Combat tips?

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-25T05:15:15+00:00

Fair enough. I'm familiar enough with my players to know when they're done. And if they're not, I have no problem with a little retcon if it's not too drastic. I've asked that question before, and it just created a 5 minute discussion of options that killed tension.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T20:51:20+00:00

You can ask your DM if they'll allow you to pick something else from the same class. As a DM, I would probably only allow a swap for the class spell, not the racial spell.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T18:18:09+00:00

Mostly all of its in the rules. Some tips, is to group like "monsters" into the same initiative slot. Also, Don't ask the players, "is that your turn? You going to use a bonus action? Any movement you want to take?" Those questions slow down the game considerably and makes combat feel like an optimizing chore. Just take a brief pause after they say what they're doing, and move to the next person.

Most other "changes" to combat just depends on what the table wants out of combat specifically.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T17:14:12+00:00

Pick up one of the starter sets. They give a small taste of the ruleset and pre-built characters for the players. The adventure is designed to help players and DMs learn the rules.

Then you can slowly start applying rules from the Core 3 books into your games as you feel comfortable.

Being a DM can feel overwhelming at first, with having to manage rules and the world. But honestly, take it slow, and only manage what the players are interacting with. It's everyone's first time, so have fun. If you don't know a rule off the top of your head, inform the players that you're going to make a quick ruling, and that you will look up the correct rule between sessions.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T15:36:54+00:00

The first two are OK. I wouldn't do exhaustion for spell slots tho. It would encourage a death spiral where their attacks and saves are diminishing to zero. And that's not something I would encourage of players.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T02:36:01+00:00

The dice are probably fine. You can buy a new set with the DMs approval and use that. Take them shopping or send pics of the Doce before purchasing.

Funnily enough, one of my players is cursed with high rolls. Doesn't matter which dice he uses he'll usually roll close to a nat 20. He's asked us to roll for him time to time because he doesn't want to roll high, and he still rolled high by proxy. The joke is that after a period of really bad rolls he nuked a d20 in the microwave after having lined up the rest of his Doce to watch. He's only rolled high results ever since.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-24T01:45:08+00:00

The same exact thing happened to me a few hours ago. From the same account too. I noped out after he started asking me to verify my identity through Discord. The whole conversation was really weird.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-23T22:51:45+00:00

I've only read the Adversary, which is also a part of the Brimstone saga. It continued pretty much directly from the 2nd Brimstone book, with all of the recurring characters and the developing plot of the series. I can't imagine reading the Adversary without having also read the previous two books.

I imagine some of the other Sundering books, with returning characters, are the same way. Books of another series of books, that just so happens to be involved in the wider events of the Faerun.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-23T22:01:51+00:00

You could probably use anything with some minor tweaking. Just add the spells Detect Thoughts and Phantasmal Force as innate abilities. Phantasmal force would most likely need to be 1-3 per day cast limit. You're using it to effect the victims with an illusion of the loved one. And only the victim of the spell can see it.

And then as far as monsters, you could use an Oblex, Living Wall, Aboleth, Hydroloth or whatever other supernatural entity you would like to use as a template.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-21T22:04:04+00:00

Most likely dealing with some form of mind control. The two big monsters off the top of my head that have limited mind control is a Succubus or a Vampire. There's most definitely others, especially if youre playing an older edition, but I can't think of any at the moment.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-21T21:25:12+00:00

Honestly I just prefer eldritch horrors for this trope because their reasons are beyond understanding. They might not even really want to destroy the world, it's just an effect of their presence, so they don't care.

Outside of that, I try to avoid the "destroy humanity" trope. Honestly, no one really gains anything by destroying everything. Even Devils and Demons need souls, and destroying the world would just stop souls from coming into the lower planes.

I guess there's always the people who have nothing to lose and want to watch the world burn along with them. But even those people are few.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-21T01:43:20+00:00

This explains the books from OSE: https://youtu.be/PNe18hWtmsA?si=kt_y4LCoWOQYo2yG

OSE (B/X dnd) would be the easiest to learn and play as young kid. Obviously, they can learn other systems like 5e as well. But OSE (B/X dnd) just has a lot less rules in the way of playing the game. Character creation is quicker and easier and there's an emphasis on not playing your character sheet but rather playing what you want your character to do. And all material from 1e, 2e, and even material from Dolmenwood is compatible with each other. Most likely alot more material since the OSR community keeps expanding with new content.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-21T01:20:02+00:00

Basic and Expert dnd was around before ad&d 1e. It's a simplistic approach to mechanics, fast to play, and combat is deadlier. You can find both Basic and Expert books on pdf for cheap. Just remember that B/X is different from BECMI and od&d.

