Core Bonekeep Party

[MoffRimmer]

Trying to make sense of expected levels...

What level are we wanting to be when we start Bonekeep?  Or how much experience?

After today, we should have 14 xp.  After Dragon's Demand, we should be at 15.5 (just over 6th level).  Are we wanting to be just at 7th level (18 xp)?  Or before that point?

[musclecarlover07]

Basically when we finished second bone keep you should be eighth level.

[MoffRimmer]

Basically when we finished second bone keep you should be eighth level.

How much XP does each Bonekeep level give?

It looks like Bonekeep 1 is tier 3-7 and Bonekeep 2 is tier 4-8.  (And Bonekeep 3 is 5-9 - but I'm not seeing much discussion about that level...)

So why wouldn't we want to be level 8 going into level 2?

[WhiteMane]

Each Bonekeep scenario gives the standard XP and Prestige...  Only the gold is increased.

[musclecarlover07]

So do we plan on doing Dragon's Demand Part 3 at Normal or Slow speed?

Also did we want to go an play part 3 so that the Bard can get the horn?  I know O.J. Showed interest in running that one. That way we could all actually play together.

Bill do we have specific scenarios that we are running or are they just random?

[MoffRimmer]

I'd have to double-check at home, but I believe my character is at 14 XP.  If we go slow with Dragon's Demand, that puts us at 15.5.

I believe that (to optimize) we should be at either 19 XP (and do both Bonekeep at normal progression) or 20 XP (and do both Bonekeep at slow progression).

With that in mind, mathematically...

If we're at 14, go normal with Dragon's Demand, that puts us at 17, we could do Plunder and Peril P3 at Slow Progression (puts us at 18.5 XP) and still do one more regular adventure at slow (maybe 4-17 Tower of the Ironwood Watch?) should put us right at 19 XP.  (We could switch which to do "slow" between Dragons Demand and Plunder and Peril and get the same result.)  This will get us the nice Bard item and also will get us to Bonekeep sooner.

We could do both Dragon's Demand and Plunder and Peril at full XP which should put us at 20 XP.  We could then do both Bonekeeps at Slow progression.  (I like this option least as I believe we would ultimately get less gold and Prestige points than otherwise.)

If we do both Dragon's Demand and Plunder and Peril at slow progression, those two should put us at 17 SP.  Which means that we can then add two "normal" modules to the list.  Tower of the Ironwood Watch will get us the Aegis of Recovery.  (There's also a metamagic rod that might be nice for me.)  Taking a quick look at what I had written down, (what I feel would be) the next best option would be either 6-21 Tapestry's Toil or for a little more gold 7-04 The Ironbound Schism (take a look at Scabbard of Vigor) or if we want to be a little more odd 6-17 Fires of Karamoss has a lot of technology options (jetpack, magboots, force field, chainsaw, etc.).  If none of those strike your fancy, then we're probably looking to maximize our gold which by a smidge would be 2-18 The Forbidden Furnace of Forgotten Koor.

My personal suggestion would be the third option.  That gets us the bard item (which would really help) and gives a little more flexibility in case we're all not exactly the same point in XP so that others can either slow down or speed up to get to the same level.  It also minimizes the loss of Prestige due to the Modules we played.

So my suggestion would be --

Finish Dragon's Demand Part 3 (slow) then do
Plunder and Peril Part 3 (slow)
4-17 Tower of the Ironwood Watch (normal progression) and finally
7-04 The Ironbound Schism (normal progression)

If people are a little behind, they can do one of the modules at normal and fit in the others to catch up.  If people are a little ahead, then can do the other normal modules at slow progression.

And if we want to be at 20 XP to maximize characters before hitting Bonekeep (and do Bonekeep at slow progression) we can add on 2-18 The Forbidden Furnace of Forgotten Koor.

At least those are my thoughts.   

(And to answer your question, they haven't been random -- Randy's done pretty well offering adventures we suggested to begin with.  There's always been a reason for the modules chosen.  But it also makes sense to modify things a little bit as we get closer...)

[MoffRimmer]

Quick "bump".  Wanted to be sure that people (Michael ) had seen what I posted.

[MoffRimmer]

Randy, not sure If you're watching this, but for next month, since OJ will be out most of the month at GenCon, I think it's safe to schedule 4-17 next month and then we can hit Plunder and Peril in September.

So, tentatively, I think that we can follow the below "schedule" or order of modules for the Bonekeep group.

Finish Dragon's Demand Part 3 (slow) then do
4-17 Tower of the Ironwood Watch (normal progression)
Plunder and Peril Part 3 (slow)
7-04 The Ironbound Schism (normal progression)
(And possibly) 2-18 The Forbidden Furnace of Forgotten Koor

[MoffRimmer]

Posting here for Michael's sake (just in case...)

I am assuming that we are still doing 1 core game a month. The plans was for Plunder and Peril with O.J. running

Assuming O.J. is good to run this one for us. If not then we can change this out for another one that we need.

Tower of Ironwood Watch (on the 2nd) is also on our list.  I'm up for doing both.

[musclecarlover07]

Again, me and Hillary are only doing ONE a month. With us trying to GM and get a few other character situated we don't have the time for 2 a month.

[MoffRimmer]

Again, me and Hillary are only doing ONE a month. With us trying to GM and get a few other character situated we don't have the time for 2 a month.

Are you ok with the scenarios and order that I presented?

[musclecarlover07]

We are playing the perils and plunder 1. If oj can't run that one when we asked we will swap that one out. Again we need to wait till Wed to see where everyone is and what the deal. It is easier to talk when we are all together.

[musclecarlover07]

Bill, so if we play both modules at slow, then we are losing 8712 combined in gold. Potential 9712. So if you can find 2 scenarios, if I calculated that will give us more than that, then I am totally down for it.

[MoffRimmer]

Randy, I believe it was decided to do Plunder and Peril in August and then one more scenario.  After that, we should be good to go with Bonekeep.  My suggestion is to schedule The Ironbound Schism as the "one more..." for September.

FYI -- Michael, et al -- by my calculation, if we do both at full XP/PP, that should put us at 19.5 XP.  If I'm understanding things correctly, we should be able to then play both Bonekeep also at full XP/PP.  Bonekeep one should put us at 20.5 XP.  Technically, we're still 7th level at that point...

Also, there are ways to get more Prestige points and Gold before Bonekeep.  However, it sounds like most people just want to get there and, honestly, the increase is fairly negligible (1 extra PP and maybe 2,000 extra GP to get to the same point).

[MoffRimmer]

Bill, so if we play both modules at slow, then we are losing 8712 combined in gold. Potential 9712. So if you can find 2 scenarios, if I calculated that will give us more than that, then I am totally down for it.

It will take more time, but...

19.5 XP is (by my calculation) the sweet spot to be at before Bonekeep One.  With that in mind...

Either

Plunder and Peril at full and Ironbound Schism at full (this will get us 5 XP, 6 Prestige, and 13,103 GP).

Or

Plunder and Peril at half, The Devil We Know Part 1 at full, Ironbound Schism at half, and The Forbidden Furnace of Forgotten Koor at full (this will get us 5 XP, 7 Prestige and 14,533 GP).

So, while 1,400 extra GP is nice, I'm not sure if it's worth a whole 2 additional adventures.  At least that's my thought.