Watch Your Step

Watch Your Step is the 1st quest in The Keep on the Borderlands story arcStory arcs are chains of quests that make up a story line. Completing everything in a story arc often yields a nice reward..
These quests can be completed in any order.
Watch Your Step • The Bugbear Bandits • Violent Delights • Treasure Hunt • Obstructing the Orcs • Caged Beast • The Hobgoblin Horde • Total Chaos

Kobolds may be small, but the scaley creatures can be wiley. They delight in building traps, which they spring on the unsuspecting.

Requires access to adventure pack
Definition: Adventure Pack
A list of all adventure packs
: Keep on the Borderlands

Watch Your Step
Heroic level:	1
Epic level:	21
Duration:	Short
Heroic XP:	♣216Solo/Casual ♦360Normal ♥386Hard ♠412Elite
Epic XP:	♣3,890Solo/Casual ♦6,697Normal ♥6,911Hard ♠7,125Elite
Takes place in:	Kobold Caves
Bestowed by:	Wrolph Acton
NPC contact:	Wrolph Acton
Quest acquired in:	The Keep on the Borderlands
Patron:	The Gatekeepers
Base favor:	2
Purchase:	Keep on the Borderlands or VIP
Extreme Challenge:	No

Overview

Enter the Kobold Caves in the Caves of Chaos and deal with its inhabitants.

Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

Objectives

Explore the cave
Defeat the Kobold tribe
(Optional) Stop the kobold runner — Bonus (7%): Heroic( ♣15 ♦25 ♥27 ♠29 ) Epic( ♣272 ♦469 ♥484 ♠499 )
(Optional) Defeat the king of the pile — Bonus (12%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦43 ♥46 ♠49 ) Epic( ♣467 ♦804 ♥829 ♠855 )
(Optional) Make a deal with the Kobolds — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣43 ♦72 ♥77 ♠82 ) Epic( ♣778 ♦1,339 ♥1,382 ♠1,425 )
(Optional) Politely tell the Kobold tribe about their chieftain's demise — Bonus (5%): Heroic( ♣11 ♦18 ♥19 ♠21 ) Epic( ♣195 ♦335 ♥346 ♠356 )
(Optional) Find out what the Kobolds have been up to — Bonus (6%): Heroic( ♣13 ♦22 ♥23 ♠25 ) Epic( ♣233 ♦402 ♥415 ♠428 )

What to Expect

Demons (Dretches and Hezrou) may spawn when a Kobold is killed.

Known Traps

Heroic Trap DCs / Epic Trap DCs

Type	Description
Random	Mechanical Trapdoor — Weirdly the Trap Parts given are random Types, i.e Holy, Sonic, April 2021 (DC: ♦?—10Normal ●♦?—55Epic Normal ●♥?—60Epic Hard)

Tips and Misc

Quick solution

Jump over the trapdoor and go east to reach the old crone one way or another.
Loop back north to kill the chief and pick up the Iron Key.
Go back west to unlock and enter the treasure room outside the chief's room. The door can be picked.

Detailed quest description

True to its name, the first junction has a Mechanical Trapdoor (not very well disguised). The nearby Control Panel disables the lever to open the trapdoor.

Optional: As soon as you arrive at the junction, one kobold operates the trapdoor lever. Also a nearby Kobold Runner ("Kobold too young to die!") starts running east. You have to avoid the pit and kill the Runner, before he reaches the alarm bell at the next intersection to complete the "Stop the kobold runner" objective and keep the Crone peaceful. In case of a fail the objective is not marked as such.

In rare cases the Kobold Runner falls into the pit with you, allowing easy completion of the optional.
Some stealthy Rogues may be able to sneak up on the Runner, without being noticed or use Bluff to pull the Runner towards the entrance to distract the Kobold from running towards the gong for a few seconds; delaying the Kobold Runner.

West and down the pit

Falling down the pit is a long fall into some shallow slop (no damage, no direct climb back out). Nearby is a Secret door, which is auto-detected in most cases. There begins the way back up and out.

Follow the tunnel and you'll eventually reach the top of the pit, which is now sealed. The trap can still be disabled at this point.
On your way you'll meet optional mini-boss "King of the Pile" which drops an Iron Key
Nearby is a collectable and a shrine.

A lever near the shrine is used to open the secret door leading back to the trapdoor if you do not have a high enough Search DC.

You also can reach this area by just going west from the trapdoor, but then you have to unveil the secret door (no lever on this side).

