D&D 5E Variant Kobolds: Opinion on Encounter(s) For This Weekend

[Daniel Russell]

I'm running a game this weekend with a few players (3 or 4), as about half our group including the current DM can't make it. I'm the regular DM for our group so have no problem with DMing in general, but new rules always lead to wrinkles. I'm setting up a dungeon for the characters to delve through, giving them several options to avoid fights (various diplomatic or stealth options and a few others). I've set up a few combat encounters, however in case they decide to/are forced to get in a fight and was hoping I could get a look over from folks here to see if they appear alright.

Characters are level 2.

I'll start with the hardest one:

I've brewed up a few extra kobolds for this by slapping feats on them and making them CR 1/4 (50 Exp). They use normal kobold stats except where noted.

This encounter is 375 XP, which I think is Mid-Hard for 3 players, Easy-Mid for 4 players. (with 4 I will add 1 more Dragonshield I think)

Kobold Leader
Bonuses: Has a Shortsword (+4/1d6+2) and the Rally (1d6-1 THP to an ally) and Commander's Strike (One ally can attack with +d6 damage in place of his attack) with 2 superiority dice.
Penalties: Loses Sling
Note: Can two weapon fight with Short Sword/Dagger (+4/1d6+2,+4/1d4)

Kobold Arcanist
Bonuses: Can cast Blade Ward, Mage Hand and Firebolt (+1/1d10), Magic Missile (1/day) (3x1d4+1)
Penalties: Loses Sling

Kobold Shaman
Bonuses: Can cast Shillelagh (+0/1d8-2), Thorn Whip (+0/1d6 pull 10) and Resistance (+1d4 to one sv by target), Entangle(1/day) (20sq.ft difficult terrain, Str sv DC 8 or Restrained in area when cast. Str sv to escape)
Penalties: Exchanges dagger and sling for Staff (+0/1d6-2)

Kobold Dragonshield
Bonuses: Has a Shortsword (+4/1d6+2) and Shield (AC 14), Dex Sv +4, May use reaction to take no damage on save or half spell when saved, May make a Shove when it takes the attack action
Penalties: Has no Sling or Dagger

The encounter is in a dark room (unless the PCs light it) about 40 foot square. There is a large pile of "Treasure" (mostly trash) that the leader starts sitting on (he thinks he's a dragon) as well as some thin pillars supporting the roof (these are too narrrow to be used for cover, but could be broken to cause a partial collapse). The center of the room has a net trap strung up over the most obvious clear route to the throne (DC 15 to spot), which one of the kobolds will ready an action to drop on the first PC to walk under it. The rest of the room is full of small tables and chairs in varying states of disrepair, some chests (with more rubbish in) and general detritus. This makes the terrain around the edges of the room difficult for Medium PCs when combined with the low roof (about 4' 6" high). The room has 2 entrances, the main doors (very grand by Kbold standards) and a secret entrance behind the treasure pile. If the PCs slip in through the secret entrance this will be alot easier for them.

There is a Kobold Leader (Meelo), an Arcanist (Oleem), a Shaman (Eric), 2 Dragonshields (Droit and Gauche) and 5 normal Kobolds.

Meelo is lounging on the hoard when the PCs arrive, whilst Oleem and Eric are bickering in draconic over the merits of their different magics, just in front of the pile. Droit and Gauche stand to the right and left of the pile, calmly staring forwards, looking almost professional, whilst the rest of the kobolds are sat on the furniture, rooting through boxes or engaging in various kobold activities. One of them is sat in a chair dozing next to a small, difficult to spot (DC 20) lever, this operates the net trap above.

So is this encounter too hard/too easy/about right? Any thoughts or opinions welcome.

 

[Tormyr]

I'm running a game this weekend with a few players (3 or 4), as about half our group including the current DM can't make it. I'm the regular DM for our group so have no problem with DMing in general, but new rules always lead to wrinkles. I'm setting up a dungeon for the characters to delve through, giving them several options to avoid fights (various diplomatic or stealth options and a few others). I've set up a few combat encounters, however in case they decide to/are forced to get in a fight and was hoping I could get a look over from folks here to see if they appear alright.

