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Do I need an attitude adjustment? (They're gonna nova the BBEG)
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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 8136851" data-attributes="member: 6801845"><p>I don't know what timeline you're on or other details, I've never even run the campaign even though I purchased the monsters in DndBeyond because I plan on having a potential enemy in my campaign being a vampire.</p><p></p><p>Having said that, I think you've boxed yourself in a bit unnecessarily. It doesn't need to be a single fight against one BBEG, and I agree that a solo (in any edition) will always be difficult to set up as a challenge. So the question seems to be, how do you change the scenario to be a challenge? </p><p></p><p>If you want to take the game time, set up a scenario where there is significant attrition of resources. You can't change what's happened but set up a scenario where they have to have multiple fights without a rest. It can be as simple as "You go to rest but nightmares stop you from getting any rest." If they try to leave every time they go out the door they find themselves just walking back into the castle. Another option is to use a doomsday clock where they simply don't have time to rest. It may well mean however that you need to make secret caverns under the castle and generate new encounters.</p><p></p><p>Alternatively give Strahd a bunch of minions. In particular, give him a minion made to look like him that they attack and after a round or so have reinforcements appear. They could come out of secret doors, teleport in or perhaps they were just invisible. Be sure to have them come from multiple directions so that everyone feels threatened. After they're softened up a bit, have Strahd come in and start attacking the most vulnerable.</p><p></p><p>Set up challenges other than killing Strahd that requires people to do something other than fight the vampire. A side ritual is going to sacrifice a bunch of kids and if it completes Strahd will gain immense power. The group can't focus on both threats.</p><p></p><p>Or ... just cheat. Well, not cheat, but get creative. Set up a mirror house that splits the party into two different groups. Have each group fight a mirror copy Strahd. This might be a bit tough to run, I'd recommend doing one full round for group A and then switch over to group B. Personally I think this could be a lot of fun, especially if after defeating the "mirror" versions of Strahd they have to face the real thing.</p><p></p><p>Remember, Strahd isn't <em>just</em> a vampire, this is his domain. You certainly don't have to let the players do whatever they please and you don't have to follow the mod.</p><p></p><p>Personally I prefer smaller groups, and would never run a game with 8 players other than for a one-shot so I understand the challenge. But another thing to remember is that setting up difficult challenges does not mean you have an adversarial relationship with your players, <em>overcoming </em>difficult challenges is part of the fun for most people.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 8136851, member: 6801845"] I don't know what timeline you're on or other details, I've never even run the campaign even though I purchased the monsters in DndBeyond because I plan on having a potential enemy in my campaign being a vampire. Having said that, I think you've boxed yourself in a bit unnecessarily. It doesn't need to be a single fight against one BBEG, and I agree that a solo (in any edition) will always be difficult to set up as a challenge. So the question seems to be, how do you change the scenario to be a challenge? If you want to take the game time, set up a scenario where there is significant attrition of resources. You can't change what's happened but set up a scenario where they have to have multiple fights without a rest. It can be as simple as "You go to rest but nightmares stop you from getting any rest." If they try to leave every time they go out the door they find themselves just walking back into the castle. Another option is to use a doomsday clock where they simply don't have time to rest. It may well mean however that you need to make secret caverns under the castle and generate new encounters. Alternatively give Strahd a bunch of minions. In particular, give him a minion made to look like him that they attack and after a round or so have reinforcements appear. They could come out of secret doors, teleport in or perhaps they were just invisible. Be sure to have them come from multiple directions so that everyone feels threatened. After they're softened up a bit, have Strahd come in and start attacking the most vulnerable. Set up challenges other than killing Strahd that requires people to do something other than fight the vampire. A side ritual is going to sacrifice a bunch of kids and if it completes Strahd will gain immense power. The group can't focus on both threats. Or ... just cheat. Well, not cheat, but get creative. Set up a mirror house that splits the party into two different groups. Have each group fight a mirror copy Strahd. This might be a bit tough to run, I'd recommend doing one full round for group A and then switch over to group B. Personally I think this could be a lot of fun, especially if after defeating the "mirror" versions of Strahd they have to face the real thing. Remember, Strahd isn't [I]just[/I] a vampire, this is his domain. You certainly don't have to let the players do whatever they please and you don't have to follow the mod. Personally I prefer smaller groups, and would never run a game with 8 players other than for a one-shot so I understand the challenge. But another thing to remember is that setting up difficult challenges does not mean you have an adversarial relationship with your players, [I]overcoming [/I]difficult challenges is part of the fun for most people. [/QUOTE]
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