Ok, so I am going to be DM in a few days, and I have a really funny idea.
So, my plan is for the first level characters to kill a few gnolls, to get them to level 2, then have a couple more minor encounters, so they are level 3. Then, a tarrasque will fall out of the sky, because a cloud giant managed to push it off. I will most likely have the cloud giant have some magical mean of voice magnification, and say "And don't come back anytime soon, ye stupid lizard!" for fun. Anyway, the tarrasque falls, hopefully not squishing any characters. Question: Tarrasque takes falling damage, right? Anyway, the tarrasque will be stunned, and take probably something like 600 damage from falling. So the tarrasque is stunned, maybe upside-down, and the adventurers will take him out. Anyway, what is (is there?) a DC for the tarrasque to flip itself right-side-up? Does it just make it's attacks with disadvantage? I've never read anything about upside-down tarrasques. Anyway, 31k xp if this works.
I would have it take a full round to recover and roll over because it's so huge, vs the usual recover from prone (and because it fell), but that's about it. However, unless they have magical weapons (which they shouldn't by level 3 under normal progression rates), it's likely Immune to most things they can throw at it. If it took a single round of attacks it would kill the entire party...
Now... it's amusing, particularly if this is a one-off or throw-away campaign... but if this is for something longer term, the idea kind of goes against the spirit of XP and progression. Delivering a killing blow to a nearly dead legendary creature doesn't mean you suddenly learned a lot... Your players might even feel like it cheapens the experience (no pun intended).
If you want them to jump levels, I would instead suggest using a time jump narrative. Give a short description of how they spent the next several years adventuring together, etc, a couple highlights they had, etc. Let them then do their level ups, and maybe even let each player pick a magic item (or have one picked for them), and each player takes a turn at telling a story of an encounter they had has a group, in which they found said cool magic item. It could be as detailed or as brief as they like. Player driven dramatic interludes like this can develop stronger bonds between characters. I just suggest establishing a couple quick ground rules, like "you can't put another PC in a negative light or describe them doing something the player disagrees with; when in doubt leave them out or make them seem more heroic than you"
Ok, so I am going to be DM in a few days, and I have a really funny idea.
So, my plan is for the first level characters to kill a few gnolls, to get them to level 2, then have a couple more minor encounters, so they are level 3. Then, a tarrasque will fall out of the sky, because a cloud giant managed to push it off. I will most likely have the cloud giant have some magical mean of voice magnification, and say "And don't come back anytime soon, ye stupid lizard!" for fun. Anyway, the tarrasque falls, hopefully not squishing any characters. Question: Tarrasque takes falling damage, right? Anyway, the tarrasque will be stunned, and take probably something like 600 damage from falling. So the tarrasque is stunned, maybe upside-down, and the adventurers will take him out. Anyway, what is (is there?) a DC for the tarrasque to flip itself right-side-up? Does it just make it's attacks with disadvantage? I've never read anything about upside-down tarrasques. Anyway, 31k xp if this works.
lol
I think it would just be prone and can get up with half movement. You can require an acrobatics check if you think that would be difficult.
And the normal fall damage caps at 20d6. You can change it or add damage from the giant, but just wanted to point it out.
So you are just going to power level them to 5~7?
I would have it take a full round to recover and roll over because it's so huge, vs the usual recover from prone (and because it fell), but that's about it. However, unless they have magical weapons (which they shouldn't by level 3 under normal progression rates), it's likely Immune to most things they can throw at it. If it took a single round of attacks it would kill the entire party...
Now... it's amusing, particularly if this is a one-off or throw-away campaign... but if this is for something longer term, the idea kind of goes against the spirit of XP and progression. Delivering a killing blow to a nearly dead legendary creature doesn't mean you suddenly learned a lot... Your players might even feel like it cheapens the experience (no pun intended).
If you want them to jump levels, I would instead suggest using a time jump narrative. Give a short description of how they spent the next several years adventuring together, etc, a couple highlights they had, etc. Let them then do their level ups, and maybe even let each player pick a magic item (or have one picked for them), and each player takes a turn at telling a story of an encounter they had has a group, in which they found said cool magic item. It could be as detailed or as brief as they like. Player driven dramatic interludes like this can develop stronger bonds between characters. I just suggest establishing a couple quick ground rules, like "you can't put another PC in a negative light or describe them doing something the player disagrees with; when in doubt leave them out or make them seem more heroic than you"
Yes, it is a one-off campaign.
I think you need to have it take out 'Super Important NPC' when it lands.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)