Hello, So i am a fairly new DM this is only my second game im running and i plan on running it though 20th level. My players really like to feel powerful and have the full "Superhero" vibe. So i the later half of my game is going to involve my players trying to find some very rare magical gear and items (AKA Artifacts and legendary weapons, items, and armor) in order to kill a God who is going to invade their plane with a massive army.
My question is that is there a point in which my players may become so insane it wont be fun anymore? Or is it really just a matter of my ability to scale the encounters to still challenge the players even at higher level with epic gear.
Some items they'll be getting; Axe of Dwarven Lords, Vorpal Blade, Sword of Zariel, Horn of Valhalla, Dragon Scale mail, Cloak of Displacement, and a few other things that are fairly powerful. (No book of vile darkness/ exalted deeds, no deck of many things) They will also have quite a few other magic items as well, id say about 6-10 each of very rare, rare items and a healthy amount of legendary gear as well.
My party has no arcane casters, Its a rogue assassin, Paladin, Hexblade Warlock, and Life Domain Cleric.
You've set up a end game plot that would inspire the players to gear up significantly, which sounds like fun for players who are looking for that epic superhero powerlevel! Certainly the more powerful they become the more difficult it will be to challenge them in battle. Encounter balance is something everyone can struggle with. Beyond just making monsters more powerful, consider what your party is good at and what they lack. Are they good at ranged attacks or melee? Can they handle swarms of enemies or are they better at single targets? What are their strong and weak saving throws? Forcing them to deal with attacks they struggle against will help that feeling of accomplishment when they do win!
As for the number of magic items you're thinking about offering, I'd suggest pairing that back a little bit. Remember that most characters can only attune to 3 items at a time. Also if they are rich with magic items they might not get as excited when one comes along. Think about pairing what magic items they get to the issues they are encountering, so that when that item comes along they're extra happy to have it! For example, if your party is very melee heavy and you've thrown a few encounters with flying creatures at them, you can then reward them with a Javelin of Lightning or a magic crossbow to give them the excitement of knowing they'll be more prepared in the future.
After about level 12-14, the CR system starts to break down. Just be aware at those higher levels you will need to be cognizant of encounter design and legendary / lair actions.
Thanks! This is very helpful. Ill consider tailoring it back a bit. Ive got an idea for having live (7 Deadley sins that guard seals to enter his plane of existence and each one will have an epic item to help defeat him in the end!
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Hello, So i am a fairly new DM this is only my second game im running and i plan on running it though 20th level. My players really like to feel powerful and have the full "Superhero" vibe. So i the later half of my game is going to involve my players trying to find some very rare magical gear and items (AKA Artifacts and legendary weapons, items, and armor) in order to kill a God who is going to invade their plane with a massive army.
My question is that is there a point in which my players may become so insane it wont be fun anymore? Or is it really just a matter of my ability to scale the encounters to still challenge the players even at higher level with epic gear.
Some items they'll be getting; Axe of Dwarven Lords, Vorpal Blade, Sword of Zariel, Horn of Valhalla, Dragon Scale mail, Cloak of Displacement, and a few other things that are fairly powerful. (No book of vile darkness/ exalted deeds, no deck of many things) They will also have quite a few other magic items as well, id say about 6-10 each of very rare, rare items and a healthy amount of legendary gear as well.
My party has no arcane casters, Its a rogue assassin, Paladin, Hexblade Warlock, and Life Domain Cleric.
Thanks for any assistance and advice!
Not sure if I posted in the right place.
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InsiderWelcome to the wonderful world of DMing!
You've set up a end game plot that would inspire the players to gear up significantly, which sounds like fun for players who are looking for that epic superhero powerlevel! Certainly the more powerful they become the more difficult it will be to challenge them in battle. Encounter balance is something everyone can struggle with. Beyond just making monsters more powerful, consider what your party is good at and what they lack. Are they good at ranged attacks or melee? Can they handle swarms of enemies or are they better at single targets? What are their strong and weak saving throws? Forcing them to deal with attacks they struggle against will help that feeling of accomplishment when they do win!
As for the number of magic items you're thinking about offering, I'd suggest pairing that back a little bit. Remember that most characters can only attune to 3 items at a time. Also if they are rich with magic items they might not get as excited when one comes along. Think about pairing what magic items they get to the issues they are encountering, so that when that item comes along they're extra happy to have it! For example, if your party is very melee heavy and you've thrown a few encounters with flying creatures at them, you can then reward them with a Javelin of Lightning or a magic crossbow to give them the excitement of knowing they'll be more prepared in the future.
Good luck, and have fun!
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
Make sure you don't give them the super powerful stuff right away. This stackexchange question should be helpful.
After about level 12-14, the CR system starts to break down. Just be aware at those higher levels you will need to be cognizant of encounter design and legendary / lair actions.
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Thanks! This is very helpful. Ill consider tailoring it back a bit. Ive got an idea for having live (7 Deadley sins that guard seals to enter his plane of existence and each one will have an epic item to help defeat him in the end!