D&D 5E So, how hard is it to kill PCs anyway?

[CubicsRube]

In times Ive run i know that i probably err on making fights too easy most times, but I think I under estimate the ingenuity and resources of most players.

If you were to create a moderate cr fight for a tier 2+ fight, do you think you'd be able to kill them?

No traps, no special items. Just pure tactics and playing ruthlessly.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Are we talking TPK, or just killing one or two PCs?
Does it matter if they are able to be resurrected afterwards?

 

[CubicsRube]

TPK. Lets not go half way about it

No does not matter.

In fact i have in the back of my head a campaign I want to run at some point where the pcs have already died. And everyime they die, they wake up again over and over in the same town. That is until they find a way out.

That one will be fun as i want to make that one deadly but also fair

 

[neogod22]

TPK. Lets not go half way about it

No does not matter.

In fact i have in the back of my head a campaign I want to run at some point where the pcs have already died. And everyime they die, they wake up again over and over in the same town. That is until they find a way out.

That one will be fun as i want to make that one deadly but also fair

Well it gets difficult because you're dealing with a lot of hit points at this point. The CR of creatures are off in the MM, I think because they expect boss monsters should have minions but never really state that. The best way to kill characters is to have smart villains with minions that will use tactics like isolate party members to take out others. Or use hit and run tactics. The key is to wear down players spells or kill the spellcasters first.

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[neogod22]

I think the key to TPK is not let the players rest, but don't let them know they can't rest until they try and take one.

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[Olrox17]

Focus fire, and finish downed characters quickly.

Use intellect devourers.

Should be enough!

 

[Warmaster Horus]

If you do what PCs do and focus fire, not very hard.

 

[DRF]

If you do what PCs do and focus fire, not very hard.

This is always difficult I find. If I focus fire a downed target while other PCs are alive and fighting, I might seem like a rude DM who just wants to murder. Typically I have monsters change targets once a character is down (unless he's isolated), but it does mean that PCs have an easy time helping their buddies... hmm

 

[ad_hoc]

In times Ive run i know that i probably err on making fights too easy most times, but I think I under estimate the ingenuity and resources of most players.

If you were to create a moderate cr fight for a tier 2+ fight, do you think you'd be able to kill them?

No traps, no special items. Just pure tactics and playing ruthlessly.

The mistake here is assuming 1 combat per long rest.

 

[ccs]

Of course I could.