D&D 5E (2014) Looking for Campaigns for 14+ level PCs

[dave2008]

Do you ever find yourself knowing what the next roll is and using it to target the really high AC PC or anything? IOW, does knowing which number is coming up affect your decisions?

I noticed myself being tempted a few times when I started doing this back in 4e. However, I've worked passed that by now.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Out of curiosity, how is your character getting that 23/26?

Full Plate, Shield, Defense Style, either Shield spell or Arcane Deflection (and yes he has War Caster so he can cast Shield without dropping his sword).

 

[dave2008]

Wow...ok (and this is not a criticism) you don't really use the CR system from the DMG, am I right?

I am not sure what you mean. I don't use the encounter building guidelines from the DMG, but when I design a monster I use the CR system. I know what a given CR monster can typically do against my group and how many I might need generally, but I don't plan out my encounters based on XP budgets.

I started in 1e 30 years ago when there was no concept of encounter budgets. I just learned to make them by feel and that is still what I do today for the most part. I do read the rules and guidelines (and the encounter budget is just a guideline), but I play by feel mostly.

 

[Reynard]

Wow...ok (and this is not a criticism) you don't really use the CR system from the DMG, am I right? (The encounter you describe is an adjusted XP of 180,000)

The XP budget system does not work. It gives too much value to the multiplier for numbers of enemies. if you use it as written you will very rarely have encounters with lots of enemies that are in the right ballpark, in my experience.

 

[dave2008]

That's probably it. My guys grew up in 1e all the way to now, and the idea that D&D doesn't use magical items is alien to them (which I get). Which is too bad, because the CR system probably works a bit better when all the attacks are doing half damage to the fiends, etc. Mind you, the DMG has a huge section on magic items, so I don't know how optional they meant it to be in practice, lol.

One of my groups came from 1e as well, but we have mostly abandon high magic settings - I guess it is the GoT effect

 

[Eric V]

@Reynard and @dave2008 thanks for the input re: Encounter building.

It highlights a problem with high-level design I suppose...if the rules from WotC own game don't really work for encounter building, then writing any module should be problematic, but especially a high-level one.

 

[Eric V]

One of my groups came from 1e as well, but we have mostly abandon high magic settings - I guess it is the GoT effect

I hear you. If we ever play a new 5e game, it will be Adventures in Middle-Earth for exactly that reason.

 

[dave2008]

Full Plate, Shield, Defense Style, either Shield spell or Arcane Deflection (and yes he has War Caster so he can cast Shield without dropping his sword).

OK that makes sense. I misread your previous post as without "mage armor or shield" so I thought you were talking about without spells. Out fighter is a BM so he can't do that

 

[dave2008]

@Reynard and @dave2008 thanks for the input re: Encounter building.

It highlights a problem with high-level design I suppose...if the rules from WotC own game don't really work for encounter building, then writing any module should be problematic, but especially a high-level one.

Well the probably work for some set, the problem is there is such a vast difference in potential between different groups

 

[Eric V]

Well the probably work for some set, the problem is there is such a vast difference in potential between different groups

Absolutely. If you were writing said high-level mod for publication, though, what are the "safe assumptions" you would make?