D&D 5E So the PCs are attacked when relaxing...

[Bacon Bits]

Which is all of them except monk really. In fact, the only party that might stand their ground and survive would be a monk party since they don't need armor or weapons to be effective.

True, but since the rest of the party is impotent, the best course of action is to GTFO. Not even a monk can handle a whole encounter by himself. The best option is to run.

 

[Quartz]

I'd be careful about doing this. Keeping PCs on their toes is one thing, a TPK in the middle of somewhere they should feel secure is punitive.

Yes indeed, but I'm asking how PCs fare without their equipment and gewgaws. And it's not looking very balanced.

 

[BoldItalic]

So the PCs are relaxing in Ye Olde Taverne when nasties teleport in / erupt from the floor / whatever. None of the PCs are wearing armour, big weapons are neither present nor to hand, the spellcasters have no spells active, etc. How do the classes compare?

(BTW Drunk = Disadvantage on attack rolls etc but not defence rolls, right?)

Forget combat. Role play.

Welcome them and buy them a drink. Chat about old times. The bard can strum a tune or, if without his instrument, sing. The wizard can amuse them with his Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you make Persuade or Performance rolls, characters with low Charisma can use the Help action to give advantage to their buddies. The Rogue can balance a mug of ale on the end of his nose. Can they? Make it a Dexterity check contest. Can the dwarf cleric drink them under the table? Constitution checks. Can the fighter beat their best at arm-wrestling? Strength contest. It doesn't matter who wins. Who is having the most fun?

 

[Bacon Bits]

Yes indeed, but I'm asking how PCs fare without their equipment and gewgaws. And it's not looking very balanced.

What made you think it was supposed to be?

 

[transtemporal]

True, but since the rest of the party is impotent, the best course of action is to GTFO. Not even a monk can handle a whole encounter by himself. The best option is to run.

I was imagining an entire party of monks! The numerous bad guys would burst in but our heroes would all remained seated and calm... until the first bad guy charged and was cut down in one swift blow!

And then the audience realises it isn't the heroes that are in trouble!

...

Yeah, but any normal party would get the stuffing kicked out of them.

 

[transtemporal]

Yes indeed, but I'm asking how PCs fare without their equipment and gewgaws. And it's not looking very balanced.

Maybe a 1/2 to a 1/4 of normal? As far as an encounter goes, I wouldn't make it more than a 1/2 of normal (unless the purpose is to kill them all), especially if there are multiple casters in the hero party (since they are just dead weight at this stage). The best strategy for them as Bacon said, is to GTFO.