Fairly new DM here, looking for specialized combat advice.
I was hoping to introduce my players to each other in a new campaign, by the way of an arena fight. The idea being that the each fight a monster 1v1, then all the winners of those 1v1s fight a bigger baddie at the end of the day. (with some npcs dying off screen etc). So the party is formed as the survivors of this day at the arena after winning the "title match"
The part I'm struggling on, is I'd like to pit each character against a monster that requires a unique interaction with their class. Even if just by theme. So a rogue against something stealthy, a barbarian against something physically strong. It could also be opposite, like an intellect devourer against a low int char type thing. I'm just struggling to find monsters that fill the bill, especially at lower level seeing the characters would most probably be starting at level 1.
Any suggestions (or criticism) would be greatly appreciated? Thanks in advance
Anything from CR 1/4 to CR 1/2 should be a fun challenge.
If it is supposed to be a brutal arena fight that the player wins, then make sure you keep track of their HPs so you don't accidentally get them to hit 0 HPs, since it is 1 v 1 and they won't have any allies to help stabilize and bring them back. I'd want them to be sweating though, so get them to 1 - 3 HPs. Just be prepared to maybe fudge a dice if the player just roll unluckily.
Thanks for the tips on CR. Will make sure I track everyones HP properly.
Thinking of using a blink dog, flying sword, panther and 2*pseudodragon for 4 fights respectively. With a magical arena that the terrain can change for each
Is this a fight to the death? Only reason I ask is because the Blink Dog is a Lawful Good and the Pseudodragons are Neutral Good and both could easily escape the arena with its blinking abilities.
Additionally, If you plan on making them fight relatively non-monstrous good creatures, don't be surprised if the players actually come to the conclusion that this gladiatorial arena is an evil blood sport pitting humans against good creatures. The scenario could easily turn into a jail break where they work to free the good creatures. I know that's what I'd do with 2 of my 3 characters I currently play.
Obviously a work around would be perhaps just use the stat blocks for those creatures and have them be mechanical automatons of sorts. You already are using a flying sword, so make the "ring master" be some crazy gnome that uses the Gladiatorial arena to field test his inventions.
Not to mention a sting that can make them fall unconscious for an hour.
*Or until they take damage, but either way it knocks them prone and potentially doubles their enemies' action economy.
Pseudodragons are intelligent enough to understand common and possibly understand the rules for the gladiatorial fight... and if they are unconscious for an hour, that means they are unable to fight and a loss on the combatant's part. If it is a fight to the death being unconscious is at advantage and an auto critical.
Hmm ok, I think I need to rethink which monsters to use. I thought the 2 pseudos cuz they were quite squishy but yeah they are quite mean, especially for first level chars.
So I also want to take into account the players races. I got a tabaxi (monk), a warforged (gunslinger), a tortle (barbarian) and a drow (rogue).
I had the panther for the tabaxi, flying sword for warforged, pseudo for tortle and blink dog for drow. I think I'm happy with panther and sword, not sure about the other 2 now. I think the blink would have just made for an interesting fight.
I'm not too worried about alignments and what not for this. The flavor is that the arena is very magical and the terrain and creatures are conjured up for the fight, so the monsters fleeing or players trying to rescue them shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's not a fight to the death, more an exhibition to gain influence type thing.
Hmm ok, I think I need to rethink which monsters to use. I thought the 2 pseudos cuz they were quite squishy but yeah they are quite mean, especially for first level chars.
So I also want to take into account the players races. I got a tabaxi (monk), a warforged (gunslinger), a tortle (barbarian) and a drow (rogue).
I had the panther for the tabaxi, flying sword for warforged, pseudo for tortle and blink dog for drow. I think I'm happy with panther and sword, not sure about the other 2 now. I think the blink would have just made for an interesting fight.
