D&D 5E Metagaming Vs the Players

[Zardnaar]

In last night's session I dropped a cloudkill spell on my group of PCs. The encounter was 2 Warforged veterans and a conjuror. 5 person party level 6.

3 of them had resistance to poison. Edjet Dragonkin, Warforged and Artificer with an armor infusion.

The other two were a divine soul/cleric and Eldritch knight both proficient in con saves.

So in effect I chose the worst possible attack form I could.

I did say I don't metagame against PCs it is what it is. Probably should have clarified I don't over do it.

That encounter was for me just a throw away I didn't put a lot of thought into it. I just wanted to use a CR6 spellcaster with a couple of bodyguards. Didn't even check the encounter building guidelines.

I do design the occasional stinker encounter eg ranged vs a melee heavy party but I kind of use a variety of encounters anyway regardless of the parties composition.

Reverse of that is I'll also throw in encounters where they get to shine as well.

I have heard some DMs say they don't care because they have an infinite amount of dragons. That's more rocket tag to me.

Thoughts?

 

[DEFCON 1]

I oftentimes don't think about or forget what the PCs are capable of when designing encounters or when deciding what action to take in the middle of combat. When that happens, and a players says "Ah! But I have--" X ability... I usually groan but then finish the action. And the players get a feeling of control and power for their characters like they've put one over on me that they don't often get to have. So I don't worry about it and give them props for being up and prepped for what I've thrown at them. Because like you said... I have infinite dragons to make the next fight a killer if I think it really matters.

 

[jasper]

If is not metagaming if the party's enemies have spied on them. Spying is easy.
Barkeep, " Half price on the wine tonight if you tell the crowd how your defeated the evil Defcon1 and his merry band Mr. Nottingham!"
As as the foes don't always have specific nerfs to the pcs abilities, I have no problem with monsters knowing about the pcs.

 

[prabe]

Same as others: It varies. Some opponents don't, won't, or can't know what the party's capabilities are. Some can, will, and do. I might (can't think of any, can't say for sure I haven't) set up something to either aim at their weaknesses or show up their strengths.

 

[Maxperson]

Same as others: It varies. Some opponents don't, won't, or can't know what the party's capabilities are. Some can, will, and do. I might (can't think of any, can't say for sure I haven't) set up something to either aim at their weaknesses or show up their strengths.

This. I don't choose spells based on the party, but will see whether or not the NPC will know about a strength or weakness based on its knowledge. A wizard is likely very smart and would probably know/assume that golem like creatures would be harder to hurt with poison. Depending on the wizard's level and status in the game, it might be an auto success or it might require a roll with a fairly easy DC. He likely would not know about the artificer, though. And MAYBE the Dragonkin with a more difficult roll.

 

[iserith]

I don't design anything with particular characters in mind. I create the adventure locations with whatever's going on in them and when the characters interact with those locations, things happen that follow its own logic and design, often relying on random tables to see what happens.

I also tend to have a rotating cast of characters - either player line-up changes somewhat week to week or the players play different characters or both. So if spent any design time planning with particular characters in mind, chances are it would be a waste of my time.

 

[zarionofarabel]

Play it as you see fit as you do have an infinite number of Dragons.

I routinely let my players mop the floor with their opponents. The PCs are the stars of the show. NPCs are the no-name extras who are there to get killed or stand around in the background to make the Cantina seem full. My job as DM is to lose, repeatedly, specifically so the players can be Big Damn Heroes!

 

[Zardnaar]

Play it as you see fit as you do have an infinite number of Dragons.

I routinely let my players mop the floor with their opponents. The PCs are the stars of the show. NPCs are the no-name extras who are there to get killed or stand around in the background to make the Cantina seem full. My job as DM is to lose, repeatedly, specifically so the players can be Big Damn Heroes!

Pretty much how I see it. I'll throw in the odd stinker (terrain, abilities, surprise etc).

Once they hit high levels I might crank up the difficulty but death doesn't matter to much by then.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

My job as DM is to lose, repeatedly, specifically so the players can be Big Damn Heroes!

I don’t even see it as losing, as I don’t personally identify with the villains. Probably why I quite enjoy playing interesting evil foes as a DM but find playing an evil character as a player distasteful.

It only feels like losing to me when there’s an encounter where I want the opponents to give a decent fight and use their special abilities...but the PCs annihilate them before they get a chance. Which happens pretty regularly.

 

[Zardnaar]

I don’t even see it as losing, as I don’t personally identify with the villains. Probably why I quite enjoy playing interesting evil foes as a DM but find playing an evil character as a player distasteful.

It only feels like losing to me when there’s an encounter where I want the opponents to give a decent fight and use their special abilities...but the PCs annihilate them before they get a chance. Which happens pretty regularly.

No it's because the DM evil characters are disposable. PC evil characters often descend into atrocity porn.

I played a LE halfling fighter somewhat recently. More of a monster though vs a psychopath.

Just don't cross him.