Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gnomeslayer 05-22-07, 02:45 PM	Well, I've been getting some suggestions as to how to challenge my pc's in the CR thread I started. At the risk of trolling, I thought I'd open this new thread so I can let the other one die. I was wondering, what's a good way to challenge a party without combat? Back in second ed, it seemed much easier (maybe because my players were young, and also my siblings) but now it seems the 3.5 rules open up so much more, and I feel like my players know this, and expect that little bit more. it was relatively easy playing them at 1st level. Goblin here, goblin there, they leveled pretty quick. However, 2nd level rolled around and left me confused, so I popped in a few strahd zombies, and a high-level npc wizard and fighter at the end. Now, 3rd level. I've been looking at CR3-4's, and I think I have a few, buuuut now I've got to think of non-combat challenges (preferably with some kind of reward, I don't want to be a jerk DM, and I DEFINATELY don't want TPK.) Rough ideas I've had is a maze (with a minotaur in it possibly, the center being a dragon's lair and the way out (a scroll of fly in his hoard, no exits otherwise.). Though I'd like to save that for later, if anyone has any weaker ideas, that would be cool. Here's the party as of right now (I'll update later): Level 3 Human Barbarian Level 3 Elf Wizard Level 3 Human Cleric Level 3 Halfling Ranger May the fant be with you.
mvincent 05-22-07, 03:15 PM	what's a good way to challenge a party without combat?This thread is probably more suitable for "What's a DM to Do?" rather than "DM Rules Counseling". However (since it is here) I will offer you information from the rules: 1) Traps (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/traps.htm#cr3Traps) 2) Role-playing encounters (i.e. reasoning with a dragon can often get you as much XP as defeating it). The RP encounter's CR can be based on the creature encountered, or (if that would not be suitable) based on the PC's average level. 3) Use published adventures
Gnomeslayer 05-22-07, 05:45 PM	This thread is probably more suitable for "What's a DM to Do?" rather than "DM Rules Counseling". Oops. I've got to pay more attention.
DwarvenArcher 05-23-07, 08:16 PM	I've found that riddles can be a huge non-combat challenge for PC's. They ran into a sphynx in one adventure, so I had it ask them 3 riddles to get into the dungeon. Lots of fun for everyone. I like this site as a source of fairly easy rhyming ones: http://www.dndadventure.com/html/riddles.html