Comments on: DM Dilemma: My Party Kicks Too Much Ass

By: Ian Winterbottom

Ian Winterbottom — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:01:16 +0000

I have just been rereading the original article, and I liked the idea of “Killing iusn’t everything”. Make them have to use Diplomacy, Persuasion, Charisma or whatever, because they have to negotiate with something/someone rather than fighting? Have a “Monster” be the only one who knows the way to get through the Maze, or to another, important location; if they have had to fight their way to him/it, they will now have to shift mental gears as they try to figure a way to persuade said whatever to aid them?
Another one is to disguise a Monster as an ally, for a while at least? Maybe they meet a Golem or the like uder a Geas to protect a certain room in the Dungeon – but the Geas has decayed over time so that the creature can “wander” and he is otherwise benevolent? He could be a useful ally for the Party UNTIL they find “his” room, at which point the Geas comes into play? Another one is the Charmee who seems like a Goodie until a certain condition is met, like a Dispel Magic,and he/she suddenly dons the Black Hat?
Same could apply to a Polymorphed victim, the Dispel Magic returns it to its original form? Yet another is the old Ogre Mage, who seems to be simply a terrified Halfling (or is that too cliche?) until he decides it is time to strike!

By: Savior

Savior — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:07:46 +0000

Make your own monsters that have better attacks and change up things w/ an instant death save to scare the shiz out of them and theyll run. Think Galactus on steroids with implants v.s Average joe.

By: wolferey

wolferey — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:42:38 +0000

Cool that you are using my picture for this post! :D

By: Storyteller

Storyteller — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:58:10 +0000

Excellent post! I actually had an issue with one of my recent gaming groups who were too powerful for their own good. Seeing this post prompted me to expand upon it and write on the same topic over on my blog Beneath the Screen. I threw a link or two your way and wanted to stop by and compliment you on the great advice. Thanks for posting this!

By: Dario

Dario — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:05:01 +0000

Adjusting the difficulty is the surest way to “fix things”, it is also the one you will end up using because you can’t make every encounter on the edge of a cliff, nor turn every encounter into a skill challenge (social or not).

I ball-parked my players party at their level+2 and built encounters from there. I found that it worked well, but that it was much easier to take it too far and make encounters that were almost too hard. So take care.

I also mixed higher level monsters with lower level ones, ie: encounters with one or two monsters level+3/4, and the rest level or level-1/2.

A “smart” party will “focus DPS” on the greatest foes and the rest of the mobs will be simply left-overs…

No monster (sometimes not even solos) can survive being hit by all the parties daily powers or hard hitting encounter powers…

For “nova build” characters simply placing an extra “meatbag” monster and placing it prominently in the way of said character(s) works wonderfully. The player is happy ’cause (s)he used his/her cool powers and the encounter ends up being as hard as you intended it to be.

PS: this was for a party of 7 mechanically “illegal” characters (they had more than 22 points).

By: Dom

Dom — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:53:47 +0000

A solid Dominate spell from a lone wizard will turn a barbarian standing directly before your party’s spellcasters into the best enemy.

Also, ambushing with dopplegangers who all look like the party’s cleric is hilarious to watch.

By: Rakko Wakke

Rakko Wakke — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:03:20 +0000

when my party starts dominating too much, I just throw bigger shit at them until one of them dies.
(WARNING!! ONLY USE ON HIGHER LEVEL PARTIES!)

By: holyyakker

holyyakker — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:23:18 +0000

I definitely agree with the idea of giving them a task beyond just murder. Along those lines give them multiple objectives that may be at odds. Send them in to kill an evil overlord, at the same time have a merchant plead that they free his imprisoned son or daughter. Have the overlord use the child as a human shield, or have the child just break down crying as they try to free her, attempting to run from them at the slightest danger, etc.

By: Janna

Janna — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:16:35 +0000

I have to agree with Expy. (Because he’ll eat me if I don’t.)

These are great suggestions. I like how you guys think. ;)

By: Ivorywolf

Ivorywolf — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:09:13 +0000

Simply split the party up and let them figure their own way around things.Not for long just a session or 2 to challenge them and yourself as a DM.
a fighter, mage, and cleric are a powerful combo. but split them up and see how the mage deals with a anti magic room with too many goblins swarming her, a cleric that fights an unseen foe beneath the waves of a churning current, and a fighter that cant seem to lift his sword against a seemingly weak mage(or 2).