A Dozen Crossbows Aimed at You ..

[Numion]

.. and you're a high level character.

Say, your high level D&D character somehow finds himself in the sights of a dozen city watchmen with their crossbows. The watch leader says: "Drop your wands, weapons and holy symbols. You're under arrest". What do you think should happen?

The rules say that you'll probably wipe the floor with lowly watchmen, but some posters in the illogical rules thread said that's no good - there should be a real risk for any level character for a slit throat, gun to the head or being aimed at with crossbows.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

There should be a risk. It's just how much of a risk. In this particular scenario, I'd just give the guards a surprise round to fire their crossbows.

If someone actually had a knife to their throat, I might give a coup-de-grace type of attack/damage.

 

[Gold Roger]

There are the following possibilities:

1)The PC flipps out and easily kills them, easily dodging their bolts and blows.

2)The PC flipps out and beats the unconscious, easily dodging their bolts and blows.

3)The PC runs of, not wanting to confront the honest watchmen just doing their job, easily dodging their bolts and blows.

4) The PC easily talks his way out of the situation.

5)The PC gives up, more to see what this is all about or because it's the law, rather than out of fear.

6)The Watchmen are true elite send by someone who knows the capabilities of the infamous PC's. The Crossbows are enchanted, there are devoted countermages and healer clerics of the god of justice among the guards, who are at least mid level fighters or paladins and are lead by a high level paladin/justicar. Either an epic battle ensures wherein the PC prevails with the help of his friends, barely runs away or is slain/taken captive or the PC goes along.


D&D is a heroic fantastic game.

 

[shilsen]

There should be a risk.

Only for a particular type of game. Which D&D at higher levels, as written, is not.

Let's say a dozen normal human guardsmen have crossbows pointed at someone like Cuchulainn, Bhima, the Hulk, Blade, etc. There really is no risk for such characters. And that's the way higher-lvl D&D works.

As Gold Roger said, D&D is a heroic fantasy game, with big heapings of heroic and fantastic as one goes on. There is a risk at all levels in the game. It's just that the nature of the risks scale with the characters.

 

[Drawmack]

Within the rules, as written a good DM can make any situation dangerous to the PCs.

Maybe the bolts are enchanted so they always hit and do max damage, and they are repeating crossbows. If the PC looses 50% of his hit points it's a percentile roll to see if he dies.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

If the PC had the right social skills or magic, then escaping without a fight isn't going to be a problem?

If it came to combat, then I'd visualise a high level PC as having incredible reflexes. More than enough to dodge some measly crossbows. Escaping from situations like you describe is pretty standard hollywood action movie fare? Frankly if it can be made to look good on the big screen, with gun weilding guards, then I don't have a problem with that sort of thing.

Although I've come to the conclusion that high level DnD is treated more like a high powered action movie or superhero game. Not for everyone I guess?

 

[Ashrum the Black]

I'd have to concur with what has already been posted. A 15th level character is a master swordsman, high priest, whatever. We're dealing with a level of magic wielded by each player that could buy a small kingdom or barony as well. The simple gaurdsmen shouldn't stand any chance. At this point they're really nothing more that window dressing anyway. It is the captain of the gaurd, the inquisitional gaurd, etc. That will be called out to deal with them after they've waltzed the average guys that they'll need to worry about.

As an aside I will concur that certain instances do need some thought from the DM to handle. A PC wakes with a knife to the throat should take a coup de grace if they try something, and that is the DM's call to make. On the other hand 12 1st level warriors really shouldn't pose much problem, it the consequnces of disobediance that should. And in my campaigns, there are serious consequences.

-Ashrum

 

[Li Shenron]

Well, there is a risk, only it's small...

With the natural 20 rule there is at least 5% chance the PC is going to be hit, and he get as many attacks per round as there are crossbowmen. Eventually it's a matter of how many are needed to drop him to 0hp before he has time to kill all of them.

There could be some spell or magic item giving him DR enough to basically ignore all damage, of course you can increase his chances of survival ever higher, but it won't be 100% for sure.

And finally it's not granted that the character would choose to fight anyway, but that's another question.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

If they've got a good reason to arrest me, I'd probably give up.

Otherwise I'll compare my AC to the "perceived quality" of my opponents. I don't want to get hit. It's not my hit points, it's the AC.

 

[delericho]

Within the rules, as written a good DM can make any situation dangerous to the PCs.

Agreed. As far as the players know, those dozen guardsmen might all by 14th level specialists called in to bring them down. And there's no telling what enhancements those crossbows have. Hence, they should treat the situation as potentially dangerous.

Now, in fact, the 2nd level guardsmen pose no danger to the PCs, and the captain of the guard is bluffing. So, the PCs should be getting a Sense Motive check. Once they pass that, as they probably will, they should be free to treat the situation as it really is - a cakewalk.

Maybe the bolts are enchanted so they always hit and do max damage, and they are repeating crossbows. If the PC looses 50% of his hit points it's a percentile roll to see if he dies.

In what way is that 'within the rules as written'? Not only is there no mechanism within the rules (even at Epic level, and with very good reason) to enchant weapons to always hit and/or do max damage, but you've also felt the need to introduce a house rule (percentile roll at less than 50% hit points).