D&D 4E Dirty DM Tricks for 4e?

[Rechan]

So, I was wondering if anyone has come up with some DM 4e-specific dirty tricks?

One that I thought of: Given that we have different statblock arrays for a single species of monster, I thought about switching monster statblocks for the Same NPC.

For instance, let's say the PCs are fightning Gnolls. Once the PCs are engaged, from behind a Bugbear Strangler (likely a lurker or a skirmisher) snags one of the PCs and starts strangling him. If he is blooded it at all (or the PC escapes), the bugbear flees.

The PCs run into him again. But this time I'm using a statblock (like a nasty brute). Not only will they be expecting a coward or a backstabber, they'll assume after the fact that he's REAL powerful because he could do both the lurking AND the butt kicking.

This could also be done in the middle of combat - simply using one monster's stats until he can no longer use those tactics (like a lurker whose now surrounded, an artillery that's just been charged or cornered).

 

[LostSoul]

That's interesting.

Would you change the XP value of the monster to reflect the fact that he's got these different options? Or would you just award the PCs XP for defeating him both times?

 

[Kaffis]

That's probably a little *too* dirty for my tastes. Well, the switching mid-combat one, not so much the running away one (if, as the above poster suggests, xp is awarded for 2 defeats).

I fully anticipate trying to lure the wizard into dropping fireballs onto non-minions, though, by placement and description.

 

[Rechan]

That's interesting.

Would you change the XP value of the monster to reflect the fact that he's got these different options? Or would you just award the PCs XP for defeating him both times?

For running away, I'd just give them XP for facing the standard monster I was using (for instance, the XP for the Strangler in the first encounter, and the xp for the Brute in the second encounter). Because really they fought two different monsters in two different encounters, but it's the same NPC story-wise.

For mid-combat... I'm not sure, actually. That's one of those areas that I hadn't considered; I just liked the idea of the PCs rushing an archer, and they realize that he was a superior melee fighter who was just laying down cover with his (inferior) arching capacity. Or this particular NPC is well rounded both in melee and at range, but giving a single NPC both potent arenas makes them a little too powerful.

Thinking about it, I suppose it depends on his level. If they are both of the same level, no harm no foul I think. If the Archer/Lurker/Skirmisher is say, level 3 and the brute is level 7, there's significant difference between them and it is really unfair. While you COULD adjust it on the spot with the level adjustment rules (+1/-1 per level to atk and defenses, and per two levels for damage), that's really fiddly. If you didn't do that, and that 3rd level archer that was peppering them over the canyon turns into a 7th level brute when they finally get to him, I'm not sure how you'd reflect that with Xp.

[sblock=Sidenote]The specific reason why I'm doing this/using this example is what I'm doing with Bugbears. I want Bugbears to be the low-tech, fantasy equivalent of Yautja from the Predator movies. It makes sense they'd have both potent lurker/skirmisher and melee capacity. This way you can use fewer of the monsters and make them LOOK scarier; a whole HUNTING PARTY of Yautja is less impressive, imho, from one or two[/sblock]

 

[Surgoshan]

A combat of 20 kobold minions. Followed by a combat with 20 kobold minions. Followed by a combat with 14 kobolds... and now they have to figure out which two are the kobold skirmishers before they start getting combat advantage and dealing an extra d6 damage with their +x to attack for each minion also adjacent to the PC.

 

[AZRogue]

Every hole has lava at the bottom. But it's not a trick.

 

[malraux]

The switching up to make him different in each encounter is a neat idea. I think I'd only let him do that if he could pick ahead of time what he wanted to be. On the fly adaptively seems slightly more powerful. But once they realize they're getting hounded by the same guy, in addition to the regular XP for each encounter, I'd award extra xp for finally hunting him down. Maybe 1/4 of his xp for each time they don't defeat him.

 

[Harshax]

So, I was wondering if anyone has come up with some DM 4e-specific dirty tricks?

One that I thought of: Given that we have different statblock arrays for a single species of monster, I thought about switching monster statblocks for the Same NPC.

For instance, let's say the PCs are fightning Gnolls. Once the PCs are engaged, from behind a Bugbear Strangler (likely a lurker or a skirmisher) snags one of the PCs and starts strangling him. If he is blooded it at all (or the PC escapes), the bugbear flees.

The PCs run into him again. But this time I'm using a statblock (like a nasty brute). Not only will they be expecting a coward or a backstabber, they'll assume after the fact that he's REAL powerful because he could do both the lurking AND the butt kicking.

This could also be done in the middle of combat - simply using one monster's stats until he can no longer use those tactics (like a lurker whose now surrounded, an artillery that's just been charged or cornered).

This sort of reminds me of a idea I had in another thread, where unsuspecting guards were minions, but once active and engaging you in melee were either a) tougher minions or b) not minions.

I think this kind of tactic gives the DM more dramatic control of his game, which can be a very good thing.