My 12th lvl Shepard Druid (87 hp w/ 16 temp hp) walked into a large room accompanied by my Conjured Minor Elemental (c) gargoyle. Suddenly, a Wall of Force (c) blocks the entrance, separating me from my team who were just a few feet behind me. Above me appears Murial, a large half humanoid/scorpion creature holding a sword (and obviously can cast magic). Then the session ended.
Spells I have prepared (still have most of my slots left): Cure Wounds, Entangle (c), Spike Growth (c), Healing Spirit (c), Call Lightning (c), Conjure Animals (c), Sleet Storm (c), Wind Wall (c), Conjure Minor Elemental (c) [takes a minute to cast], Conjure Woodland Beings (c); Polymorph (c); Wall of Fire (c); Conjure Elemental (c) [one minute to cast]; Wall of Stone (c), Conjure Fey (c) [1 minute to cast], Wind Walk (c) [minute to cast]; Wall of Thorns (c); and some damage cantrips. ((yes, yes, I know - too many concentration spells. It has been a long in game day and we haven't taken a long rest for me to reorder my spells)).
Assumptions on Murail (not looking for stats or meta-knowledge): high strength and intelligence and can spider climb and cast high level spells. I have a feeling she has Counterspell - if not fight would be too easy at this level for a BBEG.
Goals: #1) stay alive long enough for my team to get through the Wall of Force or break her concentration to bring down the wall; #2) Use up her high level spell slots so team won't deal with them later.
Possible strategies:
Plan A: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Up cast Conjure Woodland Beings to lvl 6 [this would get me either 4 dryads that could cast charm X4 "please lower the wall and let my friends pass unmolested" works on humanoids or beasts (DC 14) or two sea hags with frighten/death stare (DC 11) - GM has me pick conjured creatures and have them attack the same round as summon. Reason to up cast is to get either double the critters or to cause her to use counter spell at a higher spell slot.
Plan B: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Try and trap her behind a Wall of Stone construct (like a box), but then she could use a reactions and make a DEX save to avoid it.
Plan C: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Up cast Conjure Animals to lvl 5 and get 36 flying snakes with flyby and 1 piercing damage plus 3d4 poison;
Plan D: Cast Wall of Stone (c) on myself and hide in a cube until party can break through the Force Wall
Plan E: Cast polymorph on self and be a t-rex
Plan F: (assuming a lot with this one): He has his sword and scorpion stinger. If he moves first, I don't see him wasting high level spells at me knowing he'll be facing the rest of the party next so if he closes to melee range and attacks (and I have 87 plus 16 temp), I should be able to survive those attacks (assuming multi-attack with sword and tail). THEN, I move first - provoking an opportunity attack, thus using up his reaction, dismiss the gargoyle (assuming I haven't lost concentration on him), then I could then cast my flying snakes swam for the purpose of trying to break his concentration on the wall.
Dangerous gamble but I need to counter that presumed counterspell and trick him into using that reaction.
Maybe do the above if he acts first (we haven't rolled initiative yet). If I act first, wildshape (can't attack - not Moon) (don't think counter spell can stop wildshape). Max Cr 1 creature would give me a pack of HP in the form of dire wolf 37 HP/AC14 or giant octopus 52 hp/AC 11. Then he melees with his attack - I revert back on my turn and run away - he opportunity attacks (hopefully) - then I conjure my swarm and attack.
What am I missing here?
My party on the other side of the force wall is as follows:
Party all lvl 12 (all have about half their spell slots left - Except Bard who has used most of his).
With the above information, and the knowledge you can only have one concentration spell up at a time, what would you do?
Again, NOT looking metaknowledge or Muriul's stats/spells (please don't post those). Just looking for what would your do in my situation with the above assumptions I am making?
I would not conjure something new, obviously this fight is going to be a few rounds at least unless this Murial does a 100 points of dmg per round ( you and your gargoyle). But as you can see you need more spell diversity No BA's, no reaction casting time spells. C spells are fine as long as you have plan B. Druids aren't as spell diverse as other classes.
If you fear counter spell you have to get him to trigger it on something else, Polymorph and wall of stone are your big guns. Don't cast until you trigger counter spell. Let your elemental fight until eliminated, cast one of your multiple wall spells to encircle it, then call lighting and or sleet storm to trigger any counter spell. I then would use the polymorph (into a mouse) spell on it! Or Shape Change into giant badger and burrow under wall of force. Keep making it make saves until your party can get to you or you break his concentration on wall of force. Polymorph yourself into Trex is also a possibility but he can still cast spells. Mice cannot. Don't kill the mouse until party arrives, capture it possibly in animal form. If you have bag of holding instant prison.
Avoid any of your other conjure spells but perhaps you can delay it, encircle it with wall of fire or thorns. Depending on if it can fly or is resistant.
Lastly you need some damage dealing magic items that don't require concentration. Wand of Lightning, necklace of fireballs, some sort of staff and an fearsome animal companion...a Shepard druid of 12th lvl should have some sort of decent animal companion (s).
First, minor Dungeon of Mad Mage spoilers ahead.
