GMs! Let me be cool now and again.

[Valiantheart]

I did this once, a long time ago, throwing a party of 17th level characters against an army of ogres, manticores and Hydra's that they could easily handle.

Before the fight, the PC's got to deal with a town guard of fifty that was freaking out over the approaching force, trying to urge the townsfolk to take cover in the nearby hills. THe PC's got to laugh off the danger, tell the town guard to take cover, and strode out on the field of battle where they decimated the force withing seconds.

Good thing I wasnt DM then. I would have showed that arrogant bunch of characters why they should NEVER underestimate an army. 50 crossbow bolts and a couple catapult shots can ruin most characters days. Mass grapples wth ogres can ruin the most powerful fighters days too.

In fact I would have TPK them just for being arrogant enough to stand out in the middle of a field 4 against an army.

 

[arwink]

In fact I would have TPK them just for being arrogant enough to stand out in the middle of a field 4 against an army.

Note to self - army is a relative term.

a) I wasn't looking to make it a tough fight. I wanted the PC's to be feel cool, I wanted to realise how far above the common man they'd risen, and the force invading the town was expecting to face fifty-odd soldiers with a 3rd level leader.

b) This was the equivelent of a random encounter at the time. It was a throw-away, something to break up the monotony of a session spend divining, researching and negotiating. The Players needed a fight to get their blood going, so I gave them one.

c) Exactly none of your tactics would have worked against the way the PC's worked against the opposing force. Consider that 17th level casters have access to spells that can ruin the average armies day, and a pair of elder air elementals in whirlwind form can disrupt enemy lines fairly effectively. Consider that high level PC's are going to get hit by the ogres crossbows on a roll of twenty only, and they aren't going to do anywhere near enough damage on a crit to take a PC down - the odds are better in hand to hand, but by then they have other things to worry about.

d) Sure, there are tactics the ogres could have taken that would have made them a serios challenge, even a deadly one to the players, but that's not the point and it's not what this thread is for. Look at the topic. A simple "No, I don't want my players to feel cool" would have served fine. It may well work for the tone of your game, but it doesn't in mine.

 

[Ravellion]

I once had my 11th level party escort a duchess together with her elite guard of 5th-6th level. Hobgoblins assaulted the caravan, but the combat was over really quickly. (one shot one kill for the archer regardless of cover, the ones that were clustered were decimated by the wizard, and they got to impress the duchess).

Rav

 

[ThirdWizard]

My PC has never fought an encounter that wasn't an equal EL to his level. Every day is a struggle for survival in that game.

I did send an army of fire giants against a group of 20th level PCs once. That being about three groups of 50 fire giants tearing through the plains toward Helkor's Castle. They destroyed them, but the battle took 2 hours.

There has to be some happy medium.

 

[Sarellion]

My high level party (in my home brew game) worked as a caravan guard because they needed to go somewhere in disguise.

Some poor highwaymen decided to take on the caravan and was waiting in ambush.

Surprise round started, fireball flew and our air sorceress casted a stormwind spell, the fighters took on some of the robbers.

After our group had finished the work, the other guards finished drawing their weapons.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Yeah, I let my players have one of those a session ago. The princess they're escorting gets taken up to the top of a tower by a mysterious figure who nearly killed the party earlier. So they go charging up after her. In the way: Low level undead on all 5 floors of the tower. Everyone got to show off in that fight except the poor rogue, but he got the final blow on the BBEG (one of two hits against him actually), so it all worked out.

It was a hoot, and letting your players kick some butt is well reccomended. Just make sure not to over use it. Wiping the floor with a horde of enemies is fun because it's a change, and a chance to show off.