monsters using their treasures

[rossik]

i was reading the "Goblins" e-comics (very good, btw), and i realize that 90% i never made my bad guys use their treasures.

i know, some gelo cube wouldnt use a sword, but why a horde of orcs dont use their treasure?

maybe in today thats a comom thing (monster using treasure), but when you think of the old modules, they hardly say something about



any thoghts?

 

[Corathon]

I run a 1E AD&D game and I've done it for years. I've faced it as a player also.

Didn't the giants in the G-series modules have magic items that they used against the PCs?

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I've always had monsters use their treasure and magic items. I don't think it's a new concept.

From the 1E DMG, pg 93 ("Placement of Magic Items"):

In stocking the setting for initial [low level] play in the campaign, you must use great care...If you do decide placement of the wand is appropriate, you will make certain that its guardian will use it in defense, and the instrument will have few charges left in any event, with a power which is not out of line with the level of the characters likely to acquire it. The magical boots will be worn by a denizen of the area. While the magic arrows might not be used against adventurers, the +1 dagger will be...at lower levels...Guardians tend to employ [magic] items routinely...

 

[SavageRobby]

Man, it would have been really cool if monsters didn't use their magic items on our parties.


Like the others, we always played where monsters used their stuff. Nothing more frustrates a player than a baddie with a cool gadget ... that runs away.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Like the others, we always played where monsters used their stuff. Nothing more frustrates a player than a baddie with a cool gadget ... that runs away.

oh so true!!!! ANd I've been on both sides of that.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Like the others, we always played where monsters used their stuff. Nothing more frustrates a player than a baddie with a cool gadget ... that runs away.

...Except a baddie who runs away with the player's cool gadget!

I'm telling you, the guy didn't blink or close his mouth for over a minute.

 

[Derro]

I've always had monsters use their treasure and magic items. I don't think it's a new concept.

From the 1E DMG, pg 93 ("Placement of Magic Items"):

Good quote.

The first time I encountered an enemy with a magical item I was horrified.

"That's treasure, you bastard!"

When I first got to DM I think every third guy had some nifty doodad. I've mellowed with age. It's every seventh guy now.

And yeah, Goblins kicks, hard. "Paladins always get the best stuff," indeed.

 

[rossik]

well, so it looks was just me

(oh, i wasnt talking about ad&d, i was talking about pre-RC. but my knowledge in that are is very small, so i could be wrong again )

 

[an_idol_mind]

I remember several old modules that had treasure lying around that could ahve helped monsters but never got used for some reason or another. However, in practice, I've always had monsters make use of their treasure if they can.

 

[Humanaut]

As a DM, the monsters use treasure if they possess the intelligence and means to. That said, nothing ticks off my PC's more than a baddie drinking a potion or using a scroll in front of them. "That's OUR treasure! Stop him!" ha ha!!!