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So, how hard is it to kill PCs anyway?
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<blockquote data-quote="redrick" data-source="post: 7342721" data-attributes="member: 6777696"><p>Yes, the other half of the hypothetical experiment was that PCs routinely faced opponents with access to comparable healing options to player characters. The point is simply to see what kind of tactics the players would use against PCs if they weren't bound by the restrictions the DM is bound by. Not because I believe we should play D&D that way, but just because I believe "monsters don't attack unconscious PCs" is a metagame construct. I also think fun is a metagame construct and I'm into fun, so I have nothing against metagame constructs. On the other hand, TPKs are even less "fun" than character death, so if you are playing your monsters to go for the TPK but not playing them to kill characters when killing characters would make sense (and it makes sense in more situations than it doesn't) you are playing your monsters very stupid.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Most foes possess some degree of language, which means they possess the ability to share information and basic tactics. Even beasts adapt to people much faster than evolution. Bears in the adirondacks have learned to pull down from bear bags. Healing magic is also definitely a known thing, even if it's not something every farmer would possess. It's a 1st level spell available to divine and nature casters, and healing potions are available for purchase in most towns. And even if the foes in question have never met an adventurer before, the dungeon has met The PCs, so unless they leave no survivors and allow no monsters or witnesses to flee, word will get out to all but lowest of intelligence monsters. Even faster if healing magic is a truly novel thing in the setting.</p><p></p><p>Again, I don't play my monsters to 2-tap PCs in most campaigns. Just like I usually have my monsters choose targets randomly instead of focus firing. It engages more players and tends to be more fun at the table.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="redrick, post: 7342721, member: 6777696"] Yes, the other half of the hypothetical experiment was that PCs routinely faced opponents with access to comparable healing options to player characters. The point is simply to see what kind of tactics the players would use against PCs if they weren't bound by the restrictions the DM is bound by. Not because I believe we should play D&D that way, but just because I believe "monsters don't attack unconscious PCs" is a metagame construct. I also think fun is a metagame construct and I'm into fun, so I have nothing against metagame constructs. On the other hand, TPKs are even less "fun" than character death, so if you are playing your monsters to go for the TPK but not playing them to kill characters when killing characters would make sense (and it makes sense in more situations than it doesn't) you are playing your monsters very stupid. Most foes possess some degree of language, which means they possess the ability to share information and basic tactics. Even beasts adapt to people much faster than evolution. Bears in the adirondacks have learned to pull down from bear bags. Healing magic is also definitely a known thing, even if it's not something every farmer would possess. It's a 1st level spell available to divine and nature casters, and healing potions are available for purchase in most towns. And even if the foes in question have never met an adventurer before, the dungeon has met The PCs, so unless they leave no survivors and allow no monsters or witnesses to flee, word will get out to all but lowest of intelligence monsters. Even faster if healing magic is a truly novel thing in the setting. Again, I don't play my monsters to 2-tap PCs in most campaigns. Just like I usually have my monsters choose targets randomly instead of focus firing. It engages more players and tends to be more fun at the table. [/QUOTE]
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So, how hard is it to kill PCs anyway?
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