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

[Paul Farquhar]

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.

These pretty much equal = casters are stupid.

 

[FrogReaver]

Why don't the casters counterspell it?

why don’t the players counterspell their counterspell?

 

[jayoungr]

You're the DM. Why are you letting them do that?

Impose story consequences for resting. Doom clocks (save the princess by midnight or else bad thing X happens) are a fantastic method, or simply alter the resting rules in your campaign if you cant be stuffed with doom clocks.

I get what you're saying, and I do try to work with that when running my own adventures, but I frequently run published adventures too (Curse of Strahd at the moment). They don't always come with built-in doom clocks.

Also, I've learned that doom clocks can backfire in other (story-related) ways for this group, so I try not to use them for every. single. adventure.

 

[prabe]

These pretty much equal = casters are stupid.

How does the difference in range, or not having the spell on their list, or not being able to see the caster, equal stupidity?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

why don’t the players counterspell their counterspell?

We are told there where lots of druids. So they could counterspell the counter-counterspell.

In a caster v caster fight, whoever can cast the most counterspells wins.

 

[FrogReaver]

We are told there where lots of druids. So they could counterspell the counter-counterspell.

In a caster v caster fight, whoever can cast the most counterspells wins.

druids get counterspell?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

How does the difference in range, or not having the spell on their list, or not being able to see the caster, equal stupidity?

Difference in range? Druids have plenty of spells they can use to arrange to where the fight occurs. Or the might just go inside a building.

And any spellcaster who does not prepare counterspell is stupid.

Druids also get conjure fey. Fey have spell resistance. The druids could simply clear off and let their fey do the fighting.

 

[jayoungr]

a magic missile will instantly break the spell for 3 people with a couple of points of damage

I hadn't considered that idea. Thanks.

Lastly, simply just up the number of enemies. If by the time the six bandits have been shaken from the stupider the party have kicked their ass, then add 8 or 10 or 12 bandits. Eventually you’ll reach a point where the spells effect ends before the enemies drop.

I've tried this one, but I've actually found that the player is less likely to use hypnotic pattern if there are fewer enemies, not wanting to "waste" it. Having lots of enemies with some getting charmed also leads to that bit I really hate where the whole party is beating up on the last few helpless enemies one by one.

Put a bounty out on the illusionist.

Glamour bard, actually. This player plays nothing but glamour bards. With hypnotic pattern. In every campaign. Every campaign.

 

[prabe]

Difference in range? Druids have plenty of spells they can use to arrange to where the fight occurs. Or the might just go inside a building.

And any spellcaster who does not prepare counterspell is stupid.

So clerics and druids, who don't have counterspell on their lists, are stupid? Good to know.

In my experience, in a caster v. caster fight, the one who has allies who can hurt the other more wins. Counterspell is too limited compared to lots of other spells, and you only get but one reaction. And any caster who casts a gotta-have-it spell within 60' of someone who might have counterspell prepared is stupid--so, maybe the caster who gets counterspelled more loses, which isn't the same thing as the one who counterspells more wins.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Glamour bard, actually. This player plays nothing but glamour bards. With hypnotic pattern. In every campaign. Every campaign.

You might just tell them they are being boring.

When I start a new campaign one house rule is a player cannot play the same class as they played in the previous campaign.