D&D 4E 4E Sample Combat: The Terrasque

[Valdier]

We're all still learning the rules. And finding and fixing the problems, some of which we're all likely to run into, is both fun and educational. So until you've got your own absolutely error free combat report to post put a sock in it.

I have run the game, grock the rules and have managed many combats now.

I am saying, when you are running one and scanning for rules like critical misses, and the rules is surrounded by test on multiple sides saying "this isn't an actual rule" and then you additionally make the rule even worse than the house rule in the example, that you have mistaken for an actual one... the post loses all legitimacy.

 

[Makaze]

I have run the game, grock the rules and have managed many combats now.

Congratimafrickinlations!

He made a mistake, it happens, to all of us. Except you apparently. You'll notice (since you're so good at reading and comprehending) that it was during his second run through making the first one still mostly valid, asked in a post where he was asking for clarifications on whether or not it was the right call, and noticed and corrected himself before you managed to weigh in snarkily.

Again, let me know when you post your 100% error free battle report. We'll all celebrate and bask in it's triumphant legitimacy. You might have room to complain then.

 

[Spatula]

As much as it warms me to see my creation Ironboot be used to battle the Tarrasque... he never hits! ouch. You should probably turn off the power attack for the test run (+2 hit, -9 dmg).

 

[Surgoshan]

That would mean he'd only need a 10 to hit, rather than 12. Good call.

 

[Surgoshan]

Okay, I went back and made some changes to the first round of combat (in the Tarrasque's favor, mostly) and started into the second round. Several people have landed attacks that deal ongoing damage. I believe it's mostly untyped. In the first round, the wizard landed landed Destructive Salutation, which gives ongoing 10 and stuns. The tarrasque failed the saving throw against that, thanks to the rogue. It didn't take any damage from it because of damage resistance, no problem.

The rogue then landed 10 ongoing damage thanks to Deep Dagger Wound in the second round. Right after that, the wizard hit with Disintegrate* which also deals 10 ongoing damage.

1) That's a total of 30 ongoing damage which gets resolved at the start of the Tarrasque's turn. Destructive Salutation's ongoing damage is specifically stated to be psychic damage, but the other two are untyped. On the Tarrasque's third turn, should these ongoing effects be resolved separately for 10-10=0, 10-10=0, and 10-10=0 damage? Or should they be treated as 10-10=0 & 20-10=10? There's also the remote possibility that they all stack and should be treated as 30-10=20.

Another matter of interest is that the Tarrasque used its Fury ability in the first round, and that recharges on a 5 or 6. However, the Tarrasque was stunned on its second turn.

2) Does the recharge roll still happen? If so, the Tarrasque rolled a 6 and, in the event that it shakes off its stun, will be willing to lay a hurtin' on someone. Two someones.

* The rogue landed a critical hit on her first attack which, thank to Triumphant Attack, has made it easier for others to hit. Luckily for the party, the tarrasque actually failed that saving throw.

 

[NMcCoy]

Stun prevents taking actions, but a recharge roll is not an action, just a turn-start event like ongoing damage.

 

[fullchromelogic]

1) That's a total of 30 ongoing damage which gets resolved at the start of the Tarrasque's turn. Destructive Salutation's ongoing damage is specifically stated to be psychic damage, but the other two are untyped. On the Tarrasque's third turn, should these ongoing effects be resolved separately for 10-10=0, 10-10=0, and 10-10=0 damage? Or should they be treated as 10-10=0 & 20-10=10? There's also the remote possibility that they all stack and should be treated as 30-10=20.

Check out PHB pg. 278 for the rules on ongoing damage - much like all typed ongoing damage, untyped damage does not stack, it only supercedes. So in this case, the Tarrasque would take 10-10=0 Psychic Damage and 10-10=0 untyped damage. At least, thats the way it reads to me.

"The Same Type of Ongoing Damage: If effects deal ongoing damage of the same type, or if the damage has no type, only the higher number applies. Example: You’re taking ongoing 5 damage (no type) when a power causes you to take ongoing 10 damage. You’re now taking ongoing 10 damage, not 15."

 

[Sitara]

Wait!!

Since all the ongoing damage separately are 10 each, shouldn't the tarrasque be able toresist them all?

 

[WOLead]

Okay, I went back and made some changes to the first round of combat (in the Tarrasque's favor, mostly) and started into the second round.

Just a minor thing in that first round need editing as well, and I might as well point them out since you are editing the post.

Vulnerabilities and Resists cancels each other out. So from after HP uses Strand of Fate to the end of HP's next turn, all those -10s should be +1 as the (Resist All 10) and (Vulnerability All 11) leave (Vulnerability All 1).

I'm having trouble reading exactly where all the bonuses to damage are from in those attacks in the first round are from. Could you explain that one, please?

 

[Surgoshan]

Well, that's from the first fight, actually. Lots of mistakes there. Turns out, for example, the rogue gets +32 to hit, rather than +29. Doesn't change too much, but you never know.

The bonuses to damage? Yeah, it's a little unclear.
Darjin went first, rolled 43 (4d6+18) + 24 (sneak attack; 5d8) + 25 (Duelist's Dagger, 6d8 with Combat Advantage) - 10.
Ironboot missed with both his attacks.
HP did 40 (5d10+15) + 10 (3d6 curse) - 10 and 16 (1d8+15) + 14 (curse 3d6) - 10.
Ea did 53 (5d10+16) + 12 (Bolstering Blood 2d10) +11 (strand of fate) - 10.
Ironboot got in a free at-will on the tarrasque's turn for 42 (2d10+30) + 11 - 10.
Elic hit with astral storm for 38 (6d10+18) + 9 (hunter's quarry) + 11 - 10.

I dealt with vulnerability and resistance separately. That way I'd keep the tally around all the time and, hopefully, not forget them. I kept having to go back and recalculate HP and damage.