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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 2774232" data-attributes="member: 3146">True, but at least when I run, the cannon-fodder NPCs on the wall or at the edge of camp are there to provide warning to the real NPCs who can then come out afterwards. If I let the PCs autogank the cannon-fodder NPCs, first I've established a mechanic that players will want to use for real NPCs and, more importantly, the real NPCs don't have any warning that the PCs are coming for them and are likely to end up surprise round ganked as well. I don't mind that if the PCs are actually stealthy enough to do it, but I'm not going to handwave the part where the PCs can actually get into trouble.Maybe you're thinking of a different situation than I am, but IME, the most dangerous bit for the PCs is that initial approach. If the cannon-fodder spots the PCs, they face the whole camp at once in an organized and cohesive manner. If PCs sneak up on the cannon fodder, they face the camp piecemeal and in a disorganized manner. Mechanically, that's frequently the difference between the EL being APL +2 (with a long enough combat that it's really two fights) and the EL being APL +6 (when all the NPCs are together and organized with the advantage of the wall or whatever defenses they've constructed. Even if the bad guys are "just cannon-fodder" I'm not going to make that automatic unless the PCs are good enough that it's really automatic.If it's really an inconsequential scene, I won't just hand-wave the stealth; I'll handwave the whole encounter. "There's a small encampment of orcs on that hill; you quickly roll them up, taking insignificant damage and move on." But I try to avoid having inconsequential scenes. Maybe the orcs have a horn or a signal fire that they could light and alert the orc army to the presence of intruders. Or maybe they have swift riders on wargs who will attempt to escape and warn the rest of the army. Then neither the stealth nor the encounter is inconsequential.</blockquote>

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