East

All optionals that involve speaking to the Elderly Kobold Crone require the "Stop the kobold runner" objective to be completed. Looting the chest behind the secret door before you have permission will also make the Crone hostile.

Optional: "Making a deal with the kobolds" involves going south-east and talking to the Elderly Kobold Crone. Diplomacy (35 worked on Epic Normal), Intimidate or Bluff (Bluff 38 worked on epic Normal) (Bluff 11 Failed, but 19 worked on Hard, 19 Bluff Failed on Elite (16 worked on Elite). Diplomacy 19 succeeded on Elite).
Go north. Enter the treasure room if you can, either by using the Iron Key from the King of the Pile or by picking the lock.
Continue east to kill the chief.
Take the Iron Key if you couldn't enter the treasure room before (one way or another).
The quest completes when all three rooms south-east, throne room and treasure room have been entered, and you have dealt with the crone and the chief is dead.

Optional: Speaking to the Crone a second time opens the nearby secret door for a chest.
Optional: Speaking to the Crone a third time completes the "Find out what the Kobolds have been up to" optional, and drops a Kobold Charm of Evil Chaos on the floor, which is one of three charms used in the final quest Total Chaos to unlock a +25% XP optional and chest.

Bonus XP

Devious bonus: 2 or fewer monsters killed +7% Bonus.( ♣15 ♦25 ♥27 ♠29 )
Aggression bonus: 11 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣22 ♦36 ♥39 ♠41 )
Onslaught bonus: 22 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣32 ♦54 ♥58 ♠62 )
Conquest bonus: 33 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣54 ♦90 ♥97 ♠103 )
Perception bonus: 2 or more secret doors discovered +10% Bonus.( ♣22 ♦36 ♥39 ♠41 )
Mischief bonus: 8 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣17 ♦29 ♥31 ♠33 )
Vandal bonus: 10 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣22 ♦36 ♥39 ♠41 )
Ransack bonus: 12 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣32 ♦54 ♥58 ♠62 )

Notes: Kill bonus limits may raise with the number of demons spawning

Loot

Chests: 3
- one behind Secret door to south-east
- one in side tunnel in north-central area (also has 2 Tasty Hams nearby, on the floor)
- End chest
Collectables: 2
- Rubble — in western junk pile with Humongous Stinking Rat
- Fungus — in western junk pile with Humongous Stinking Rat

NPC end rewards

Randomly generated loot, ML correlates with effective quest level.

