D&D 5E Fight to the death or negotiate?

[iserith]

Oh, and by the way, the guy who took 34 points of damage is now prone. (Knocked down by wolves, rolled a 10 on his DC 11 Strength save.)

I would say that any attempt by a Medium wolf to knock a Huge fire giant down automatically fails, no save required.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

I would say that any attempt by a Medium wolf to knock a Huge fire giant down automatically fails, no save required.

You don't like the thought of hamstringing?

 

[iserith]

You don't like the thought of hamstringing?

Sure, by a Large wolf.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Eighteen feet tall, you say? I'm not sure that the wolf could reasonably knock one down, like ever. It seems like a matter of weight ratios...

In any case, do what you think is best. If it makes sense for the giants to yield, then have them yield. It sounds like you already know what makes sense in this situation.

I'm mostly just curious about other people's intuitions. It appears that most posters play monsters as more bloodthirty and less survival-oriented than my instincts tell me to. Perhaps I'm projecting my own views onto the monsters.

It's good to have other people's perspective on the matter. Thank you. Any thoughts on what it would take to make you surrender, if you were one of the giants? Would taking 91 HP of damage do it for you?

 

[iserith]

Any thoughts on what it would take to make you surrender, if you were one of the giants?

The belief that I was definitely outmatched and that my surrender wouldn't result in death and could potentially result in an opportunity for escape or vengeance at a later time. Otherwise, fight to the death!

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

The belief that I was definitely outmatched and that my surrender wouldn't result in death and could potentially result in an opportunity for escape or vengeance at a later time. Otherwise, fight to the death!

Right, so at what point is that belief engendered? Does being knocked down from 162 to 71 HP without inflicting any damage in return do it for you? Do you need to be knocked down to zero?

(If it turns out that Fire Giants never surrender until you knock them unconscious, the players will just learn to use their surprise round in more violent ways.)

 

[iserith]

Right, so at what point is that belief engendered? Does being knocked down from 162 to 71 HP without inflicting any damage in return do it for you? Do you need to be knocked down to zero?

(If it turns out that Fire Giants never surrender until you knock them unconscious, the players will just learn to use their surprise round in more violent ways.)

Most of that belief is going to have to come from the PCs' efforts to convince the giants that surrender doesn't mean death. That plus being knocked to half hit points would be sufficient in my view.

However, this is all predicated on whether I think having giant prisoners about (or however else the surrender is resolved) is actually going to be any fun. Frankly, I don't think it usually is.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Most of that belief is going to have to come from the PCs' efforts to convince the giants that surrender doesn't mean death. That plus being knocked to half hit points would be sufficient in my view.

However, this is all predicated on whether I think having giant prisoners about (or however else the surrender is resolved) is actually going to be any fun. Frankly, I don't think it usually is.

I should imagine that the fact that the PCs didn't kill you when they initially had the advantage during the surprise round ought to persuade you that they won't kill you if you surrender. Wouldn't it?

In this scenario, you don't need to worry about DMing concerns like "what is going to be the most fun?" I'm the DM, you're the giant. I'm trying to use Enworld to work out giant psychology.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Eighteen feet tall, you say? I'm not sure that the wolf could reasonably knock one down, like ever. It seems like a matter of weight ratios...

Take out the Achilles's tendon, and down goes the giant...

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I should imagine that the fact that the PCs didn't kill you when they initially had the advantage during the surprise round ought to persuade you that they won't kill you if you surrender. Wouldn't it?

Could the PCs have killed me, if they'd tried harder? Or did they give it their all, and that was insufficient?

Have I, or one of my allies, landed a solid blow on one of them? If so, how did they react? Is victory within my grasp, if I can just get one good hit in?

What are my expected odds of survival, given my estimated chances of success or failure to overcome these intruders, relative to the likelihood that they'll keep me alive if I surrender? If I keep fighting, will they choose to KO me, once I'm at their mercy? The necromancer in their party is a strong indication that they don't place inherent value in the life of a thinking creature. Chances are that the offer of surrender was just a bluff, so they could catch us off guard and defeat us without having to fight (unless they offer some compelling reason why they would want us alive).