Z's Thoughts As to Surviving Level 1-3

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Zardnaar

Aug 18, 2014 22:43:47

 

 Well so far I have run 3 sesssions of 5E and more or less winging it. Apaprently there are some guidelines in the basic PDF for designing encounters. One day I may even read them.

 

 ANyway some of the tricks I have been doing.

 

1. Being careful with the big hitting monsters. And by that I mean monsters that can potentially hit for a lot of damage in particular Ogres, Bugbears, and Hobgoblins. I did not use Hobgoblins or Bugbears at all until level 2 and the PCs should hit level 4 tonight and I am using the 1st Ogre. 

 

2. Use lots of mooks- CR 1/8, 1/4critters with no real special attack forms. From the basic D&D DM guide Bandits, Acolyters, cultist etc. Refluff or change equipment slightly or add uniforms to make them look a bit different. Be careful of swamping the PCs though.

 

3. xp for role playing. If they solve a NPCs problems, help someone out or intereact well an xp bonus of 50-200xp each can be awarded.

 

4. xp for exploration, PCs explore a map/town etc or find a loaction of signifigance or important land mark. 50-100 xp per hex explored for example though a wildness area infested with bandists and raiding kobolds (in groups of 2-6) at level 1 could level them up without being to over the top.

 

 Last night was a bit of a combat wombat night so at level 3 tonight the plan is to have the PCs track down various NPCs in Threshold to learn the Location of the Mouth of Tiamat and buildiong up to aGreen Dragon encounter. 

#2

Noon

Aug 18, 2014 23:49:50

Yep, this.

 

Someone said 'but goblins are interesting, I don't want to use twigblights'. But dragons are interesting too - yet this is a progression game. You have to progress to deal with dragons without instant death and if you want to face goblins, either risk being knocked to zero or even a thin chance of death unless you progress to level 2 first.

#3

TiaNadiezja

Aug 19, 2014 1:03:04

Zardnaar wrote:
#4

Zardnaar

Aug 19, 2014 4:22:47

TiaNadiezja wrote:
#5

TiaNadiezja

Aug 19, 2014 4:36:32

Zardnaar wrote:
#6

Zardnaar

Aug 19, 2014 5:03:58

TiaNadiezja wrote: