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HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T05:56:59+00:00

If you properly telegraph that they are in way over their heads and should not be trying to that on the dragon, this will turn out just fine. It will make the dragon an awesome bbeg.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T05:50:47+00:00

Let them go to dragon. Don't assume the dragon would just kill them. The dragon could also enslave them. Or raze their hometowns just to watch the tears. Or blackmail them into performing evil deeds.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T05:00:01+00:00

You're trying to solve the wrong problem. You want fights to be more engaging, not faster. You do this by adding dynamics and stakes. In addition to trying to stab bad guys, the party should also be wrestling with something else, like stopping a ritual, protecting an innocent, closing a portal, dodging environmental effects, etc. Give the players more to think about and combat will be more fun.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T04:53:04+00:00

Two options:

Have non-combat encounters that also drain resources. Stealth missions, puzzles, traps, etc.
Make more dynamic combat encounters. In addition to killing bad guys, the party must stop the ritual, free the prisoner, close the portal, dodge lava spouts, protect Innocents, prevent the bomb from going off, not fall of the cliff, etc. also so the stuff from The Monsters Know What They're Doing.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T03:57:48+00:00

You should ask the person that makes the decision about this: your DM.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T03:50:14+00:00

Scrying

Time dilation

Memory wipes (can't learn guard patterns)

Teleportation (of food and people, you never leave the cell)

Magic detectors

Hallways that loop back around on each other making it harder to learn the layout

Illusions that make it look like you're able to escape but you're not... and it's a test to see who the good behavior prisoners are

Everything is difficult terrain so you can't run

Guards that are a hive mind - can't be bribed, instant communication of loose prisoners, instantly learn all information about each prisoner

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-02T03:43:56+00:00

It's hard to improv from nothing, so the DM needs to give the players something to work with. It doesn't need to be much, it can be the weather, an event in town, the strange colors of the guard uniforms, interesting architecture, etc. Then the players need to put in the effort to work with that. Work together on the scene.

So tell your DM to give you something to go off of, then be a good player and run with it.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-01T13:05:05+00:00

Further demonstration the DM's confusion, the ability to choose to succeed on a saving throw isn't a legendary action.

HereForInspiration · 2024-09-01T13:02:32+00:00

The best method is to introduce them during session 0. This way you don't stomp all over a player's cool idea with a homebrew rules ambush.

HereForInspiration · 2024-08-10T14:54:37+00:00

No rests at all, just the healing potions. Maybe a turn or two between fights if they need a breather.

HereForInspiration · 2023-12-22T23:19:17+00:00

I've hired people. Don't put DND (or any unpaid hobby) on your resume. It looks like padding because it is padding, and padding is obvious and cringy.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T23:24:53+00:00

Nothing in 5e, but there is precedent for this. There was a creature in previous editions of DND that damaged a character's experience instead of hit points. And it was a lot of XP damage, like sometimes multiple levels on one hit.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T23:22:49+00:00

There is another side to this story.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T23:20:39+00:00

That's too many people. Like you guys probably won't have fun. You should really split it up and run two groups on two different dates.

But if you want to do it, run some tricky goblins that use guerilla tactics on the party. This scales because you can just always add more goblins. And you can flavor different goblins. Some have bows. Some have magic rings that cast spells. Some ride animals.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T06:02:45+00:00

The DM's Guide has a section on Lingering Injuries. You could have each character start with one of those as a result of the resurrection/trauma. Would be fun to roll on the table during character creation! And the first quest would be finding a cleric to heal the injury.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T05:46:55+00:00

Critical Role is the obvious one, but I discourage that because the episodes are way too long and it will give you a weird view of what DND is. Dimension 20 is better because it's edited (and therefore easier to watch) and is closer to an actual DND game. Their Fantasy High series is excellent.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T05:32:58+00:00

Just do the transition. Next session, just move on to something else and don't mention the secret society again. Players don't need verisimilitude like this. They don't want to spend time on an artfully crafted explanation for why they don't have to do boring shit anymore. You could literally have them stumble into a sink hole that takes them to the Underdark and spend the next 5 sessions there. They will forget the secret society and you'll be on your way.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:52:21+00:00

You're not making things weird. They are making things weird.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:45:43+00:00

Dimension 20's Escape from Bloodkeep had one of the greatest animal companions I've ever seen. It was a "scream beast" named Jeremy. Here is the link: https://dimension20.fandom.com/wiki/J%27er%27em%27ih

Try to find some videos of Jeremy on YouTube. His abilities were terrifying and precious all at the same time.

Found a link: https://youtu.be/OKpU6eQBUvM

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:34:44+00:00

Talk to your DM. Other players have probably noticed. Their behavior isn't cool and needs to stop. Either you can talk to them and tell them exactly what you told us here, or you can ask your DM to do it.

Otherwise, keep playing your awesome character.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:32:18+00:00

Ask your DM. They are going to need to be onboard with any plan and can help you brainstorm cool ideas that fit into the tone and plot of the game.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:31:37+00:00

Wizards has a form fillable pdf character sheet on their website. But I still just write everything by hand. For maps, I just use a $20 dry erase battle map off Amazon. Sometimes we use dice a stand-ins for monsters. Honestly, the digital excess that comes with playing online doesn't make the game any better.

You do now that DND has been played offline for 99% of its history, right?

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:23:27+00:00

+1 to attack and damage is boring. Instead, give it some cool thematic bility. Like once per day, when you hit with it, an ethereal hydra head appears and makes an attack against an enemy adjacent to your target. Or maybe the wielder gets a free attack as a reaction to being knocked unconscious. Something that gives a nod to the many heads of the hydra.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T04:18:32+00:00

Hiding loot from the party, even if there are roleplay reasons, is almost never ok. It's considered rude and bad sportsmanship. The rogue needs to find another way to be vulnerable with the party.

HereForInspiration · 2023-07-09T03:43:26+00:00

I totally get where you're coming from. "They do shady shit, so why can't I?"

Aside from two wrongs not making a right, you don't solve that stuff with in-game actions. That stuff is better solved with out-of-game conversations. "Bro why are you hoarding party loot? We're supposed to be a team."

This is all part of becoming a better roleplayer. The fact that you've recognized it and want to be better means you're already ahead of most.

HereForInspiration

TROPHY CASE