I’m a little new to the Dm role and I got a little stuck in my planning phase on how to scale the dungeon encounters (kobold stronghold) to 3 14th level PCs
The only ideas I can come up with is to
1. Throw in some lizardfolk
2. Buff the said kobolds
3. Have Dragon-shield Kobolds from MM ride on the backs of guardian drakes
I’m a little new to the Dm role and I got a little stuck in my planning phase on how to scale the dungeon encounters (kobold stronghold) to 3 14th level PCs
The only ideas I can come up with is to
1. Throw in some lizardfolk
2. Buff the said kobolds
3. Have Dragon-shield Kobolds from MM ride on the backs of guardian drakes
Traps are also a good way to influence a fighting area. Especially since the Kobolds will all know how to avoid or trigger certain traps and you can up the danger of the traps to help level the playing field.
Kobolds also tend to have bigger things around that live somewhat symbiotically with them like young dragons or other creatures that they use in their traps like swarms. Imagine if the Kobolds crafted a trap that let out a herd of Rust Monster?
Take a look at the kobolds in Volos Guide to Monsters for some slightly more dangerous varieties, and be willing to bump up the bonuses to attack. You might want to take a look at your PCs AC and make sure at least a few of the encounters include creatures that can reasonably hit that number.
For even beefier kobolds, consider making a few "mini bosses" using the character builder! Throw together a few characters using the player characters rules, give them some cool abilities, and surround them with minions!
Wow, I make sure to try and take all of your advice for the dungeon I am planning. My ideas is to have the dungeon mapped over two floors, so I’ll definitely put a mini boss that needs to be destroyed to get to the lower level.
Now I have came up with an idea for a mini boss, I just need to see what some of you would think.
I idea is to take a normal kobold, but attach vials of health potions that inject into his bloodstream. That would give them basically a trolls regen. But due to magical build-up, they might get a scaled-down version of a wild surge to keep the PCs on their toes.
Should be fine. As a bonus action the kobold can inject the healing potions. But that's not really fun. If you do that make sure that if a player wants to destroy the potions on them that they can do that.
Should be fine. As a bonus action the kobold can inject the healing potions. But that's not really fun. If you do that make sure that if a player wants to destroy the potions on them that they can do that.
Or... since they’re high level. And it’s still a kobold. Just whale through his HP pool from the potions. Dude could still be killed by massive damage outright too.
On a similar note, I’m a bit conflicted on how to balance the main boss fight. Is 4 lvl 20 DMPCs against 3 lvl 14 PCs too much? One of the PCs in an ancient Paladin so the party does have a bit of magic resistance and the 4 DMPCs are spellcasters, so they’re is that. Is four too much or should I drop it to three
4 level 20 DMPCs vs. 3 level 14 PCs would be a massacre, I would think. You’re talking about casters with level 9 spells. I don’t see the PCs possibly winning, magic resistance or no. On top of that, they outnumber the PCs. I’d say drop them to about the same level as the PCs. Within 2 either way is my rough guess
And to be a bit more meta, high level casters are almost always going to have some bodyguards. They know they need to keep enemies at a distance and will have hired or befriended or bullied a few meat shields into working for them.
A DMPC that's built like a PC is the same power level as a PC of the same level, so 4 level 20s will whomp three level 14s. However, a 20HD monster can be pretty variable in challenge.
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I’m a little new to the Dm role and I got a little stuck in my planning phase on how to scale the dungeon encounters (kobold stronghold) to 3 14th level PCs
The only ideas I can come up with is to
1. Throw in some lizardfolk
2. Buff the said kobolds
3. Have Dragon-shield Kobolds from MM ride on the backs of guardian drakes
Any advice?
Traps as well. Kobolds love setting traps.
Blank
Kobold Fight Club
Great tool to get encounters balanced.
A solid "Medium" difficulty encounter for a small group of level 14 players would be:
Traps are also a good way to influence a fighting area. Especially since the Kobolds will all know how to avoid or trigger certain traps and you can up the danger of the traps to help level the playing field.
Kobolds also tend to have bigger things around that live somewhat symbiotically with them like young dragons or other creatures that they use in their traps like swarms. Imagine if the Kobolds crafted a trap that let out a herd of Rust Monster?
As metamongoose just mentioned, kobolds are known to work for dragons. Or they could work for most anyone else who could bully them into submission.
And I really like the riding drakes idea
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InsiderTake a look at the kobolds in Volos Guide to Monsters for some slightly more dangerous varieties, and be willing to bump up the bonuses to attack. You might want to take a look at your PCs AC and make sure at least a few of the encounters include creatures that can reasonably hit that number.
For even beefier kobolds, consider making a few "mini bosses" using the character builder! Throw together a few characters using the player characters rules, give them some cool abilities, and surround them with minions!
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
Wow, I make sure to try and take all of your advice for the dungeon I am planning. My ideas is to have the dungeon mapped over two floors, so I’ll definitely put a mini boss that needs to be destroyed to get to the lower level.
Now I have came up with an idea for a mini boss, I just need to see what some of you would think.
I idea is to take a normal kobold, but attach vials of health potions that inject into his bloodstream. That would give them basically a trolls regen. But due to magical build-up, they might get a scaled-down version of a wild surge to keep the PCs on their toes.
How does it sound?
Should be fine. As a bonus action the kobold can inject the healing potions. But that's not really fun. If you do that make sure that if a player wants to destroy the potions on them that they can do that.
Or... since they’re high level. And it’s still a kobold. Just whale through his HP pool from the potions. Dude could still be killed by massive damage outright too.
Blank
On a similar note, I’m a bit conflicted on how to balance the main boss fight. Is 4 lvl 20 DMPCs against 3 lvl 14 PCs too much? One of the PCs in an ancient Paladin so the party does have a bit of magic resistance and the 4 DMPCs are spellcasters, so they’re is that. Is four too much or should I drop it to three
4 level 20 DMPCs vs. 3 level 14 PCs would be a massacre, I would think. You’re talking about casters with level 9 spells. I don’t see the PCs possibly winning, magic resistance or no. On top of that, they outnumber the PCs. I’d say drop them to about the same level as the PCs. Within 2 either way is my rough guess
And to be a bit more meta, high level casters are almost always going to have some bodyguards. They know they need to keep enemies at a distance and will have hired or befriended or bullied a few meat shields into working for them.
A DMPC that's built like a PC is the same power level as a PC of the same level, so 4 level 20s will whomp three level 14s. However, a 20HD monster can be pretty variable in challenge.