D&D 5E GM: Who Do You Target? [READ OP BEFORE VOTING]

[Oofta]

i mean, that's just completely and blatantly outside the parameters of the scenario, then. also you used your bonus action twice.

how in the HELL did they manage THAT?

Yeah, there's times I swear I play a different game. I have no idea how "my 4th level party of 4 dealt over 100 points of damage against a flying AC 23 "boss" in under 2 rounds." happens. I mean, I'm not doubting it happened to @Jefe Bergenstein but it seems like it would require a lot luck (including multiple crits), cheesy builds and likely a lot of magic items.

All I can say is that based on DMing for and playing with multiple groups, it's unusual.

 

[Reynard]

It seems that the enemy is in rather poor position, so unless there is some reason for them not to fear death, fleeing might be prudent.

I don't think there is obvious correct choice for them, due the fact that their chances of winning regardless of what they do are not that great. Also, like pointed out earlier, the initiative order matters. In any case, sometimes when there is no obvious reason for an enemy to attack specific PC, I just randomise it to be fair.

The key is that I am not asking what the villain would do, I am asking what you, the GM, would do. Of course, for many GMs, their answer would be "what the villain would do based on their...." But that likely isn't the only viable answer, and certainly not the only honest one.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Your scenario places the BBEG is "One Hit Dead" territory. Since it's the BBEG's initiative it gets the HELL OUT OF THERE.

Option 2, if it can't flee: AoE attack. It has one right? One that can be used multiple times?
Option 3, if it can't flee, and has no AoE: Target the ranged attackers (rogue), then move far enough away that the melee attackers don't get attacks when they play catch up.
Option 4, if none of the above: As option 3, but resign itself to losing. Hope it has a "death recovery" scheme backing it up.

All BBEGs should want to stay alive, and inflict a TPK on their enemies - in much that order.

 

[CleverNickName]

Did the fighter cease to exist in this scenario?

Nah, I'd just weather the fighter's AoO. Unless the fighter conveniently has the Sentinel feat, it wouldn't interrupt my plan.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

The key is that I am not asking what the villain would do, I am asking what you, the GM, would do. Of course, for many GMs, their answer would be "what the villain would do based on their...." But that likely isn't the only viable answer, and certainly not the only honest one.

I mean if the enemy fights to the end, which they might, either because that's in their nature or the GM just wants this to be resolved, they will likely lose regardless of what they do. I don't quite see how this is an interesting question and we don't have enough details (like the initiative order) to answer this properly as a tactics question anyway. So why are you asking this? I suggested randomisation which based on the information given seems like fine approach.

 

[Reynard]

Nah, I'd just weather the fighter's AoO. Unless the fighter conveniently has the Sentinel feat, it wouldn't interrupt my plan.

One of the conditions is that the fighter can take the BBEG out with one hit.

Just as a reminder, this is the late fight. Maybe there were a bunch of minions, now all dead. the characters are all running low on HP and resources, but so is the BBEG.

 

[Reynard]

I mean if the enemy fights to the end, which they might, either because that's in their nature or the GM just wants this to be resolved, they will likely lose regardless of what they do. I don't quite see how this is an interesting question and we don't have enough details (like the initiative order) to answer this properly as a tactics question anyway. So why are you asking this? I suggested randomisation which based on the information given seems like fine approach.

If you don't find it an interesting question, that's fine. but we have gone over 70 replies thus far and I am finding many of the responses super interesting.

 

[CleverNickName]

One of the conditions is that the fighter can take the BBEG out with one hit.

Just as a reminder, this is the late fight. Maybe there were a bunch of minions, now all dead. the characters are all running low on HP and resources, but so is the BBEG.

One of the other assumptions was the BBEG had access to Misty Step or whatever, so--

If the party has the BBEG pinned down to where he cannot move without getting hit at least once, the battle is over anyway. So I'd still take my chances with the single weapon attack (and single miss chance) of an opportunity attack. Much better odds than just standing there and taking a whole Attack action, plus Action Surge, plus everyone else's actions. It's the smart move.

Neutralize the cleric first (with Counterspell if possible, with bloodshed otherwise), then flee and punish any who give chase.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

One of the conditions is that the fighter can take the BBEG out with one hit.

wait. in ONE HIT? i thought you meant one ATTACK ACTION.

in that case, i'm not sure anything the bbeg could do would even matter.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

how in the HELL did they manage THAT?

Partly luck with a paladin crit, they prepped a round and used a good chunk of consumables/resources. It was a fair win, but it shows how weak 5E creatures are against any amount of party tactics and optimization. Honorable mention to friggin silvery barbs, which I'm pretty close to banning.

The boss had a golem and a few zombies too, but that stuff doenst matter with focus fire. I had previously estimated 50HP/party level is needed to not have a single creature simply be a speedbump. Soth with 225 HP or whatever his rookie numbers is laughable.