I'm not too worried about alignments and what not for this. The flavor is that the arena is very magical and the terrain and creatures are conjured up for the fight, so the monsters fleeing or players trying to rescue them shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's not a fight to the death, more an exhibition to gain influence type thing.
Just checking, but the gunslinger is a level 1 fighter right now right?
With that setting, alignment doesn't matter and blink dog is probably fine, but you may also consider a grimlock in dim light and turning it into a stealth based battle.
Just checking, but the gunslinger is a level 1 fighter right now right?
With that setting, alignment doesn't matter and blink dog is probably fine, but you may also consider a grimlock in dim light and turning it into a stealth based battle.
Agreed with the Constrictor Snake. Turn it into a water based fight. Fill the battle with 2-3 feet of water, allowing the Constrictor Snake to swim, giving the Barbarian Tortle difficult terrain to walk through the water.
Calculating CR for each class makes you realise how unbalanced each class gets. For exemple rogues and sneak attacks have much higher late CR then any other class. Thus their offensive CR is quite high.
Those caculation i have done are without magic items and with point buy. Level 20.
Barbarian thanks to their rage have the highest possible defensive CR. Their 2 attacks per rounds with greatswords make them quite in offensive CR too. Thus they are about CR23 total at level 20.
Monks while able to attack the same as barb even with lower weapon damage and 4 attacks have next to no defense thus ends up a measily 16 CR at level 20.
While i expect mages and sorcerer to do much more damage wise. Their defense is low so i dont expect them to break the CR 20 barrier.
Druids are on a whole other scale. Because infinite wild shape means infinite healing and thus infinite life. Circle of the moon druids are simply unkillable. Lets just say bonus action heal over a 100 hp per turn is very very abusive and such a druid might be a cr 30 at level 20.
But this is all i can say. I havent done all classes.
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Hi everyone
Fairly new DM here, looking for specialized combat advice.
I was hoping to introduce my players to each other in a new campaign, by the way of an arena fight. The idea being that the each fight a monster 1v1, then all the winners of those 1v1s fight a bigger baddie at the end of the day. (with some npcs dying off screen etc). So the party is formed as the survivors of this day at the arena after winning the "title match"
The part I'm struggling on, is I'd like to pit each character against a monster that requires a unique interaction with their class. Even if just by theme. So a rogue against something stealthy, a barbarian against something physically strong. It could also be opposite, like an intellect devourer against a low int char type thing. I'm just struggling to find monsters that fill the bill, especially at lower level seeing the characters would most probably be starting at level 1.
Any suggestions (or criticism) would be greatly appreciated? Thanks in advance
For level 1 characters you probably want to use cr1/4 monsters with a slight terrain advantage or abilities that exploit character weaknesses.
Anything from CR 1/4 to CR 1/2 should be a fun challenge.
If it is supposed to be a brutal arena fight that the player wins, then make sure you keep track of their HPs so you don't accidentally get them to hit 0 HPs, since it is 1 v 1 and they won't have any allies to help stabilize and bring them back. I'd want them to be sweating though, so get them to 1 - 3 HPs. Just be prepared to maybe fudge a dice if the player just roll unluckily.
Depends on the level.
At level 1, a CR 1/4 to 1/2 is a safe bet, but at levels 2, 3, etc. you could go for a CR 1 or something.
Thanks for the tips on CR. Will make sure I track everyones HP properly.
Thinking of using a blink dog, flying sword, panther and 2*pseudodragon for 4 fights respectively. With a magical arena that the terrain can change for each
Is this a fight to the death? Only reason I ask is because the Blink Dog is a Lawful Good and the Pseudodragons are Neutral Good and both could easily escape the arena with its blinking abilities.
Additionally, If you plan on making them fight relatively non-monstrous good creatures, don't be surprised if the players actually come to the conclusion that this gladiatorial arena is an evil blood sport pitting humans against good creatures. The scenario could easily turn into a jail break where they work to free the good creatures. I know that's what I'd do with 2 of my 3 characters I currently play.
