Creeping Cold Problem

[Petrosian]

When asked how extended heat metal worked, wotc responded that it extended the hottest part, making it do a lot of damage over a long time. I see no problem with melf's either. The creeping spells look bad but...

frankly, how often does an enemy last that long when under fire?

In my experience extended damaging effects like this will rarely if ever reach their potential

 

[Hecabus]

Combat Duration

Actually, combats have been lasting quite a while. I tend to have multiple opponents for the group and I make sure that they are challenging. The party is 10-11th and is made up as follows:

Half-Celestial Dwarf Paladin
Psionic Warrior/Monk
Psuedo Dragon Fire-based Sorceror
Human Incantrix (Specialized in Evocation and Abjuration)
Human Druid
Human Cleric (Combat Buffer)
Curst Rogue (Undead template from Monsters of Faerun)

They have pretty standard equipment and very heavy on spellcasting. The main problem is they seem to burn through their magic way to fast. Even when I give them something way below their Challenge Rating they blow their proverbial wad making the next encounter really difficult. I try not to be too deadly, but the lack of strategy and fighters tend to make combat long and bloody (PC's died 9 times last night - although a couple of the deaths were from the undead character that stands back up in an hour).

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Combat Duration

Actually, combats have been lasting quite a while.

Largely due to the fact that your party is three players larger than the standard party. Their level doesn't really have anything more to do with it than it normally would. The size of the party just complicates it further.

As a side note, I'm impressed. I've never been very good at running games with large groups (anything over 5).

 

[Hecabus]

Combat Duration

I guess I wasn't too clear....

Combats have been lasting for large amounts of rounds. Last night's game involved two combats. One was an ambush by a higher level Druid in his grove with all his creatures and tons of buff spells for his animals. (The party thought he was an ally since he helped them kill a dragon in his forest using drugs out of the Book of Vile Things and a few low level spells.) They sat there and watched the Druid cast bunches of spells (Animal Growth, Barkskin, Aura of Vitality, Bear's Heart and Nature's Favor) and then watched as he cast Firestorm on them.

I love when a plan goes off. They thought he was going to help them claim an island.

The first combat consisted of the 7 players, a 13th level Druid, an awakened Dire Bear, Boar, Tiger, Dire Eagle, 4 Ravens, 4 Dryads and 3 Treants. This combat lasted over 20 rounds, with only the Psuedo Dragon surviving because of his fire protection and flying. He came back the next day and finished off the treants and dryads and chased down the bear who was going to get the Druid resurrected.

The second combat was against the party's druid's ex-animal companion. I gave them an awakened hollow dire bear with double HD and 6 levels of fighter to fight right after the group got resurrected. This combat lasted probably 15 rounds or so.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Combat Duration

I guess I wasn't too clear....

No, you were clear. The point is that combat with a party of 7 will generally take longer than combat with a party of 4. Tactics can shorten or lengthen that time further, but like I said, that's secondary. That's all I was saying.