D&D 5E What to do about Hypnotic Pattern?

[TheSword]

Exactly. Fireball is a favorite spell because it is powerful. If one guy likes Hypnotic Pattern because it is powerful, that is normal. Actually, I appreciate the diversity away from Fireball.

I actual think fireball is popular because it’s flashy, simple and does what it says on the tin. In 5e with hp being what they are there are definitely more powerful spells that don’t get such a look in. Let’s be honest, blowing things up is fun though!

 

[Haldrik]

If some tactic seems unfair, use it against the players.

If the players feel it is unfair against them, they are more willing to modify it to balance it.

 

[Arvok]

I don't get this mentality. The PCs are meant to succeed and to use their abilities. CELEBRATE IT. Don't shame it. Don't try to beat it down - only counteract it if an NPC/monster has reason to know of it and counteract it. If they use it in 90% of their battles - great! Does Spider-man need to be stopped from wall crawling or using his webs? If they want to mix things up, they can. They're the heroes.

You're not trying to beat them. You don't need them fearing death in every combat. Some combats should have no fear of death - but fear that something else will go wrong, like a prisoner being killed, an enemy raising an alarm, a ritual being completed, people you're protecting being attacked, etc...

So my answer: Just play the game and celebrate their success. Every time I've seen a DM really embrace this mentality, the quality of their games (and the enjoyment of their players) has skyrocketed.

The only thing I would add is that you should enjoy their failures also (and I think you alluded to this). I'm not talking PC death or TPK (though those can lead to epic RP moments), just that when the players fall flat on their faces is when they can really shine. Success isn't defined by how many times we fall, but how many times we get back up.

 

[TheSword]

If some tactic seems unfair, use it against the players.

If the players feel it is unfair against them, they are more willing to modify it to balance it.

The only challenge to this approach is that higher saves and methods of resisting such things, and generally smaller parties of adventurers than the enemies their facing means HP will affect an of rushing horde of Orcs more than a typical party of four.

 

[Haldrik]

The only challenge to this approach is that higher saves and methods of resisting such things, and generally smaller parties of adventurers than the enemies their facing means HP will affect an of rushing horde of Orcs more than a typical party of four.

The challenge can be a "nemesis" party of four, who also have high saves, and can use the spell against the party.

For a horde of Orcs, to control some of them by means of Hypnotic Pattern, seems to be the spell working as intended.

 

[jayoungr]

It seems to me Hypnotic Pattern shows up a lot when players are fighting a lot of 5ft ranged melee fighters all the time.

No. It shows up in every fight, no matter who the enemies are. Including against casters.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

No. It shows up in every fight, no matter who the enemies are. Including against casters.

Why don't the casters counterspell it?

 

[jayoungr]

Why don't the casters counterspell it?

Because not every caster has access to counterspell. For example, the party just cleared out a den of evil druids. Lots of havoc with spike growth and stinking cloud, but no counterspell.

 

[FrogReaver]

I actual think fireball is popular because it’s flashy, simple and does what it says on the tin. In 5e with hp being what they are there are definitely more powerful spells that don’t get such a look in. Let’s be honest, blowing things up is fun though!

fireball is one of the best non-concentration spells out there. It does as much single target damage as the best single target damage spells up through level 10.

it also doesn’t take hitting many enemies before you are doing significantly more damage and impact on fireball turns than anything but the most DPR focused GWM and SS builds.

concentration spells like hypnotic pattern can be better but they also take your concentration.

Having a long duration prebuff like polymorph going and then casting fireball at the start of an encounter is a strong alternative tactic to hypnotic pattern.

 

[prabe]

Why don't the casters counterspell it?

Possibly because counterspell has a shorter range than hypnotic pattern. Also, you gotta be able to see the caster to counterspell, which one can arrange to make not-doable. Also, the casters might be written to prefer to use their reaction for something like shield. Also, the casters might not have counterspell prepared or in any way available.