Obviously a work around would be perhaps just use the stat blocks for those creatures and have them be mechanical automatons of sorts. You already are using a flying sword, so make the "ring master" be some crazy gnome that uses the Gladiatorial arena to field test his inventions.
I feel sorry for the character that gets put up against 2 pseudodragons. 60 feet fly speed, magic resistance, blindsight, and a poisonous sting.
Not to mention a sting that can make them fall unconscious for an hour.
*Or until they take damage, but either way it knocks them prone and potentially doubles their enemies' action economy.
Pseudodragons are intelligent enough to understand common and possibly understand the rules for the gladiatorial fight... and if they are unconscious for an hour, that means they are unable to fight and a loss on the combatant's part. If it is a fight to the death being unconscious is at advantage and an auto critical.
If all your players are starting at level 1 and you want them to fight one monster sort of suited to their class, I would use the following:
Barbarian: Wolf
Bard: Giant Lizard
Cleric: Skeleton
Druid: Needle Blight
Fighter: Flying Sword
Monk: Grimlock
Paladin: Zombie
Ranger: Goblin
Rogue: Troglodyte
Sorcerer: Kuo-toa
Warlock: Dretch
Wizard: Giant Frog
The theme would be 1/4 CR and as close to something related to the class as possible. And it makes it so the fight is dangerous but not impossible.
Hmm ok, I think I need to rethink which monsters to use. I thought the 2 pseudos cuz they were quite squishy but yeah they are quite mean, especially for first level chars.
So I also want to take into account the players races. I got a tabaxi (monk), a warforged (gunslinger), a tortle (barbarian) and a drow (rogue).
I had the panther for the tabaxi, flying sword for warforged, pseudo for tortle and blink dog for drow. I think I'm happy with panther and sword, not sure about the other 2 now. I think the blink would have just made for an interesting fight.
I'm not too worried about alignments and what not for this. The flavor is that the arena is very magical and the terrain and creatures are conjured up for the fight, so the monsters fleeing or players trying to rescue them shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's not a fight to the death, more an exhibition to gain influence type thing.
Just checking, but the gunslinger is a level 1 fighter right now right?
With that setting, alignment doesn't matter and blink dog is probably fine, but you may also consider a grimlock in dim light and turning it into a stealth based battle.
The tortle barbarian may enjoy having a grapple off with a giant frog or constrictor snake.
Agreed with the Constrictor Snake. Turn it into a water based fight. Fill the battle with 2-3 feet of water, allowing the Constrictor Snake to swim, giving the Barbarian Tortle difficult terrain to walk through the water.
Calculating CR for each class makes you realise how unbalanced each class gets. For exemple rogues and sneak attacks have much higher late CR then any other class. Thus their offensive CR is quite high.
Those caculation i have done are without magic items and with point buy. Level 20.
Barbarian thanks to their rage have the highest possible defensive CR. Their 2 attacks per rounds with greatswords make them quite in offensive CR too. Thus they are about CR23 total at level 20.
Monks while able to attack the same as barb even with lower weapon damage and 4 attacks have next to no defense thus ends up a measily 16 CR at level 20.
While i expect mages and sorcerer to do much more damage wise. Their defense is low so i dont expect them to break the CR 20 barrier.
Druids are on a whole other scale. Because infinite wild shape means infinite healing and thus infinite life. Circle of the moon druids are simply unkillable. Lets just say bonus action heal over a 100 hp per turn is very very abusive and such a druid might be a cr 30 at level 20.
But this is all i can say. I havent done all classes.
DM of two gaming groups.
Likes to create stuff.
Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses
If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games
--> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)
@DxJxC Yes, the gunslinger is essentially a fighter at lvl1. I will definitely look into the grimlock for a stealth battle, sounds like fun as well.
@Grizzlebub the water filled arena with the constrictor snake sounds great, I will definitely be using that for our tortle.
Thanks for all the help :D