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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7349552" data-attributes="member: 20323">I'm familiar with Gates of Firestorm Peak, and I believe you're referring to Encounter #71 in the Twisted Caverns which uses this map?<img src="http://dmdavid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Gates_of_Firestorm_Peak21.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Reading through the original encounter's writeup, it seems clear that the players are intended to devise ways to slow down / halt / minimize the number of gibberlings able to reach them. I make this assertion based on text like:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"a large bonfire can hold gibberlings at bay for 1d4+1 rounds"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"the party might very well determine that their best option concerning this room is to merely run for their lives"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"If the PCs manage to barricade themselves behind a sturdy door or something similar, the gibberlings batter upon it for 1d10 rounds before losing interest"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Groups of 12 gibberlings fight together"</li> </ul>I believe the intention of the original is that your problem #1 is actually a feature intended to encourage out-of-the-box strategic thinking. So in addition to the mechanical advice you've already received, I'd suggest reframing the challenge from "kill 100 gibberlings" to "defining how/where/when the battle occurs in order to survive it." That's a much more holistic view.For example, spirit guardians is a worthwhile tactic if the PCs have clustered together; it's situations like this that the spell is meant for, and the cleric should get a chance to shine. However, after the angelic spirits flitting about the party kill the first 12 or so gibberlings, the gibberlings are going to change things up. Maybe they start throwing rocks or bone javelins? Maybe they start bashing the floor around the PCs, ruining it and dropping the PCs into a lower level of the surrounding cavern? (after all, the fact that the area is already ruined could serve as foreshadowing) Maybe they have a maddening wail that forces Concentration checks or imposes the frightened condition? Maybe they back off momentarily, but continue to stalk the PCs through the dungeon, lurking in the shadows, periodically testing the spell's radius at opportune moments? Maybe the broodmothers order the gibberlings to cause a cave-in at the far right side of the map, putting a time pressure on the PCs or making them come up with a way to dig out rubble before spirit guardians expires?</blockquote>

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