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So, I don't really torture my players. I mean, kinda. But sometimes I just torture their characters in my head. Like, I was just imagining an entire encounter full of Diviners with Lucky. The fate of the world doesn't hang in the balance. These guys know exactly which way the scales will...

Depends. Get a couple guys with Bane or Bestow Curse in the party. A high-level caster with a 5th-level Bestow Curse puts you on easy street. Also Diviners. Lots of Diviners.

But over the course of 10 failed saving throws, it last for an entire minute! And you only need 6 seconds to use Iron Bands of Bilarro or otherwise confine the creature with a MacGuffin.

Glitchy double post.

There's a very simple reason that Hold Monster is valuable. Not all monsters need killing. (I know -- "WHAAAA?") :eek: It's perhaps superfluous with the new Knockout rule (PH-198). But if you're trying to capture, contain, or subdue a monster without harm, Hold Monster and Dominate Monster...

There's a difference between silly and funny. Where's the "blow raspberry" button?

LOL. That's like asking whether you like warlock always-on invocations or high-level wizard spells. They're both pretty dang cool. Sometimes you just need a flashlight, not a flamethrower.

Love that last one. I'm always struggling for simple constraints. Like Yladrin's Hammer, everything seems to get overcomplicated really quickly.

I feel most people miss this completely. Magic, like science, has to be learned at some point. You can't just say, "It's magic, stupid. Just roll with it." Well, you can, but some folks like to do more. :) In the world, characters are constantly learning, evolving and that process involves...

You're probably right on the latter point. But my players do have magic items. Some of which they use to great (and overpowering) effect. I've got characters walking around with a passive perceptions of 18 and 22. It's literally impossible for them to not notice a threat. One has a magic knife...

Nice catch. Also, in my initial post, I forgot to add in the Animal Friendship and Animal Messenger creatures. Now we're at: Total Levels: 13 (L10 Lore Bard + L3 Ranger) Total companions: 22 (3 retainers, familiar, steed, beast companion, 8 undead, 8 conjured animals, friend animal, messenger...

Yes, right! Don't know what I was thinking. At 10th level, Lore Bard gets four non-list spells. So Find Familiar, Find Steed, Animate Undead and Conjure Animals are all covered. Combine with 3 levels of Ranger for the beast companion for a total of 13 levels. It's definitely not practical. :)

Just as a thought experiment. I'm trying to determine how many hangers-on a character could have in 5E. Obviously, this would require multi-classing. I have listed the minimum character level to the left of each line. (Level 1) Many spellcasting classes have Find Familiar. Find Familiar...

As others have mentioned, I've entirely shied away from "mundane" magical weapons. My players must ask anytime they want to purchase potions and scrolls. Some places have them, most don't . When I'm in a pinch, I give out unusual items from the DMG. But no simple items, no basic + weapons...

I'll dedicate my TPK to you.

I missed this the first time around. Much thanks to @schnee for highlighting it. And thanks for posting it. This is EXACTLY the solution I'm looking for. It's a time-constrained solution to the PCs problem that doesn't absolve them from participating in the rescue, either by putting them on the...

Agreed on all counts. I'm trying to be "economical" in my approach in NPC involvement. And "thousands" is not necessarily just 2000 orcs. I'm imagining ogres and ogre-mages tagging along, and overall, the orcs have access to higher level magics and allies. There's a *ton* of great ideas so...

In my world, life is precious, and resurrection rare. And even if you could be resurrected, who wants the experience of death? Also, the PCs are paying for this service, not the other way around. They may still need or want to help, but they felt they hadn't the skill or smarts to do this on...

Good question, hinted at earlier. The story would support either approach, so for the moment I'm flexible. The PC party leans toward stealth, except for one armored, slow member. If the high level NPCs went in loud, the PCs could go stealth, or vice versa. The terrain is light forest...

What ONE or TWO characters (class builds) would you choose to go against thousands of orcs for the purpose of rescuing several dozen hostages? Assume the expected hierarchy, tension, and hangers-on implicit in a horde that large. I'm arbitrarily capping character level to 18 or (preferably)...