2E balance help

[Satyrwyld]

For my Halloween horror one-shot, I'm running a group of six 6th level PCs through Shadowborn Manor, pre-breaking of Ebonbane (in fact, one of the PCs is Alexi... surely this will end in sunshine and rainbows...) in an effort to acclimate my group to 2E and Ravenloft. As I sit looking at the pregen characters I'm working on, it occurs to me that I've completely lost my sense of 2E balance, and I am unsure what level of equipment is "fair" to give them. Anyone care to give advice?

If it matters, the PCs are all human: Paladin, Fighter, Thief, Wizard, Cleric, and Psionicist. The story is that they're a LG tough-but-fair band of inquisitors linked to both the Knights of the Circle and a generic sun/fire god.

[Dark Angel]

The obvious is either a weapon required to hit the monsters in the adventure (usually just a +1 or +2 should do it) or time to prepare spells/psionic powers to be useful. A smattering of potions goes a long way (especially if this a one off), but a wand or some useful item like that would not be a terrible thing to have (charged items can have a small amount of charges to offer some assistance). I once put charges on Gauntlets of Ogre Power (1 charge=10 rounds of combat) and the player took the item and really paced its use in the game. Try to avoid crazy low armor classes as it gives the players a sense of strength in combat, but isn't required as much to enjoy the game. A couple of magic rings, try to give everyone something "special". Don't give a longsword +1 when it came be Steeltooth the longsword (+1) that was handed down from generation to generation and in a pinch can create light (as a torch) once a day. Still minor, but with a bit of character that makes the player less likely to ditch it when a +2 sword happens along. Ravenloft is still magic poor and a little can go a long way. That's how I roll and I have players who have retained weapons from their lower levels because they are either gifts from family, church, etc. and hold more meaning than another they just found.

[Satyrwyld]

Yeah, Alexi's going to be nigh-invulnerable, because he gets to watch the others die, one by one, in the encounters leading up to the finale. The others will be able to help from beyond the grave in a limited fashion- Lady S is collecting their spirits and enabling them to manifest briefly to keep the whole party engaged. I know how to make gear shiny, I'm just hazy on whether the 3E "+1 for every 3 character levels" was true back then, how many wondrous items to toss around, etc

[Tobias Blackburn]

Are the other players aware that they're going to provide a body count so it will be more dramatic when a specific, pre-chosen character makes it to the end? Would they be OK with that? Because I could imagine it would get kind of annoying to players who have died and are now sitting on the side with their actions severely restricted if they notice that fate is going out of its way to keep Alexi alive.

It's something to be think about. Some groups don't like it when the GM has a specific ending in mind and they aren't really able to do much to affect it. Even if it is a one shot.

You know your group best, but be careful if you want to get the group charged for more Ravenloft. They might not be thrilled if they see the setting as a meat grinder with predetermined endings or where the GM has already decided who gets to survive to see the end.

[Satyrwyld]

They're aware it's a "horror movie with a body count." They don't know details. There's also going to be some blue booking as Ebonbane and Lady Shadowborn fight for control over their souls... and some multimedia sfx. I feel one of my strengths as a GM is that even if players aren't directly involved, the game is still a show worth watching. My last big RPG campaign actually had people who showed up every week just to watch, because all six seats were full and they wanted to see what happened.

[Tobias Blackburn]

Cool. Sounds like fun. Just wanted to be sure that it was something you'd considered.

[Dark Angel]

I know this is a technical "no-no", but would you consider for a one-off allowing the dead pcs to either take on other minor characters/creatures within the manor or even allow them to play 1st magnitude ghosts that can appear at a climactic moment to assist with the final showdown? Players (any worth their salt) enjoy roleplaying challenges where they can still help out and be a part of the story in some meaningful fashion. Then have them destroyed or perverted by the big baddies in a fashion to further demonstrate the all corrupting nature of the manor.

[Satyrwyld]

Sorry, "limited fashion" = "first magnitude ghosts"

...as long as they're under the protection of Kateri, anyway...

[Satyrwyld]

A strobe light, an uncannily synchronized Midnight Syndicate soundtrack, and 5 grueling hours of misunderstood puzzles and highly lethal combat later, and the curtain fell on Ebonbane's revelation that he is Alexi's father. With no electronics allowed for living party members, and Facebook chat RP for the Lady Shadowborn ghosts (We must help our surviving friends!) and Ebonbane ghosts (Those bastards let us die!) - with Kateri and Ebonbane participating - everyone stayed involved, getting skewed versions of events and watching for opportunities to manifest and further their side's agenda. It lagged a bit in the middle, post-exploring the manor and pre-endgame, because they took "elemental keys" literally and were looking for something you'd stick in a lock, but a well-timed manifestation from the party's wizard, coached with a message from Kateri, finally got them thinking at the right angle, and a good time was had by all.

I'd like to thank everyone whose contributions made this work, and everyone whose concerns helped me refine my plans for the evening.

[Dark Angel]

Kudos on a great session (I never cared for the single game session, even my solitary zombie sessions last until sessions 3 or 4). My players will celebrate Halloween by raising swords against Vecna!

[Satyrwyld]

There's enough real-world drama in our group that we can't meet regularly right now, but I'll be damned if I'd let Halloween pass by without doing something for it, even if it's a one-shot