Stringing together multiple encounters

[SteveC]

One thing about this encounter method did was ratchet up the difficulty significantly. As I play (and run) more 4E, I am starting to find it difficult to really challenge a group in a single combat. What this did was take a series of encounters that we would have blown through individually and made them something we had to really think about.

For me, that was seriously fun, and it was doubly interesting since I had recently been running a game and haven't fully taken off my GMing cap (for lack of a better word). I'm still thinking in terms of what it takes to challenge a group and how you can better create some dynamic tension.

I wouldn't do this all the time, but I can definitely say that it's solved the paragon "we can take on anything with our uber builds!" mentality that grips some campaigns.

 

[eriktheguy]

@eriktheguy, and to everyone.

What's the benefit of doing this over just saying, okay you get everything back, next encounter? Is having any players sitting out for even 1 round worth any amount of attempt at simulation in the world of D&D? If so, why? And do the player's agree?

As a player, it just means I have less cool stuff to do, (edit: or that I'm sitting around bored if using the above situation) and the narrative can be the same either way. "You rush to the next encounter pumping with adrenaline, gaining back your encounter powers." "You rush to the next encounter pumping with adrenaline, not gaining back your encounter powers." I really don't see a story difference, so why not go with the one that the player's have more fun with?

That said, I have something suggested by Gabe from Penny Arcade, that is to spread the XP of a single encounter (generally a tough encounter, level of party +2-3) over a few different rooms and not having an extended rest in between. That felt more like a traditional D&D dungeon crawl, that is, weaker discrete battles, but vaguely maintaining the Things-to-do:Experience-of-encounter ratio.

Agreed
Mostly it is just a single long encounter (with weaker and fewer monsters than I would use for a whole encounter), so fewer encounter powers is okay. Also they will be sure to recharge before attacking the boss.

 

[invokethehojo]

...so I found the experiment he's running (we're just going into encounter number 4) to be very interesting.

Second, it made (actually it's making: we're not done yet!)

Are you typing this thread at the game table during someone else's turn? if so I would wish I could bestow upon you negative xp. however if your doing this during down time then that is ok.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Are you typing this thread at the game table during someone else's turn? if so I would wish I could bestow upon you negative xp. however if your doing this during down time then that is ok.

I hear some folks like to play D&D online. PbP and PbeM are fairly ubiquitous these days. Just sayin'.

 

[SteveC]

Are you typing this thread at the game table during someone else's turn? if so I would wish I could bestow upon you negative xp. however if your doing this during down time then that is ok.

Hah! No way. I have a laptop at the game table, but I don't browse ENWorld during the game: it distracts me too much. Nope, we played a shortened session, and so started off with roleplay and character introductions, and then went right into the situation. We did three encounters (a bit slow, but this was the first game with level 11 PCs!) I expect we'll finish things up this weekend.