D&D General What does the mundane high level fighter look like? [+]

[Vaalingrade]

No, that was the 4th edition. In my experience 5e combats are pretty fast and stuff not dying quick enough definitely isn’t a problem.

People still incessantly complain that what should be a fun part of the game takes too long.

And that doesn't counter the fact that sawing away at a normal wolf at high level does not have the same visceral feel of just decimating them because you're like... a powerful fantasy warrior.

 

[Minigiant]

They should be able to take out an ogre consistently in 1 round. That may require that they slice the belly open which means the ogre leaves their leg open to cut their hamstring so they stumble to the ground where the fighter can finally decapitate the beast. All in a flurry of blows almost too quick to follow as they're moving past that first victim to get to the second ogre 30 away to continue their attack.

But who says they should be able to 1-shot 2 ogres in the first place? That's a rather arbitrary declaration.

Then what are high level fighters cleaving through?

Commoners?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

People still incessantly complain that what should be a fun part of the game takes too long.

I don’t think that is true. I haven’t seen much such complaints.

And that doesn't counter the fact that sawing away at a normal wolf at high level does not have the same visceral feel of just decimating them because you're like... a powerful fantasy warrior.

Wolf has eleven hit points. A high level martial is likely to oneshot them.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Wolf has eleven hit points. A high level martial is likely to oneshot them.

Likely, but not gaurunteed.

Plus, they're not the only person on the field. We're still just wasting time and mechanics to avoid doing the easy thing.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Likely, but not gaurunteed.

Plus, they're not the only person on the field. We're still just wasting time and mechanics to avoid doing the easy thing.

Well, if you don’t want to “ waste time” with mechanics you can just declare that the PCs win because they’re so awesome.

 

[Oofta]

Then what are high level fighters cleaving through?

Commoners?

They still cleave through lower level monsters quickly, it's just not necessarily in one blow for a CR 2 monster. Not when you could throw in a CR 1/4 or 1/2 monster if you want them to be mowed down like grass. I fail to see the issue. I also think it doesn't make any sense to compare specific gameplay mechanics with fiction.

 

[Fanaelialae]

coup de grace

and nothing wrong with minion rules, minions are a pacing tool there to shore up the action economy. The goal of the encounter is to overcome the 'boss' threat, the minions are there as flavour

Coup de grace is only possible against a helpless target. That isn't what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about something like what a vorpal sword can do. Kill an active target that still has HP. Only, without magic (because decapitating someone shouldn't require magic, for reasons that I've already explained and which I would think to be obvious even without explanation).

 

[Vaalingrade]

Well, if you don’t want to “ waste time” with mechanics you can just declare that the PCs win because they’re so awesome.

Thanks for misrepresenting my point!

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

In Queen of the Black Coast, Conan kills were-hyenas by shooting them with arrows, and then punching one in the head with his pommel, tearing out another's throat, and smashing a third on marble steps. All this as they rip and tear at him.

In the fiction, this isn't magical - it's just Conan being tough. In the context of D&D, where a were-hyena would presumably have 50-ish hp (as a werewolf does), this requires damage bonuses and a rapid rate of attack. And probably also damage resistance and/or in-combat hp regeneration.

Just because another universe portrays something narratively different in their story, it doesn't mean it fits into current D&D mechanics. Those were-hyenas are not D&D 5E were-hyenas. They are either lower CR creatures with much fewer HP, or if we want to make a 4E comparison, they are merely minions. That doesn't mean Conan or D&D warriors need to deal 50 damage with every pommel hit or unarmed strike.

If 5E created a minion category, would that actually make martial characters feel better? I'm not sure they would. Because magic AoEs will still be more effective against larger groups of minions. Not without the martials getting more of their own AoE "powers".

I could be wrong.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Then what are high level fighters cleaving through?
Commoners?

Sure, if the goal is historical accuracy.