D&D 5E (2024) 2024 Gladiator: The Narrative Dissonance

[TwoSix]

Given that in-fiction there's no such thing as class abilties, feats, etc... the premise is nonsensical.

Unless you want to design the setting such that those elements are diegetic, of course.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Given that in-fiction there's no such thing as class abilties, feats, etc... the premise is nonsensical.

Why would you say that? You are representing those in-fiction abilities as game mechanics.

 

[Ancalagon]

I think perhaps the biggest problem is the specific stat added to a vague role.

I am running a (great!) Drakkenheim campaign, and fairly early in the story the party ends up in a gladiatorial match of some sort. The foes are stated - a brigand, a thug, a veteran, a gladiator.

... but all those foes are gladiators! Some are just terrible at it... it's almost like dragons were only adult green dragons, and all other dragons were called something else entirely.

 

[ECMO3]

Let alone the comparison of a Level 1 character and a Level 20 character, which can be gained after merely like a couple years of adventuring.

If you run 6-8 encounters a day and get xp for those it is more like 50 days of adventuring to get to level 20 (not counting down days)

 

[MichaelSomething]

D&D uses a design geared towards ease of use?

SUPRISE PIKACHU FACE!!!!

 

[Sulicius]

Yeah in order to challenge PC’s, the designers have found that it is best for DM’s to boost the enemy numbers. HP, damage, number of attacks. It’s just to even things out and keep things running smooth.

To me, if your biggest issue is the size of a number in a TTRPG, while the game runs well, then you should just accept that it is a game.

HP bloat in the context of 5e is funny to me, it just doesn’t make sense. The monsters have about enough HP to do what they need to do. There is nothing more about it.