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<blockquote data-quote="FormerlyHemlock" data-source="post: 7107278" data-attributes="member: 6787650"><p>The problem here is that 5E's encounter construction guidelines are generally interpreted by DMs in such a way that the goblins CANNOT win, and ought to know it. Many DMs are reluctant to even throw a Deadly-rated fight at the PCs, with a non-zero chance of monster victory ("TPK"), much less a fight where TPK is the most likely outcome.</p><p></p><p>So why are the goblins fighting at all? Either they are suicidal lemmings, or their threat assessment on the PCs must be off. Perhaps they outnumber the PCs 4:1 but don't realize that the PCs are all 6th level combat veterans. But then why do they fight to the death instead of quickly breaking when the PCs turn the "ambush" and effortlessly inflict 20% casualties without taking any in return?</p><p></p><p>It's relatively difficult to justify a scenario in which inferior foes engage the PCs with tactics optimized for inflicting PC death, without also optimizing for their own survival by NOT engaging while they remain the inferior force. Most of the scenarios which work here only make sense if the PCs have actively created the situation, e.g. by attacking from an unexpected direction (through the sewer tunnels).</p><p></p><p>In short, if you the DM want dramatic tension in combat, you either need rules that make even random encounters potentially deadly (per OP's proposal), or unintelligent enemies like zombies and beasts who seek kills but not in a rational way, or you need intelligent enemies who ramp up the dramatic tension on ALL scales: tactical AND operational and possibly strategic too.</p><p></p><p>Sent from my Moto G Play using <a href="http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=93205" target="_blank">EN World mobile app</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FormerlyHemlock, post: 7107278, member: 6787650"] The problem here is that 5E's encounter construction guidelines are generally interpreted by DMs in such a way that the goblins CANNOT win, and ought to know it. Many DMs are reluctant to even throw a Deadly-rated fight at the PCs, with a non-zero chance of monster victory ("TPK"), much less a fight where TPK is the most likely outcome. So why are the goblins fighting at all? Either they are suicidal lemmings, or their threat assessment on the PCs must be off. Perhaps they outnumber the PCs 4:1 but don't realize that the PCs are all 6th level combat veterans. But then why do they fight to the death instead of quickly breaking when the PCs turn the "ambush" and effortlessly inflict 20% casualties without taking any in return? It's relatively difficult to justify a scenario in which inferior foes engage the PCs with tactics optimized for inflicting PC death, without also optimizing for their own survival by NOT engaging while they remain the inferior force. Most of the scenarios which work here only make sense if the PCs have actively created the situation, e.g. by attacking from an unexpected direction (through the sewer tunnels). In short, if you the DM want dramatic tension in combat, you either need rules that make even random encounters potentially deadly (per OP's proposal), or unintelligent enemies like zombies and beasts who seek kills but not in a rational way, or you need intelligent enemies who ramp up the dramatic tension on ALL scales: tactical AND operational and possibly strategic too. Sent from my Moto G Play using [URL=http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=93205]EN World mobile app[/URL] [/QUOTE]
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