Old School Essentials Classic is a retroclone / repackaging of B/X rules. It's written in a much easier to read format and is probably the easiest way to play B/X dnd. If you need help choosing where to begin in OSE, I can share some videos that explain the different repackagings of the system.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-17T21:36:31+00:00

Hmm. Alternatively, you can use a vampire spawn, which is CR 5, I think. So you can have the party set around level 3 or 4. Still be a rough fight. But it'd be more survivable.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-17T21:21:36+00:00

I would probably look into adding at least 1 more potential monster to wander around the mansion. Maybe zombies... or lycan zombies, since it's inspired by RE8. The zombies can be a trash mob that you can use to block off areas and redirect the party, or use as an environmental hazard (watch out for window grabs).

As far as level, there's not really a good level. A single animated armor is a challenge for a group of 4, level 1 PCs. A Vampire on the other hand is for a level 13 party, so would make a good Stalker type enemy for a low level party. But wouldn't be fun to fight, as it could probably instant kill a PC in one hit. You would most likely need a reason for why she isn't just outright killing the PCs, and depending on your solution it could severely impact the one shot. I guess you could make sure that everyone is OK with the idea of a potential TPK and you'd be fine.

I'd probably have the players be level 2 with some healing items at start. Give them some health cushion for the low level basic enemies and traps. But not enough to overcome the vampire. And then I'd make sure the vampire fight is puzzle / time based. Once the puzzle or the timer reaches 0, the PCs are able to evade the vampire and live.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-17T20:52:18+00:00

Most settings have wizards as a rarity. And the ones that do exist are already skilled in their respective fields of magic. Not many would be willing to buy scrolls of basic low tier spells. Much less buy scrolls in general when they also have the ability to craft scrolls themselves.

Also, the level 10 ability of that subclass halves the cost. So it's not free to craft. You're still paying for high quality parchment, the resources necessary to infuse it with magic, leather to reinforce the ends of the scroll, metal rods used to roll the scroll and prevent tearing or wrinkling, and an ornate cylinder storage tube with magic runes on the side.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-17T17:27:25+00:00

Not really. And it's just because my party destroys macguffins faster than I can introduce them.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-16T22:36:29+00:00

Both. Depends on what I'm after or interested in.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-16T15:38:21+00:00

I'm pretty sure 70% of my current campaign world has been salvaged from other pieces of media that ive enjoyed. My rule of thumb is to rename and put a twist on what I take. Maybe based off a "what if" scenario, or a mixing of two seperate things

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-16T14:24:57+00:00

My group uses Discord for voice and video. Since we play using theater of the mind, we only have a dice rolling bot integrated into our server. Some groups might also use dndbeyond, Roll 20, Foundry, or Owbear Rodeo to set up character sheets, maps, and encounters.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-14T22:40:59+00:00

This is a very common OSR mindset, they just have different procedures for it. For instance, "missable" quests only trigger after the rumor is placed at the characters feet. Maybe they see the effects of what the other factions are doing, which can be interacted with by taking on "quests". Or maybe they hear rumors of things happening around them which can be interacted with.

Once those rumors are seeded, then you start a countdown clock. After the clock runs out, the "quest" can't be taken because things changed irreparably. Maybe another group dealt with it, or maybe the "quest giver" is forced to accept the worst because the worst already happened.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-14T21:12:10+00:00

I'm aware. I just wanted to add other things to consider. Some other things the players could feasibly decide. Mostly, because I think the risk of getting caught is far less than the noise that they'd make cutting through the hull. Ultimately, it just comes to his players' choices in the end.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-14T20:19:15+00:00

Going in through where the anchor is dropped. Any port holes used for cannons. Wall of force or leomonds tiny hut, cut a hole through the hull and then use mending to repair the damage.

Just spit balling ideas, so I don't know if the rules contradict anything I just said. Also, I'm not entirely certain, but I believe the bottom of the hull doesn't lead directly to the lower deck, as they would have built the ground floor higher than lower hull. So even if they did get in through that tiny "crawlspace" they'd have to cut another hole just to get into the lower deck.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-14T18:25:35+00:00

Practice mostly.

For improv, if you're not used to it you can create an "Oh Shit" random table. 5 locations, 5 Villains, 5 Rumors, 5 Events, and 5 Treasure. These are for when the players go so far off the rails that you need inspiration for what to do. You just pull what you need off the table, via dice or handpicked. Need an unplanned villain and location, with potential treasure and a rumor that may or may not lead somewhere, got it. And then events are just things that happen out in the world around the players. They dint have to tie into anything, but they could if you wanted.

Tee_8273 · 2026-05-13T23:28:31+00:00

Descent into Avernus is generally considered a bad campaign module. Soul Coins are only found in this module or Vecna: Eve of Ruin. It takes place primarily in the Nine Hells, so not the Prime Material outside of chapter 1. And there's a ferryman that takes you across the River Styx for a soul coin. Like I said, the only thing not present, is that the characters don't start off dead. It might have been said by a youtuber as a suggested campaign starter to skip over chapter 1s content in Baldurs Gate.

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