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Would you change a monster's hit points mid-fight?
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<blockquote data-quote="The Grassy Gnoll" data-source="post: 6569851" data-attributes="member: 6788652"><p>I don't, but I change tactics or introduce additional elements if need be.</p><p>For example, if the monster I wanted to be a challenge is getting taken apart - that's ok, unless he is a Monster of Valuable Plot, in which case I bundle that MVP into the DM Fiat and turn the ignition. One example from years ago - the Orc chief was going to be a (one or two episode, in tv terms) recurring villain and due to some spectacularly good rolls by the PCs, was about to meet his maker in the opening credits, so to speak. So, I ruled that that last max damage hit knocked him backwards into the cave wall with huge force, causing the wall to collapse and seal that end of the chamber off. Orc chief sensibly got on his toes and legged it, ready to come back as required - and I didn't care if he did whiff of cheese in so doing.</p><p>On the other hand, when the monsters are pedalling party posterior and it looks like a TPK, especially if it's down to rotten rolls rather than dumb tactics, I will be inclined to have them spare the party, or capture them rather than kill them, or (though I haven't done this one yet) deploy Classic Villain Fail Number 1 and start to ease off, taunting these obvious weaklings with his superior power and give them a chance to regroup as he cackles delightedly to himself. </p><p>That said, the whole party investing in agricultural land is one thing, but a single PC buying the farm is much more doable, so long as it's not a really crappy death. It's one thing to be slain by Psycho McMurder, champion of Chaos, on the battlements in the climactic showdown, but to be killed by a fall or a couple of lucky-rolling kobolds is a bit...weak. This is fantasy. Your players' characters deaths should be glorious, not whoops-I-failed-my-save-and-fell-into-the-goblin's-privy. </p><p>In the case of Elf Witch...man, I feel for you. The key thing there seems to have been the super cool magic weapon that was essentially rendered useless for so long that when the chance finally came it got blown up out if all proportion and expectations for the payoff had reached sky high levels. It feels a bit like the old D&D cartoon... 'Ranger (cool bow)! Acrobat (funky staff)! Wizard (magic hat)!... Accountant (typewriter +1)..."</p><p>That particular problem wouldn't have been so bad if you'd had the chance to use it a decent amount beforehand. Seems rather odd to give you this item at character creation, baking it into the character from the get go and deliberately deny you the chance to use this, presumably, defining item...and then to shrug it off so wilfully when finally given a chance.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Grassy Gnoll, post: 6569851, member: 6788652"] I don't, but I change tactics or introduce additional elements if need be. For example, if the monster I wanted to be a challenge is getting taken apart - that's ok, unless he is a Monster of Valuable Plot, in which case I bundle that MVP into the DM Fiat and turn the ignition. One example from years ago - the Orc chief was going to be a (one or two episode, in tv terms) recurring villain and due to some spectacularly good rolls by the PCs, was about to meet his maker in the opening credits, so to speak. So, I ruled that that last max damage hit knocked him backwards into the cave wall with huge force, causing the wall to collapse and seal that end of the chamber off. Orc chief sensibly got on his toes and legged it, ready to come back as required - and I didn't care if he did whiff of cheese in so doing. On the other hand, when the monsters are pedalling party posterior and it looks like a TPK, especially if it's down to rotten rolls rather than dumb tactics, I will be inclined to have them spare the party, or capture them rather than kill them, or (though I haven't done this one yet) deploy Classic Villain Fail Number 1 and start to ease off, taunting these obvious weaklings with his superior power and give them a chance to regroup as he cackles delightedly to himself. That said, the whole party investing in agricultural land is one thing, but a single PC buying the farm is much more doable, so long as it's not a really crappy death. It's one thing to be slain by Psycho McMurder, champion of Chaos, on the battlements in the climactic showdown, but to be killed by a fall or a couple of lucky-rolling kobolds is a bit...weak. This is fantasy. Your players' characters deaths should be glorious, not whoops-I-failed-my-save-and-fell-into-the-goblin's-privy. In the case of Elf Witch...man, I feel for you. The key thing there seems to have been the super cool magic weapon that was essentially rendered useless for so long that when the chance finally came it got blown up out if all proportion and expectations for the payoff had reached sky high levels. It feels a bit like the old D&D cartoon... 'Ranger (cool bow)! Acrobat (funky staff)! Wizard (magic hat)!... Accountant (typewriter +1)..." That particular problem wouldn't have been so bad if you'd had the chance to use it a decent amount beforehand. Seems rather odd to give you this item at character creation, baking it into the character from the get go and deliberately deny you the chance to use this, presumably, defining item...and then to shrug it off so wilfully when finally given a chance. [/QUOTE]
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Would you change a monster's hit points mid-fight?
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