[–] 6kNNRQ 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
This is great!
I've only played 5e on table top, but our DM pulled some similar moves with Goblins who can take the disengage action. They threw spears from behind a corner granting them cover, then used disengage to scurry through goblin sized holes and flank us. It was my first serious fight in D&D.
[–] Dyavin 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
This was a great read. I'm getting very good at building good environments with colorful NPC's and great depth to the world and storylines that my players are experiencing, but I'm completely amateur and honestly a little shitty at having a full and comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of the rulebook, and using intelligent design to make my players think. Sure, I throw some riddles and puzzles into most of my sessions, but I feel like my combat encounters are always a little too straight forward and easy.
Truth be told I'm always really afraid of killing my players. I don't want to, even though I know that risk is necessary to make the game more enjoyable. This was a good thing to read for me, gave me some ideas.
[–] Dyavin 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
So I adapted this story to my own campaign in a way. Some Kobolds kidnapped my PC's NPC guide and employee, and they tracked them down into an intricate tunnel system under the keep they were recovering for military purposes.
Long story short, they got through all the traps after taking a lot of damage and slowly building an uncontrollable rage directed at the Kobolds...
Then they found their lair, where the women and children live. There were hundreds of them. Luckily we have a tree hugging benevolent druid in the party, because she had the wherewithal to calm the group's bloodlust... AND THEN CAST THUNDER WAVE INTO THE CROWD AND BEGIN THE SLAUGHTER OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. Hundreds died. It was a genocide.
It was extremely entertaining. There will be consequences, but it was hilarious that the horrible string of tricks and traps that led them to the den was enough to make even the violence-shunning druid go on a bloody rampage. I might have to change her alignment. haha
[–] 2239926? [S] ago
The perfect sign of a well crafted encounter, genuine merciless rage at the monsters :)