D&D 4E 4E Challenge: Design a TPK

[moritheil]

Of course, its also not a good example. It is a level 10 creature...but I don't think its an automatic TPK.

Yeah, there's no point in using a level 10 to TPK level 1s. That doesn't prove much. The ideal situation is the converse - when you can use a level 1 monster to TPK level 10s.

 

[webrunner]

Chuul doesn't fit in the encounter building rules, which state not to go +5 levels.

 

[med stud]

Isn't TPKs mainly accidents, when you have underestimated a monster or overestimated the PCs? If it was possible to use the encounter rules to design a TPK, then it's something wrong with the rules.

It looks like this goes for the needle drakes .

 

[Kinje]

One Dark Stalker.

 

[phizzo]

1 Treacherous Ice Sheet (200xp)
12 kobold minions (300xp)

Hallway leading to a 3x3 room with a treacherous ice sheet in it. Two long hallways branch off from the ice sheet room, perpendicular to the entry hall, each with 6 kobold minions and a barrel of javelins. One passageway contains a lever which raises and lowers a portcullis in the entry hallway.

Once at least 3 PCs have entered the ice room, the kobolds will pull the lever, lowering the portcullis over 1 round, and attack from the darkness with javelins.

Probably not a guaranteed TPK, but it would be crazy peril for most 1st-4th level parties, and it follows the encounter rules. Probably a good encounter for a keep that has a young white dragon lairing in it with a brood of kobold servants, provided your players like it rough.

 

[WyzardWhately]

As an aside, I had amazing luck with an encounter that included Rat Swarms, against a second-level party. The two Rat Swarms nearly chewed through about half the PCs. Of course, it helped that the Wizard panicked and started setting of Scorching Bursts that included the PCs in the Area of Effect. He managed to crit the Rogue. It was beautiful.

So, I'm sort of fantasizing about somehow putting the PCs torches out so they're in dim lighting, and putting them in an encounter of Needlefang drake swarms, rat swarms, and shadowhunter bats.