A late game boss fight against my party of 7 level 9 PCs (2 barbarians, 1 fighter, 1 paladin/sorcerer, 1 fighter/paladin, a cleric and a bard) involved me giving that boss a vorpal sword(scimitar). The boss had 4 attacks, 3 legendary actions, 22 AC, 350 hp and a +16 to hit. Not the absolute deadliest the fight can be, but I wasn't slouching either. I saw other threads on giving examples of much less deadly bosses with vorpal swords from people who were super nervous about doing it and I thought it a good idea to share my experience. I'll keep an eye on the thread and answer any relevant questions.
Here are my main observations.
1. As a reminder, the vorpal only decapitates on a natural 20 so 5% chance of insta-death on every swing, my combat ran for about 9 rounds, across 2 combats (long story) and I rolled 2 crits in the latter combat, 1 with the vorpal sword and one with a one off side arm. The odds of getting a crit is obviously low but it is exhilarating when it happens. The table was excited. The fighter was on edge when it happened, slightly mad but not at all to an unpleasant point. Would the mood have been as good with no healers? maybe not. Would I still do it? yes. Would I do it if my table was less mature? I can't say, I've played with these guys two years and two of these guys have killed my characters in games they DMed so I feel like i'm in a good position to do this.
2.The decapitation occurred against the party's pure fighter (Rune Knight) and happed during a legendary action. On the Cleric's next turn he used Revivify while carefully holding the fighters head against his neck. Part of me argues this doesn't work, but it does only bring the fighter to 1hp, (which I did immediately get rid of with a stray spell (targeting 2 other PCs) from the boss' bard sidekick) so 2 players sent their next actions healing him so he didn't immediately go down with a single hit which the Boss which this boss could easily make. Also if my instinct is correct and revivify doesn't work, mending and raise dead does. And I purposely waited till they had that 5th level slot for this fight and even stashed spare diamonds in the loot room for after.
3. Even with a 25 in strength the damage on the Vorpal scimitar is only 1d6 +10 (+7 strength and +3 from the sword) which isn't a lot especially on a barbarian with good con and slashing resistance. You do hit most attacks, especially if your party has less magic items that mine (at least 4 PCs have 20-22 AC) In the earlier combat, the boss did have to focus on one PC (The pure fighter) and did and brought him down from the high 80shp to the high teens in 2 rounds, with the cavate that the boss crits on 19s (just double dice, this does not cause a decapitation RAW) For flavour reasons I didn't use a more optimal sword like a greatsword, but that isn't a lot more damage per hit. Martials have a very hard time against this party so there isn't much I could have done other that focus fire, which I didn't do. Even then the barbarians probably aren't going down with the help of healers.
4. All die rolls were visible and I let them confirmed them decapitation. I encourage my approach, I would definitely not use a screen for this. You might want to chicken out in the moment, but if you do that the experience isn't going to be memorable. The decapitation made that fight memorable. But suppose you don't and you have screen. There is always going to be that thought, (did he fudge?) and depending on the table that could destroy your reputation. Which is way worse than a lame combat, or killing a character, or killing the party (in most cases). Better to be in open and bare the low risk of TPK via vorpal sword.
5. The large party helps, lessens chance of collapse in any case, including this one.
6. They tried to steal the sword. Vorpal sword requires attunement so the players can't use it in its full capacity, in that combat. But it did take the teeth of this pure martial boss which makes send and because the boss had +16 to strength saves and athletics and resistances also 3 indomitables, so it was quite hard and they did succeed, but barely and after three attempts also grappling the boss was difficult for much of the same reason. Though they had more success because I rolled like 3, 1s and the barbarians have +9s with advantage so they can win. All but 1 on the legendary resistances was used in these scuffles.
7. When they win they get the vorpal sword. This is good motivation, keeps their spirits up.
8. I used goons, 4 helmed horrors, 8 minions, a bard with a cool magic item and a Braxt. With approx. max hp
consider this AMA ask your questions if you have them.
I will admit that to a degree I am bad of keeping track when "what level" should be getting what type of weapon.
But if you fee level nines are the right level to give a legendary weapon more power to you.
You have a point in that I can no longer rely on CR or the rules of thumb in the DMG, but it's not impossible to balance, and even then those rules aren't reliable for large parties anyway.
Also the vorpal sword is just a +3 weapon 95% of the time and provided and it's very fun to interact with as a DM, I gave it to a lvl 10 paladin before and it was fine, particularly if you have legendary enemies and such lying around.
Elven accuracy, a source of advantage and a 4 attacks brings the probability of at least one 20 a turn up to 46%. This can be done by a fighter which would also have action surge. Never make this.
