DM's perspective: How to deal with the flaming sphere

[Herschel]

It makes the defenders actually earn their keep.

Yep.

As a DM running intelligent baddies, I want to go after the Strikers first, or anything dealing large damage. This is not only the smart/realistic thing to do, but is the reason why a role exists and gives them a chance to do their thing. It's ASSUMED by the designers the baddies will go after certain types. Otherwise, why not play a group of all strikers with a controller?

 

[Nail]

It's ASSUMED by the designers the baddies will go after certain types.

No.

The designers ASSUME there will be PCs from each role. They've stated this time and again. They don't assume "baddies will go after certain types". The designers don't assume anything about who monsters are gunning for.

The idea of party roles is partly tactical - no agrument here - but it is also party because of the Fun Factor(tm). It's simply more fun if your PC contributes something to the party that no one else in the party can do. ...And it's even more fun if your PC can do his schtick in more than one setting.

 

[Jhaelen]

The designers ASSUME there will be PCs from each role. They've stated this time and again. They don't assume "baddies will go after certain types". The designers don't assume anything about who monsters are gunning for.

Hmm, while that is probably correct, the DMG does give hints how monster roles are intended to interact with the pc roles.

An interesting section is on page 10: 'Covering the Character Roles'. It specifically mentions which monster roles become more problematic if the party lacks characters of a certain role.

If you read the section from the monsters' viewpoint, you'll get an indication which pc roles they should try to take out first to gain maximum advantage.

Intelligent monsters should know about their role and who poses the most danger to them.

 

[Nail]

Intelligent monsters should know about their role and who poses the most danger to them.

FWIW, I agree completely.

...and struggling to get back to the point of this thread: Intelligent monsters should be able to figure out in short order who controls the Flaming Sphere. It's quite likely those same intelligent monsters will try to either: #1) limit their exposure to the FS or #2) try to kill the wizard.

But unlike previous versions of D&D, "killing the wizard first" is no longer the de facto best plan....even with Flaming Sphere available.

 

[Gort]

To be honest, I find that any power that allows sustaining for the entire encounter usually turns out to be pretty overpowered. See fighters and their Rain of Steel power for an (in my opinion) even more egregious example.

At least with Flaming Sphere the person you have to kill is a weedy controller instead of a big burly defender.