Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 4044958" data-attributes="member: 3400">I'm not exactly sure of the timing of the situation from your summary. When did the grimlock move forward to do the coup de grace? I find it often happens that DM-controlled characters are too well coordinated, all lines of communication being internal to the DM's brain. Would the grimlock have thought of doing the CdG himself or would he have moved to the opening where the sounds of other PCs rushing to the rescue are obviously coming? Did the priest tell him to do it? Was there any delay in doing so?Any delay could have given the barbarian a chance to get his action in,which is another save, and do so while turning on the rage (another +2 to the save).I'm not saying that you did anything wrong. But I do find that, on discussion boards like this, there's usually more discussion about how to challenge a party with a tough fight than there is any recognition that an NPC group under the DM's control is almost always more efficient than any similar group would be in real life (barring very intense training and planning beforehand). That efficiency can get PCs in trouble very quickly, even if the challenge ratings aren't skewed against them.One other thing I consider when thinking about a CdG: what weapon to use. My NPCs often don't use their most powerful melee weapon when doing one if, in real world terms, they seem too unwieldly for the precision work. Against a heavily armored opponent, for example, they dig out a dagger so they can more handily stick it into the gaps in the armor or at the throat. It "feels" more appropriate to do it that way. The NPC selects the appropriate realistic tool for the job even if the rules favor another tool. If that ends up meaning the Fort save to resist ends up being a little lower... no worries on my part and it gives the PCs a break.</blockquote>

Verification