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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celtavian" data-source="post: 6858817" data-attributes="member: 5834">Not allowed for this experiment. In general, we're assuming things out of the Monster Manual. The focus is on 5E out of the box. I modify encounters to suit the capabilities of my players. I've been DMing long enough to know that modification is required. The criticisms of 5E aren't concerned with what we as DMs can modify, they are concerned with the base design of the game which some are claiming works out of the box. The lack of poison resistance for Death Slaad is one of the design problems in 5E. Just like the lack of spellcasting for a Balor or Marilith. I recently had my party fight a marilith out of MM. They destroyed her. She had one round of attacks. She missed a bunch and was dead. Why? Ranged attacking PCs. Before she could close the distance, she was dead. They didn't give her spellcasting or any means to defend herself from ranged attacks. They gave her a teleport I think that works as an action taking up all her actions in a round teleporting. It's this kind of base 5E design that makes the game hard to make challenging out of the box.I plan to add spellcasting to most major demons after this experience. A pure brute creature is too easy to beat when used against a party.Some DMs handle this by modifying the environment. But I feel a marility or balor in a neutral environment should still be a substantial challenge. I do not like the idea that such a powerful demon is a speed bump to a coordinated 5E party. These monsters are supposed to be powerful, frightening entities, not higher level orcs. I've been working on boosting these creatures to a status appropriate for their legend even in a neutral environment.And again I note the miscommunication going on in this thread. I did not sign off on DMs heavily modifying encounters. I went with the environment just to continue on. I have had plenty of success challenging characters when I modify encounters. 5E D&D out of the box doesn't work very well. The creatures in 5E are much weaker than other editions with far fewer means to overcome the varied resources of a party. The disadvantage of simplicity I imagine. You really need monsters to be able to do more on their own if you want them to challenge a coordinated, optimized party.</blockquote>

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