D&D (2024) Wrapping up first 2-20 2024 campaign this week, some of my thoughts

[Maxperson]

I am not sure what that even means. Aren’t there monsters immune / resistant to nonmagical damage, at least in 2014?

Resistant. But they are balanced with half-damage from weapons and certain energy types in mind. If you give the PCs magic weapons, the encounter is becomes far easier than it was built to be at the default level.

Also, a monster is not an encounter, should they not talk about encounter building rules rather than monsters when it comes to game balance?

If an AP contains magic items, does that mean the encounters do not assume the party found them?

That I don't know for sure, but I expect they do not assume the magic items. The designers of the adventures probably build encounters using the XP budget chart in the DMG like most people do. That chart doesn't assume magic items as it's just monster vs. PC and the game builds that without magic items in mind.

 

[Wolfpack48]

Resistant. But they are balanced with half-damage from weapons and certain energy types in mind. If you give the PCs magic weapons, the encounter is becomes far easier than it was built to be at the default level.

That I don't know for sure, but I expect they do not assume the magic items. The designers of the adventures probably build encounters using the XP budget chart in the DMG like most people do. That chart doesn't assume magic items as it's just monster vs. PC and the game builds that without magic items in mind.

In any case, a PC with magic rings on every finger is well into the realm of ridiculous.

 

[Oofta]

Just so I’m clear, are these 2014 xp budgets or 2024?

2024

 

[mamba]

In any case, a PC with magic rings on every finger is well into the realm of ridiculous.

I agree, but on the other hand if they are resistance rings they should not have much impact on the encounter being finished in a round or two

 

[FrogReaver]

I agree, but on the other hand if they are resistance rings they should not have much impact on the encounter being finished in a round or two

I agree they have low impact there, but for me it mostly highlights just how high Magic item the campaign was.

 

[mamba]

I agree they have low impact there, but for me it mostly highlights just how high Magic item the campaign was.

not sure that was a difference to their previous games however. The rings definitely were a change, but the rest…

 

[FrogReaver]

not sure that was a difference to their previous games however. The rings definitely were a change, but the rest…

They definitely weren’t using 2024 crafting rules in previous games. Not sure if crafting was allowed otherwise.

 

[Oofta]

First of all thanks for the highly detailed response! I don't have a long time but a few things stood out to me as a bit odd.


Even with a vicious weapon and all attacks hitting 100 hp of damage seems high for a valor bard. 1d8+2d6+5 per attack. Then 1d8+3d6+2d6+5 per true strike. That totals to 70.5 for 2 true strikes and an attack. Rolling extremely high could hit 100 damage but is extremely unlikely. Is there something else other than the vicious weapon really boosting the bards damage? I mean even the combat inspiration ability is at most adding 3d12 = +19.5. What am I missing?


Fighter is only doing an average of 19 per attack with a vicious maul. That's maybe 38 damage on those 2 attacks (a bit more if he crits, which he has a really good chance to, but still). A normal earth elemental has 126 hp and possibly resistance to the damage depending on 2014 vs 2024 version. These are supposed to be stronger. I'm having a hard time seeing how a champion fighter kills one with 2 attacks. What am I missing?

THL is great now. But it didn't have much of a huge effect on this encounter. Enemies died too fast, and seemingly faster than they should have.


That's not how fear works. If they have no where further to run they don't lose their action even if they can see the caster.

Fear
"...A Frightened creature takes the Dash action and moves away from you by the safest route on each of its turns unless there is nowhere to move..."

Maybe more thoughts later, I have to go for now

So I was trying to figure out the bard, and I agree I just can't get it to work. They have 2 attacks per round but True Strike is an action (they do get a bonus action attack from battle magic). Vicious weapons don't add any bonus to attack, just the extra 2d6. So for two attacks with a rapier you average 27 points of damage per hit*. But assuming a 20 AC (looking at other constructs at that level) and the bard probably has a +11 to hit, that's 15 points of damage per hit on average (rounding up). There is no way I can see them doing anywhere near 100 points of damage in a round.

They can't be using two weapons because they only get 2 attacks, 1 from true strike and 1 bonus action from the bard's Battle Magic. They have a level of paladin but can't be doing smites and two attacks because smites are now bonus actions (max smite damage would use a 9th level spell slot for an extra 44 radiant). I'm missing something because it's just not adding up.

*Weapon damage + 5 charisma bonus + 2d6 from vicious weapon + 3d6 radiant from true strike.
EDIT: true strike only applies the extra 3d6 radiant to the damage from the attack taken as part of the true strike spell.

 

[FrogReaver]

So I was trying to figure out the bard, and I agree I just can't get it to work. They have 2 attacks per round. Vicious weapons don't add any bonus to attack, just the extra 2d6. So for two attacks with a rapier you average 27 points of damage per hit*. But assuming a 20 AC (looking at other constructs at that level) and the bard probably has a +11 to hit, that's 15 points of damage per hit on average (rounding up). There is no way I can see them doing anywhere near 100 points of damage in a round.

They can't be using two weapons because they only get 2 attacks, 1 from true strike and 1 bonus action from the bard's Battle Magic. They have a level of paladin but can't be doing smites and two attacks because smites are now bonus actions (max smite damage would use a 9th level spell slot for an extra 44 radiant). I'm missing something because it's just not adding up.

*Weapon damage + 5 charisma bonus + 2d6 from vicious weapon + 3d6 radiant from true strike.

The bard gets 3 attacks. 1 regular and 2 with true strike. That puts the average damage over all hitting at 70.5. It may just be a critter smite or using bardic dice for damage. I think it’s certainly possible to reach 100 damage, but mores going on to do it IMO.

 

[Mort]

So I was trying to figure out the bard, and I agree I just can't get it to work. They have 2 attacks per round but True Strike is an action (they do get a bonus action attack from battle magic). Vicious weapons don't add any bonus to attack, just the extra 2d6. So for two attacks with a rapier you average 27 points of damage per hit*. But assuming a 20 AC (looking at other constructs at that level) and the bard probably has a +11 to hit, that's 15 points of damage per hit on average (rounding up). There is no way I can see them doing anywhere near 100 points of damage in a round.

They can't be using two weapons because they only get 2 attacks, 1 from true strike and 1 bonus action from the bard's Battle Magic. They have a level of paladin but can't be doing smites and two attacks because smites are now bonus actions (max smite damage would use a 9th level spell slot for an extra 44 radiant). I'm missing something because it's just not adding up.

*Weapon damage + 5 charisma bonus + 2d6 from vicious weapon + 3d6 radiant from true strike.
EDIT: true strike only applies the extra 3d6 radiant to the damage from the attack taken as part of the true strike spell.

I wonder if conjure minor elementals is involved - the 2024 version is over the top when upcast.

For example, if it was up when the fight started (duration is 10 minutes so easily could be) and upcast to say, 7th level - that's 8d8 extra - per attack.