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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormdale" data-source="post: 6989051" data-attributes="member: 3555">I grew up on AD&D and 1E and 2E morale for monsters so my players have come to expect monsters using morale- depends on the monsters, its alignment and situation (mindless undead for example don’t run away, vampires often will), and when combats are going badly for them they are concentrating on leader types and once the BBEG (or a major lieutenant) goes down they are reminding me about morale rules- surely they must be scared at seeing how easily we’ve taken down their boss? “You are next scum!” Sometimes pleasing/arguing for a morale check. I evaluate the situation, assign a DC and roll.  I still chuckle at how focused my players get in these situations knowing that they’ve another round of combat ahead if I pass the roll (especially when they are also faring badly and low on hps- it can sometimes almost become a game of bluff.)Not only is running a viable tactic but in doing so it means that the alarm can be raised and all hell break loose so adds further tactical complications to the game. Best way to become a recurring villain IMO  is to run away! But yes, in 5E often you need to run while still on reasonable hps- or have a few underlings to cover your escape. My group are currently playing through parts of Princes of the Apocalyse (mashed together with bits of the original T1 and the 3E RTTToEE and other stuff) and have had about 3-4 run ins with Windharrow (female in my game) but each time she has escaped to fight another day. Last week’s game the party had, for the second time, captured Feathergale Spire- from Windharrow who I’d added to the tower as Thurl’s lover as my 5 player party are 5th -6th level. First time they took it (several months ago) Thurl escaped with his life but after they party abandoned it the cult reclaimed the tower. This time he went down and when he did the morale of the rest of his knights broke and Windharrow and the remaining Feathergale Knights fled the spire. The party tried really really hard to kill her before she got away but failed- though they did get one of the 3 remaining knights.  The party then attacked the Howling Hatred Temple but retreated back to Feathergale spire after another run in with Windharrow and the cultists. Their plan to rest up somewhere safe overnight so Windharrow and some of the senior cultists counterattacked in the middle of the night. There was another epic battle and when it turned against her Windharrow again fled but this time just as she was getting out of range the party (was the last person’s initiative and she was next and would be out of range of everybody so safe) the wizard managed to bring her down with a fireball at max range due to her failing her save (thanks mainly to the wizard using a portent dice to ensure she failed her save!) The sense of satisfaction around the table and highfives as players really felt they’d earned their victory (they had, I was trying every trick in the book  to get her way to fight another day) made the encounter truly memorable and is what makes this game great. Again it was much more satisfying because she hadn’t hung round to get killed 3 rounds earlier!It also would have been boring if the week before she’d simply fought to the death and been a very slight speed hump in the adventure. Sometimes running away is the right option and advances the story- but I let the situation (and if necessary assign a DC and roll the dice) determine if my NPCs/ monsters hang round to be mopped up or not, adds to the sense of versmilitude to the game IMO.Stormdale</blockquote>

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