Sea Hag vs 2nd level party

[Dannyalcatraz]

I don't know your plans for the Sea Hag, so I'll take a different tack on my response.

I'd say this is fair even if it results in a TPK because players sometimes need a refresher course in "Sometimes you win the fight by not fighting 101"- aka tactical thinking. And this, of course, also includes the tactic of running away when overmatched.

A Sea Hag could make a nice recurring villain/NPC for a low level party...especially if you're the type of DM that allows even monsters/NPCs to "gain XP" and plays opponents up to their statted level of intelligence or craftiness.

When the party finally gains enough XP to finally take her down, it might be the most memorable moment in the campaign up to that point. A significant milestone in the development of the PCs.

So, yes- use the Sea Hag.

Worried about player expectations? Don't be. A good melee that results in a TPK can be as fun and memorable as a decisive victory.

I don't know your players at all, but I remember my first adventure 28 years ago. My Fighter and another player's Wizard were the only PCs that survived until the pentultimate room, where we both fell in battle to a purple worm. That final battle was epic, and turned on a few key rolls. Neither side pulled punches or fudged rolls either- everything was in the open.

And despite the TPK, that adventure had me hooked for life on this hobby. If I hadn't moved away that summer, I'd have played at that DM's table again in a heartbeat.

So, yes- use the Sea Hag.

 

[heirodule]

Thanks for the advice. This a Xen'Drik Expedition DM's mark, so PC loss is not TOO harsh, but I try to avoid it. The Sea Hag is not a BBEG, but taking her out is something the malenti (sahuagin) ask the PCs to do to 'help' their 'poor defenseless' selves (and prove the PCs are worthy of being sacrificed to the sahuagin sahuagin later.

This is in a shifting zone of Xen'drik coast, which for my purposes will have the sea pulled back for the general duration of the encounter (the Sea Hag's lair will be submerged though). Since the sea is pulled back, they might encounter a phrenic porpoise who if they rescue from being beached can come to their rescue if they get in trouble with the hag.

I can see now the Evil Eye is limited to 30 feet. If the PCs can figure that out it sounds eminently fair to throw that at them. I think the hag might need a pet octopus just to make it sporting...

I'll give them a possible remove fear if they play their cards right.

 

[the Jester]

Ahh, the very first dungeon of my current (over 700 session long) campaign was a set of caves in a coral reef used by a sea hag and her drowned ones servants. It was great! Several pcs died in the adventure, but I don't think the hag killed any of them.

If you're interested, the story hour writeup of this series of adventures starts about here.