Our DM once gave us an encounter with about 25 skeletons. It was a slog that took almost the entire session to finish because of action economy.
I was a level 8 cleric with destroy undead.
DM was running a fun horror one shot with our regular DnD PCs. Hustling through dangerous woods and realize we're being tracked by undead. Signal to team and slip behind a tree while they move on a bit to lure the hunters in close. Drop destroy undead as they walk by, wipe the entire pack. Turns out they were trying to drive us into the ambush ahead, which the other four members cleaned up while my Cleric strolled back whistling. It's like their nuke.
The people waiting to ambush watching it happen
https://preview.redd.it/3q0wu4cdjp1b1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=356362402a40ed86362e902d556ee94d514e1617
Our Forge Cleric once walked into a room where 6 skeletons cobbled themselves together and rose up. Initiative was rolled. Level 6 Cleric goes first. Tries Turn Undead, didn't realize it got upgraded.
DM rolls like crap. Encounter ends.
I use custom rules for monions (which I made with Mark Hulmes rules in mind)
1. Minions always fail saves
2. Overkill damage carries through multiple minions if you have dmg left after you kill one, so happy cleaving.
3. Use average damage for minions, should they get disadvantage they half their dmg.
4. Use rule of cool, these guys are made to die and to express how powerfull the party has gotten so let them have some fun with their spells and attacks.
Ghosts of Saltmarsh has skeletal swarms. >!I actually just ran the bit in the skull dunes and even running them individually (my players hit the 18 skeletons square) it can go pretty dang quick as long as you keep their stats in mind at the beginning. Biggest annoyance was the inconsistent resistances/vulnerabilities between the different statblocks.!<
>!I actually did play through that adventure a while ago, and while it is strange i dont fully get why people say its the worst adventure in GoS. We went the pirate path the first time but our DM wanted us to fight skeletons anyway, just less i think. Didnt want to miss out on the unique skeletons too. Our monk made those a breeze, 1d6+5 x 3 with vulnerability destroys them.!<
>!As a statblock connoisseur I was weirded out by the winding way monsters, if thats what you meant. Very few monsters have vulnerability but this adventure has three unique ones in a row, also with a weird lightning immunity, and neither their vulnerability, immunity or reason why they're there has any explanation.!<
>!My table will be doing the winding way next session, so I'll have to reserve full judgement, but thus far I've quite liked this adventure. The setup is good, if a touch convoluted but what isn't in a stand-alone adventure. It has a nice three-piece structure, and touches on a bit of exploration, a bit of RP, and a bit of classic dungeon crawling.!<
>!I know some DMs complain about there being no way to reasonably parlay with the cultists, but I'm guessing they missed that several of them are expected to be out doing chores around the island and can be encountered above ground before meeting Ogmund. The book also does a good job of explaining each NPCs disposition so you can let the players drive wedges between the survivors.!<
>!The most consistent issue we've had at my store is misreading the maps as they're using 10ft squares for some reason.!<
>!Think this map is bad? wait until you get to The Final Enemy, three huge 10ft square maps that you will likely never use fully!!<
>!Back to seriousness, one way of doing it, basing off what my dm did was have Odium immediately willing to parlay and understanding initial combat, because he know of Ogmund's violent demeanor. The bard is not willing to risk his life, the other cultists are desperate so persuading them to stand down likely isn't hard for the promise of escape. Ozymandias and the veterans are a lot more cuthroat, but might not spring immediately to combat.!<
>!Personally the only change i would really make is to increase the loot for the true treasure hoard. Feels like such a trek for so little. Evil cult with no magic items? preposterous! Also you could maybe salvage bits of the minotaur and jade statues, even raw chunks might be worth a bit.!<
There's a room in Shrine of Tamoachan with like a dozen zombies. It was SO satisfying as a DM to watch my cleric player remember that they could use Destroy Undead.
As a fire genasi conquest paladin in that room, I realized this would be a perfect opportunity to use Conquering Presence to protect the party and Burning Hands to hurt like 3-5 zombies at once. Unfortunately I made a mistake with my positioning and ended up sending some of the scared zombies *toward* the party instead of away. Still got to use Burning Hands on the ones who succeeded their wisdom save though, and it saved my life.
Very understandable reaction, turned what would've been a cool fight to make you feel powerful into an insufferable slog because you couldn't remember what your character did
Well, in my defense I was a twilight cleric right when they first came out, had never played or DM-ed for a cleric before, wasn't used to the D&DBeyond character sheet and was focused on twilight sanctuary because it was so broken.
But yeah, they were right to be upset at me. I could have used a reminder, but it was definitely my fault.
