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Discuss: Combat as War in D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 8268117" data-attributes="member: 82106"><p>Yeah, though I would say that it is unlikely (barring some sort of magical transformation) for a specific NPC to show up as a Solo one day and a Standard another day when the PCs are essentially unchanged. That would seem to imply that the creature's threat level is drastically different every time you encounter it. I don't think that is the intent here.</p><p></p><p>I would say that you might encounter an 'ogre' as a solo at level 1, it is very strong and fights you by itself, has a good chance to win too! As an elite monster at, say level 3, now it is still a 'boss monster' but it isn't able to pose a lethal threat without support. Maybe at level 7 it is now a standard, its just a routine footsoldier in a fight now. At level 12 it is just a minion, something that might be able to cause some damage, but is not a real threat and can be dispatched with a single blow. Note that if you set these levels correctly, you can set the XP value of the creature the same in all these 4 scenarios. </p><p></p><p>Obviously, you could simply use a level 7 standard in all 4 cases, but it will suck. The level 1 fight will be a total whiff fest, though the PCs are actually still pretty likely to win in the end, the solo version will be a lot more fun combat. Likewise with the elite at level 3, it will simply be a lot more fun and about the same threat level. As a level 7 standard in a 12th level fight, the creature will STILL be a negligible threat AND you will have to track its hit points and remember what powers it has (whereas minions just generally have one power). </p><p></p><p>The outcomes of all these fights are NOT likely to vary based on changing the monster type and level, they are simply going to play out better, more fun at the table. This is the goal.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 8268117, member: 82106"] Yeah, though I would say that it is unlikely (barring some sort of magical transformation) for a specific NPC to show up as a Solo one day and a Standard another day when the PCs are essentially unchanged. That would seem to imply that the creature's threat level is drastically different every time you encounter it. I don't think that is the intent here. I would say that you might encounter an 'ogre' as a solo at level 1, it is very strong and fights you by itself, has a good chance to win too! As an elite monster at, say level 3, now it is still a 'boss monster' but it isn't able to pose a lethal threat without support. Maybe at level 7 it is now a standard, its just a routine footsoldier in a fight now. At level 12 it is just a minion, something that might be able to cause some damage, but is not a real threat and can be dispatched with a single blow. Note that if you set these levels correctly, you can set the XP value of the creature the same in all these 4 scenarios. Obviously, you could simply use a level 7 standard in all 4 cases, but it will suck. The level 1 fight will be a total whiff fest, though the PCs are actually still pretty likely to win in the end, the solo version will be a lot more fun combat. Likewise with the elite at level 3, it will simply be a lot more fun and about the same threat level. As a level 7 standard in a 12th level fight, the creature will STILL be a negligible threat AND you will have to track its hit points and remember what powers it has (whereas minions just generally have one power). The outcomes of all these fights are NOT likely to vary based on changing the monster type and level, they are simply going to play out better, more fun at the table. This is the goal. [/QUOTE]
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