The general point of bounded accuracy in 5e appears to be to make it so low level challenges are still relevant to high level characters, and low level PCs can do something against high level threats. This contributes to a lot of the discussion about action economy, since if one low level PC or low CR monster can do something to a foe, a horde will do a lot. So, my question here is whether that actually feels like a good goal, or if epic monsters and PCs really should be functionally impervious to low end threats.
If you haven't seen Season 8 of Game of Thrones, you should stop reading. Or better yet read on and never watch season 8. Either way...
There was a scene during the Battle of Winterfell where Drogon the mighty dragon was nearly defeated by a bunch of generic zombies. I remember that I was ready to be extremely upset if that was the way Drogon went out. I know not everyone will agree, but I think part of the definition of an epic character is that you can mow through low level guys like they're nothing. It's cinematic and badass and that's what I'm looking for at high levels.
How would I handle it? I'm not even sure taking out a low level horde would be worth a combat - sounds like a lot of die rolling for relatively minor stakes. Just narrate the slaughter or maybe do some kind of skill challenge to determine the extent of the damage.
To me, bounded accuracy is largely there to get more milage out of a smaller selection of monsters. Personally I've never been excited about killing goblins for three levels and then continuing to kill goblins for two more tiers, so I'm not really profiting from that design goal.
If you haven't seen Season 8 of Game of Thrones, you should stop reading. Or better yet read on and never watch season 8. Either way...
There was a scene during the Battle of Winterfell where Drogon the mighty dragon was nearly defeated by a bunch of generic zombies. I remember that I was ready to be extremely upset if that was the way Drogon went out. I know not everyone will agree, but I think part of the definition of an epic character is that you can mow through low level guys like they're nothing. It's cinematic and badass and that's what I'm looking for at high levels.
How would I handle it? I'm not even sure taking out a low level horde would be worth a combat - sounds like a lot of die rolling for relatively minor stakes. Just narrate the slaughter or maybe do some kind of skill challenge to determine the extent of the damage.
To me, bounded accuracy is largely there to get more milage out of a smaller selection of monsters. Personally I've never been excited about killing goblins for three levels and then continuing to kill goblins for two more tiers, so I'm not really profiting from that design goal.
Interesting thing to bring up. Drogon and Rhaegal could not handle several thousand undead so to speak. But Drogon alone was able to lay waste to Kings Landing. Drogon and Rhaegal should have been able to end it. So many things in GOT were exceptionally poorly written (to me) after the departure of George RR from the story line.
I was in a party years ago where we were getting to the point of being epic. AD&D 2nd Edition. The DM through a hoard of goblins at us. We went through the DMG and there were rules for high level characters facing level 1 creatures. Essentially it came down to something like 5 plus attacks per round.
Think of The Rock walking into a 6th grade wrestling match and taking on the entire team.
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The general point of bounded accuracy in 5e appears to be to make it so low level challenges are still relevant to high level characters, and low level PCs can do something against high level threats. This contributes to a lot of the discussion about action economy, since if one low level PC or low CR monster can do something to a foe, a horde will do a lot. So, my question here is whether that actually feels like a good goal, or if epic monsters and PCs really should be functionally impervious to low end threats.
If you haven't seen Season 8 of Game of Thrones, you should stop reading. Or better yet read on and never watch season 8. Either way...
There was a scene during the Battle of Winterfell where Drogon the mighty dragon was nearly defeated by a bunch of generic zombies. I remember that I was ready to be extremely upset if that was the way Drogon went out. I know not everyone will agree, but I think part of the definition of an epic character is that you can mow through low level guys like they're nothing. It's cinematic and badass and that's what I'm looking for at high levels.
How would I handle it? I'm not even sure taking out a low level horde would be worth a combat - sounds like a lot of die rolling for relatively minor stakes. Just narrate the slaughter or maybe do some kind of skill challenge to determine the extent of the damage.
To me, bounded accuracy is largely there to get more milage out of a smaller selection of monsters. Personally I've never been excited about killing goblins for three levels and then continuing to kill goblins for two more tiers, so I'm not really profiting from that design goal.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Interesting thing to bring up. Drogon and Rhaegal could not handle several thousand undead so to speak. But Drogon alone was able to lay waste to Kings Landing. Drogon and Rhaegal should have been able to end it. So many things in GOT were exceptionally poorly written (to me) after the departure of George RR from the story line.
I was in a party years ago where we were getting to the point of being epic. AD&D 2nd Edition. The DM through a hoard of goblins at us. We went through the DMG and there were rules for high level characters facing level 1 creatures. Essentially it came down to something like 5 plus attacks per round.
Think of The Rock walking into a 6th grade wrestling match and taking on the entire team.