[DM Aid] Multiple Choice for PCs: Your MONEY or your LIFE!

[Wulf Ratbane]

You can either answer with, or without, the spoiler setup below. (If you answer without any regard for the setup, let me know.)

"Your money or your life!"

Spoiler

Your party of five 4th level PCs-- a sorcerer, a cleric, a paladin, a rogue, and a fighter-- comes out of the dungeon.

Waiting at the entrance is a goblin sorcerer, riding on the shoulder of a hill giant, flanked by two orc flackeys. The goblin yells "Your money or your life!" and the giant hurls a rock as a warning, narrowly missing the group.

What's your answer?

 

[JoeGKushner]

5 4th level PC's against that force... Usually it's two main fighters or meat shields and then, one cleric, one rogue, and one wizard.

Depending on the rules allowed in character creation... it varies.

a 4th level fighter using a high fatnasy (32 point buy) with a greatswrod could probably hit anything there (4 bab + 1 weapon focus +1 magic item +2 strength) and do (2d6 base +3 strength +1 magic item + X variable power attack).

a 4th level barbarian with a greataxe is in a similiar situation.

a 4th level wizard who still has say, bullstrength and mirror image is going to make those creatures die very quickly by casting those spells on the fighter and barbarian.

a 4th level rogue, if he gets the initiative, assuming improved iniatitive, is going to catch his enemies flat footed as combat hasn't actually started no? So that's 2d6 + say, 1d6 +1-3 (strength and short bow enhancement).

How many resources has the party used in the dungeon?

A setup similiar to this, but with much more against the players, is used in Shadows of the Last War for Eberron.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

How many resources has the party used in the dungeon?

I don't want to get too deep into the hypotheticals. It's more of a philosophical question than a tactical one. (I know, I shouldn't have even posted the spoiler option...)

To sum up a quicker way: This encounter is probably at least CR8.

But FYI, no sneak attack for the rogue: this is an ambush with the surprise round already going to the bad guys. (Hence, the rock throwing.)

This setup, by the way, is from Lost City of Barakus (Necromancer Games).

 

[TheEvil]

I presume that 'your money' includes magical equipment. Unless I have a really good reason to believe that they won't simply kill me after handing over the goods, I would rather make a break for it or risk going down swinging while fully equiped.

 

[Piratecat]

Parting with your money makes you a victim. Parting with your life makes you a hero -- or gives you a chance at it, anyways.

Me? I'd duck back into the dungeon and make them come after us on my terms. Hill giants tend to have trouble with 10' ceilings.

 

[pogre]

I answered your $ without reading the set-up. After reading the set-up, I'm pretty my sure party would fight. The odds, although overwhelming, would not be enough to get them to back down. I rarely create situations like this anymore (I am TPK free for over a year now).

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

(I am TPK free for over a year now).

ROFL.

Do you get a comemmorative coin for that?

 

[NTZ]

Before reading the set-up I answered - my money. You can always make more money, but you only have one life.

After reading the set-up my answer changes to what Piratecat says - duck back into the dungeon.

Since Wulf started this poll, I was hoping it would give me some insight for the upcoming Boston Game Day game he is running this weekend.

NTZ

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Before reading the set-up I answered - my money. You can always make more money, but you only have one life.

Heh.

Not included in the spoiler setup is the fact that there's no raise dead/ressurrection in this game.

I didn't think that needed to be said, since the PCs are only 4th level-- same difference.


Wulf

 

[francisca]

Totally fight, provided they were in pretty good health. OF course I'd probably get slaughtered, just coming out the dungeon, beat up and all. But you know, it's just graphite on a thin sheet of wood pulp.

I very rarely run in D&D. The last time I did, I was a Cleric 3 / Fighter 2 and bumped into a freaking Beholder. (My only encounter with a Beholder, ever, I might add.)