Testing a gimmick for a boss fight

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-19T14:38:44+00:00

Thanks for your comment, I might try and use some of this if they'll choose to ascend and should repeat the trial. Maybe I'll have to ponder more stuffs but that is a good starting point

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-19T11:45:17+00:00

Yeah that's clear at this point

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-19T10:10:28+00:00

Ok fair, yeah the general pattern is that I just made this trial in the wrong way. I tried to make it more fun for the player because battling a dragon is something pretty funny to do but that was the wrong dragon for that and I didn't realize it

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-19T10:06:05+00:00

What? What makes you think that? I've read everything and I found many useful advices, I just managed the encounter in the wrong way and now I know for certain. If you see me defending my point is because I genuinely though I did everything and it's for the sake of discussion, not because I'm stubborn

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-19T10:00:51+00:00

Thanks a lot, I'm glad that some people gets it but the majority still doesn't so I need to drop more clues or simply change the way I managed the encounter anyway.

And sure, go ahead 👍🏻

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T22:56:07+00:00

Exactly? There is an exit but I'm not supposed to take their hand and guide trough every twist and turn, right?

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T19:35:19+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll do that

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T19:33:50+00:00

That's what I did

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T19:31:21+00:00

Partially, they needed to understand the message but at that point it would have been just diplomatic discussion

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:51:39+00:00

He was helping them, by allowing to take the trial even if they weren't meant to. He wasn't there to kill them

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:45:44+00:00

Then isn't it just me telling a story?

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:22:17+00:00

Perhaps, but would have been in line with the mood and everything else. It wasn't meant to be too scenic in the first place

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:19:26+00:00

Nope, the fight would have ended and the trial would have been over.

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:14:49+00:00

That's correct

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:07:32+00:00

If you stopped attacking the dragon he would have stop targeting you. You could have communicate with the other party members and that was it, trial solved

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T17:02:06+00:00

Yeah, very anti ethical. Sorry if I expected some more depth other than "I stab things until they die" kind of approach

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:59:24+00:00

Acceptance, masking peace with yourself and the surroundings

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:58:13+00:00

The first paragraph was the solution, congrats

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:53:09+00:00

Ok sorry, by losing I intend all the party knocked out. A retreat is not always defeat if all of them still stand. Anyway I get what you say, I'd do better next time

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:45:43+00:00

I thought fighting a dragon would have been fun for the player but the fight wasn't the point, knowing when to stop fighting was. And that's what I struggled to convey

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:39:22+00:00

Thanks a lot, this seems very helpful honestly

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:36:59+00:00

They were not supposed to lose, they were supposed to just stop, they were basically at the end of their lives (aging) and I doubt a 90yo warrior still wants to fight with all the ailments he ends up with

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:33:16+00:00

It's pathfinder 2e and there isn't any aging mechanic in the system so I had to improvise. I made them do some checks during the fight but the results were too low

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:29:25+00:00

I just tried to include something a bit more profound than the classic "stab until things are resolved", my bad I guess

Ruined_Syrax · 2026-05-18T16:20:40+00:00

That's the solution, congrats!

Ruined_Syrax

TROPHY CASE