So I'm new to dnd and being a DM. I have been playing around with more interesting mechanics for boss fights other than the standard "stand in front and trade blows until one dies". I have an idea for a boss that is giant and unaffected by our regular attacks, with the emphasis being we need to use environmental siege weapons to harm amd kill the boss.
The idea is the boss is so large we are effectively not worth paying attention to. But the destruction of the environment is what is going to kill us. Is there some way I could do this? So it's like the boss' only using lair actions and nothing direct.
My honest advice is to run normal boss battles at first to get a feel for how the combat is supposed to flow, especially if you're new. However, that's not the advice you're looking for.
The way I see it, there are two options you can choose:
1) The players use siege weapons, which just deal extra damage and have extra attack bonus. Make it require an action to fire a single shot and an action to reload, and make the devices mobile. That way the boss can target the siege devices (ex. "You see the giant preparing to swing it's club down on the balista next round"). This'll give the players time to move the devices and have fun tactically, even if theain damage sources are kinda just boring dice rolls.
2) Have the players complete skill checks/challenges to do things to harm the boss. Maybe there are other mages who are about to complete a spell that will hurt it, but one of the players needs to use their Arcana to finish the spell. Maybe some.other soldiers are using a catapult, but need someone strong to use Athletics to load the stones. Something along those lines.
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
If you want to have a siege weapon vs Boss battle, you can try this:
The boss is trapped in a specific location. He can't move, but he has some kind of ranged attack that is large and targets large things, aka siege weapons with splash damage to those near them with a save. Players have a bunch of seige weapons. As they get destroyed, the people get damaged, but they can consolidate increasing the rate of fire of the last remaining siege weapons
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Hi everyone
So I'm new to dnd and being a DM. I have been playing around with more interesting mechanics for boss fights other than the standard "stand in front and trade blows until one dies". I have an idea for a boss that is giant and unaffected by our regular attacks, with the emphasis being we need to use environmental siege weapons to harm amd kill the boss.
The idea is the boss is so large we are effectively not worth paying attention to. But the destruction of the environment is what is going to kill us. Is there some way I could do this? So it's like the boss' only using lair actions and nothing direct.
Any advice welcome
My honest advice is to run normal boss battles at first to get a feel for how the combat is supposed to flow, especially if you're new. However, that's not the advice you're looking for.
The way I see it, there are two options you can choose:
1) The players use siege weapons, which just deal extra damage and have extra attack bonus. Make it require an action to fire a single shot and an action to reload, and make the devices mobile. That way the boss can target the siege devices (ex. "You see the giant preparing to swing it's club down on the balista next round"). This'll give the players time to move the devices and have fun tactically, even if theain damage sources are kinda just boring dice rolls.
2) Have the players complete skill checks/challenges to do things to harm the boss. Maybe there are other mages who are about to complete a spell that will hurt it, but one of the players needs to use their Arcana to finish the spell. Maybe some.other soldiers are using a catapult, but need someone strong to use Athletics to load the stones. Something along those lines.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
If you want to have a siege weapon vs Boss battle, you can try this:
The boss is trapped in a specific location. He can't move, but he has some kind of ranged attack that is large and targets large things, aka siege weapons with splash damage to those near them with a save. Players have a bunch of seige weapons. As they get destroyed, the people get damaged, but they can consolidate increasing the rate of fire of the last remaining siege weapons