Yeah but what I mean is kills them without a normal HP trickle. Things that on a hit/save whatever arent healing magic everything is better. The mind flayer is the perfect example of what Im after. Not one attack and PC dies but if this ability goes off then the PC dies, its ok for it to take a few rounds to build up. The goal is to be able to threaten/kill a PC without a TPK as PCs get into Tier 2 and beyond. The monster should be squishy enough that its not going to kill everyone but with some luck/ good rolls/ bad strategy by the PCs/ whatever. PC death is a threat.
They kinda got rid of that stuff. It's one of the big things I miss from earlier editions.
DMs don't need to use that stuff- especially with any regularity, but the option of Bodak, Death Slaad save or die shenanigans really amped up a world's lethality.
5E's CR system is bunk and combat is so heavily geared towards PCs coming out on top that even if you tweaked a few things to create that old(er) school feel, I'm sure there's going to be some snowball effects that will break the system elsewhere.
Two suggestions: 1) have the DM roll all death saves, in secret. The other players knowing if the death saves are going well makes it unnecessarily easy to leave a dying PC alone instead of healing him. 2) have monsters finish off dying PCs, unless it's tactically a really unsound decision.
I don't think looking at instakill options does much to solve anything. There's few of them and they're not CR appropriate for most of the levels played at. Use them to occasionally kick things up another notch maybe, but don't make them your go-to options.
Bonus suggestion: change (Mass) Healing Word's casting time to 1 action instead of 1 bonus action
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Anyone have a list of all the monsters like the Mind Flayer that has a ability that will insta kill a single PC if it hits/failed save?
It actually takes a couple of rounds for any creature to kill a PC.
Usually it's some attack or effect and if the PC is affected, then some time on a following turn another attack or effect, then the PC dies.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Yeah but what I mean is kills them without a normal HP trickle. Things that on a hit/save whatever arent healing magic everything is better. The mind flayer is the perfect example of what Im after. Not one attack and PC dies but if this ability goes off then the PC dies, its ok for it to take a few rounds to build up. The goal is to be able to threaten/kill a PC without a TPK as PCs get into Tier 2 and beyond. The monster should be squishy enough that its not going to kill everyone but with some luck/ good rolls/ bad strategy by the PCs/ whatever. PC death is a threat.
They kinda got rid of that stuff. It's one of the big things I miss from earlier editions.
DMs don't need to use that stuff- especially with any regularity, but the option of Bodak, Death Slaad save or die shenanigans really amped up a world's lethality.
5E's CR system is bunk and combat is so heavily geared towards PCs coming out on top that even if you tweaked a few things to create that old(er) school feel, I'm sure there's going to be some snowball effects that will break the system elsewhere.
All things Lich - DM tips, tricks, and other creative shenanigans
Two suggestions:
1) have the DM roll all death saves, in secret. The other players knowing if the death saves are going well makes it unnecessarily easy to leave a dying PC alone instead of healing him.
2) have monsters finish off dying PCs, unless it's tactically a really unsound decision.
I don't think looking at instakill options does much to solve anything. There's few of them and they're not CR appropriate for most of the levels played at. Use them to occasionally kick things up another notch maybe, but don't make them your go-to options.
Bonus suggestion: change (Mass) Healing Word's casting time to 1 action instead of 1 bonus action
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Mind Flayer still has to take a PC to 0 hp. Many monsters have this stipulation.
Intellect Devourer
Swarm of Rot Grubs
Medusa petrification isn't dead but it takes a PC out until Greater Restoration can be applied.
Gorgon
Wraith
Specter
Shadow
Beholder
Demilich
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Whoa those rot grubs are nasty! Thats a great list Wysperra, thank you!