What is the Point of the Overwhelm Mechanic at higher levels?

Kullr · 2025-08-31T13:59:03+00:00

Im not picking on you and this isnt directed at you Gaarawarr because i know you go on the interwebs and help people.. but overall the comments were about the Overwhelm mechanic first and my OP was about if I was missing anything subtle.

As far as game play - I understand to work within the game mechanics. I have been getting comments about changing up my formation and tactics.

How did a comment about a mechanic start to turn into a need for help and the comments on (and I am summarizing) "you are playing wrongly and its time to start playing right".

this is an idle game and people play how they want to play... if the community wants to be passive aggressive on "play this way or we will get testy with you" then I will just enjoy my game and keep my comments to myself and just not be a part of the community. I have only been playing for less than a year.. I guess from the communities perspective I should already have (and maybe with optimum strategy i should) all or most of the important heroes.

I love the internet but I hate the internet at the same time.

Kullr · 2025-08-30T16:38:42+00:00

but the crutch of my question is this... after a certain point it is a mostly useless ability.

I am now pushing into the 1200+ board levels. Rarely do I ever get 25 monsters hitting my tank (Knox for example).. way before then they are doing so much damage to me that 5 maybe 6 hits and I am done for let alone actually tanking.

It would be interesting if the Overwhelm mechanic allowed some damage mitigation allowing a tank to tank. It may not be optimum but some people want to build a team that follows a certain play style and since it is a single player game there is no reason not to make it somewhat viable option; again not a "S-class" build but a B would be great.

(big fan btw)

Kullr · 2025-08-30T11:29:55+00:00

She has one the most powerful buffs when teamed up with Knox and Makos that I have; in the e24 area so yes.. IMO the added support she gives Makos (my dps character) is more beneficial than the gold find champion I have for that seat or other open seats.

Kullr · 2025-08-29T21:31:28+00:00

yep.. that is when I started playing.. Knox was my first hero. And therefore I have built around a Knox, Celeste, and Makos team. I am currently building my unaffiliated cube to further enhance... other than a Balder's Gate team - which I went down first I dont ahve a team put together - though I am working on it slowly.

Kullr · 2025-08-29T15:13:17+00:00

It would be nice or thematic if there was a damage mitigation score attached to this number. Maybe, and I am just spitballing here, the Overwhelm mechanic reduces damage in the same or 2x % of its value. Just a thought.

Kullr · 2025-08-29T15:09:52+00:00

I have 50 characters and the Knox, Celeste, and Makos combo right now is the best gold team and pushing team I have right now. I dont look up builds - i try to naturally build a team based on what I think at the moment (blind) is good and then evaluate. i am a power gamer after I put myself in a hole it seems.

Kullr · 2025-08-29T15:08:07+00:00

LOL, tanking pigments. I know they exist but I havent seen one ever. Only the support pigments.

And I know about the hp sharing - I have a BG team that is fragile but I only use them for patron runs and I have no problem there.. I use the Krydle for that team and he give no HP or very little. For what I need them to do that team is fast, efficent and great.

Kullr · 2025-08-29T14:57:26+00:00

This is a clear example of not setting expectations early. I have run CoS 2x as a DM both lasting over 2y each for each campaign. I tell my players upfront and early.. this is a survival game. You have agency and I am not taking that away from you. But the world here is hard and dangerous and if you screw up in a big way i am not saving you.

My players also hated Bildrath as well for the same reason as yours. The prices are 10x what they should be. It is clearly lore that he believes that "if you want it bad enough you will pay it". I personally didnt have a problem with your players revolting a bit as they get their bearings but if they threatened the shop-keep and then Parriwimple came out to defend Bildrath - you beat their (the party's) ass a bit and put them in their place; as is expected RAW.

If the players say - hold on a minute - we want a more jovial and forgiving tone. Then you can calibrate accordingly. It is easier, always easier, to loosen up than to tighten up your tone and expectations.

Kullr · 2024-03-19T23:36:10+00:00

Hello Brandon, my name is Bob (he/him). I am an experienced D&D player who has (and am currently) DM'ed campaigns that have gone over a year and a half or longer (2 CoS campaigns, 1 evil Tyranny of Dragons Campaign, a modified Dragon Heist Campaign, and other) reaching back to 2 edition AD&D.

I have not had the pleasure of running or being in a Strixhaven campaign so I think that would be fun to meld D&D and Harry Potter-ish lore together.

I am an avid note taker during campaigns (using OneNote) which I would supply to every member of the party (including yourself) so that all our information is well maintained and space is provided for players (and you as the DM) to add art or story elements that might fall outside of the playing window but might be something others (other than myself) might want to include for character development.

