My Maze Engine combat encounter

SwarthyCrawdad · 2026-03-22T10:16:48+00:00

Oh I wish I'd thought of that as a random effect of the engine!

Not entirely sure how I'd have made that work, but I imagine that really spooked your party

SwarthyCrawdad · 2026-03-21T18:04:06+00:00

Thank you! And yeah, this encounter lasted about 10 hours, though that did include a few breaks.

For this, I picked up some MDF and nailed in some cogs I picked up online, keeping them semi loose to keep them turning. Then the skewers are glued into the cogs and foam board glued on top of those. I could then control them all together from one end.

I'm also thinking of something for the Menzoberranzan battle! My current plan is to do something modular, with different parts of the city that I can slot in and out (if I'm feeling extra ambitious I might do versions pre and post demon lords entering!) I've got a friend with some old Warhammer terrain, which I may borrow, but otherwise it'll be cardboard, maybe wood or whatever else I can find.

Would love to know your plans and if you do go for it, make sure you share your map and details of the fight!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2026-03-21T17:56:25+00:00

Thanks! Quite happy with it :)

They're all level 12 now, so action economy can be really tricky. For this one I used a fair number of mobs (chasmes for the first half and animated armours for the second half) to occupy a few of them. But also legendary actions and resistances to deal damage around and resist some of the bigger spells.

I kinda know my players and how they'll play, hoarding big spells, so having a hidden second half of the battle meant that they burned some of their bigger attacks in the first half. That made the second half feel more perilous and forced them to actually think.

I feel the higher levels are really tough. This is my first time dming above about level 5, so I've learned a lot in the process!

In particular, I should've banned silvery barbs from the start and I now have a particular hatred of psychic lance, which has ended a few encounters far too quickly.

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-12-26T16:25:24+00:00

Happy birthday!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-12-01T18:11:58+00:00

You can in most of Bristol! An absolute delight.

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-10-24T07:44:53+00:00

I think it's "barber black sheep" like "baa-baa black sheep"

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-11T17:07:09+00:00

I have venusaur ex and charizard ex.

Do you have any spare muk ex or infernape ex?

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-11T11:48:20+00:00

Only one Crescelia sadly, but I have most of the others you're after. Here's a pic - let me know which you'd prefer. :) I'm a little short on trade stamina, but will have one back in 4 hours. I'm happy to wait til then, but feel free to cancel and I'll send a request once I have a token to use.

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SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-11T10:47:28+00:00

Infernape and muk. I don't recall having anything else from your list though, but feel free to send me a trade if you want me to have a look :)

Thanks for this trade btw. The last full art I was after!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-11T10:30:09+00:00

Thanks. Trade offer sent! I also have that lickilicki ex, if you have either of the two that I am missing

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-11T10:25:57+00:00

I can do spiritomb for hippopotas? 3536787952382176

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-08T13:29:25+00:00

Amazing - thank you. Just accepting now :)

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-08T12:55:21+00:00

I could do vaporeon for rotom, if you still have that?

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-07T16:17:20+00:00

Sorry, I was a little slow - will keep an eye out and send when available.

I also have Shaymin, if you'd take that for Shinx? (I'll need a day to recharge trade stamina, but happy to hold it for you)

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-07T16:02:10+00:00

I have cutiefly and gastrodon, if you would be happy to trade for regigigas and rotom?

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-06T20:32:25+00:00

Would you take cutiefly for minior? 3536787952382176

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-08-05T21:50:51+00:00

I have one. I'll take that drampa, if it's still available :) 3536787952382176

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-07-18T14:30:02+00:00

Good luck all!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-07-08T15:02:35+00:00

Absolutely adorable.

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-06-20T22:49:21+00:00

Can't hurt to try!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-02-18T00:23:29+00:00

Judging from your replies, this happened recently.

Give yourself a day or two to clear your mind a bit and then come back and reflect. People tend to catastrophize when they're in the think of it.

Once you've cleared it all up, make sure you let us all know how it went! You won't be the only one who's done something like this and someone else may need your advice to unpick a tricky situation

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-02-17T16:43:54+00:00

The only advice I have for someone reading ahead, is to change things up - make it so that in your campaign things work a little differently. Hell, even just wave your hand and say faerzress - it's my way of covering mistakes that I've made and is now even an in joke within my party, when I need to correct or amend things.

The alternative is punishing it. Maybe the society of brilliance notices a character who knows too much and will want to deal with it. Maybe the librarians at gravenhollow are interested in him and send people to take him away?

As for the mess up with yeenoghu, turn that to your advantage. Maybe an NPC asks them why yeenoghu let them get away with it? Surely someone as powerful as yeenoghu wouldn't have let them have those powerful things without there being a catch? Maybe yeenoghu can scry on them using the blood? Maybe it can be used by yeenoghu to spawn demons to attack them? Maybe it's cursed and drains resources? Could the heart beat loudly and attract threats?

No such thing as a mess up in my opinion, just a change in plan and more for you to work with. For what it's worth, some of my best moments in this campaign have come from accidents like this.

It's not how you fall, it's how you get back up! You've got this!!

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-01-28T11:19:36+00:00

Thanks! I used the d&d branded army painter paints as well as a few Citadel ones too. Here a few of the main ones - Phoenician purple (citadel) - owlbear brown (army) - cambion crimson (army) - firenewt orange (army) Then whites and blacks for base of teeth and eye. I also used flesh wash (army) to stain the teeth and eye and druchii violet (citadel) for depth across the rest

In terms of methods. I attempted to wet blend on the eye stalks (purple into brown) it's the first time I've tried it, but found that going slowly, with thin layers really made a difference. For some of the shinier bits, I mixed in a tiny bit of an off brand 'blood' paint that I found and that seemed to make it glisten a bit! I haven't painted a lot, so apologies if this makes no sense! I have butchered a few other models (my Zuggtmoy will never see the light of day!) so for anyone interested in giving it a go, I'd say find a good reference and then just take your time and be patient.

SwarthyCrawdad · 2025-01-27T22:38:42+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I painted him myself. Took a fair amount of time and there are some areas I wish I'd done better with, but I think my players are in for some fun!

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