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Message: <blockquote data-quote="katahn" data-source="post: 4186015" data-attributes="member: 65004">How does "by kicking the ass of everyone around him" automatically mean "in a fair one-on-one fight where everyone was prepared"?  Is it so beyond the realm of possibility that a super-intelligent and unremittingly evil demon lord might have used trickery, surprise, or any other means of making sure the fight was tilted as heavily as possible in his favor?How does the fact that in the past he kicked their asses (however it was done) automatically mean it is impossible he could either be weaker now (and presumably hiding that fact) or in the past he had some favorable circumstance such as the alignment of stars, the support of some evil god, had rallied enough supporters to help him, or whatever else that he might not have today?And before one dismisses the idea of followers/soldiers helping him win, do you really think any demon lord is going to allow a rival to just walk up to their front door and let them in for a fair and honests duel for supremacy?  I'd find that idea fairly ludicrous.  It makes considerably more sense to me that him "kicking their asses" involved a conflict between the forces each commanded and maybe Demogorgon is just that much better of a strategist and tactician.The Allies "kicked the ass" of the Axis during WWII, but I'm pretty sure the Allied generals didn't personally punch the Axis generals in the face.  I'm pretty sure the Marines that captured Sadam Hussein in Iraq were more than a match for the deposed dictator in personal combat, as were quite probably most of the military Sadam commanded.  Despite this, Sadam was (until we intervened) the dictator of that nation.If such things can play out like that in the real world, how is it that they couldn't possibly play out like that in a fantasy one?I disagree.  From a world building point of view it makes complete sense to me that a leader may not be as physically powerful as the beings it leads.  When that is the case then clearly said leader maintains his power due to some other combination of factors.  It is simply that those other combination of factors are left to the whim and imagination of the indivual DM.Why doesn't it?  Demons are chaotic, not stupid.  A leader isn't always the strongest in every possible form of conflict or interaction.  A leader is the one who through wit and charisma and power is able to maintain their position.</blockquote>

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