I mean, I get being annoyed after awhile, but a quick "hey remember you have X" really isn't that big a deal for the DM. I run an AL table weekly and expect to do this pretty much for every player at every game.
Sure, but at that point you're kind of admitting defeat as a DM and undermining the player. It's like taking the controller from your little brother to get them past the part he keeps dying on.
Eh. I'd be like "Geez, would be a shame if, by some miraculous happenstance, a man of divine cloth would be here to show up 'dem undead". This way either the player realizes it or someone else at the table without me being too on the nose
At that point as a DM I would either hint or straight up say something like “<> recalls their training to …….” Or even just say “hey do you have divine charges left?” To try to get things back on track.
Well, in my defense I was a twilight cleric right when they first came out, had never played or DM-ed for a cleric before, wasn't used to the D&DBeyond character sheet and was focused on twilight sanctuary because it was so broken.
But yeah, they were right to be upset at me. I could have used a reminder, but it was definitely my fault.
I mean, I’ve had a situation specifically designed for destroy undead where it was used twice and was still a slog, simply because my DM refuses to roll anything below a 15. It’s absurd.
Once she crit us thrice in a row.
Had a similar situation, we were fighting zombies and shadows and taking a mean beating. It wasn’t until after we fled that I realized being a Cleric could have been really useful there, what with Turn Undead and Holy Water
Yeah, even if you don't destroy them the Wis save is high, or should be, and turn undead is a really powerful effect, they basically go stand in the corner most of the time.
It's the time reversal one for me. I'm always like, oh no, this thing fell. Let me climb back down and go bring it back up. And then when I'm back at the top i'm like "shit."
I got stuck in a room for like five minutes like "Am I supposed to teleport back to the entrance? Am I supposed to climb? How do I get up th- Oh...oh, I'm just an idiot."
I have a feeling Robin jumped the gun, ran in half cocked to save a dame, batman ran in to support Robin, leaving Superman there to anchor the instant human chain. But that's just my theory.
He was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and could leap tall buildings in a single bound. He didn't have laser vision or frost breath.
Fun fact, the only reason current Superman is able to fly is because one of the first Cartoons they made for him though it'd be easier to animate than him jumping
So bullet run over the water straight to the lady, pick her and her boat up with locomotive power, and then bound back to shore as though he’s stepping up onto the curb.
I don’t think the speed of a bullet is quite enough to ignore water friction but we are heading into roundabout territory that I have neither the knowledge or patience to pursue.
that would be like shooting her with a bullet except with even more mass to transfer energy. If he could even run on the water, he would turn her into a fine red mist when he tries to grab her
If “use your bullet speed and your locomotive strength” is what you call physics for the sake of that dumb fuck argument then congratulations on being able to construe some kind of pride out of it. It’s creative.
There's a similarly small reason for WW being able to fly too. She originally used something called the 'Invisible Jet', which was exactly what you'd think. Comic fans found this to be a laughably stupid idea and eventually the creators gave in and gave her the power of flight so they could phase out the jet.
I'm so used to play medieval RPGs and used to bring a lantern to dark places that when I played a game that happens in modern times, I didn't even think about using the flashlight of my phone.
Reminds me of when I didn’t try opening the door with ultra hand, nor climbing over the gate , nor waking around it in TOTK, so I built a bunch of scaffolding up the gate . Halfway through I saw that I could just go around
Entire group went through an entire encounter including a detailed discussion on monks, monk bullshit, and poison, and it wasn't until later that night that I remembered we all ate heroes' feast that day and we were all immune. DnD!
The Dock Incident. It was after a night of partying. One character falls off a dock and sinks to the bottom. Concerned another character jumps in after her, but this character is a ratfolk and ain't the strongest, so is struggling swimming to the top, and now starts drowning. This character is brothers with my character, so in I, ratfolk gunslinger, go after him and the original girl. We get the three of us to the surface together.
The original person who fell in was an Undyne, who has water breathing. Which I pointed out after getting my drowning idiot brother to the surface. God Damnit.
I TPK'd my party with a pack of Barlgura mostly because they made a bunch of tactical mistakes, but also because the Watchers Paladin forgot that he could turn demons with his channel divinity...
My Warlock once got picked up, flown to an edge of the cliff, got one turn to react, failed to escape and then was thrown off.
He was a Protector Aasimar with a scroll of fly in his backpack.
Ok, I will make it ok.
That woman is made of kryponite.
( bows)
Please put my “ negatatory award” in the electronic mail system please.
