Saracenus
Always In School Gamer
Ok, here is a different room in the same "dungeon" I am converting.
This is an example what I call a resource burning encounter. It is, at best, something that would make the party use up spells, consumables, healing, etc.); a pretty prevalent dungeon design philosophy from the early days of D&D.
Instead I wanted to challenge the players with a different kind of monster as a change of pace; I wanted it to be one that is a damage sponge but vulnerable to area effect spells, thus rewarding players that invest in such things. Don't get me wrong this encounter could burn resources but it will be fundamentally different from the rest of the encounters on this level.
Here is my version for 5e:
A few weeks ago an outlaw was exploring and stumbled into two swarm of adders nesting here (the nest is in the SW corner). The swarms attacked her and in the ensuing struggle she succumbed to her multiple injuries and the poison injected into her body.
One swarm was destroyed during the outlaws investigation of their missing comrade. After recovering her body and gear they now avoid this room and the hallway leading to it.
The remaining swarm ate their dead compatriots and are now satiated. They only get aggressive and attack if the nest is directly threatened. In the litter of their nest is a bejeweled dagger.
5e Statblock:
* Swarm of adders (1): Swarm of Venomous Snakes CR 2; HP: 36, Bloodied at 18.
Treasure:
* A bejeweled dagger (worth 850 gp)
So here is my intent here. I want the PCs to know there is some kind of danger here but it is not obvious. Depending on how they enter the space (either from the entrance or the collapse wall rubble from outside the structure) they have time to investigate so long as they do not get too close to the nest in the SW corner of the room.
Now they have a choice.
Also, if they see a few tiny snakes around the dagger in the nest, that doesn't scream immediate danger, but oh boy does it go sideways if they try to get it triggering the swarm. If they trip the encounter then there is a suitable reward for their efforts.
I find this a more satisfying encounter than the original because I felt it originally was a mirror image of an already existing encounter at the other end of the building.
This is an example what I call a resource burning encounter. It is, at best, something that would make the party use up spells, consumables, healing, etc.); a pretty prevalent dungeon design philosophy from the early days of D&D.
Instead I wanted to challenge the players with a different kind of monster as a change of pace; I wanted it to be one that is a damage sponge but vulnerable to area effect spells, thus rewarding players that invest in such things. Don't get me wrong this encounter could burn resources but it will be fundamentally different from the rest of the encounters on this level.
12. CORNER ROOM
After one of their number was slain here a few weeks ago, the brigands gave this room and the entry corridor a wide berth. A huge adder, over 12 feet long, dwells here. It crawled up the rubble spilled into the moat, and found a nice safe lair where it could hole up after hunting. In the litter of its nesting place is a jeweled dagger worth 850 gp.
Giant Snake: AC 5; HD 4 + 2; hp 23; MV 15"; #At 1; D 1-3 + poison (take 2-8 points added damage, or 1-3 if the saving throw is made); XP 505
After one of their number was slain here a few weeks ago, the brigands gave this room and the entry corridor a wide berth. A huge adder, over 12 feet long, dwells here. It crawled up the rubble spilled into the moat, and found a nice safe lair where it could hole up after hunting. In the litter of its nesting place is a jeweled dagger worth 850 gp.
Giant Snake: AC 5; HD 4 + 2; hp 23; MV 15"; #At 1; D 1-3 + poison (take 2-8 points added damage, or 1-3 if the saving throw is made); XP 505
Here is my version for 5e:
MH12. CORNER ROOM
A few weeks ago an outlaw was exploring and stumbled into two swarm of adders nesting here (the nest is in the SW corner). The swarms attacked her and in the ensuing struggle she succumbed to her multiple injuries and the poison injected into her body.
One swarm was destroyed during the outlaws investigation of their missing comrade. After recovering her body and gear they now avoid this room and the hallway leading to it.
The remaining swarm ate their dead compatriots and are now satiated. They only get aggressive and attack if the nest is directly threatened. In the litter of their nest is a bejeweled dagger.
5e Statblock:
* Swarm of adders (1): Swarm of Venomous Snakes CR 2; HP: 36, Bloodied at 18.
Treasure:
* A bejeweled dagger (worth 850 gp)
So here is my intent here. I want the PCs to know there is some kind of danger here but it is not obvious. Depending on how they enter the space (either from the entrance or the collapse wall rubble from outside the structure) they have time to investigate so long as they do not get too close to the nest in the SW corner of the room.
Now they have a choice.
- Do they ignore the clues in front of them or do they investigate to see if they can figure out what happened.
- Do they back away or do they temp fate and push in.
Also, if they see a few tiny snakes around the dagger in the nest, that doesn't scream immediate danger, but oh boy does it go sideways if they try to get it triggering the swarm. If they trip the encounter then there is a suitable reward for their efforts.
I find this a more satisfying encounter than the original because I felt it originally was a mirror image of an already existing encounter at the other end of the building.
