D&D 5E Surprisingly Lethal Side Effect of Multiattack

[GX.Sigma]

In real life, there wouldn't be much reason to immediately finish off a fallen opponent. First of all, if they're still conscious, they'll be hacking at your ankles as you go in for the kill. Might as well leave them be if you've got someone else standing and trying to kill you. And if they're unconscious, they're probably not getting up anytime soon. Why would you waste time attacking an enemy that's no longer a threat?

Of course, if you know the enemy will be able to get up again (like if they have magical instantaneous healing, or if they're zombies), you learn pretty quick that you have to finish them off while you can. The phrase "double tap" comes to mind.

 

[Ancalagon]

My monsters are trying to win, so with the default death rules they'll normally keep attacking downed PCs to try to finish them off.

*unless* the monsters have a good reason to believe that downed foes will come back, the winning strategy is to attack PCs that remain standing. Someone at 0 HP cannot hurt you.

 

[jasper]

Hmm I discovered I have an unofficial rule. Int 8 below monsters ignore 0 hp pcs. Int 15+ if they can spare the attack, swing at 0 hp foes. The middle group 9-14 depends on the game night and monster.

 

[S'mon]

*unless* the monsters have a good reason to believe that downed foes will come back, the winning strategy is to attack PCs that remain standing. Someone at 0 HP cannot hurt you.

Well it varies by setting, but in my Golarion high magic campaign most enemies are aware of the
possibility of magical healing, so if fighting a group that appears to have casters (eg a PC group) they'll finish off foes who aren't obviously already dead. Given the prevalence of Revifify I haven't found this to be a douche move causing player resentment, in fact it's rare the monsters can pull it off - I think some Lamashtu cultists did it to the Monk a while back, and he was Revivified at the end of the battle.

In my much lower magic Wilderlands game with its Thongor-meets-Flash Gordon feel, I use
negative hp and it's very common for PCs to be left for dead by foes. If unhealed they can even Short Rest while unconscious and wake up an hour later (spending HD) in time to break free of the evil wizard's shackles and escape to new adventures.

 

[ScaleyBob]

If you're going to do it do it properly.

If the first attack drops a PC, then all remaining attacks are made with advantage (thanks to the PC being prone and incapacitated). Meaning you cant roll all the attacks at once.

The other issue with rolling them all at once is synching them. Does the 3d12 damage attack hit first, or does the 2d8 damage attack hit first?

Roll them one at a time. But yeah, if you want to wail on downed PCs go for it. Its a bit of a douche move to do in my books as a general rule. Maybe every now and again to keep the PCs on their toes.

That's a really good point -I hadn't thought of that. Most of the Multi attackers I've used so far tend to have multiples of the same attack, which is why I rolled them all at the same time.

I almost never attack a downed PC. Once someone's unconscious, the enemies move on to someone else. It's a holdover from my 4E days in some ways. It's what made the rules interaction of rolling them at the same time stand out.

I don't have a problem with challenging PCs if need be, or even killing characters (but it's not something I enjoy, or go out of my way to aim for). But a PC death should be something memorable and epic, and not due to me as a DM playing a rule slightly wrong. My current group is a bit less precious than my previous one, and I suspect wouldn't be to bothered if PCs kark it during the game.

 

[ScaleyBob]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It's given me some food for thought, and I'll be rolling my multi-attacks separately from now on.

 

[WarpedAcorn]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It's given me some food for thought, and I'll be rolling my multi-attacks separately from now on.

My MO is this:

"Monster attacks Susie, does a 23 hit?"
"Yes"
"You take 15 damage. You still up?"
"No"
"Okay, it moves 15ft and now attacks Brad."


As has been said before, if the DM wants to kill the players then that is not a challenge. The difficult part is to ride the line where the players feel they are in danger of dying with the DM knowing they will be fine...or *should* be fine. =)

 

[Warmaster Horus]

My MO is this:

"Monster attacks Susie, does a 23 hit?"
"Yes"
"You take 15 damage. You still up?"
"No"
"Okay, it moves 15ft and now attacks Brad."


As has been said before, if the DM wants to kill the players then that is not a challenge. The difficult part is to ride the line where the players feel they are in danger of dying with the DM knowing they will be fine...or *should* be fine. =)

I agree with you, mostly. However if Susie has already fallen and then got back into the fight after a Healing Word went off I'd have no problem as a DM for an intelligent monster to realize that unconscious isn't going to cut it and give an additional stab or two to make sure she doesn't get back up. Death is a condition easily remedied in D&D so don't be too reluctant as a DM to kill a PC when it would make sense. It's part of the challenge of the game.

ETA - whoa, just noticed - post 666!

 

[WarpedAcorn]

I agree with you, mostly. However if Susie has already fallen and then got back into the fight after a Healing Word went off I'd have no problem as a DM for an intelligent monster to realize that unconscious isn't going to cut it and give an additional stab or two to make sure she doesn't get back up. Death is a condition easily remedied in D&D so don't be too reluctant as a DM to kill a PC when it would make sense. It's part of the challenge of the game.

ETA - whoa, just noticed - post 666!

Beast mode!!! =D

Yeah, I agree with you about seeing that an enemy isn't staying down would cause the Monsters to probably want to fix that. But at the same time I can see something like that breaking the flow of the game so the party can take Susie back to town for a Raise Dead (if they don't have the means to Revivify themselves).

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Beast mode!!! =D

Yeah, I agree with you about seeing that an enemy isn't staying down would cause the Monsters to probably want to fix that. But at the same time I can see something like that breaking the flow of the game so the party can take Susie back to town for a Raise Dead (if they don't have the means to Revivify themselves).

There's some nuance to this, certainly. As a DM you may want to set the example that parties want to have Revivify on hand once they're able to. Most PCs don't die outright to a MultiAttack, either. They're at a vulnerable hp level and are still in melee for some reason. They made that choice and are pushing their luck instead of withdrawing. Had it happen to one of my characters just the other day.