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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 9459341" data-attributes="member: 143">Just following the step-by-step instructions for the DM (who remember might be a novice, given that this is the Starter Set) provided in the module, the goblins will gain surprise a lot of the time (+6 to Stealth, compared to passive Perception of the party, which for first level characters will probably be in the 9-15 range). So if the goblins roll 10+ on the d20 they probably surprise the entire group. If they gain surprise (i.e., their Stealth beat the passive Perception of their targets), the archers would also get advantage on their first shots, and depending on initiative they might get two shots before the players can react (and given that they can Hide as a bonus action, they might also get their second shots at advantage). Even with average damage rolls, two hits of 1d6+2 damage will take out many first level characters. And that's not even considering the two melee goblins. So it's very likely that with one high roll of the d20 you could have one or two members of a four-person party down before the players even get to do anything.If I was DMing this for novice players, I'd probably deliberately flub the goblins' Stealth check or do something else to give the party a slight advantage, or maybe hint that they should take cover before the arrows start flying.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 9459341, member: 143"] Just following the step-by-step instructions for the DM (who remember might be a novice, given that this is the Starter Set) provided in the module, the goblins will gain surprise a lot of the time (+6 to Stealth, compared to passive Perception of the party, which for first level characters will probably be in the 9-15 range). So if the goblins roll 10+ on the d20 they probably surprise the entire group. If they gain surprise (i.e., their Stealth beat the passive Perception of their targets), the archers would also get advantage on their first shots, and depending on initiative they might get two shots before the players can react (and given that they can Hide as a bonus action, they might also get their second shots at advantage). Even with average damage rolls, two hits of 1d6+2 damage will take out many first level characters. And that's not even considering the two melee goblins. So it's very likely that with one high roll of the d20 you could have one or two members of a four-person party down before the players even get to do anything. If I was DMing this for novice players, I'd probably deliberately flub the goblins' Stealth check or do something else to give the party a slight advantage, or maybe hint that they should take cover before the arrows start flying. [/QUOTE]

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