D&D General Playing to "Win" - The DM's Dilemma

[TiQuinn]

I’ve become a big fan on having a pre-set script of attacks and actions that a major enemy will take, given that most combats in D&D last 3 rounds. Generally that means they’ll get their biggest spells or attacks out first, they’ll use legendary actions if they have them, and if they’re still alive by round 3 and assuming they’re seriously hurt, they’ll be looking for their escape. In short, I want to take me as an active combatant out of the equation and put myself in an adjudicator role while still not underselling what the enemy can do.

 

[mellored]

I find one of the best way to deal with people who want to win, in general, is just to try and lose as fast as possible.

And then play again and let them win even easier to win. Continue to play dumber a dumber, having a wizard charge the front lines with a battleaxe, then a blind wizard. See how fast you can get your character/BBEG killed.

If they ask what your doing say your helping them win.

2-3 times and maybe a nights sleep and it will sink in that's not really what they want.

 

[Thomas Shey]

A tactic I've seen (and used, as a player) now and then is for a hurt character to fake unconsciousness in hopes the foe will move on to someone else. It's best done if-when fighting a solo opponent who has to deal with the rest of the party as well and thus can't afford the time to finish the "downed" character off; and when the opponent's attention is elsewhere the "downed" character can sneak away, patch itself up, and either return to the fight or do something at range.

I wouldn't automatically assume playing dead would be successful, either, though with a solitary opponent with a lot of distractions it might work a little better.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I guess it depends on the monster. Intelligent monsters will focus their attacks, prioritize spellcasters, and double-tap fallen enemies...basically they'll do the same things that my players at the table will do. Non-intelligent monsters will make mistakes, prey on smaller/weaker/wounded targets, retreat in search of easier meals.

I've never actually seen someone double-tap a fallen foe in a D&D-derivative. (Other games are a different story)>

 

[Thomas Shey]

I find one of the best way to deal with people who want to win, in general, is just to try and lose as fast as possible.

And then play again and let them win even easier to win. Continue to play dumber a dumber, having a wizard charge the front lines with a battleaxe, then a blind wizard. See how fast you can get your character/BBEG killed.

If they ask what your doing say your helping them win.

2-3 times and maybe a nights sleep and it will sink in that's not really what they want.

The ones I know would just assume you were being snide and disingenuous and conclude it was an invitation to do the same.

 

[SLJ]

I've never actually seen someone double-tap a fallen foe in a D&D-derivative. (Other games are a different story)>

I've only seen it, ironically, with 'dumb' monsters - zombies will chew on an unconscious PC, for example, especially if it's the only thing they can reach. 'Smart' monsters, when they drop a PC to unconscious, immediately ignore it and start fighting the threats that are still upright. I think that's perfectly narratively appropriate, and how I'd play it too as DM. I'd also argue that this behavior is NOT 'playing to win.'

(Sometimes unconscious PCs get caught in AOEs targeting upright members - that's probably the number 2 way PCs die in my games, after the ever-present 'extreme stupidity on the part of players').

 

[CleverNickName]

I've never actually seen someone double-tap a fallen foe in a D&D-derivative. (Other games are a different story)>

In the early days of 5E, we experimented with a house rule: fallen NPCs would start making death saves, just like fallen PCs do.

And from that point forward, every fallen foe in the battlefield got double-tapped (sometimes triple and quadruple) by the players. It was actually kind of disturbing. I ended up getting rid of that house-rule because it was creeping me out.

 

[Lanefan]

I've never had a player attempt that but I'd definitely let them try, that would be cool. How was the check adjudicated? Deception, slight-of-hand, insight/perception check from the monster, something else?

As DM, it's almost entirely situation-dependent - if the foe is distracted by other people beating it up it's almost certainly going to ignore something that seems to be out of the fight, but if the foe has the "downed" character isolated it will probably look twice and-or just go for a coup-de-grace or capture or whatever its end-game is. Exception: if the foe is undead and can innately sense life force, it won't be fooled by this ever.

When I've done this as player, I've no idea how the DM handled it.

 

[ezo]

I've never actually seen someone double-tap a fallen foe in a D&D-derivative.

I have creatures double-tap fallen PCs all the time, especially if it is something they can get away with via a bonus action or legendary action.

Intelligent creatures in fantasy game with magical healing and such will recognize the threat of a downed PC getting back into the fight. With a single hit as a critical failed death save, most of the time one hit will tip the odds in favor of that PC staying down.

I've also had intelligent creatures grabbed downed PCs with the obvious threat: "Give up or your friend gets it!" This was more effective in AD&D with a chance of failing resurrection than it is in 5E, however.

In the early days of 5E, we experimented with a house rule: fallen NPCs would start making death saves, just like fallen PCs do.

Important NPCs will make death saves in the middle of a larger fight with other allies around. PCs are wise to use the round to make sure downed NPCs also stay down. It might sound creepy to you, but you see it often enough in movies and other media where a warrior stabs a downed foe to finish them off for good.

 

[SLJ]

I have creatures double-tap fallen PCs all the time, especially if it is something they can get away with via a bonus action or legendary action.

Intelligent creatures in fantasy game with magical healing and such will recognize the threat of a downed PC getting back into the fight. With a single hit as a critical failed death save, most of the time one hit will tip the odds in favor of that PC staying down.

By the time you get to Tier 2, most enemies worth talking about have some kind of multiattack. Does this mean in your games, once a PC is knocked unconscious, unless there's another PC with a healing ability in the next two initiative spots, that PC is likely dead? Or are you just throwing a stray Bonus Action or legendary action attack at them to keep the pressure on?