine, but when you're doing game development, you can't just say, "these creatures add up to the correct XP for the encounter budget. My work here is done."
(9/10)
Our GM made the fight as fun as possible, and I really commend them for it, but this fight left a bad taste in everybody's mouth, and as someone who has done game design and development, it just left me shaking my head.
(8/10)
We didn't just slog it out, either. We tried disarm, grapple, trip, flanking, cover, etc. But it didn't matter. There were no map features to use (except stuff that helped heal enemies). Enemies auto-escaped grapples, or evaded attacks of their choice (using bodyguards to take hits for them).
(7/10)
None of these enemies had any stats rated "low" and only had a single "mid" between them. Almost everything was high, and extremely high HP for the main melee (allowing it to stay active the longest, leading it to cause the most damage when combined with its reach weapon and reactive strike).
(6/10)
The encounter was "Extreme" and by the levels, on the surface, it was. The encounter math was correct. The problem here is that every one of these creatures are "overtuned" (noting that I didn't even list the numerous unique magic items and persistent spell effects the leaders had). (5/10)
Caster (P.Lvl) - Mid-High AC, Mid-High HP, High Atk, High Dam, High Spell DC, High Spell Atk
Main Melee (P.Lvl+1) - High AC, Extreme HP, High Atk, Mid-High Da , Mid-High Spell DC, Reach + R.Strike
2x Guards (P.Lvl-1) - High AC, Mid-High HP, High Atk, High Dam, High Spell DC, Mid Spell Atk
(4/10)
After game, I took a look "under the hood" at the enemies we fought and broke down their numbers: (3/10)
It took almost every single resource we had, and the end-result had one PC who should have died (if not for the sneaky GM handing out Hero Points when nobody was looking), another PC with 9 HP, everybody out of spells/alchemy vials, and the enemies alive enough to run/call for reinforcements. (2/10)
Let's talk about TTRPG encounter development / design in Pathfinder 2nd Edition tonight!
This may sound like a rant, but it's not. I want to break down this encounter in question from a dev standpoint.
Yesterday, my regular Sunday group wound up in an encounter that almost wiped us out. (1/10)
I once worked for a company that was 100% remote, so all meetings were virtual (except at industry conventions). Mine is a corner case, but I have a circadian rhythm sleep disorder - being able to work for a company in a different time zone *really* helped me in a lot of ways. Your mileage may vary.
So very glad that people are enjoying Galactic Ancestries, and that I had the honor of being able to write some of the ancestries in this fantastic book alongside my wonderful fellow contributors!
Screenshot from the NASA Artemis II launch livestream showing the core stage separation from a camera on the rocket.
What a fucking shot holy shit
Capstone undergraduate research survey being conducted by an old friend of mine on the psychology behind and the convenience/use of AI chatbots. I know a lot of us here don't like generative AI, but if you've used chatbots at all, and you have a few minutes, please consider helping out? Thanks!
I've been job-hunting for two years. Perfect time for me to be targeted by my first-ever job scam, right?
Open-Source Intel is a skill anyone can learn, and it can save you from scams, fraud, and worse.
Read the fun (?) saga below.
...and now, back to job-hunting :(
I really hope that you and your players are enjoying all of this!
@paizo.com now has a page up for the next big Adventure Path I got to author - Hell's Destiny! This time, I'm writing side-by-side with amazing authors @herzwesten.bsky.social, @rigbees.bsky.social, and Cole Kronewitter. More details coming over the next few months, but you can read the teasers now!
Have you ever read The Black Company series by Glen Cook, by any chance?
Know what? fuck it.
If you wanna support me, get me a gift, help me feel a little joy today? feel free to donate:
paypal.me/FenrirsChosen
It shows. All of your stuff is fantastic! <3
Your art made this adventure so much better than it was at base-value. Thank you!! <3
As the author of Inheritors of Gadrathar, I cannot express just how awesome this artist is!
Same
Really appreciate the review. Glad you enjoyed reading through it!
Shalom, friends!
#TuBishvat, the birthday of the trees in Judaism, is here! Judaism is deeply obsessed with trees…Almost as obsessed as JRR #Tolkien. You know what this means! Meet me under the branches of Bilbo’s Party Tree - time for A Tolkien Tu Bishvat Tree Deep Dive! 🌳
youtu.be/W6YcYEtrxEc
Thank you so much! I hope your players get a kick out of their first-class flight experience! 😅
As GM, you can always choose to roll in the open or behind a screen if you're worried. As long as you *and* your players are having fun, that's the most important thing!
I really appreciate you writing!
An unfortunate but necessary part of the Jewish experience is generational trauma, which includes a calendar full of regular reminders, .לְדוֹר וָדוֹר #HolocaustMemorialDay #NeverAgain
Seconded!
Congratulations!!