I'll start with the hardest one:

I've brewed up a few extra kobolds for this by slapping feats on them and making them CR 1/4 (50 Exp). They use normal kobold stats except where noted.

This encounter is 375 XP, which I think is Mid-Hard for 3 players, Easy-Mid for 4 players. (with 4 I will add 1 more Dragonshield I think)

Kobold Leader
Bonuses: Has a Shortsword (+4/1d6+2) and the Rally (1d6-1 THP to an ally) and Commander's Strike (One ally can attack with +d6 damage in place of his attack) with 2 superiority dice.
Penalties: Loses Sling
Note: Can two weapon fight with Short Sword/Dagger (+4/1d6+2,+4/1d4)

Kobold Arcanist
Bonuses: Can cast Blade Ward, Mage Hand and Firebolt (+1/1d10), Magic Missile (1/day) (3x1d4+1)
Penalties: Loses Sling

Kobold Shaman
Bonuses: Can cast Shillelagh (+0/1d8-2), Thorn Whip (+0/1d6 pull 10) and Resistance (+1d4 to one sv by target), Entangle(1/day) (20sq.ft difficult terrain, Str sv DC 8 or Restrained in area when cast. Str sv to escape)
Penalties: Exchanges dagger and sling for Staff (+0/1d6-2)

Kobold Dragonshield
Bonuses: Has a Shortsword (+4/1d6+2) and Shield (AC 14), Dex Sv +4, May use reaction to take no damage on save or half spell when saved, May make a Shove when it takes the attack action
Penalties: Has no Sling or Dagger

The encounter is in a dark room (unless the PCs light it) about 40 foot square. There is a large pile of "Treasure" (mostly trash) that the leader starts sitting on (he thinks he's a dragon) as well as some thin pillars supporting the roof (these are too narrrow to be used for cover, but could be broken to cause a partial collapse). The center of the room has a net trap strung up over the most obvious clear route to the throne (DC 15 to spot), which one of the kobolds will ready an action to drop on the first PC to walk under it. The rest of the room is full of small tables and chairs in varying states of disrepair, some chests (with more rubbish in) and general detritus. This makes the terrain around the edges of the room difficult for Medium PCs when combined with the low roof (about 4' 6" high). The room has 2 entrances, the main doors (very grand by Kbold standards) and a secret entrance behind the treasure pile. If the PCs slip in through the secret entrance this will be alot easier for them.

There is a Kobold Leader (Meelo), an Arcanist (Oleem), a Shaman (Eric), 2 Dragonshields (Droit and Gauche) and 5 normal Kobolds.

Meelo is lounging on the hoard when the PCs arrive, whilst Oleem and Eric are bickering in draconic over the merits of their different magics, just in front of the pile. Droit and Gauche stand to the right and left of the pile, calmly staring forwards, looking almost professional, whilst the rest of the kobolds are sat on the furniture, rooting through boxes or engaging in various kobold activities. One of them is sat in a chair dozing next to a small, difficult to spot (DC 20) lever, this operates the net trap above.

So is this encounter too hard/too easy/about right? Any thoughts or opinions welcome.

I may be missing it, but what level is the party?

One thing I like to do when I start tinkering with monsters in different ways is to run a play test with some stock PCs and see if it is lopsided. The starter set pregens work pretty well for this.

Aside from that though, nothing looks too crazy here, and it should be fun. Maybe put Gauche et Droit left and right of the pile from the view of the leader so that they are backwards when the party's perspective when they come in. It might not do anything, but it might result in a laugh depending on how things turn out.

 

[Daniel Russell]

Sorry! They are level 2. I mocked out the encounter with some generics and it runs fine when I'm playing them, but I'm not great at simulating the random crap players are likely to do.

 

[Daniel Russell]

I just realised that what I was missing was the multiplier so my encounter was far too hard!

5 Monsters @50 XP = 250
250x 2 =500

That's better. So I have taken out all the normal kobolds making my Level 2 Encounter for 3-4 PCS

1 Kobold Leader, 1 Kobold Shaman, 1 Kobold Arcanist and 2 Dragonshields.

Does that seem fair with the stats given for them above?