1001 ways to get a TPK [Archive] - Wizards Community

1001 ways to get a TPK [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
pkrerc
04-09-05, 01:50 PM List the best (or most humorous) ways to TPK your party. Now I am not talking about stupid crap like "Throw the Tarrasque at them at level 1" I am talking about traps/mobs whose CR is equal to the party's, but that when used in a certain way will almost guarantee a TPK. (Using 3e rules, 3.5e stinks :P )

I'll start:

1) This one actually happened in a campaign I played in (not DM'd) there was this huge dungeon, the castle-crypt of some long-dead lich. The whole dungeon had about 10 stories, and there were no stairs. They used permanent Tensers Floating Disks (at least I think that was the spell) as elevators. Well, we were near the top floor on top of a disk when we spotted a beholder...

2) Use incorporeal monsters who have the flyby attack feat. Make it so they face the PCs in a narrow hallway. They emerge from the walls, attack, keep on flying through the other wall, repeat process.
Aricandor
04-09-05, 02:28 PM 3) One word: Jovocs. :devil:

Oh. Seems like they're called "jovocs" and not "javocs". :embarrass
masterofmayhem
04-09-05, 02:38 PM 4) 8 bodaks. Yes, technically, that CR is appropriate for our level. Just like how the Tarrasque is CR 20. :rolleyes:

And before the 8 bodaks, we lost half the party to 4 bodaks. You just can't do anything against 12 saves versus death each round. Oh, and look, they got a surprise round . . . :surrender :ghosted: :nonono:

Oh, also, there's something called an infernal in the ELH. It's CR 26, and has 40 hit dice. It also can cast Blasphemy (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/spellsAtoB.html#blasphemy) at will. Yup, found out how invicnible that thing is to a group of level 26 characters yesterday. :D
Gilean
04-09-05, 02:39 PM 3) One word: Javocs. :devil:Jovocs?

Half-dragon anything with CR<1. They have 2 CR and deal 6d8 (about in 3,0) damge per breath. Bats are remarkably fun. Add more if the party level is higher.

Also, anything with insta-death attack using it properly. Such as taking ability focus in it.
Aricandor
04-09-05, 02:42 PM Yes. The jovoc is a monster from MM2 (I think it was). I don't remember the exact qualities, but they have something called "Aura of Retribution" which is a very effective player killer. I bet someone else could give more specifics.
WCH
04-09-05, 02:42 PM Take measures to prevent munchkin behaviour by your players, and then create a rival party which you've munchkin'd to your evil little heart's content, and make them fight to the death.

"Hey, it's four on four, and they're the same level as you! Why are you complaining?... Kill, kill, my pretties!"
pkrerc
04-09-05, 03:27 PM I remember Jovocs. Off the top of my head, they're in the MM2 and have fast healing 5 (I think) and aura of retribution. Whenever someone damages them, all non-demons in a ~15' radius take an equal amount of damage. A good way to use them would be to put them behind a wall, have them tear at eachother, so the PCs take massive damage, then have the jovocs wait until they are healed, then continue the process :D
Aricandor
04-09-05, 03:38 PM Ahh, yes. That's the one. Those badasses have to be the only ones that can kill PC's several levels above themselves without actively do anything. Good times. :D

Masterofmayhem: Hehee.. That one is nice too. I see you've earned your name. :D
Trench_Raider
04-09-05, 04:48 PM A year ago I accidently TPK'd a rour member level one party by throwing 20 Kobalds at them. I played the Kobalds in intelligent manner by having them pepper the party with javelins before moving to contact and then ganging up on the cleric and wizard. The end result is that our new campaign ended with the second combat encounter of the game.

The kobalds had food enough to last them for a month after that one..and wasn't even trying to kill them off!

Guess I'll have to be more careful in the future.

"Trench Raider"
Dash Branaghan
04-09-05, 05:23 PM Not trying to be a troll or anything, but TPKs are nothing special, and certainly don't require a great deal of thought to master. 100 kobolds, if used correctly, can take out a Level 10 party.

