How does the GM handle tough NPCs and how does your party react?

[xnosipjpqmhd]

Something not listed above: Provide an example of how tough an NPC is and let the players come to their own conclusions. Example: Rumor has it that the NPC was so tough he slew an ancient white dragon by himself and moved into his lair.

Yeah, that's a good example of A, giving players a clue as to the threat posed by the adversary.

Mystery man, does your group tend to start looking for alternative ways to defeat the adversary (e.g. get some allies, try to find the bad guy's weakness, look for a powerful weapon...), or do they just sort of give up on ever facing him, or do they face him anyway regardless of the rumor?

ironregime

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

So far the poll shows that 3 out of 4 GMs don't provide clues to their players about an adversary that outmatches them!

Wow, I didn't expect that lop-sided of a result....

ironregime

 

[devilbat]

My players deal with option b. I make a point to place hints and rumors about the tougher NPC's the players may end up facing. That way, if they bother to investigate anything about the NPC in question, they are abale to familiarize themselves with what they are about to deal with.

 

[Henry]

I provide clues, but there are times that individual players have ignored the clues and proceeded anyway... to their peril. They learn rather quickly to follow the same instincts that serve them in real life. (Cue Jim Croce's "don't mess around with Jim" song)

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

My players deal with option b. I make a point to place hints and rumors about the tougher NPC's the players may end up facing. That way, if they bother to investigate anything about the NPC in question, they are abale to familiarize themselves with what they are about to deal with.

So wouldn't the hints and rumours be option A, then?

Do you find that your players usually find the hints and rumours, and if so, do they take them at face value or go confront the BBEG anyway to find out for themselves?

ironregime

 

[Mystery Man]

Yeah, that's a good example of A, giving players a clue as to the threat posed by the adversary.

Mystery man, does your group tend to start looking for alternative ways to defeat the adversary (e.g. get some allies, try to find the bad guy's weakness, look for a powerful weapon...), or do they just sort of give up on ever facing him, or do they face him anyway regardless of the rumor?

ironregime

They look for alternate ways, get backup etc.

 

[devilbat]

So wouldn't the hints and rumours be option A, then?

I guess it's a combination of option a and option b.

I generally don't throw the party at something too tough for them, but if they end up in that direction, I don't go out of the way to set up automatic warnings. They would have to tell me that the are attempting to gather information, or actively searching for information on the NPC in question. There are usually no freebies in my game.

Do you find that your players usually find the hints and rumours, and if so, do they take them at face value or go confront the BBEG anyway to find out for themselves?

My players will pick up, or search out the rumors approx. 50% of the time. If they know they are going against something tough, they will proceed with extreme caution, as they know I am a proud Rat Bastard DM.

 

[MonsterMash]

Generally both when I GM or with the GMs that run games for groups I'm in its a mixture of A & B I went with A as how I normally do things.

 

[sniffles]

Hmm, interesting. I wasn't sure how to respond. In general, the GMs I play with don't throw us up against BBEGs; it tends to be more bunches of mooks. When we do occasionally go against the BBEG, we usually have a pretty good idea how tough he is, either through general knowledge or having met him before. We tend to assume that we're outmatched and are going to either get our butts kicked or run away with our tails between our legs, so we're usually surprised and pleased when we manage to clobber the bad guy.

 

[Arkham]

I generally go with option D.
The first PC to die generally serves as a signal to the others to be on their toes and pull out all the stops.
It's when the 2nd and 3rd go down that they start to seriously consider flight...