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A late game boss fight against my party of 7 level 9 PCs (2 barbarians, 1 fighter, 1 paladin/sorcerer, 1 fighter/paladin, a cleric and a bard) involved me giving that boss a vorpal sword(scimitar). The boss had 4 attacks, 3 legendary actions, 22 AC, 350 hp and a +16 to hit. Not the absolute deadliest the fight can be, but I wasn't slouching either. I saw other threads on giving examples of much less deadly bosses with vorpal swords from people who were super nervous about doing it and I thought it a good idea to share my experience. I'll keep an eye on the thread and answer any relevant questions.
Here are my main observations.
1. As a reminder, the vorpal only decapitates on a natural 20 so 5% chance of insta-death on every swing, my combat ran for about 9 rounds, across 2 combats (long story) and I rolled 2 crits in the latter combat, 1 with the vorpal sword and one with a one off side arm. The odds of getting a crit is obviously low but it is exhilarating when it happens. The table was excited. The fighter was on edge when it happened, slightly mad but not at all to an unpleasant point. Would the mood have been as good with no healers? maybe not. Would I still do it? yes. Would I do it if my table was less mature? I can't say, I've played with these guys two years and two of these guys have killed my characters in games they DMed so I feel like i'm in a good position to do this.
2.The decapitation occurred against the party's pure fighter (Rune Knight) and happed during a legendary action. On the Cleric's next turn he used Revivify while carefully holding the fighters head against his neck. Part of me argues this doesn't work, but it does only bring the fighter to 1hp, (which I did immediately get rid of with a stray spell (targeting 2 other PCs) from the boss' bard sidekick) so 2 players sent their next actions healing him so he didn't immediately go down with a single hit which the Boss which this boss could easily make. Also if my instinct is correct and revivify doesn't work, mending and raise dead does. And I purposely waited till they had that 5th level slot for this fight and even stashed spare diamonds in the loot room for after.
3. Even with a 25 in strength the damage on the Vorpal scimitar is only 1d6 +10 (+7 strength and +3 from the sword) which isn't a lot especially on a barbarian with good con and slashing resistance. You do hit most attacks, especially if your party has less magic items that mine (at least 4 PCs have 20-22 AC) In the earlier combat, the boss did have to focus on one PC (The pure fighter) and did and brought him down from the high 80shp to the high teens in 2 rounds, with the cavate that the boss crits on 19s (just double dice, this does not cause a decapitation RAW) For flavour reasons I didn't use a more optimal sword like a greatsword, but that isn't a lot more damage per hit. Martials have a very hard time against this party so there isn't much I could have done other that focus fire, which I didn't do. Even then the barbarians probably aren't going down with the help of healers.
4. All die rolls were visible and I let them confirmed them decapitation. I encourage my approach, I would definitely not use a screen for this. You might want to chicken out in the moment, but if you do that the experience isn't going to be memorable. The decapitation made that fight memorable. But suppose you don't and you have screen. There is always going to be that thought, (did he fudge?) and depending on the table that could destroy your reputation. Which is way worse than a lame combat, or killing a character, or killing the party (in most cases). Better to be in open and bare the low risk of TPK via vorpal sword.
5. The large party helps, lessens chance of collapse in any case, including this one.
6. They tried to steal the sword. Vorpal sword requires attunement so the players can't use it in its full capacity, in that combat. But it did take the teeth of this pure martial boss which makes send and because the boss had +16 to strength saves and athletics and resistances also 3 indomitables, so it was quite hard and they did succeed, but barely and after three attempts also grappling the boss was difficult for much of the same reason. Though they had more success because I rolled like 3, 1s and the barbarians have +9s with advantage so they can win. All but 1 on the legendary resistances was used in these scuffles.
7. When they win they get the vorpal sword. This is good motivation, keeps their spirits up.
8. I used goons, 4 helmed horrors, 8 minions, a bard with a cool magic item and a Braxt. With approx. max hp
consider this AMA ask your questions if you have them.
I will admit that to a degree I am bad of keeping track when "what level" should be getting what type of weapon.
But if you fee level nines are the right level to give a legendary weapon more power to you.
You have a point in that I can no longer rely on CR or the rules of thumb in the DMG, but it's not impossible to balance, and even then those rules aren't reliable for large parties anyway.
Also the vorpal sword is just a +3 weapon 95% of the time and provided and it's very fun to interact with as a DM, I gave it to a lvl 10 paladin before and it was fine, particularly if you have legendary enemies and such lying around.
you can get the odds of that 20 pretty high.
Elven accuracy, a source of advantage and a 4 attacks brings the probability of at least one 20 a turn up to 46%. This can be done by a fighter which would also have action surge. Never make this.