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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7301115" data-attributes="member: 20323">First, I highly recommend you check out my Dragon Mountain conversion (in my sig); even though it was for 4th edition, many of the ideas could be readily adapted to 5e, such as the Kobold Horde monster/merged with skill challenge. Also check out my homebrew 5th edition stat blocks for variant kobolds (also in my sig).More importantly, what is the PCs' goal? If it's &quot;kill all monsters&quot;, well of course you're in for a &quot;grind fest&quot; (which isn't necessarily a bad thing if the combat is dynamic, fun, and keeps the players engaged). However, I think there's opportunity in your scenario for a more interesting party goal... What about &quot;seal off the tunnels&quot;? This would trap the kobolds underground and collapse at least some sections on them. Heck, the PCs could even try to frame the orcs for the sabotage, and break the kobold-orc alliance!Alternately, if the showdown with the kobold chief is too built up already, role-play him like a damn kobold. &quot;Brave and mighty adventurers... We submit! Take our treasure, but have mercy for we were forced by foul orcs to raid the surface world. The orcs have enslaved many of my tribe, and us meek kobolds stood little chance. But now, seeing your prowess, I think we could join forces and depose the orc chief together!&quot; And then you have the option of the kobold chief (a) actually meaning it and betraying the orcs to save his skin, or (b) it all being a ruse...the treasure being cursed (I've had fun with a bag of devouring before)...the orcs sneaking in from another entrance...etc.Another thing I've played with when running kobolds is that &quot;kobold chief&quot; is a revolving position, and often in times of strife (such as adventurer incursions), disputing groups within the tribe will make their own bid for chiefdom. So you could have the &quot;kobold chief&quot; they encounter be different than the &quot;kobold chief&quot; who has been antagonizing them (and since ran off with his bodyguards and heaps of treasure strapped to giant beetles); perhaps this new &quot;kobold chief&quot; is more willing to parlay.Final thought: Combats with lots of weak monsters don't need to become a &quot;grind fest.&quot; A bit of design work in advance and some creativity can make those kinds of fights quite engaging all the way through.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7301115, member: 20323"] First, I highly recommend you check out my Dragon Mountain conversion (in my sig); even though it was for 4th edition, many of the ideas could be readily adapted to 5e, such as the Kobold Horde monster/merged with skill challenge. Also check out my homebrew 5th edition stat blocks for variant kobolds (also in my sig). More importantly, what is the PCs' goal? If it's "kill all monsters", well of course you're in for a "grind fest" (which isn't necessarily a bad thing if the combat is dynamic, fun, and keeps the players engaged). However, I think there's opportunity in your scenario for a more interesting party goal... What about "seal off the tunnels"? This would trap the kobolds underground and collapse at least some sections on them. Heck, the PCs could even try to frame the orcs for the sabotage, and break the kobold-orc alliance! Alternately, if the showdown with the kobold chief is too built up already, role-play him like a damn kobold. [I]"Brave and mighty adventurers... We submit! Take our treasure, but have mercy for we were forced by foul orcs to raid the surface world. The orcs have enslaved many of my tribe, and us meek kobolds stood little chance. But now, seeing your prowess, I think we could join forces and depose the orc chief together!"[/I] And then you have the option of the kobold chief (a) actually meaning it and betraying the orcs to save his skin, or (b) it all being a ruse...the treasure being cursed (I've had fun with a [I]bag of devouring[/I] before)...the orcs sneaking in from another entrance...etc. Another thing I've played with when running kobolds is that "kobold chief" is a revolving position, and often in times of strife (such as adventurer incursions), disputing groups within the tribe will make their own bid for chiefdom. So you could have the "kobold chief" they encounter be different than the "kobold chief" who has been antagonizing them (and since ran off with his bodyguards and heaps of treasure strapped to giant beetles); perhaps this new "kobold chief" is more willing to parlay. Final thought: Combats with lots of weak monsters don't need to become a "grind fest." A bit of design work in advance and some creativity can make those kinds of fights quite engaging all the way through. [/QUOTE]

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