I'm probably running this encounter early this evening, so I'd like some quick feedback.
I only have maybe 10 sessions of experiencing DMing D&D (I'm usually a Pathfinder GM.)
On page 31 of Tales from the Yawning Portal, the section on running the final encounter reads:
"Belak casts barkskin on himself, possibly before melee occurs. He also makes early use of his wand of entangle (see appendix A), attempting to hold the transgressors in place."
The barkskin is vital for him to survive a while, as it increases his AC from a measly 11 to a meaty (vegetably?) 16.
But both barkskin and entangle are concentration spells. So am I right that he cannot cast both, despite the text implying that he can?
If the party's main threats prove to be ranged, I plan for him to maintain barkskin and act from behind cover. If the party's main threats are melee, I plan for him to cast entangle.
Unless the wand of entangle says otherwise I would assume concentration, since items with spells still don't bypass the spell's requirements (such as concentration), as stated in the DMG.
My thought would be that he would try to cast entangle first, and if that doesn't work then buff up with barkskin, but your strategy makes sense as well. You do you my dude.
If you want it to be more challenging you can say he has natural barkskin (granted by the tree, perhaps?) or make the wand not require concentration, though if the PCs get it that could be too powerful. I did the former, when I ran it.
I think the Barkskin/Entangle combo is a hold over from 3.5 that doesn't port well to 5e. I just have him an AC of 16 passively. If he is killed super early have his body be absorbed into the tree. The tree then has his stats and spells slots but a speed of 0. As a legendary action he can lash out with his roots whenever a hostile creature ends its turn. +3 to hit, 1d4+1. That's what I did.
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I'm probably running this encounter early this evening, so I'd like some quick feedback.
I only have maybe 10 sessions of experiencing DMing D&D (I'm usually a Pathfinder GM.)
On page 31 of Tales from the Yawning Portal, the section on running the final encounter reads:
The barkskin is vital for him to survive a while, as it increases his AC from a measly 11 to a meaty (vegetably?) 16.
But both barkskin and entangle are concentration spells. So am I right that he cannot cast both, despite the text implying that he can?
If the party's main threats prove to be ranged, I plan for him to maintain barkskin and act from behind cover. If the party's main threats are melee, I plan for him to cast entangle.
Unless the wand of entangle says otherwise I would assume concentration, since items with spells still don't bypass the spell's requirements (such as concentration), as stated in the DMG.
My thought would be that he would try to cast entangle first, and if that doesn't work then buff up with barkskin, but your strategy makes sense as well. You do you my dude.
If you want it to be more challenging you can say he has natural barkskin (granted by the tree, perhaps?) or make the wand not require concentration, though if the PCs get it that could be too powerful. I did the former, when I ran it.
I think the Barkskin/Entangle combo is a hold over from 3.5 that doesn't port well to 5e. I just have him an AC of 16 passively. If he is killed super early have his body be absorbed into the tree. The tree then has his stats and spells slots but a speed of 0. As a legendary action he can lash out with his roots whenever a hostile creature ends its turn. +3 to hit, 1d4+1. That's what I did.