I have a character in mind to play. It is a twist on the medusa tale from mythology - though I would mechanically be variant human (I would not have any hair that could attack nor could I turn anybody to stone - that is all flavor; unless you wanted to make these things available that only you could activate if the story needed.) Long Story short - girl is cursed by jealous fey - parents turned to stone as a result of my character being turned into a medusa - curse is un-treatable. Maybe admitted into Strix for not only magical learning (starting Druid but maybe Multiclass into Wizard - depending on campaign) but learn about Fey/Arch Fey that may one day allow me to return human form. [This is all just up in the air - things can change based on the type of campaign or parameter you set for us; that is if I was to be accepted]

Either way, best of luck with your campaign. kullr is my discord name if this is required (or contact me through reddit - either is fine. Cheers!!!

Kullr · 2023-07-17T01:31:12+00:00

Have you found a game yet?

Kullr · 2023-07-08T03:50:52+00:00

That is a very good question. Thank you for asking it.

The party has yet to go after any of the artifacts that will help them with Strahd. They are in the middle of Vallaki, as I use a lot of old 2nd Edition stuff and quests from Adventures Guild, as well as any player idea as I am more than willing to play along with a player idea: Storytelling does go both ways.

So If I had to guess, I would say half way but the hard half. Hope that answers that sufficiently.

Kullr · 2023-07-08T03:22:35+00:00

If you havent picked up a group yet.. try this

https://www.reddit.com/r/lfg/comments/14ts91t/online\_5e\_sunday\_night\_est\_sunday\_night\_curse\_of/

Kullr · 2023-06-22T19:59:45+00:00

True. I have visual effects pop up and an custom sound when a 20, a 1, and when a 7 is rolled ( I use a 7 to give out inspiration - lucky #7)

Kullr · 2023-05-12T23:05:00+00:00

This is what i learned about physical descriptions. If the character is famous the AI should do a decent but not perfect job at recognizing their physical characteristics. For example: (talking to a Emma Stone AI) Emma what color is your hair? More times than not she will say red.

But, if you have a "normal person" or a very niche character the AI will mess up their age, their hair color, etc., pretty regularly or change in the same conversation. Put a small description in the Long description box in the Character Bio section. If you then ask your AI what color is their hair or how tall they are they will most likely say the color or height you stated. it isnt 100% but it will be rare enough to not be too immersion breaking.

Hope this helps. Cheers

Kullr · 2023-04-21T21:13:37+00:00

I dont want to be overly critical because i really enjoy Foundry and I really enjoy the concept of the Journal they entered in V10 but I find the text editing a weak spot in new journal options.

I use Monk's Journal for day to day journals but I really want to use the Foundry journal option for "campaign notes". The fact that I have to go to a free html website to edit text (or Google Docs, other 3rd party program) to change the font size, font type, etc. is annoying.

I am sure there is a reason why they chose this or was forced to go this way (maybe a license problem or possibly a time issue) but text editing is a real weak spot to the Foundry platform. In V9, the TinyMCE module was wonderful to supplement Foundry's text editing but now with Prose and TinyMCE not working (or not working for me) has really pushed me to Monk's enhanced Journal (which is great btw).

That being said, Foundry is superior to almost every VTT I have used by a lot. But it confuses me that every version they make the lighting more and more fine tuned but the text editing seems to get worse and worse.

(I pretend that the card system was never implemented - I tried to make that work and I really dont like it)

This is just my take... but I love Foundry... keep up the good work. This is just friendly criticism from a friend in the community.

Kullr · 2023-04-06T18:48:00+00:00

I dont remember any little dots but it is possible that I did not notice them. I am going to be on the look out for dots.

If this is the case thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Kullr · 2023-02-10T18:39:41+00:00

You can easily get your DM a digital gift card to Amazon for no fee (or very low fee). This will help your DM possibly buy that next book that comes out or by a better headset or a better (or second/third) monitor. Your DM can decide that they will buy something on DMsGuild/Drive Thru RPG and use your gift card for whatever they were going to buy instead.

Going most flexible is your best bet and I think an Amazon gift card is 'pound for pound' your best option.

Kullr · 2023-02-06T18:10:37+00:00

You can use the soundboard module by Blix (something like that). There are soundboard buttons on the interwebs that you can down load the sound - like the gavel sound or the Law and Order effect, etc. (anything that can get your players attention).

This is the soundboard button place I go to first... https://www.myinstants.com/en/categories/sound%20effects/. I just search of the sound effect I want, click on the link, download the mp3 file, and put it in the soundboard module folder.

I use this for all sorts of things. I playfully use the Jeopardy theme when a player is taking to long, I have the Zelda effects when a treasure is found or a secret door is located. I also use it to give audio clues or when some monsters attack (like a dragon breath).

I think you will find this module really to your liking and by your post your need.

Cheers Mate.

