NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mishihari Lord" data-source="post: 6427558" data-attributes="member: 128">Talk to them first.  That's always the first step in trying to resolve an issue like this.  Then kill 'em all. (The characters, not the players)  Up the difficulty on some of the encounters to solid TPK territory, then provide alternate solutions, like npc interactions with enemies or potential allies, finding a way around through exploration, and use of terrain.Give fair warning.  Tell them that there are encounters in the upcoming adventure that may not be best solved by combat.  Provide in-game cautions too.  "You remember Sir Whatzisface you met two weeks ago?  The one who was tougher than all y'all?  That looks like what's left of his armor melted into the wall there, with a charred skeleton inside."  Or "This is clearly a defensive structure, but it's been wrecked.  The heavy portcullis on the far end of the cavern is lying in three pieces, there are seven dwarven ballistas lying shattered like so much matchwood, and even the stonework is broken up.  Based on the condition everything's in, it's been between six months and a couple of years since this happened."  Make sure they can run away the first time they're seriously overmatched.When they complain, remind them that you told them that there would be encounters where fighting is not the best solution.Hopefully they'll start trying alternate solutions and see how much fun it is.  If they come around, great.  If not, start to replace the players that aren't a good fit with what you want to do.  There's nothing wrong with purely combat focused games if that's what you enjoy.  But if you're not having fun then why go through all the effort associated with being a DM?I frequently hear people blame this kind of behavior on video game experience, and while that's probably true, I think it should be overcomeable.  After all, the first RPG players came from a wargame background, which was all combat no story or interaction.  If they could make the leap, then current players should be able to do the same.</blockquote>

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