Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="werk" data-source="post: 2274554" data-attributes="member: 29663">I don't think orcs are not challenging after they party has fireball (and cleave).  You need to first think HORDE.  A horde is not destroyed by a few fireballs.  First, make a horde of orcs, and add levels so you have a heirarchy.  60% normal orcs, 20% +2 ECL, 10% +4ECL, 5% +6ECL...you get the idea, whatever is appropriate level for your party.  You could even make the base of the horde from +?ECL orcs with higher level leaders and call them gray orcs or urik hai, basically 'better than stock orcs'.What's a horde?  over 100? over 500? over 2000?  The benefit of a horde is numbers, not individual strength or organization.  It's a numbers game.Second, hordes generally attack in waves.  First wave will probably eat up most of the fireballs, lightning bolts, etc.  Of course, those are the shock troops, just base MM orcs (pushovers).  Second wave is tougher and the party blows the rest of their AoE spells. "surely that's the last of them."  Waves get tougher and smaller as they run out of 'expendable' orc troops and the leaders have to go to work.  Orcs are good grapplers, if they are still standing next to the character after it's charge attack, grapple.Instead of giants, I prefer Orogs and Tannaruk after that I lean toward ogres.  Orcs should be led by orcs to reach their full potential and fanatical zeal.  Throw levels around all over, make them an invading force, not a pack of dogs with a couple of big dogs.I also prefer for the party to train and lead a group of defenders into the battle (especially if anyone has leadership).  I like to develop a few NPCs in this group, endearing them to a goodly party.  Keep track of the defenders and let the players know what's happening (even if you only roll out the PC combat).  [The super nice lad that was a crack shot with a bow is seen swinging from a pike, but the dumb as cabbage smith that couldn't learn anything is standing hip-deep in dead orcs and swinging his hammer recklessly.  The tough-as-nails barmaid is being carried away from the battle by some orcs...wonder what they are going to do.]Lots to work with IMO.</blockquote>

Verification