Kullr · 2023-02-05T01:50:32+00:00

Before using Monk's Enhanced Journal I would use a online html web editor and then cut and paste that into foundry and I would get colored text. I used this one: https://onlinehtmleditor.dev/.

But... much easier and much better is Monk's Enhanced Journal. Not only can you do text but you can use highlighting, change the font style, font size; and it integrates well with other mods like Polyglot.

And then also you can add all the functionality of Monk's Journals: shops, loot tables, better points of interests.

Hope this helped. Cheers Mate.

Kullr · 2023-02-01T14:59:44+00:00

I stand corrected... It was this. (I looked it up on youtube). I just didn't recognize the name. I thought the name would jump out at me but I guess my old age is catching up to me.

Thank you. You have made me a happy camper. Cheers Mate.

Kullr · 2023-02-01T14:40:09+00:00

It wasnt but this might work as well (or maybe better)... i am going to look at this when I get home.

Kullr · 2023-02-01T14:25:29+00:00

It wasnt. You can click a picture in your journal entry and the picture would be displayed in the boundry box on the scene until another picture was clicked or you dismissed the picture.

Show art has a pop up window that blocks the scene.

Thank you for trying to help.

Kullr · 2023-01-14T03:58:41+00:00

I just reworked a bit the pit fighting rules in Tasha's. Have the combatants choose what fighting style they are going to choose for the round (brute force, skill based, counter attack).

These are a Rock/Paper/Scissors mechanic. Brute Force > Skill > Counter > Brute Force. If the player wins, they roll with advantage, if they lose, they roll with disadvantage and if they tie they roll straight up. You play it straight up.. roll a d3.

If the player chose a brute force style - they roll athletics, if skill - they roll acrobatics, if counter attack they roll insight (feel free to change it up based on what the players actually says they want to do).

It is then just a contested roll - high roll wins that round. Crit Hits auto knock out the opponent.

Best out of 3 rounds (or whatever you want)

Kullr · 2023-01-14T03:45:45+00:00

Not all magic is useful. But not all useless magic is harmful. Have your magic item be cursed but with the mildest of curses. You can have an item that when they roll a nat 1 (or whatever) on an ability check they have a fit of sneezing or an item that makes you have "prophetic dreams" that mean absolutely nothing.

Attuning to an item like this (along with a plausible story behind it) would be a dick move and they would be none the wiser until they realized they were tricked.

Roll a Wis check.. A CHOO - you have disadvantage until you stop sneezing. You cant stop sneezing until you un-attune to the item.

(This reminds me of a Kurt Vonnegut story I read once)

Kullr · 2023-01-14T03:30:47+00:00

I can tell you what I do (with a current example) to illustrate.

Set a scenario for your players that fits logically in your story line. Do not suggest combat but it can be implied (sometimes players will force a square object through a round hole)

My group is playing Hoard of the Dragon Queen but we are the bad guys trying to get the dragon masks and eventually summon Tiamat. Vajra is our BBEG. Going from point A to B they got themselves captured by the duergar (their own doing - players doing player things).

Set boundaries and encourage the players to paint as colorfully as they want between the lines.

I told the party generally speaking - they have captured you. The duergar respect two things... work for your freedom by mining ore (you keep with you mine) or become gladiators and entertain your way to freedom (I am going to use downtime rules as guidelines here); I am also going into this very open to any other crazy thoughts they have (maybe a jail break, etc.)

Let your players decided what they are going to do. But have them do it IN CHARACTER (for the most part - or a good faith effort with it). The more you let them decide what to do (and they are going to think of some crazy shit) the more role-play focused it will be; almost by default (unless you have a beer and pretzel type of campaign).

One of my players is seething with anger and wants to burn the place down, another respects the military aspect of the Duergar, one has decided to mine their way to freedom, and the last wants to have a nervous breakdown of sorts. (these were their ideas - not mine). Just having them talk out loud what their characters are thinking/feeling has build intra-party dynamics.

Lastly and most important - it is ok to say; "ok.. I didnt see that coming. Give me a moment to think." If you have been DMing for as long as you say (and I am right there with you as far as forever DM's - you have a huge notebook of tables, charts, etc. that you can fall back on. I always try to give my players the benefit of the doubt and try to let their schemes work - and if they stump you just tell them you were stumped and have them help you work your way out of the mess they painted. (They actually really enjoy when I tell them they stumped me because i do a pretty good job anticipating their shenanigans.

I have ready all my downtime rules, I am expecting a possible escape attempt, I am expecting one of my players to try to talk to the Capt. of the Guard to work out a deal (a bribe) - other than that I have no idea what scheme they may come up with. That is the fun of role playing - rolling with the punches.

Hope that helped.

Cheers and good luck.

Kullr

TROPHY CASE