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Challenging High-Level 5e Characters
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<blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 9290975" data-attributes="member: 6809274"><p>Some additional thoughts...</p><p></p><p>Regarding my above guidance on monsters, there's a few other things I do with encounter design. First, I use standard monsters straight out of the book and mix them with the Elite- and Solo-style monsters. Second, in some instances I take standard monsters and cut their hit points in half. For example, at high level I might take an ogre, cut the hit points in half, but increase attack bonus and damage. Why? Because I want high level fighters to look at a half-dozen CR2 ogres and say, "I got this." Because they do. The problem is that it will take a fighter ages and ages to grind through six 50hp monsters. So I tweak the stats to support the fiction. Third and final, I use Flee Mortals minions. </p><p></p><p>Basically, depending on the circumstances, some combination of these monster designs allow me to make challenging, interesting combats. It's not easy.</p><p></p><p>From level 13 onward, I have characters level really fast. In my campaigns, it takes 10-12 sessions to get through Tier 1. I have high level characters advance equally fast. I want them to enjoy the power of high level play, but I don't want to dwell in grindy combats and spells that break the fiction. So level 13 is a sign to begin wrapping things up, quickly.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="THEMNGMNT, post: 9290975, member: 6809274"] Some additional thoughts... Regarding my above guidance on monsters, there's a few other things I do with encounter design. First, I use standard monsters straight out of the book and mix them with the Elite- and Solo-style monsters. Second, in some instances I take standard monsters and cut their hit points in half. For example, at high level I might take an ogre, cut the hit points in half, but increase attack bonus and damage. Why? Because I want high level fighters to look at a half-dozen CR2 ogres and say, "I got this." Because they do. The problem is that it will take a fighter ages and ages to grind through six 50hp monsters. So I tweak the stats to support the fiction. Third and final, I use Flee Mortals minions. Basically, depending on the circumstances, some combination of these monster designs allow me to make challenging, interesting combats. It's not easy. From level 13 onward, I have characters level really fast. In my campaigns, it takes 10-12 sessions to get through Tier 1. I have high level characters advance equally fast. I want them to enjoy the power of high level play, but I don't want to dwell in grindy combats and spells that break the fiction. So level 13 is a sign to begin wrapping things up, quickly. [/QUOTE]
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