(c) = concentration spell
Scene:
My 12th lvl Shepard Druid (87 hp w/ 16 temp hp) walked into a large room accompanied by my Conjured Minor Elemental (c) gargoyle. Suddenly, a Wall of Force (c) blocks the entrance, separating me from my team who were just a few feet behind me. Above me appears Murial, a large half humanoid/scorpion creature holding a sword (and obviously can cast magic). Then the session ended.
Spells I have prepared (still have most of my slots left): Cure Wounds, Entangle (c), Spike Growth (c), Healing Spirit (c), Call Lightning (c), Conjure Animals (c), Sleet Storm (c), Wind Wall (c), Conjure Minor Elemental (c) [takes a minute to cast], Conjure Woodland Beings (c); Polymorph (c); Wall of Fire (c); Conjure Elemental (c) [one minute to cast]; Wall of Stone (c), Conjure Fey (c) [1 minute to cast], Wind Walk (c) [minute to cast]; Wall of Thorns (c); and some damage cantrips. ((yes, yes, I know - too many concentration spells. It has been a long in game day and we haven't taken a long rest for me to reorder my spells)).
Assumptions on Murail (not looking for stats or meta-knowledge): high strength and intelligence and can spider climb and cast high level spells. I have a feeling she has Counterspell - if not fight would be too easy at this level for a BBEG.
Goals: #1) stay alive long enough for my team to get through the Wall of Force or break her concentration to bring down the wall; #2) Use up her high level spell slots so team won't deal with them later.
Possible strategies:
Plan A: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Up cast Conjure Woodland Beings to lvl 6 [this would get me either 4 dryads that could cast charm X4 "please lower the wall and let my friends pass unmolested" works on humanoids or beasts (DC 14) or two sea hags with frighten/death stare (DC 11) - GM has me pick conjured creatures and have them attack the same round as summon. Reason to up cast is to get either double the critters or to cause her to use counter spell at a higher spell slot.
Plan B: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Try and trap her behind a Wall of Stone construct (like a box), but then she could use a reactions and make a DEX save to avoid it.
Plan C: Dismiss Gargoyle (no action); Up cast Conjure Animals to lvl 5 and get 36 flying snakes with flyby and 1 piercing damage plus 3d4 poison;
Plan D: Cast Wall of Stone (c) on myself and hide in a cube until party can break through the Force Wall
Plan E: Cast polymorph on self and be a t-rex
Plan F: (assuming a lot with this one): He has his sword and scorpion stinger. If he moves first, I don't see him wasting high level spells at me knowing he'll be facing the rest of the party next so if he closes to melee range and attacks (and I have 87 plus 16 temp), I should be able to survive those attacks (assuming multi-attack with sword and tail). THEN, I move first - provoking an opportunity attack, thus using up his reaction, dismiss the gargoyle (assuming I haven't lost concentration on him), then I could then cast my flying snakes swam for the purpose of trying to break his concentration on the wall.
Dangerous gamble but I need to counter that presumed counterspell and trick him into using that reaction.
Maybe do the above if he acts first (we haven't rolled initiative yet). If I act first, wildshape (can't attack - not Moon) (don't think counter spell can stop wildshape). Max Cr 1 creature would give me a pack of HP in the form of dire wolf 37 HP/AC14 or giant octopus 52 hp/AC 11. Then he melees with his attack - I revert back on my turn and run away - he opportunity attacks (hopefully) - then I conjure my swarm and attack.
What am I missing here?
My party on the other side of the force wall is as follows:
Party all lvl 12 (all have about half their spell slots left - Except Bard who has used most of his).
- Wizard
- Barbarian
- Gloom Stalker Ranger
- Bard
- Life Cleric (with revive prepared - hopefully :))
With the above information, and the knowledge you can only have one concentration spell up at a time, what would you do?
Again, NOT looking metaknowledge or Muriul's stats/spells (please don't post those). Just looking for what would your do in my situation with the above assumptions I am making?
From a purely non-tactical point of view, I'd go with the t-rex idea. That would be a really fun way to go I think.
Plan G: Start crying and surrender.
I would not conjure something new, obviously this fight is going to be a few rounds at least unless this Murial does a 100 points of dmg per round ( you and your gargoyle). But as you can see you need more spell diversity No BA's, no reaction casting time spells. C spells are fine as long as you have plan B. Druids aren't as spell diverse as other classes.
If you fear counter spell you have to get him to trigger it on something else, Polymorph and wall of stone are your big guns. Don't cast until you trigger counter spell. Let your elemental fight until eliminated, cast one of your multiple wall spells to encircle it, then call lighting and or sleet storm to trigger any counter spell. I then would use the polymorph (into a mouse) spell on it! Or Shape Change into giant badger and burrow under wall of force. Keep making it make saves until your party can get to you or you break his concentration on wall of force. Polymorph yourself into Trex is also a possibility but he can still cast spells. Mice cannot. Don't kill the mouse until party arrives, capture it possibly in animal form. If you have bag of holding instant prison.
Avoid any of your other conjure spells but perhaps you can delay it, encircle it with wall of fire or thorns. Depending on if it can fly or is resistant.
Lastly you need some damage dealing magic items that don't require concentration. Wand of Lightning, necklace of fireballs, some sort of staff and an fearsome animal companion...a Shepard druid of 12th lvl should have some sort of decent animal companion (s).