There is only one way to get a TPK...be the DM. Everything beyond that is gravy.

Dash
HypnoticMonk
04-09-05, 05:46 PM Here's one I did that I really didn't mean to , but players are just a bit greedy... and this time too greedy( and for once, the players weren't paranoid)

Early in an 1st Ed. adventure, the characters found a set of orders that said the BBEG cleric of Lloth had to get rid of some "holy weapons" that could break through her defenses.The "orders" were phony though, the cleric had made sure they would find them.( Details arent important) The last encounter just before the party went to fight said evil cleric and her henchmen, I set up a "phony" treasure room. Behind a Very easy to find secret door,I put some a couple carytid columns in a room and underneath one of them was a Very easy to find trap door. What did they find? Well they opened up a chest and a bright level shome out from within ( which happens when you cast Continual Light on some weapons and the inside of said chest).I could see the party salivating.Each of the adventurers found some weapon that was Perfect for their needs...too perfect. To make a long story short, all the weapons were cursed in one way or another. One was magnetized so that it was impossible to swing.. and to let go of while wearing gauntlets. One made the fighter weilding it dance uncontrollably. The mace made the cleric unable to do anything but sing. The staff of "light" blinded the mage,... you get the idea.

Now I did this to a party that routinely cast Detect Curse and detect Evil on items about 90% of the time, especially if there was a sign that some baddie had used the weapon or left it too easy to find... but I guess I set them up too well.
Begle1
04-09-05, 06:21 PM 10) (I think...)

Call the DM's lady friend ugly.

Then attack a kobold.

:nonono:
Dreaming_in_the_void
04-09-05, 06:25 PM 11) Actually play the Monster's/NPC's intelligence and use tactics.

Players seem to think they are entitled to idiotic xp baloons who never scheme, prepare, or outright lie in wait.
WCH
04-09-05, 06:39 PM "Rocks fall, everyone dies."
"But the kingdom is seated on a featureless plain-"
"Rocks fall, everyone dies!"
pkrerc
04-09-05, 06:56 PM Not trying to be a troll or anything, but TPKs are nothing special, and certainly don't require a great deal of thought to master. 100 kobolds, if used correctly, can take out a Level 10 party.

There is only one way to get a TPK...be the DM. Everything beyond that is gravy.

Dash

100 kobolds can't kill a level 10 party if the group has any form of crowd control of aoe spells. A well-placed fireball can kill half of that horde in one hit probably.
Always-Late
04-09-05, 07:50 PM But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything.

Presto. A bunch of dead level 10 characters. Ever heard of Tucker's kobolds?\

If you really think you can win, I'll be happy to DM this online.
Dash Branaghan
04-09-05, 08:04 PM But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything.

Thank you for making my point for me.

Dash
pkrerc
04-09-05, 09:57 PM But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything.

Presto. A bunch of dead level 10 characters. Ever heard of Tucker's kobolds?\

If you really think you can win, I'll be happy to DM this online.

Ah, but that is no longer CR 10
Big Tom
04-09-05, 10:02 PM Hit them with lost of things with low INT so they act instinctive, and do it in such a way as the PArty is in the way of escape.
Always-Late
04-09-05, 10:29 PM The average kobold has the average intelligence, 10. Standard human. They can think of things. Like traps. They even get a bonus on making them. So they should be expected to find cover and set ambushes. So maybe it's just the traps and powered up kobolds that exceed the CR.

Kobold with Crossbow x20. CR 1/2.
Kobold with Net x5. CR 1/2.
Level 5 Sorceror x1.
Level 3 Rogue x3.
Some scrolls.

Traps:
CR 1: Fusillade of darts.
CR 2: Large Net trap.
CR 3: Stone blocks.
CR 3: Camo pit.
CR 3: Fire trap.
CR 4: Collapsing column.

