Need a level 10/11 bandit-type encounter

[NewJeffCT]

My group is going to encounter the vanguard of a new group of bandits next session. I've already run them through a bunch of encounters with mostly human bandits, though there was a half-orc and a bugbear in there along the way.

This will be an encounter on the open road - maybe a few trees around and a small hill or two.

Any ideas for something different than just human bandits?

I was thinking orcs, but wanted some other ideas.

The PCs I'm DMing are six level 10 PCs, so I'm looking for something that will be at least level 10, if not level 11/12.

Thanks

 

[the Jester]

Here's a lvl 11 encounter for six pcs. The basic idea is that the pcs come upon a looted caravan, dead bodies, etc.; if they poke around, they discover that the caravan included a bunch of domestic drakes that are now spooked and angry, in part because they are being stalked by a group of derro who want to capture them (though the pcs may not immediately realize that; the derro begin the encounter hiding).

Clever pcs may be able to calm or befriend the drakes with Diplomacy or Nature checks and reduce the difficulty of the encounter.

Note that it is definitely worth updating the monsters from pre-MM3 sources to the new math.

This is a 4100 xp encounter (just shy of a lvl 12 for 6 pcs).

THE DRAKES
2 scytheclaw drakes (MM2 pg 88) - level 10 skirmishers (500 xp each)
2 ambush drake packleaders (Draconomicon pg 222) - level 8 brutes (leaders) (350 xp each)

THE STALKERS
2 derro harvesters (MM3 pg 50) - level 15 lurker (1,200 xp each)

 

[NewJeffCT]

I like the idea - thanks!

 

[the Jester]

Glad you like it! Obviously it would be easy enough to switch things up- maybe the drakes are catoblepas that gnomes use like cattle, milking them and making "deathcheese" that sells for a very high price, for instance. (I've used the "There's a gnome milking a catoblepas in that pen over there, oh crap, we better be nice to this eccentric gnome!" scene before, and it's awesome.)

 

[Unwise]

You could pinch the first encounter from "The Haunting of Kincep Mansion". It has a good bandit ambush spot on a road. The bandits are also not what they seem. I seem to remember that it is around level 12 or so.

 

[fba827]

some dryads who in turn take the money to a druid or something that uses it to pay off woodsmen so that they don't chop in the forest

some gnomes who only steal coins and use the coins to feed a rust monster

or take the human/orc bandits they fought before, give them the dragonborn breath attack and describe them as dragonborn bandits who steal to survive... and provide a different description for the attacks themselves. that gives you a second use out of stats you already have.

 

[chitzk0i]

A bandit encounter for level 10 or 11 PCs needs to be way more impressive than random highwaymen. Level 1 PCs get ambushed by bandits. Level 11 PCs get ambushed by bandit kings. These should be some seriously badass guys. Maybe they made a pact with some air elemental to allow them to fly for short periods or float silently inches above the ground. Maybe their leader has bound a genie that she calls on during serious fights. Maybe they are allied with a shadowy power that allows them to teleport away when the battle turns against them. After several strikes, the PCs have to improvise a binding ritual or else they'll get worn down and defeated.

 

[NewJeffCT]

A bandit encounter for level 10 or 11 PCs needs to be way more impressive than random highwaymen. Level 1 PCs get ambushed by bandits. Level 11 PCs get ambushed by bandit kings. These should be some seriously badass guys. Maybe they made a pact with some air elemental to allow them to fly for short periods or float silently inches above the ground. Maybe their leader has bound a genie that she calls on during serious fights. Maybe they are allied with a shadowy power that allows them to teleport away when the battle turns against them. After several strikes, the PCs have to improvise a binding ritual or else they'll get worn down and defeated.

good thinking. They're eventually going to make their way to the fortress of the local bandit lord, where they're in for some tough encounters (especially if the bandits can sound the alarm and rally to attack the PCs all at once)