hawkeyefan
Legend
@Celtavian Those scenarios may be mathematically possible with the game mechanics...10,000 orcs may be able to defeat an ancient dragon, or 100 level 1 fighters...but why would such a scenario actually play out? Surely that's a battle for the DM to determine the outcome, no?
I don't make my players roll a skill check for every action they take, only when the outcome is in doubt. Smaug attacking Laketown leaves nothing in doubt...not unless there are some PCs there.
The math is a tool to serve the narrative. It's not supposed to determine the narrative.
Adhering so closely to the math makes it a case of the tail wagging the dog. Ignore the math and just go with what you want to happen unless the PCs are concerned. In the case of a battle between Smaug and some PCs...well, if for some reason, like maybe extreme optimization, you feel that the chances are heavily skewed toward the PCs, ten I would simply grant legendary actions to Smaug, and maybe even some lair actions. Give him enough actions spread out over a whole turn and he'll be able to deal with just about any party.
I don't make my players roll a skill check for every action they take, only when the outcome is in doubt. Smaug attacking Laketown leaves nothing in doubt...not unless there are some PCs there.
The math is a tool to serve the narrative. It's not supposed to determine the narrative.
Adhering so closely to the math makes it a case of the tail wagging the dog. Ignore the math and just go with what you want to happen unless the PCs are concerned. In the case of a battle between Smaug and some PCs...well, if for some reason, like maybe extreme optimization, you feel that the chances are heavily skewed toward the PCs, ten I would simply grant legendary actions to Smaug, and maybe even some lair actions. Give him enough actions spread out over a whole turn and he'll be able to deal with just about any party.