Stick all at one vital intersection. I still think it's less than 10.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
pkrerc 04-09-05, 01:50 PM	List the best (or most humorous) ways to TPK your party. Now I am not talking about stupid crap like "Throw the Tarrasque at them at level 1" I am talking about traps/mobs whose CR is equal to the party's, but that when used in a certain way will almost guarantee a TPK. (Using 3e rules, 3.5e stinks :P ) I'll start: 1) This one actually happened in a campaign I played in (not DM'd) there was this huge dungeon, the castle-crypt of some long-dead lich. The whole dungeon had about 10 stories, and there were no stairs. They used permanent Tensers Floating Disks (at least I think that was the spell) as elevators. Well, we were near the top floor on top of a disk when we spotted a beholder... 2) Use incorporeal monsters who have the flyby attack feat. Make it so they face the PCs in a narrow hallway. They emerge from the walls, attack, keep on flying through the other wall, repeat process.
Aricandor 04-09-05, 02:28 PM	3) One word: Jovocs. :devil: Oh. Seems like they're called "jovocs" and not "javocs". :embarrass
masterofmayhem 04-09-05, 02:38 PM	4) 8 bodaks. Yes, technically, that CR is appropriate for our level. Just like how the Tarrasque is CR 20. :rolleyes: And before the 8 bodaks, we lost half the party to 4 bodaks. You just can't do anything against 12 saves versus death each round. Oh, and look, they got a surprise round . . . :surrender :ghosted: :nonono: Oh, also, there's something called an infernal in the ELH. It's CR 26, and has 40 hit dice. It also can cast Blasphemy (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/spellsAtoB.html#blasphemy) at will. Yup, found out how invicnible that thing is to a group of level 26 characters yesterday. :D
Gilean 04-09-05, 02:39 PM	3) One word: Javocs. :devil:Jovocs? Half-dragon anything with CR<1. They have 2 CR and deal 6d8 (about in 3,0) damge per breath. Bats are remarkably fun. Add more if the party level is higher. Also, anything with insta-death attack using it properly. Such as taking ability focus in it.
Aricandor 04-09-05, 02:42 PM	Yes. The jovoc is a monster from MM2 (I think it was). I don't remember the exact qualities, but they have something called "Aura of Retribution" which is a very effective player killer. I bet someone else could give more specifics.
WCH 04-09-05, 02:42 PM	Take measures to prevent munchkin behaviour by your players, and then create a rival party which you've munchkin'd to your evil little heart's content, and make them fight to the death. "Hey, it's four on four, and they're the same level as you! Why are you complaining?... Kill, kill, my pretties!"
pkrerc 04-09-05, 03:27 PM	I remember Jovocs. Off the top of my head, they're in the MM2 and have fast healing 5 (I think) and aura of retribution. Whenever someone damages them, all non-demons in a ~15' radius take an equal amount of damage. A good way to use them would be to put them behind a wall, have them tear at eachother, so the PCs take massive damage, then have the jovocs wait until they are healed, then continue the process :D
Aricandor 04-09-05, 03:38 PM	Ahh, yes. That's the one. Those badasses have to be the only ones that can kill PC's several levels above themselves without actively do anything. Good times. :D Masterofmayhem: Hehee.. That one is nice too. I see you've earned your name. :D
Trench_Raider 04-09-05, 04:48 PM	A year ago I accidently TPK'd a rour member level one party by throwing 20 Kobalds at them. I played the Kobalds in intelligent manner by having them pepper the party with javelins before moving to contact and then ganging up on the cleric and wizard. The end result is that our new campaign ended with the second combat encounter of the game. The kobalds had food enough to last them for a month after that one..and wasn't even trying to kill them off! Guess I'll have to be more careful in the future. "Trench Raider"
Dash Branaghan 04-09-05, 05:23 PM	Not trying to be a troll or anything, but TPKs are nothing special, and certainly don't require a great deal of thought to master. 100 kobolds, if used correctly, can take out a Level 10 party. There is only one way to get a TPK...be the DM. Everything beyond that is gravy. Dash
