Palthanis city guards lvl

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

angal

Apr 13, 2004 18:31:49		What lvl would you say the guards are and generaly howmany on patrolls
#2

ferratus

Apr 14, 2004 3:36:15
Originally posted by Angal
What lvl would you say the guards are and generaly howmany on patrolls

The guards are from level 1-3 of either the fighter or warrior class. You can get a good sense of their total numbers and actual levels if you follow the City creation tables in the DMG. I would guess that they probably patrol in numbers of 1-5 depending on the safety of the neighbourhood.

Now, for dealing with freelance troublemakers and swashbucklers (a.k.a. adventurers), there are probably more elite forces on the payroll of the Lord Mayor of Palanthas and his senate. If the Knights of Nereka still control the streets of Palanthas, they are probably in charge of maintaining order in the city.
#3

cam_banks

Apr 14, 2004 5:51:07
Originally posted by Angal
What lvl would you say the guards are and generaly howmany on patrolls

What level are your players? One of the keys to designing guards and patrols is just how much of a threat you want them to be. A patrol of four 1st-level warriors has an EL (or encounter level) of 2, which is quite a challenge for a party of 1st-level characters but easy pickings for a party of 4th-level characters. Increase the numbers if you want more of a fight, but remember that doubling the number of guards adds two to the EL.

The guards in Pashin, for example, were designed to be a challenging threat to 1st-level characters. You shouldn't even mess with a large group of low-level warriors until you have the numbers or the experience to confidently beat them. Avoiding a combat (i.e. running the heck away) isn't a bad means of gaining XP either, especially if it results in an entertaining chase scene.

When I ran my players through the 1st chapter of the Key of Destiny there were Dark Knights everywhere, but they were just 1st-level warriors. Still, they ran from them or tried to Bluff their way past them, not fight them directly (except for the party's fighter/rogue who tried tripping one up) and it wasn't until they ran into the drunken ogre that they managed to turn the tails on the pursuing guards.

Lastly, use warriors in almost all occasions where you want NPC militia, guards, or soldiers. Use fighters for guard captains, sergeants, or veterans. Even a 1st-level fighter is better than a 1st-level warrior.

Cheers,
Cam