I remembered that I forgot!

[bento]

In my last session I ran one combat encounter where my players come under attack from 15 mounted bandits. In anticipation before the game, I went ahead and put together a dice results table to save some time during the game. When it was the bandit's turn, I counted off the rolls on the dice results table and I FORGOT TO ADD THE NPC'S ATTACK BONUS!

After 16 attacks and no hits, we went to the next player and I sat there for a minute thinking I had missed something. When it hit me what I had done, my players nicely enough let me "re-do" my turn, even though it cost them a few hit points.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I've missed tons of stuff, spell-like abilities are easiest to overlook. The one that really sticks in my mind for some reason is a battle with about 30 derro where I forgot their sound burst. It seems minor but that's 1d8 definite damage, times 30. Reckon I could've bagged me a couple of PCs if I'd remembered.

I find the MM4/5 format really helps with its presentation of special abilities in bold at the bottom of the stat block. Bold font makes all the difference. I don't think I've missed a single key ability of a 4/5 monster.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I reccomend writing up 3x5, 5x8 or 6x9 index cards with the important encounter abilities written up on them. It has worked wonders for me.

 

[Agamon]

Some time ago, the party met up with a powerful undead outsider. I kinda forgot the undead part and let the barbarian crit it with a greataxe for mega damage, and it died before it even got a chance to act. Realized it right after the fight was done. Whoops.

 

[Wandering Star]

Meh, I've been in tonnes of real life encounters where Ive forgotten to use some of my 'abilities'. Sigh. I guess it just adds versimiltude :\

 

[Wandering Star]

Some time ago, the party met up with a powerful undead outsider. I kinda forgot the undead part and let the barbarian crit it with a greataxe for mega damage, and it died before it even got a chance to act. Realized it right after the fight was done. Whoops.

I'd have had another one suddenly materialise up behind them. Or told the characters that he rolled an AMAZING bluff check.

 

[hong]

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=113475&highlight=hongs+head+explodes

 

[Angel Tarragon]

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=113475

FFIFY. Not everyone has access to the Search feature.

 

[shilsen]

I forget things all the time so I tend to type up my own bad guys just cause it helps me remember things. So here a few things I do to help

DR goes beside hit points and Sr beside Saves.

When I prep a caster I figure how many spells they have ready that will have no impact on the encounter such as spells used for sending messages or utility stuff a caster (Non adventuring type) would have ready on an average day and just leave them off. Less spells to look at and less stuff distracting me. Do the same thing for say demons or devils with butt loads of spell likes. toss the ones they wouldn't use once the get an eyeful of the party.

I do both of the above and they work really well for me. Since I almost always type up my own stat blocks, I also put relevant abilities in bold and/or in different colors so that I'll notice them when I'm referencing something from the stats during combat. It doesn't mean I'll never forget anything, but I'm drastically less likely to.

 

[Asmor]

I think I forget important abilities more often than I remember them... Particularly defensive abilities.

"Oh, hey, you guys remember that Giant Rat-Brain Ooze Zombie you guys fought last week? I totally forgot about the DR. And the SR. And the regeneration. So it turns out you guys didn't kill it. So... you're all back down to level 3. Oh, and it followed you back to town and is attacking. Initiative!"