When i run my NPCs they have what they would have.
If you catch an NPC wizard or cleric at rest, so to speak, where he is not aware of an immediate attack, he will often have his daily spells, which are a mix of combat and other. Some slots may even be expended.
Most likely, you are going to encounter a caster with a "core" group of spells, those for "ohmygosh" surprises (some fight, some flight, some counters) and a lot of open slots. After all, maybe he will need a cure or an identify later...
if you encounter him when he is "on a mission" then you will encounter no, or few, open slots. I say few because even when on a specific mission it will not be uncommon for him to have a slot or two open for "replenishing" those he uses.
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One of my favorite fights was using a lich sorcerer against my PCs. after his initial defenses started to wane from various dispels and such, he teleported back to his sanctum while the PCs dealt with aftermath and traps. He rebuffed and came back in for more. When that set of buffs was about down, it was time to go and he did indeed teleport back to sanctum while the PCs healed and searched for secret doors, and he grabbed his heward's and teleported out.
It was loads of fun.
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If all a Gm does is design fully geared battle things to toss at the party, whether its in the field or in bed or whatever, thats his and their loss.
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If you catch an NPC wizard or cleric at rest, so to speak, where he is not aware of an immediate attack, he will often have his daily spells, which are a mix of combat and other. Some slots may even be expended.
Most likely, you are going to encounter a caster with a "core" group of spells, those for "ohmygosh" surprises (some fight, some flight, some counters) and a lot of open slots. After all, maybe he will need a cure or an identify later...
if you encounter him when he is "on a mission" then you will encounter no, or few, open slots. I say few because even when on a specific mission it will not be uncommon for him to have a slot or two open for "replenishing" those he uses.
*****************
One of my favorite fights was using a lich sorcerer against my PCs. after his initial defenses started to wane from various dispels and such, he teleported back to his sanctum while the PCs dealt with aftermath and traps. He rebuffed and came back in for more. When that set of buffs was about down, it was time to go and he did indeed teleport back to sanctum while the PCs healed and searched for secret doors, and he grabbed his heward's and teleported out.
It was loads of fun.
*********************
If all a Gm does is design fully geared battle things to toss at the party, whether its in the field or in bed or whatever, thats his and their loss.
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