Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greatwyrm" data-source="post: 4145615" data-attributes="member: 479">I'd say, overall, the smaller a settlement is, the less likely it is to survive.  However, you're usually going to need some kind of organized effort to actually eliminate a place.For starters, let's assume that magical critters generally act like real world ones.  Yes, I know the dangers of applying "real" anything to D&D.Hunting animals will try to pick out weak animals alone or at the edge of the herd.  A couple dozen cottages within shouting range is a small town, but enough of a deterrent to make a difference.  If you have the one cottage 200 yards down the road, hope you have a strong door.  Also, hunting animals will also avoid over-hunting their home territory.  If they kill everything today, there's nothing to eat tomorrow.Any kind of intelligent creature(s) would generally need a reason to attack or eliminate a settlement.  If they attack, there's a chance a larger organized power could retaliate.  Is there anything they will get from attacking that will make their losses worthwhile?  In some cases -- like orcs -- can they even stay organized long enough to accomplish their goal?  The threats may not be stupid, but may not be much in the way of team players.  Maybe they even like having a small settlement there, because it gives them the opportunity to pick off the occasional traveller or merchant.Now, here's the beauty of being the DM.  You don't need to explain why the local threat has allowed them to continue to be there.  Honest.  Either the townsfolk can provide themselves an adequate defense and that's reason enough or the threat is mysterious and nobody knows the reason why.  If the characters come to a settlement that hasn't been overrun yet, one of those things is true or the battle is underway.</blockquote>

Verification