Rules option for DnD 5E, specifically for legendary and mythical monsters that tend to be the ones with the most HP:
‘Attacks from legendary or mythical monsters hit automatically if they require an attack roll and the effects of the attack would not give the target a condition. Legendary resistances of monsters can only be used against effects that can be assigned to the spell schools abjuration, illusion, transformation or enchantment. Otherwise, monsters can still use their Legendary Resistance to pass saving throws against any effect that would give the monster one or more conditions. In case of doubt, the DM decides. After a monster has used Legendary Resistance, its movement rate is halved until the end of its next turn. The damage caused by the monster’s attacks that require attack rolls is also halved until the end of the monster’s next turn after using Legendary Resistance.
(These rules can ensure that battles are both shorter and more exciting due to the higher damage dealt by both sides. The battles also become more dangerous, making PCs think twice about taking the risk. Creativity is encouraged when considering alternative strategies for conflict resolution. Both ensure that there will be fewer battles overall, which remain the most time-consuming scenes in the game. The increased risk also makes combat itself more creative when searching for ways to damage the enemy or use the environment for a tactical advantage. It also encourages the player characters to improve their supply of healing options, e.g. through the help of NPCs that can cast healing spells.)’
Interesting, I had the opposite impression regarding the number of dragons. RoT was part of a longer campaign that is still going on, and I always find myself struggling to put another dragon into the game because we already had so many of them, lol.
Overall I loved our time with RoT, picking only some of the cooler given missions and substituting the others with some stuff I had written up myself. So they got to fight a beholder (Xanathar) in its natural environment (Waterdeep) when they had an appropriate level to make the encounter a challenge. Also giving them the chance to obtain the White Wyrmspeaker Mask that had found its way to Xanathar‘s Guild.
Sadly, the module offered no possibility to interact with both Severin and the possible ally faction of giants before the final fight. Solution: Diplomatic showdown to convince a cloud giant of their respective cause. Along with a full-grown battle in the dorms.
Mammon saving the PCs‘ asses from a green dragon following a pact made in a swamp cleared for refugees; the Black Wyrmspeaker as a double-agent who tried to overtake the Cult… God, I loved those ten months. I even got to use the labyrinth from Xonthal‘s Tower at a later point in the campaign because it didn‘t go with our very own version of RoT.
We will dive into that style of play as well, yes. But there are perils left in the game world that can’t be taken care of by lower-level NPC adventurers. Thanks for your feedback!
I like your approach to speed up combat, although I inevitably will have to look up stuff and I would understand if my players would view it as unfair if only they have to skip their turn while this wouldn’t apply to NPCs.
We have repeatedly debated the matter of spells for almost a year while never quite reaching a consensus. I understand your opinion on winning D&D, I just think that the game will not be able to develop any depth anymore if the preparation can’t be relied on, being replaced by an inflation of poorly thought through plot hooks made up on the spot.
Did one of your spellcasters know the Gate spell? If so, what stopped the PCs from pulling the BBEG out of their lair and beating them up from the comfort of their homes? I’m having trouble coming up with challenges that don’t actively oppose the abilities of high-level PCs. Just saying ‘no’ and refusing to let a spell take normal effect would very likely seem unfair, no matter how logical the in-game explanation might seem.
Similar development with my group. I’ve come to enjoy RPing a lot more than combat, which actually takes us much more time to calculate with all the higher-level abilities than improvising NPCs on the spot. But I know fighting will still be inevitable in the future, so we’re blending in some rules from Worlds Without Number and home-brew to speed it up in the future.
Faelys: go get the prettiest red dress you can find
Mystery: spill some red fire ants in the head waiter’s bed and take their place for the best service during the date
Sand: indefinitely borrow a golden engagement ring with a set ruby for if the date should go especially well
Toron: set up an escape horse with red dyed fur at the backdoor for if the date should get the tiniest bit uncomfortable (red fur for safety in town traffic)
Depends. (Dunno if your DM plans to use them in your campaign, so spoilers?)
SpoilerIf the succubus was polymorphed by someone else using the polymorph spell or did so herself (not one of her default abilities), then yes. However, as far as I‘m aware, dispel magic doesn‘t affect a succubus‘ innate shapechanging trait.
Enough of boring rules-talk; Konsi‘s a smart (wise) goblin. She‘ll know that she just has to hug Maybe-Razira hard enough. If it‘s a shapechanger, they‘ll pop back into their true form under the force of the mighty squeeze.
Excited for the next part! Really looking forward to seeing your posts everyday. 😊
Had the idea to do something similar with my group, then rejected the idea because I feared that this would become annoying for them over time. Did the chicken work out long-term at your table without causing annoyance?
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best… Actually didn’t think of just changing their gender, thanks!
Also yeah, my head’s must have been REALLY empty yesterday, 'cause of course I know the Dathomir witches, Hela and some others mentioned in other comments. Just didn’t come to mind when I sat down, don’t know why
My initial thoughts when posting the OP were something like “When the decision against a male antagonist is made, there’s a higher probability of the baddie also having a more original motivation.” However, others have rightly said that just changing the gender of male BBEGs already gives opportunity for some great ideas inspired by such thought experiments. And my general idea when writing the OP isn’t too valid, either. Should have been less fixated on gender and more straightforward that what I’m looking for are unique personalities and original motivations of antagonists unlike the classics money, power, dogma.
I think the second book didn’t catch me enough to read on? But if I remember correctly, the Winter Queen was already in the first book, will pick it up again
“If I had just one WISH, I’d WISH that all gold and weapons I could WISH for would vanish vanWISH from shops nearby and appear before my feet to fulfill my dreams and WISHES. WISH that would work.”
WISHWISHWISH
My players are about to hit level 17 sometime soon, send help
Not-thought-through 1 Minute Solution #2: Using the one higher die for Martial Arts from the class table (always d6 instead of d4, d8 instead of d6 etc.)
Thank you very much for your replies! After some more research based on what you’ve told me, I’ll settle with Worlds Without Number and keep Genesys and Mini Six as back-up plans.
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Titre, nothing to add, it’s just as weird as it sounds but fucking hilarious :)
Non-male BBEG inspiration?
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