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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Herobizkit" data-source="post: 5742330" data-attributes="member: 36150">Now, before I start, I know that at least some of the issue is my expectation of what the module is supposed to represent in the way of a balanced combat. But here’s where we’re at. Party of six PC’s: 3 strikers, 2 leaders, 1 defender Current Level: 4 (DM inflated XP for us to level faster) Last night, in Area 13 of level 2, our combat took FIVE HOURS to finish. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t figure out what happened. We were playing defensively, as the Hobgoblin Warriors were upping each other’s AC to 26-28 range. Only the minions and one of the Warcasters failed to hit us as *every* other attack roll was in the 22-28 range. I admit, as a long-time DM (20+) years, I’m trying to play against “the module” versus “the DM”. So when I’m given this dilemma, I asked the DM flat out, “Did you add monsters to the battle?” He said, “No.” I’ve also caught him fudging die rolls before (And I know every DM fudges here and there, but it seems he always fudges in favor of the enemies) and the DM has admitted that he feels like a failure if he doesn’t make every fight a challenge. I’ve already explained to him that the pre-gen fights are deliberately set up so that most are equal level, one or two really hard, and a few really easy for variety.  But given that the PC group is now 4th level, almost all of the figjhts should go fairly quickly. And so, with doubts, I did what every player shouldn’t do – looked up the fight. As it turns out: a) He DID, in fact, add more monsters – [spoiler]we faced three warcasters to the combat’s one. He also added 2 non-minion hobgoblin soliders.[/spoiler] b) He’s doing the hobgoblin phalanx math incorrectly - [spoiler]A hobgoblin is supposed to get +2 AC when a hobgoblin is adjacent, not +2 AC for every hobgoblin adjacent.[/spoiler] Now, I’m left with two options. a) Call him out on his choices.b) Grin and bear it. Given that he’s new to DMing, and the other two players are new to the system (as am I), what am I to do? At this rate, we may out level the Thunderspire Labyrinth before we even get to it, and his solution will be “more monsters” every time. … Augh!</blockquote>

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