D&D 5E Christmas Tree Enemies

[Minigiant]

Here's a question.
Do you still use enemies loaded up with magic items? 5e was built around the assumption and math where both PCs and NPCs don't need them. But do you load up humanoid foes with magic items anyway?

How often.
Only named or important enemies?
Only when there are major story reasons?
Do you let the PCs keep them after victory (oh no. The sword turned to dust)?

In my world the oversaturation and devaluation of +1 longswords and +1 basic armor is a major plot point. So every evil orc, human bandit, and hobgoblin footman has a magic sword and leather and the strong ones can afford to melt 5 down to make want they want. This means everyone hits harder and more often and every fight with humaniods is a bit more scary. But outside of "worthless shiny swords", magic items don't see enemy hands unless you mess with a artificer's personal guard. PCs are very cautious of these guys as they are always loaded with magic items and you can't even take them since their bosses can turn them off. Then there are thare those former or current adventurers who didn't sell everything.

As a player, my DM only gave us one Christmas tree warrior to deal with. So many magic items. Strong ones too. Dropped a third the party and we ran away. Good times good times. 5e humanoids with tons of attacks with magic weapons and armor and flight are bad news, man.

 

[Dragonsbane]

I have found giving NPCs or monsters many magical items to keep up with players causes an increase in the issue - when they kill the critter, they get more items for themselves lol. Bad circular cycle.

For NPCs and critters I usually use many buff spells that they can cast themselves or cast by a minion, as well as disposable items. Use tactics, higher ground, etc.

 

[Leatherhead]

Attunement puts quite a cramp on this behavior. And being able to manually adjust monster stats via the DMG makes it a moot point otherwise. Sure, if the guy has a magic sword, they will use it. And a potion too, perhaps.

 

[Minigiant]

Attunement puts quite a cramp on this behavior. And being able to manually adjust monster stats via the DMG makes it a moot point otherwise. Sure, if the guy has a magic sword, they will use it. And a potion too, perhaps.

Attunement still allows for 3 powerful magic items though.

 

[Coredump]

5E treats 'bad guy' rules differently than PC rules. So instead of giving the Bad Guy a +2 sword, he instead has an abiliity that does an extra 1D8 to an attack once per turn. Or gets advantage in certain situations, etc. THis way you can increase the threat to the party, without having to resort to more and more magic items.

 

[Minigiant]

5E treats 'bad guy' rules differently than PC rules. So instead of giving the Bad Guy a +2 sword, he instead has an abiliity that does an extra 1D8 to an attack once per turn. Or gets advantage in certain situations, etc. THis way you can increase the threat to the party, without having to resort to more and more magic items.

I know that.

But a NPC noble could maybe afford a magic longsword, magic breastplate, gauntlets of ogre power, and two rings of resistance. Adventurer sell their leftovers to nobles right.

Say you betray a noble in court. What's to stop him from huntinging you down with all his magic gear at the inn later.

 

[Jester David]

I know that.

But a NPC noble could maybe afford a magic longsword, magic breastplate, gauntlets of ogre power, and two rings of resistance. Adventurer sell their leftovers to nobles right.

Say you betray a noble in court. What's to stop him from huntinging you down with all his magic gear at the inn later.

Any noble who's first reaction is "Imma personally hunt down those sumbitches with my magical loot" deserve to die and have their wealth taken by the party.
Much easier to hire assassins, convince every inn in the town not to let the party stay there, prevent the party getting rations or selling treasure (except at low prices) and the like.

 

[Minigiant]

Any noble who's first reaction is "Imma personally hunt down those sumbitches with my magical loot" deserve to die and have their wealth taken by the party.
Much easier to hire assassins, convince every inn in the town not to let the party stay there, prevent the party getting rations or selling treasure (except at low prices) and the like.

Not every noble is right in the head.
Or you can get your assassin magic weapons.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I've had enemy NPC's have consumables (which the party yells at them for using..."Stop drinking our treasure!"). Thus far, they've only taken a few permanent magic items off an enemy's corpse (lesser staff of fire, amulet of protection, and a non-magical +1 rapier), and that was because I wanted to pass out some treasure, not because they needed it to get the same results. I just give NPC's whatever stats, damage, AC, etc I want. 4E really got that right - a creature's stats should reflect the narrative role in the game. I'm glad we're past 3E's piles of +1 magical vendor trash gear to compete.

In terms of the NPC gearing up and coming to kick butt - they're honestly better off spending that cash on a bunch more soldiers. With bounded accuracy, 10 3HD goons in scale mail, shield, longswords and crossbows are going to be a heck of a lot more deadly than getting an extra +1 to hit and damage with a sword. And your survival goes up a lot more by not being in the same room as a bunch of dangerous murder hobos than that +1 breastplate. Numbers really do count in 5E.

 

[Chocolategravy]

Attunement still allows for 3 powerful magic items though.

This would only be true if all items required attunement. Which may be a good house rule.