I think of it less as cheating, and more as 'adding a flourish' to the encounter. Like, if I had prepared a meal and just realised before I was about to serve that it was missing something, I'd just add a bit of salt and paprika while its still on the stove, and bam - instantly everyone still believes I'm a great cook.
I think of it less as cheating, and more as 'adding a flourish' to the encounter. Like, if I had prepared a meal and just realised before I was about to serve that it was missing something, I'd just add a bit of salt and paprika while its still on the stove, and bam - instantly everyone still believes I'm a great cook.
That’s not entirely unlike how I see it too. But apparently others, not so much. To each their own I suppose.
I think of it less as cheating, and more as 'adding a flourish' to the encounter. Like, if I had prepared a meal and just realised before I was about to serve that it was missing something, I'd just add a bit of salt and paprika while its still on the stove, and bam - instantly everyone still believes I'm a great cook.
I prefer to adjust encounters by having some potential enemies in the encounter, who might or might not get added depending on how things start, because then the players have a sense of achievement in line with what they actually accomplished.
I think of it less as cheating, and more as 'adding a flourish' to the encounter. Like, if I had prepared a meal and just realised before I was about to serve that it was missing something, I'd just add a bit of salt and paprika while its still on the stove, and bam - instantly everyone still believes I'm a great cook.
I prefer to adjust encounters by having some potential enemies in the encounter, who might or might not get added depending on how things start, because then the players have a sense of achievement in line with what they actually accomplished.
Adjusting numbers and adjusting HP and e not entirely dissimilar. They’re just two side of the same coin IMO. There are many different ways for the DM to adjust things. Different techniques have different pros and cons and each DM finds their preferred techniques. I actually use either/both depending on the situation.
Bit of a segue, but it would be awesome if it was easy to add more monsters to the saved encounters I have made on this website. I really like the encounter builder a lot now I've been playing with it a bit, and part of my DMing prep now is building all the encounters I think the players are likely to have before the game, so that I have all the stats and monster info on hand as soon as I call an initiative roll. While it's not a big deal just to have more monsters join the fight and track that in my head, I wouldn't mind if you could do it in the encounter beta too.
Fake edit: I know you can edit your encounters you've made to add monsters, I'm talking about once you click 'run' and add all the initiatives.
Its a bit too many people to quote, but I think I'm going to take a bit of everyone's advice.
After thinking it over I'm probably going to homebrew a bit of a less one shotty (read less damage per hit) but maybe a bit tougher shadow dragon and add a few adds easy adds to pad it out. I can always raise some more adds during the fight or up/downscale the HP during the encounter and once I think they've earned it the monster will drop, either at the intended HP or higher. It's the only fight they're doing that specific day anyway so they can blow all their spells and abilities on it. Some more heavy foreshadowing in case they don't come up with a proper plan.
Its a bit too many people to quote, but I think I'm going to take a bit of everyone's advice.
After thinking it over I'm probably going to homebrew a bit of a less one shotty (read less damage per hit) but maybe a bit tougher shadow dragon and add a few adds easy adds to pad it out. I can always raise some more adds during the fight or up/downscale the HP during the encounter and once I think they've earned it the monster will drop, either at the intended HP or higher. It's the only fight they're doing that specific day anyway so they can blow all their spells and abilities on it. Some more heavy foreshadowing in case they don't come up with a proper plan.
Thanks for the tips everyone!
I think making the monsters last in the battle until the DM decides that it is alright may be a mistake. I've found that players love seeing some monsters last longer, but also how they kill them quickly. It makes them feel powerful. I never change the hit points of monsters, because I think D&D has already thought of that. When the characters do a carnage in a few rounds, they leave the session with a smile on their face. It shows a lot.
I have not trusted the CR system for a long time now. Players that optimize well will push encounters much higher then they are. Even the right group with a good mix of classes that compliment one another will make a big difference. It can be a tricky thing to do as far as judging an encounter. I only use the CR number on a creature as a guideline then go from there. My current group of 4 players would wipe the floor with Orcus based on the official stats for him for example. And then some. I home brew a lot at this point in the game.
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I think of it less as cheating, and more as 'adding a flourish' to the encounter. Like, if I had prepared a meal and just realised before I was about to serve that it was missing something, I'd just add a bit of salt and paprika while its still on the stove, and bam - instantly everyone still believes I'm a great cook.
That’s not entirely unlike how I see it too. But apparently others, not so much. To each their own I suppose.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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I prefer to adjust encounters by having some potential enemies in the encounter, who might or might not get added depending on how things start, because then the players have a sense of achievement in line with what they actually accomplished.
Adjusting numbers and adjusting HP and e not entirely dissimilar. They’re just two side of the same coin IMO. There are many different ways for the DM to adjust things. Different techniques have different pros and cons and each DM finds their preferred techniques. I actually use either/both depending on the situation.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Bit of a segue, but it would be awesome if it was easy to add more monsters to the saved encounters I have made on this website. I really like the encounter builder a lot now I've been playing with it a bit, and part of my DMing prep now is building all the encounters I think the players are likely to have before the game, so that I have all the stats and monster info on hand as soon as I call an initiative roll. While it's not a big deal just to have more monsters join the fight and track that in my head, I wouldn't mind if you could do it in the encounter beta too.
Fake edit: I know you can edit your encounters you've made to add monsters, I'm talking about once you click 'run' and add all the initiatives.
Its a bit too many people to quote, but I think I'm going to take a bit of everyone's advice.
After thinking it over I'm probably going to homebrew a bit of a less one shotty (read less damage per hit) but maybe a bit tougher shadow dragon and add a few adds easy adds to pad it out. I can always raise some more adds during the fight or up/downscale the HP during the encounter and once I think they've earned it the monster will drop, either at the intended HP or higher. It's the only fight they're doing that specific day anyway so they can blow all their spells and abilities on it. Some more heavy foreshadowing in case they don't come up with a proper plan.
Thanks for the tips everyone!
I think making the monsters last in the battle until the DM decides that it is alright may be a mistake. I've found that players love seeing some monsters last longer, but also how they kill them quickly. It makes them feel powerful. I never change the hit points of monsters, because I think D&D has already thought of that.
When the characters do a carnage in a few rounds, they leave the session with a smile on their face. It shows a lot.
I have not trusted the CR system for a long time now. Players that optimize well will push encounters much higher then they are. Even the right group with a good mix of classes that compliment one another will make a big difference. It can be a tricky thing to do as far as judging an encounter. I only use the CR number on a creature as a guideline then go from there. My current group of 4 players would wipe the floor with Orcus based on the official stats for him for example. And then some. I home brew a lot at this point in the game.