Players in over their head

[Crothian]

So, what do you do when the players embark on something they aren't quite ready for. They go into the mountains were the ginats are, but the CRs of the giants are a few higher then the level of the party, or something like that. I just had the PCs do something like this. The NPCs warned them it was dangerious. The travel to the mountain they meet with man eating plants that nearly killed them. But they are playing smart and succeeding. In the process they are gaining more XP then they had been getting. If they continue they will easily start advancing fast, assuming they live. I have no reason to think they won't succeed. It will be challenging, they will probably exhaust resources fast but they seem to know when to run from a lossing battle. Is this something that happens to other DMs? I don't want to lessen the creatures they fight, but at the same time I really don't want to kill the party.

 

[Vaxalon]

If you take big risks, you get big rewards.


Let them keep taking them. Sooner or later either their luck will run out, or they will advance to the point that the giants are no longer a big risk.

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

So, what do you do when the players embark on something they aren't quite ready for. They go into the mountains were the ginats are

Fear the power of the mighty Ginat!

-F

 

[mythago]

Sounds like you have a good bunch. They're taking heroic risks without being stupid. Let the dice fall where they may. (And won't your players be pleased when the legends start!)

 

[Nylanfs]

Have them run into a massacre'd party where the other party was a bit tougher than they were. That "might" give them the hint they are over their heads.

 

[der_kluge]

I would think a battle with 2 giants at a time should be enough to severely weaken them down, and then have them meet up with 3 giants. That should be enough to convince them that they need to come back at a later date.

 

[barsoomcore]

I often say things like, "You figure fighting this guy will be REALLY dangerous" when my lot are about to launch themselves at somebody maybe they shouldn't.

You can also always alter the circumstances so that they don't have to go toe-to-toe with the giants. Maybe there's another beastie up here who could act as an ally? Or perhaps the giants could be convinced to leave?

Interested to hear how it turns out.

 

[Crothian]

Interested to hear how it turns out.

So am I. We find out next tuesday. Right now they are are in a Leomund's Secure Shelter. All of the healing has been exhausted for the day, and each is about at 50% hps. When they break camp in the morning, a few of their campanions are goin g to try to get back to the safety of a town. I imagine they will start out trying to proceed on.