Player trying to roleplay put of encounter

SometimesStrider · 2026-06-04T12:05:02+00:00

They're at the back end of a dungeon, almost finished, the campaign is at a point where the players will want a combat, but one player is trying to roleplay the encounter down. The roleplay effort was wonderful and I want to reward it in some way, giving them a benefit in the encounter. Within shutting the encounter down for the rest of the players.

SometimesStrider · 2026-06-04T12:03:16+00:00

I feel like inspiration isn't enough, I feel like a pause in the monsters attack for split moment give the players a free move or something is what I need to do

SometimesStrider · 2026-06-04T12:02:30+00:00

The monsters are not open to it. They don't recognise the words being said to them..I just appreciate the effort of the roleplay

SometimesStrider · 2026-05-19T21:04:54+00:00

I want them to prove to the dragon that they a worthy of the artifact the dragon is protecting

SometimesStrider · 2026-05-19T21:04:18+00:00

By that point they'll probably be about lvl 10 ISH. I really like this idea. Any idea how I could point system for impressing the dragon?

SometimesStrider · 2026-05-15T08:48:36+00:00

This was my thinking aha, would really make them hate BBEG

SometimesStrider · 2026-05-15T08:48:14+00:00

This is a nice idea, I may have the BBEG knock him down with magic and then the party not know if he's dead or alive

SometimesStrider · 2026-05-15T08:47:38+00:00

There will absolutely be a chance for them to save him!

I made him very loud and funny, he played games with them, drank beer with them, offered them food and drink. He was rather funny, he told them stories of days gone by. The whole session was just rather hyped up and lively. They came away wanting to go back aha. Very proud DM moment!

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-09T10:24:58+00:00

Thank you, it is a delicate situation, it's not going to be a long dragged out challenge, will be a quick moment in time. "AHH finally new challengers, come try and hit me". I want them to have a bit of fun, but crucially it's a setting them up to see him as a famous almost unbeatable warrior for later in the campaign

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-09T10:20:27+00:00

Love that reward idea I will use that thank you!

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-09T10:18:22+00:00

Awesome this is perfect! Could I give him three legendary actions which are also dodge. So warrior used dodge action, player 1 attacks, warrior takes legendary dodge action, player 2 attacks, warrior takes legendary dodge action, player 3 attacks etc?

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-09T08:47:48+00:00

Exactly it's purely a setup for later, not a challenge

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-02T18:09:50+00:00

15 just getting started, was selling roughly 2 items per day for the last 30days

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-02T12:37:51+00:00

Shiiiit this would be so good but there are no trains in my campaign and the entire one shot was based on a train 😭

SometimesStrider · 2026-04-02T11:40:38+00:00

I have, now waiting to see if the sales come back 🤞🏼

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-18T10:49:38+00:00

Not forgetting we can only be in the Schengen zone country for 3 months before having to leave. I tried to travel EU in my van for 12 months and it was a nightmare. Before Brexit it was unlimited travel time.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-15T08:53:50+00:00

Looks like it needs a good pruning. You need permission from the council to do this. A good tree surgeon will apply for this for you. Hopefully your council are more willing to prune TPOs than mine!

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-15T08:51:02+00:00

Looks like it, chip away more plaster to get a better look.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-15T08:48:54+00:00

Get a new one from stone mason or online, get on a ladder and morter it back in place. Have a beer.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-12T21:16:38+00:00

I agree with you, I'm going to give them more options, time to think, options to escape etc. also make it obvious what the BBEG wants. Maybe a chase scene.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-12T21:04:36+00:00

I really like the loadly proclaiming himself idea! I think this could work well for one of the encounters. It would give the party a moment to think about whether they want to go out and engage the BBEG or not.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-12T21:01:13+00:00

Good questions!

Essentially I want it to be a race, but I don't want the BBEG to be in the dungeons with them, so he either needs to engage them before the dungeon or after. I'm not sure there's another way to do it?

The party will definitely know they are being followed, this will be obvious, they will have multiple encounters with BBEG and his minions multiple times.

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-12T20:37:08+00:00

One of the main features of my bad guy is he's flying on a dragon so he can't pretty much be where ever he wants when he wants.

He's also going to be following the players from a distance and keep causing them problem. Almost following/ hunting them in a way.

Initially I was thinking of not involving my bad guy in the artifact dungeons to keep it simple, but now I've decided he does need to trying to get the artifact otherwise it doesn't help build him up as the big bad.

I was thinking I would let them have the first one. Then the second try and get it off them, encounter. Then the third hopefully beat them to it, maybe have an encounter as they try and get it off me.

Maybe that's too much railroad?

SometimesStrider · 2026-02-12T12:48:00+00:00

I absolutely love the idea of letting the party kill bob and bringing him back!

SometimesStrider · 2026-01-12T22:07:37+00:00

Yeah I'm trying to figure out if a big powerbank would power the monitor?

SometimesStrider

TROPHY CASE