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General Tabletop Discussion
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Interesting encounters - what is the secret sauce?
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7092383" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>It's a simple question (in three parts), but there is a lot of nuance in the answer <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>I have a 3x3 guideline I use to pose questions to myself that ensure my combats aren't static...</p><p></p><p><strong>1) Before the combat</strong></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Why do the PCs <em>care</em>? How does the combat speak to their characters?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What are the stakes of the combat? What do the PCs have to gain or lose?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How many approaches to the combat exist? Including avoiding it?</li> </ol><p></p><p><strong>2) During the combat</strong></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What changes during the combat? What unexpected twists open up new options/tactics?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How does the environment (especially thinking 3-dimensionally) play into the combat?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What are the victory conditions besides "kill all monsters"?</li> </ol><p></p><p><strong>3) Ending/Between combats</strong></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How do monster strategies, adaptation, intelligence, and morale play into ongoing skirmishes? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How can other monsters be alerted to the combat and possibly join in the fray?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Where can the PCs rest between combats? And what might threaten their rest opportunities?</li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7092383, member: 20323"] It's a simple question (in three parts), but there is a lot of nuance in the answer :) I have a 3x3 guideline I use to pose questions to myself that ensure my combats aren't static... [B]1) Before the combat[/B] [list=1][*]Why do the PCs [I]care[/I]? How does the combat speak to their characters? [*]What are the stakes of the combat? What do the PCs have to gain or lose? [*]How many approaches to the combat exist? Including avoiding it?[/list] [B]2) During the combat[/B] [list=1][*]What changes during the combat? What unexpected twists open up new options/tactics? [*]How does the environment (especially thinking 3-dimensionally) play into the combat? [*]What are the victory conditions besides "kill all monsters"?[/list] [B]3) Ending/Between combats[/B] [list=1][*]How do monster strategies, adaptation, intelligence, and morale play into ongoing skirmishes? [*]How can other monsters be alerted to the combat and possibly join in the fray? [*]Where can the PCs rest between combats? And what might threaten their rest opportunities?[/list] [/QUOTE]
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