Named Chest Drop

Last Edited	Item	Type	Enhancements	ML	Bind	Quests
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Cloak of Attraction ^(edit)	Cloak	Haggle +3Haggle +3: Passive: +3 Competence bonus to the Haggle skill. Bluff +3Bluff +3: Passive: +3 Competence bonus to the Bluff skill. Yellow Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Yellow Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to offensive stats, condition resistances and immunities, elemental resistances and DC spellcasting stats. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	1	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, End Chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Flamering ^(edit)	Ring	Combustion +38Combustion +38: Passive: +38 Equipment bonus to Fire Spell Power. Wizardry +19 Wizardry +19: +19 Enhancement bonus to spell points. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	1	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, End Chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Rough Plate ^(edit)	Full Plate	+1 Enhancement Bonus+1 Enhancement Bonus: +1 enhancement bonus to Armor Class. Fortification +38%Fortification +38%: +38% Enhancement bonus to reduced chance of taking critical damage on a critical hit. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	1	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, Proud Kobold Chieftain's chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Blackfeather Boots ^(edit)	Boots	Feather FallingFeather Falling: This item is engraved with feathers and bestows a powerful magical effect. Whenever the wearer begins to fall from any height, this effect slows the descent dramatically, causing the wearer to fall like a feather. Freedom of MovementFreedom of Movement: This item grants its wearer the ability to move and attack normally while under the influence of magic that impedes movement, such as paralysis, solid fog, slow and web. Speed +30% Speed +30%: +30% enhancement bonus to movement speed, 15% bonus to attack speed. Riposte +4Riposte +4: This item enchants its user with incredible awareness and speed, granting a +4 Insight bonus to AC and to Saves. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	21	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, end chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Focal Point ^(edit)	Large shield	+6 Enhancement Bonus+6 Enhancement Bonus: +6 enhancement bonus to Armor Class, attack and damage rolls. Incite +94 Incite +94: +94% Enhancement bonus to increased threat generation from melee damage Insightful Incite +39Insightful Incite +39: +39% Insight bonus to increased threat generation from melee damage Parrying +4Parrying +4: +4 Insight bonus to Armor Class, +4 Insight bonus to Saves. Protection +8Protection +8: Passive: +8 Deflection bonus to Armor Class. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	21	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, end chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Hallowed Gauntlets ^(edit)	Gloves	Hallowed +10Hallowed: An item with this quality assists only wearers who have the ability to turn undead. Hallowed items provide an +10 Enhancement bonus to the maximum Hit Dice of undead turned. Sacred +10Sacred +10: An item with this quality assists only wearers who have the ability to turn undead. Sacred items provide an +10 Enhancement bonus to your effective level for Turning Undead. Sheltering +25 Sheltering +25: +25 Enhancement bonus to Physical and Magical Resistance Ratings Fortitude Save +9 Fortitude Save +9: This item gives a +9 Resistance bonus to your Fortitude saves. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	21	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, End Chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 22 days Kobold sneak	Serrated Arrowhead ^(edit)	Trinket	CripplingCrippling: A crippling weapon is infused with binding power so that when a target is critically hit their movement is slowed by half. Note: Real slowdown is only 25% Seeker +10 Seeker +10: Provides a +10 Enhancement bonus to confirm critical hits, and a +10 Enhancement bonus to critical hit damage (before multipliers are applied). Accuracy +15 Accuracy +15: Passive: +15 Competence bonus to attack rolls Ghostly Ghostly: Equipping this item causes you to become partially incorporeal. Your melee attacks do not roll a miss chance for Incorporeal targets. Enemy attacks have a 10% chance to miss you due to incorporeality. You receive a +5 enhancement bonus to your Hide and Move Silently skills. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	21	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, end chest, Proud Kobold Chieftain's chest
Update 73.1 11 months and 21 days Kobold sneak	White Hood of Schemes ^(edit)	Helm	Bluff +18Bluff +18: Passive: +18 Competence bonus to the Bluff skill. Deception +8 Deception +8: +8 Enhancement bonus to hit and +12 to damage for any hit that would qualify as a sneak attack. Hide +18Hide +18: Passive: +18 Competence bonus to the Hide skill. Move Silently +18Move Silently +18: Passive: +18 Competence bonus to the Move Silently skill. Blue Augment SlotThis augment slot can be used to equip this item with the following types of augment: Blue Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to defensive stats, healing amplifications and Tactics DCs. Colorless Augments: Standard augments provide bonuses to ability scores and skills. Set augments are also colorless.	21	Bound to Account on Acquire	Watch Your Step, end chest

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Based on Watch Your Step loot ^{( t • e • h )}

Monsters

Name ^{( picture )}	CR	Type	Race
Crafty Kobold Warrior ^{( view • edit )}	♦1.00Normal ♥3Hard ♠6Elite ●♦22Epic Normal ●♥26Epic Hard ●♠31Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Dretch Spawn ^{( view • edit )}	●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Evil Outsider	Demon
Elderly Kobold Crone ^{( view • edit )}	♦1.00Normal ♥3Hard ♠6Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Hezrou Chaos Spawn ^{( view • edit )}	●♦22Epic Normal ●♥26Epic Hard ●♠31Epic Elite	Evil Outsider	Demon
Humongous Stinking Rat ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ●♦24Epic Normal ●♥28Epic Hard ●♠34Epic Elite	Animal	Rat
Infirm Kobold Veteran ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.50Normal ♥1.00Hard ♠3Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Kobold Lookout ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.50Normal ♥1.00Hard ♠3Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Kobold Runner ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.50Normal ♥1.00Hard ♠3Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Proud Kobold Chieftain ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠5Elite ●♦24Epic Normal ●♥28Epic Hard ●♠34Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Scrawny Kobold ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.50Normal ♥1.00Hard ♠3Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Sneaky Kobold Hunter ^{( view • edit )}	♦1.00Normal ♥3Hard ♠5Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold
Stinking Rat ^{( view • edit )}	♦1.00Normal ♥3Hard ♠6Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥25Epic Hard ●♠30Epic Elite	Animal	Rat
Vicious Kobold Concubine ^{( view • edit )}	♦1.00Normal ♥3Hard ♠6Elite ●♦22Epic Normal ●♥26Epic Hard ●♠31Epic Elite	Reptilian	Kobold

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