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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5277302" data-attributes="member: 61155">Problem is, I don't think its fair to blame the DM for that, because that's how the rules say this thing works - he looks in the room. There is a Bodak within 30', and he obviously isn't trying to avert his gaze (as he doesn't know it has a gaze attack, and is trying to identify it). The rules don't provide any random chance that he doesn't meet its gaze - they say he makes a Fort Save, or dies.  Now, I think a top-notch DM would be willing to rule otherwise - that's what good DMs do, they know when to override the rules to improve the game. But being able to rule otherwise or fix/avoid the problem doesn't mean the issue isn't still there at its base.  That's the main issue. There are plenty of times when there could certainly be warning signs to tip the PCs off, and good DMs will often try to provide those warning signs.  But they aren't always there, and the game itself doesn't have that assumption built in. And in many scenarios, there won't necessarily be any signs - you don't always get an extended, intricate heads-up about upcoming combats, you rarely know the contents of a wizard's spellbook in advance, nor do you even always know that you'll be fighting a wizard.  The DM might provide you clues about what you will fight. But the game itself just says, "here's some monsters, and some spells, and they might kill you. You'll often only find this out after someone has Saved or Died."</blockquote>

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