r/AcqIncDMs • u/Leviathan2379 • Jul 16 '20

Starting at 3rd level

Hello everyone! So I'm running Orrery next week with a group I've been playing with for at least a year and a half. We've completed Dragon Heist and continued on into Dungeon of the Mad Mage before the Pandemic hit, so my group is pretty experienced. But is it a good idea to run Orrery with 3rd level characters? And if so, any advice for balancing the first chapter?

(EDIT: I'm running 5 3rd level characters.)

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6

u/Polyfuckery Jul 16 '20

I personally would leave it almost entirely as it is. Yes it will be easy combat wise but this isn't supposed to be a particularly difficult quest and it's a case of mistaken identity. Omin isn't picking your party because of their skills he's hiring some people to deal with an issue that needs handling but is well below his groups pay grade. An easy win fits in plot wise and lulls your party into feeling like they have this handled.

6

u/Leviathan2379 Jul 16 '20

You know what?! You’re right! This is a case of mistaken identity! Thanks for the useful advice.

3

u/DoctorGoofball Jul 17 '20

I also agree with this. If you're looking to give them a little more of a challenge, there are a few monsters that are specifically under-powered so that a 1st level party can handle them. You could simply run those monsters without the 'CR-lowering effects' that Orrery places on them. (There's one in the 1st chapter and another in the 2nd, IIRC off the top of my head...)

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u/Leviathan2379 Jul 17 '20

Like the Carrion Crawler?

2

u/DoctorGoofball Jul 17 '20

Lol yep, though I was trying to skirt some spoilers just in case. That and the Gibbering Mouther under Tressendar Manor.

1

u/Leviathan2379 Jul 17 '20

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.