I recently started running a couple of games. I had not done anything like this since 1997. I recall running "A light in the Belfry" last time. Exciting times. We started in Dragons of StormWreck Isle.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
The newer team, "The Noobs", were on the Shipwreck. They were playing 3 level-2 characters (Paladin, Fighter, Bard with Longbow) + 1 NPC Wizard. When the time came to go to the lower deck, where I had placed a Ghoul (with 32 HP, they were PWNING EVERYTHING, so I gave it Ghast HP) with 3 zombies, they asked me if they could go down the hole left by the Captain's Chest "like a SEAL team" and get the drop on the undead below. I have read a lot, so I have told them that I will be quiet and all I want to see is creativity and fun things. This time I said "Oh, Hell yes!" I was so excited to see how that went. People, these "Noobs" had the bard disguise herself (spell) as a Zombie and go down below to scout. She even did the WALK, like in reality. So, I secretly did the chance thing, rolled WIS DC for the Ghoul and made it follow her, curiously, but not unmasking her. The paladin cast shield on her, BTW. So, I moved the zombies around a bit and had the Ghoul shift position, somewhat interested in the new thing that showed up. She went up the stairs and, out of LOS from the Ghoul, Cast a minor illusion in front of him to get him to wander close to it, close to the stairs. Then, all of them dropped through the hole and set up. Ghoul was out of LOS from that hole, so they rushed it. It was so exciting.
They DEMOLISHED that encounter. I told them that was the best way to balance what would otherwise have been a "deadly" encounter. IT WAS FANTASTIC!
I have also adapted the "be the monster" philosophy to make combat challenging.
Their next session is to murderize the Harpies (I am placing 2 in the upper deck) and LVL to 3. I can't wait to see what they do to really mess those up.
May I request some feedback or constructive criticism? I want to see if maybe I did something wrong or I could have done something better...
Please and thank you.
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I recently started running a couple of games. I had not done anything like this since 1997. I recall running "A light in the Belfry" last time. Exciting times. We started in Dragons of StormWreck Isle.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
The newer team, "The Noobs", were on the Shipwreck. They were playing 3 level-2 characters (Paladin, Fighter, Bard with Longbow) + 1 NPC Wizard. When the time came to go to the lower deck, where I had placed a Ghoul (with 32 HP, they were PWNING EVERYTHING, so I gave it Ghast HP) with 3 zombies, they asked me if they could go down the hole left by the Captain's Chest "like a SEAL team" and get the drop on the undead below. I have read a lot, so I have told them that I will be quiet and all I want to see is creativity and fun things. This time I said "Oh, Hell yes!" I was so excited to see how that went. People, these "Noobs" had the bard disguise herself (spell) as a Zombie and go down below to scout. She even did the WALK, like in reality. So, I secretly did the chance thing, rolled WIS DC for the Ghoul and made it follow her, curiously, but not unmasking her. The paladin cast shield on her, BTW. So, I moved the zombies around a bit and had the Ghoul shift position, somewhat interested in the new thing that showed up. She went up the stairs and, out of LOS from the Ghoul, Cast a minor illusion in front of him to get him to wander close to it, close to the stairs. Then, all of them dropped through the hole and set up. Ghoul was out of LOS from that hole, so they rushed it. It was so exciting.
They DEMOLISHED that encounter. I told them that was the best way to balance what would otherwise have been a "deadly" encounter. IT WAS FANTASTIC!
I have also adapted the "be the monster" philosophy to make combat challenging.
Their next session is to murderize the Harpies (I am placing 2 in the upper deck) and LVL to 3. I can't wait to see what they do to really mess those up.
May I request some feedback or constructive criticism? I want to see if maybe I did something wrong or I could have done something better...
Please and thank you.