[SPOILER] Paladin preblem in the Sunless Citadel

[Ratenef]

I agree that sometimes players need to consider the idea that retreat is a valid option. But that implies that retreat IS an option.

Once we were engaged with this roper (CR 10), he grappled us all in one round and no one had the strength to break his hold. He just drained our strength and then munched us at his leisure.

A CR10 creature in a module for 4th (maybe 5th) level characters, is just plain overkill.

How exactly does one retreat from this?

And 6 months of character development and excellent backstory went to pot because a designer felt TPK was acceptable?!

(sorry, but this is really a sore spot for me)

 

[kengar]

And 6 months of character development and excellent backstory went to pot because a designer felt TPK was acceptable?!

(sorry, but this is really a sore spot for me)

In the module itself, the designer includes a sidebar note about the difficulty of this encounter. He cautions DMs that they simply might wish to leave the roper out entirely if he thinks that the party can't/won't retreat, etc.

***minor spoiler***





FWIW, the group I was DM-ing took the roper out (5-6th level) no problem (had lots of Alchemist Fire). Then they got TPK-d by the dragon.

 

[anonynos]

Heh. I left out the Roper, becasue I jsut didn't want to deal with it... and then the party parleyed with the dragon . Of course, I had altered the backstory alot, so it was a vaible option... and the group had captured one of the duegar (who were sort of "employing" the dragon as a guard) and had him lead the group there... but damn, I totally hadn't expected the group to act that way...

 

[KnowTheToe]

The DM should not have had the thing unleash all of its might at once. Make it obvious to the PCs they are out classed, then fude the dice to allow them to escape. I would let then die if they continued to attack, but I always give a chance to retreat.