D&D 5E Other ways to overcome the monster

[M.T. Black]

A scene I really like in Harry Potter is where the goblins have trained the white dragon to be afraid of the strange rattle. When they want to pass safely by, they take the device and rattle it, and the dragon cowers. This is the sort of thing that would make a good dungeon puzzle, IMO.


What other ways are there of overcoming a monster that don't involve direct combat?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Well, there's the monstrous version of the old "throw the dog a steak" cliche.

It won't work for anything intelligent or anything trained, but if a monster's basically just another predator, tossing it food could work. It would have to be a lot of food, for most monsters, but given the choice, an animal will go for the easier meal. (Assuming there aren't also territorial issues or the like, of course.)

 

[Mad_Jack]

Adding to the above, most unintelligent monsters tend to go chasing off after illusions of their favorite prey...

An illusionist mage with a decent stealth skill can wreak havoc on intelligent monsters and guards' concentration by using the Minor Illusion cantrip to sneak close and then distract them by using it to create the sounds of things crashing through the bushes behind the guards, footsteps approaching from another direction, or the sound of a very large, very angry stinging insect flying very close to the back of their head that's always gone when they turn around to find it.

Another classic that sometimes works to delay combat is asking a dumb humanoid or giant a clever riddle.

 

[ArchfiendBobbie]

Use urine of a species the monster fears. Splash someone in the party with it and have them go first.

Alternatively: Splash an enemy with the urine of the monster's favorite prey, then stand back and watch the chaos.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Stealth, bribery, speed, violence, threats, and grovelling are the classics. (Fight/flight/posture/submit.)

 

[Leatherhead]

Booze.
Half of the reason to have a dwarf in your party is so they can drink the enemy under the table.

 

[ArchfiendBobbie]

Booze.
Half of the reason to have a dwarf in your party is so they can drink the enemy under the table.

The other half is to test how much alcohol must be in someone's system before the gelatinous cube gets intoxicated.

 

[ccs]

The other half is to test how much alcohol must be in someone's system before the gelatinous cube gets intoxicated.

No, that's just an amusing experiment. The other reason to include dwarves is mining/engineering.
True, wizards can move alot of dirt via spells. But spells run out. Dwarves though....

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

No, that's just an amusing experiment. The other reason to include dwarves is mining/engineering.
True, wizards can move alot of dirt via spells. But spells run out. Dwarves though....

Mold Earth is a cantrip. In 5E, cantrips don't run out.

Ergo, wizards are super-dwarves.

 

[Leatherhead]

Mold Earth is a cantrip. In 5E, cantrips don't run out.

Ergo, wizards are super-dwarves.

But they have not as of yet mastered the "hold your drink" cantrip. Which knocks them down a peg, effectively making them the Aquaman of dwarves.