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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5303402" data-attributes="member: 92305">That was my original intent, but, I've devised a more interesting encounter for the PCs that takes place just before this one with the NPC.  Originally, in my DM Creation Department, I didn't have a combat encounter planned for the PCs, so letting them play the NPC and his opponent would be ideal. But, two combat encounter back-to-back like this would lose some of the umph and possibly drag down the game (since combat can be slow). That's when I came up with the idea of the PCs watching the encounter, with a viable interest in its outcome (since they are attached to the NPC), but helpless to do anything about it because they are honor bound not to. I want to play up that aspect of it.  I think it will make for an interesting encounter--watching the fight, wanting to do something, but can't. If I just use narration, I'll lose the drama, too, because the players will know that I've pre-selected the outcome. This brought me around to thinking that I'd get some mileage out of dicing the encounter, where either side can win.  If I describe it right and roll dice out in front of the players so that they know I'm not flubbing at all, I should be able to squeeze some high drama out of this encounter, keeping the players on the edge of their seats. Again, I don't want to use the full rules--just some basic d20 throws and descriptive action. I'm thinking hard about just giving each combatant a target number--like a DC to hit and damage the opponent--and based on those rolls describe the action.  The higher the roll, the more hit points will be taken off. Let's say a character needs a 12 to hit.  If he rolls a 13, it's one hit point of damage.  If he rolls a 17, it's 5 hit points of damage.  A roll of 20 may be automatic double damage. I just want one roll to figure everything, keeping the encounter quick and exciting, back and forth, focusing on the players watching the action. Something simple like that.</blockquote>

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