Another session of Plaguestone in the bag! Let me tell you, that game has well earned its reputation of being difficult.

For those less aware, Fall of Plaguestone is the first module to launch with Pathfinder Second Edition and is written by the lead designer himself, Jason Bulmahn. Since second edition launched, people have been spreading stories of TPKs, overtuned encounters, and absolute slugfests that had players pulling their hair out.

Well, now it's our turn. The first session wasn't so bad, with our intrepid heroes standing firm against the challenge. It was the second, however, that sent us all (myself included) for a loop. The main antagonist of part 1 - a beefy, 'roided up thug - shrugged off magic and beat the snot out of anyone that got close. In that fight, he managed to knock out two of the characters, including the high hp dwarven champion! Did the players do something wrong? Not at all! Actually, their playing was amazing from what I saw. There were plenty of interesting uses of actions in combat, intelligent positioning, and a bunch of solid strategies. Does that mean that Plaguestone is too tough? Well... I don't think that's the case either. As a matter of fact, it feels like it's at just the right spot for a group looking for a challenge.

This module is teaching me some lessons, though, about the new edition. In previous editions and games, it was very normal to run up to an opponent and swing wildly with your sword while your enemy does the same. You could win on sheer fortune of having the better magic items or the better feats. Maybe you had a build that let you eviscerate a foe while flanking or while they're frightened, but you didn't really change this tactic too often. Second edition is another beast altogether, however! In a battle of numbers, your enemy has good odds of taking you out. That means that your group is going to need to work together and adjust your battle plan on the fly. So, with that in mind, here are a few tactics that you can apply to your next skirmish!

• Demoralize: Give your opponent the frightened condition! A -1 (or -2!) penalty to attacks, armor class, saving throws... even spell DCs! That's actually a very good boost to everyone in your party.
• Flanking: Most melee combatants know this trick already, but when you're working with a teammate to flank someone, the target has their AC reduced by -2. That's a pretty big increase in your chances to hit! Hell, grapple some guys for that same flat-footed penalty!
• Ready Action: A wildly underused action that can really help in combat. How many times have you been just out of reach of an opponent or can't leave where you're standing? Spend two actions to ready an action to trigger if the enemy comes close, or if he casts a spell, or maybe if she tries to run! It's a Do-It-Yourself Attack of Opportunity!
• Conditions: There are so many of these, and spellcasters shouldn't neglect them! Enemy resisting your spells? Hit 'em with a stupefy or clumsy condition. Throw some enfeeblement on nasty fighters! Strip their actions with the slowed condition!
• Aid: In melee range, but your weapon just ain't cutting it? Really counting on the barbarian to hack the head off of the zombie? Help him! Spend an action and give him a bonus!
• Running: Okay, this sounds strange right? But think about it mathematically: You're facing a monster that hits you even with all of the multiple attack penalties! You get in one solid hit and then use your remaining actions to get away from it, making it use actions that it would have used hurting you to only catch up! Meanwhile, you still have the rest of your team using their actions!
• Tactical Weapon Choices: Let's do action math again! Two evenly matched fighters stand 50 feet apart from each other. The first one spends two actions to close the distance and his final action to attack. The other fighter then spends his three actions attacking. Who has the edge? What if, instead, the first fighter fired a ranged weapon, tossed it to the ground and then advanced while raising his shield? Something to think about!

Anyway, I am greatly enjoying delving into the deep combat system that second edition has to offer, and I hope you are, too. I always want to give a big thank you to the Plaguestone group, who have been fighting the good fight and really going up against the toughest that this edition has to offer. Cheers!

-Dungeon Master