HypnoticMonk 04-09-05, 05:46 PM	Here's one I did that I really didn't mean to , but players are just a bit greedy... and this time too greedy( and for once, the players weren't paranoid) Early in an 1st Ed. adventure, the characters found a set of orders that said the BBEG cleric of Lloth had to get rid of some "holy weapons" that could break through her defenses.The "orders" were phony though, the cleric had made sure they would find them.( Details arent important) The last encounter just before the party went to fight said evil cleric and her henchmen, I set up a "phony" treasure room. Behind a Very easy to find secret door,I put some a couple carytid columns in a room and underneath one of them was a Very easy to find trap door. What did they find? Well they opened up a chest and a bright level shome out from within ( which happens when you cast Continual Light on some weapons and the inside of said chest).I could see the party salivating.Each of the adventurers found some weapon that was Perfect for their needs...too perfect. To make a long story short, all the weapons were cursed in one way or another. One was magnetized so that it was impossible to swing.. and to let go of while wearing gauntlets. One made the fighter weilding it dance uncontrollably. The mace made the cleric unable to do anything but sing. The staff of "light" blinded the mage,... you get the idea. Now I did this to a party that routinely cast Detect Curse and detect Evil on items about 90% of the time, especially if there was a sign that some baddie had used the weapon or left it too easy to find... but I guess I set them up too well.
Begle1 04-09-05, 06:21 PM	10) (I think...) Call the DM's lady friend ugly. Then attack a kobold. :nonono:
Dreaming_in_the_void 04-09-05, 06:25 PM	11) Actually play the Monster's/NPC's intelligence and use tactics. Players seem to think they are entitled to idiotic xp baloons who never scheme, prepare, or outright lie in wait.
WCH 04-09-05, 06:39 PM	"Rocks fall, everyone dies." "But the kingdom is seated on a featureless plain-" "Rocks fall, everyone dies!"
pkrerc 04-09-05, 06:56 PM	Not trying to be a troll or anything, but TPKs are nothing special, and certainly don't require a great deal of thought to master. 100 kobolds, if used correctly, can take out a Level 10 party. There is only one way to get a TPK...be the DM. Everything beyond that is gravy. Dash 100 kobolds can't kill a level 10 party if the group has any form of crowd control of aoe spells. A well-placed fireball can kill half of that horde in one hit probably.
Always-Late 04-09-05, 07:50 PM	But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything. Presto. A bunch of dead level 10 characters. Ever heard of Tucker's kobolds?\ If you really think you can win, I'll be happy to DM this online.
Dash Branaghan 04-09-05, 08:04 PM	But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything. Thank you for making my point for me. Dash
pkrerc 04-09-05, 09:57 PM	But what if the kobolds aren't stupid? Formations, a lot of crossbows, nets, falling rocks, more falling rocks, falling bricks, boiling oil, burning lamps, explosions, concealed areas, sniper posts, kobolds with class levels, kobolds with items, invisible kobolds, flying kobolds, ambushes, moving floors, cornering, explosive weapons, explosions in general, lots and lots and lots of cover, pit traps, arrow traps, poison traps, fire traps, net traps, javelin traps, collapsing ceilings, collapsing walls, collapsing arches, collapsing floors, collapsing everything. Presto. A bunch of dead level 10 characters. Ever heard of Tucker's kobolds?\ If you really think you can win, I'll be happy to DM this online. Ah, but that is no longer CR 10
Big Tom 04-09-05, 10:02 PM	Hit them with lost of things with low INT so they act instinctive, and do it in such a way as the PArty is in the way of escape.
Always-Late 04-09-05, 10:29 PM	The average kobold has the average intelligence, 10. Standard human. They can think of things. Like traps. They even get a bonus on making them. So they should be expected to find cover and set ambushes. So maybe it's just the traps and powered up kobolds that exceed the CR. Kobold with Crossbow x20. CR 1/2. Kobold with Net x5. CR 1/2. Level 5 Sorceror x1. Level 3 Rogue x3. Some scrolls. Traps: CR 1: Fusillade of darts. CR 2: Large Net trap. CR 3: Stone blocks. CR 3: Camo pit. CR 3: Fire trap. CR 4: Collapsing column. Stick all at one vital intersection. I still think it's less than 10.