D&D 5E How to not murder my PC's

The Green Hermit · Apr 5, 2020

Lanefan said:
Ditto.

But I'm quite happy punishing the crap out of them if they don't recruit NPCs to fill the gaps in their lineup, once they realize those gaps exist. (and four levels in, they ought to have figured these things out by now even if they're all brand new to it; but if they haven't maybe the DM might want to let them rescue a Fighter-4 NPC prisoner somewhere who's willing to join up if the party equip her.......)

This is really only the third scenario in the campaign. Four levels or not, the dragon hatchery is pretty early in.

The Green Hermit · Apr 5, 2020

Eltab said:
I commend to your attention the thread "Enhancing Hoard of the Dragon Queen" somewhere in this forum. People who played through HotDQ earlier described their problems and discussed solutions.

Personally, I was the solution to this problem when I joined a group playing HotDQ; I brought a Paladin. It took me about two months of real time to train the Wizard to quit running around in circles during combat and hide behind me.

If you kill off another PC in combat, utter the "off-hand" suggestion that the group needs somebody who can stand up and take a hit for the team. You may get a new Fighter or you may get a Pact Blade Warlock.

I second this suggestion. Also, Sly Flourish's posts are helpful.

The Green Hermit · Apr 5, 2020

jasper said:
I do Adventure League and 4 pcs is a little short on man power. So
1. Let them run away.
2. Adjust the encounter down by dropping 1 or 2 monsters, cutting HP, etc.
3. Average damage on all hits and spells out going.
4. NPC meat shield with you having over rule rights. AKA you won't let the players suicide it.

4 PCs should be able to deal with the dragon hatchery, but a 5th would be nice. Would one of the players be up to running two characters? Would you be willing to run a character? As a DM, I do this, just so we aren't undermanned -- at least until my kids are both proficient enough to run two themselves. (My daughter already is.)

Man in the Funny Hat · Apr 5, 2020

WayOfTheFourElements said:
No one rolled a fighter. Let the pain come. Maybe someone'll get smart a roll one up. No need for training wheels.

No need for willful disregard for PC survival and player fun either. Nobody rolled a fighter? That's not cause to be vindictive until someone does roll a fighter. It is, in fact, cause to adjust difficulty to suit the ACTUAL PC's and not run the game ONLY geared for what you consider the ideal mix of PC's.

bedir than · Apr 5, 2020

Meh, character creation is part of the game. The idea that no characters should ever die is silly. It's like insisting that Star Wars would be better if Obi-Wan lived, or that Cedric Diggory's death was meaningless, or that Iron Man's sacrifice should be ignored.

How characters die is part and parcel of good storytelling.

WayOfTheFourElements · Apr 5, 2020

Man in the Funny Hat said:
No need for willful disregard for PC survival and player fun either. Nobody rolled a fighter? That's not cause to be vindictive until someone does roll a fighter. It is, in fact, cause to adjust difficulty to suit the ACTUAL PC's and not run the game ONLY geared for what you consider the ideal mix of PC's.

I also suggested several other idea that do not involve putting the game on easy mode.

Flamestrike · Apr 5, 2020

Boughbuts said:
I'm stuck trying to run HOTDQ it's my second time ever doing and I have no PC's that are fighters or any real combat other than magic. Almost every game I find myself rolling crazy high. And my players dying frequently.. is there anyone that can give me a good idea to stop this or to maybe run the campaign setting better

Fudge rolls.

Enforce longer adventuring days. Suddenly fighters look great when you do.

Lanefan · Apr 5, 2020

Paul Farquhar said:
It's the responsibility of the DM to make that available as an option.

Agreed. But is it the DM's or the players' responsbility to think of using it?

Not all games feature a "rent a merc" shop, and there are certainly none in HOTDQ.

I don't know the adventure, but I can't imagine there not being a town somewhere where recruits might be found.

Lanefan · Apr 5, 2020

Flamestrike said:
Fudge rolls.

Ignore this advice, now and forever! Fudging causes more problems than it solves, particularly once the inevitable happens and your players realize you're doing it.

Enforce longer adventuring days. Suddenly fighters look great when you do.

Hard to see how that would help when a) the short adventuring days are already killing them and b) they don't have any fighters in the group.

Oofta · Apr 5, 2020

bedir than said:
Meh, character creation is part of the game. The idea that no characters should ever die is silly. It's like insisting that Star Wars would be better if Obi-Wan lived, or that Cedric Diggory's death was meaningless, or that Iron Man's sacrifice should be ignored.

How characters die is part and parcel of good storytelling.

Depends on the stories the group wants to tell. For some people PCs are disposable, for others they've got a life of their own and dying just ends a story they don't get to tell.

The only way to know what people prefer is to talk to them and ask, which is something I do in my session 0.