D&D 5E Test of High Level 5E: Design 4 or 5 lvl 13 PCs for 6 to 8 encounter adventuring day

[Celtavian]

My campaign and adventure, my rules. Feats, splat books (no UA) and MCing is allowed, and each PC gets one very rare and one uncommon magic item.

I dare say most tables are using those options from the books.

Its a test of the upper limits of mid - high level play. I was sketchy on allowing one very rare magic item each. Seeing as the items can be cherry picked, I propose 1 rare item and 1 uncommon instead.

Once I get the characters designed, you pick the magic items. Imagine something you might have included for each player. That's how it normally works in 5E (one of the things I like). DM usually designs and inserts the magic items. So go ahead and pick what you might have given each class. Figure the paladin will use some kind of melee weapon, probably a sword.

 

[Flamestrike]

Okay. I'm too busy (read: lazy) to make my own monsters anyway, so I use only Monster Manual offerings. We run things a little differently though - I got no issue offing PCs and have no feeling one way or another that an outcome must be a certain way except that it must be fun for everyone and an exciting, memorable story must be created during play. The party in last Saturday's game TPK'ed and we still had a blast.

Anyway, I'll wait for [MENTION=6788736]Flamestrike[/MENTION] before chiming in further.

I have a plan for the adventure thats pretty intresting. I can do the whole thing mate.

If you want to be the deciding vote on any rules questions (in the event of a dispute) or just an impartial dice roller should one be needed that would be great!

 

[Flamestrike]

Once I get the characters designed, you pick the magic items. Imagine something you might have included for each player. That's how it normally works in 5E (one of the things I like). DM usually designs and inserts the magic items. So go ahead and pick what you might have given each class. Figure the paladin will use some kind of melee weapon, probably a sword.

Can do, and I'll grant you a veto if youre not happy with the selections.

 

[iserith]

I have a plan for the adventure thats pretty intresting. I can do the whole thing mate.

If you want to be the deciding vote on any rules questions (in the event of a dispute) or just an impartial dice roller should one be needed that would be great!

I probably wouldn't be seen as a neutral party by some posters. Perhaps I can just offer some suggestions (if any) on your offerings before it "goes to print?" Double check to make sure you're within guidelines and offer up some ideas to beef things up if necessary?

 

[Celtavian]

A TPK should be possible as a very outside possibility. Generally, after 6-8 encounters/ 2 short rests, you should be pulling into your next long rest with all resources expended or nearly so.

If we can review the adventure post mortem in the event of a TPK or steamrolling that would be pretty cool too (to see what went wrong, and if it was maybe bad tactics or crappy luck).

For the record I have a rather intresting adventure idea. Its unconventional and just came to me in the shower.

When doing characters can I get a snippet of bonds, flaws, ideals and background so I can place an appropriate hook/s and work in stuff for the characters that is beyond raw combat?

That's reasonable. I will do a full character write up for each. The backgrounds are one of the 5Eisms I really like and is very helpful for new players...and sometimes even old. Gets them thinking of the character as a person rather than a combat simulation.

Maybe CapnZapp or Zard could hop on and pick a character or two to design to help out.

 

[Flamestrike]

I probably wouldn't be seen as a neutral party by some posters. Perhaps I can just offer some suggestions (if any) on your offerings before it "goes to print?" Double check to make sure you're within guidelines and offer up some ideas to beef things up if necessary?

Can do.

For the sake of completeness I will actually stat out an entire adventure (and not just the encounters) and send it to you via PM before we kick off. I'll find a map somewhere that I can use online and post it with the encounters and the adventure.

As a slight spoiler my current idea features a rather famous magical item, and a rather intresting 'interaction' of magic items thats all gone slightly pear shaped...

 

[Flamestrike]

That's reasonable. I will do a full character write up for each. The backgrounds are one of the 5Eisms I really like and is very helpful for new players...and sometimes even old. Gets them thinking of the character as a person rather than a combat simulation.

Maybe CapnZapp or Zard could hop on and pick a character or two to design to help out.

Im on Australian time here (its 130am) and will be crashing out soon. I'll log back in in the morning and have a look over your PCs, suggest some magic items, PM the module to the referee, and then we can kick off.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

I was interested until the whole "Feats, MC'ing, all splat books" thing. I know it's one guys campaign, so that's fine. But...the whole premise of "Test of High Level 5E" just went out the window with that.

PHB == MM + DMG
PHB + Options + Splat >= MM + DMG

It's that simple. I fear your guys little experiment is doomed to failure as the MM and DMG are not designed with the base of adding in the OPTIONS (let alone the splat/adventure book stuff).

I'm sure the encounter design info can get the job done in the base, core game. I don't think they are designed with the idea that a Fighter may decide to take -5 to hit to get +10 damage. Or that the non-spell casters in the group may actually be able to cast a couple spells. Or that the ranged character can get extra attacks at point blank range with no penalty. Or...or...or...

So, if you guys do decide to do this, please make sure to give us the adjustments you made to the monsters and NPC's for the encounters in order to re-balance the Encounter Building stuff. I'd be interested in seeing how much needs to be added to and/or adjusted to the core monsters and whatnot in order to fix all the stuff that gets...well, broken. Right now, me and my group are a No Feats, No MC bunch of guys and gals. If it's trivial to adjust stuff to counter weight the add-on stuff for PC's, we may revisit these options for a later campaign.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[Redthistle]

I'm in the audience for this, and looking forward to the show.

 

[Flamestrike]

Hiya!

I was interested until the whole "Feats, MC'ing, all splat books" thing. I know it's one guys campaign, so that's fine. But...the whole premise of "Test of High Level 5E" just went out the window with that.

PHB == MM + DMG
PHB + Options + Splat >= MM + DMG

It's that simple. I fear your guys little experiment is doomed to failure as the MM and DMG are not designed with the base of adding in the OPTIONS (let alone the splat/adventure book stuff).

I'm sure the encounter design info can get the job done in the base, core game. I don't think they are designed with the idea that a Fighter may decide to take -5 to hit to get +10 damage. Or that the non-spell casters in the group may actually be able to cast a couple spells. Or that the ranged character can get extra attacks at point blank range with no penalty. Or...or...or...

So, if you guys do decide to do this, please make sure to give us the adjustments you made to the monsters and NPC's for the encounters in order to re-balance the Encounter Building stuff. I'd be interested in seeing how much needs to be added to and/or adjusted to the core monsters and whatnot in order to fix all the stuff that gets...well, broken. Right now, me and my group are a No Feats, No MC bunch of guys and gals. If it's trivial to adjust stuff to counter weight the add-on stuff for PC's, we may revisit these options for a later campaign.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

Considering this was in response to an assertion that the game breaks in favor of the players at high level using baseline PCs (to which my response was that I can use the encounter building guidelines in the DMG to create a balanced and challenging adventure using those very rules and guidelines) then stacking the deck further in the players favor actually adds to my argument and proves it can be done, doesnt it?

I dont need to change anything from the rules as is. They allow me to set the encounter area, including adding any complications to the encounter areas (darkness, pits, lava etc) and make adjustments to monster CR that accounts for any minor changes that are made to the monsters (decking a monster out in armor, or ruling a monster is slightly stronger than normal, increasing its HD and CR appropriately) etc.