Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="SHARK" data-source="post: 180363" data-attributes="member: 1131">Greetings!Hmmm...interesting discussion.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> I must say that it is certainly important to have different scaled encounters, but the players should know that not every encounter is going to necessarily be one that they can emerge victorious from. In my campaign, I have humbled the party often. They must retreat, or die. They have lost blood, magic items, pride, and even some friends, because they refused to retreat and admit defeat.Later on, when they are more powerful, and have done research, and really geared up for stuff, they then have a better chance of success. I just don't usually design encounters so the party can just walk right over them. There are some encounters that are obviously lower level, but the encounters are always designed as to "what makes sense for X to be here?" If it makes sense for X to be there, then it is. If that means that the cave complex is guarded by lower-level Orc warriors, then so be it. If on the otherhand, the party has infiltrated an ancient vampire lord's castle, then they can expect death and fire to be their portion, less they are especially cunning, and have prepared themselves for war in every way, and have the greatest of courage and faith. That particular area is just going to be lethal in every way, and even in the best of plans and skill, there is still only a chance of victory.The players need to be made aware that they live in a dangerous, vicious, ruthless world. This savage world shall crush every ounce of trust they have out of them; This dark world shall with great, vice-like hands, squeese every drop of compassion out of them and discard them like the used husk of an orange, tossed into the gutter; This dark, violent world shall make demands that they be prepared for war, blood, and death, less they be driven insane; Finally, if they are to avoid an early death, and tossed into a grave of soggy, rain-swept ashes, they must gather within themselves a bright, unbending courage, and an absolute faith to stand fast in righteousness. Anything less, and the world shall devour them like a pack of ferocious jackals.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Semper Fidelis,SHARK</blockquote>

Verification