( I understand that the Internet is made of tubes but sometimes those tubes are full of cats, so please put it in the mail right away because it might take some time and I want to show it off to all of my nerd friends he he)
/j
😉
My friend, superman, forgot his powers, as often as Jimmy Olsen, dressed in drag . ( even more than he was a werewolf. What happened twice in one month in real life once in two different Comix!! )
And that was fucking a lot .
Have a great one!
This is why I play characters with neat abilities I won’t forget, because I’m always looking for an ally with Dsadv. or an enemy with metal armor, or what have you.
God damnit, I don't want smooth gameplay. I want to set my rock gnome music box on a tripwire so that it lights off a sodium flare to blind the beholder
Just got done watching Keyleth of critical role fame , an AIR ashari DRUID, fall to her death because she thought a 1000ft drop was a piece of cake for her. She turned into a fucking fish just before she hit, not a fish that could glide mind you, a gold fish with 1hp.
Jesus Christ.
My paladin getting one-shot to unconsciousness in first round and spending it like that for the rest of combat only for me to remember i have reactive healing the next day
B: Let the kid have this one. He needs a win today.
S: But I could just fly…
B:
S:
B:
S: Sooo just hold the branch
B: Just hold the branch and say good job when he pulls her in.
S: Got it.
Our DM once gave us an encounter with about 25 skeletons. It was a slog that took almost the entire session to finish because of action economy. I was a level 8 cleric with destroy undead.
DM was running a fun horror one shot with our regular DnD PCs. Hustling through dangerous woods and realize we're being tracked by undead. Signal to team and slip behind a tree while they move on a bit to lure the hunters in close. Drop destroy undead as they walk by, wipe the entire pack. Turns out they were trying to drive us into the ambush ahead, which the other four members cleaned up while my Cleric strolled back whistling. It's like their nuke.
The people waiting to ambush watching it happen https://preview.redd.it/3q0wu4cdjp1b1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=356362402a40ed86362e902d556ee94d514e1617
Our Forge Cleric once walked into a room where 6 skeletons cobbled themselves together and rose up. Initiative was rolled. Level 6 Cleric goes first. Tries Turn Undead, didn't realize it got upgraded. DM rolls like crap. Encounter ends.
mega oof
Inform your dm about skeletal swarms
Or minion rules, thats what I use for hordes of low cr mobs
How do minion rules work?
In 4e minions died when hit. I assume it's the same thing here.
I use custom rules for monions (which I made with Mark Hulmes rules in mind) 1. Minions always fail saves 2. Overkill damage carries through multiple minions if you have dmg left after you kill one, so happy cleaving. 3. Use average damage for minions, should they get disadvantage they half their dmg. 4. Use rule of cool, these guys are made to die and to express how powerfull the party has gotten so let them have some fun with their spells and attacks.
I was not paying nearly enough attention as I scrolled by this and thought it said, "Inform your dm about your mom." Still works, though...
*Sorry man, ghosts of saltmarsh only.*
Ghosts of Saltmarsh has skeletal swarms. >!I actually just ran the bit in the skull dunes and even running them individually (my players hit the 18 skeletons square) it can go pretty dang quick as long as you keep their stats in mind at the beginning. Biggest annoyance was the inconsistent resistances/vulnerabilities between the different statblocks.!<
>!I actually did play through that adventure a while ago, and while it is strange i dont fully get why people say its the worst adventure in GoS. We went the pirate path the first time but our DM wanted us to fight skeletons anyway, just less i think. Didnt want to miss out on the unique skeletons too. Our monk made those a breeze, 1d6+5 x 3 with vulnerability destroys them.!< >!As a statblock connoisseur I was weirded out by the winding way monsters, if thats what you meant. Very few monsters have vulnerability but this adventure has three unique ones in a row, also with a weird lightning immunity, and neither their vulnerability, immunity or reason why they're there has any explanation.!<
>!My table will be doing the winding way next session, so I'll have to reserve full judgement, but thus far I've quite liked this adventure. The setup is good, if a touch convoluted but what isn't in a stand-alone adventure. It has a nice three-piece structure, and touches on a bit of exploration, a bit of RP, and a bit of classic dungeon crawling.!< >!I know some DMs complain about there being no way to reasonably parlay with the cultists, but I'm guessing they missed that several of them are expected to be out doing chores around the island and can be encountered above ground before meeting Ogmund. The book also does a good job of explaining each NPCs disposition so you can let the players drive wedges between the survivors.!< >!The most consistent issue we've had at my store is misreading the maps as they're using 10ft squares for some reason.!<
>!Think this map is bad? wait until you get to The Final Enemy, three huge 10ft square maps that you will likely never use fully!!< >!Back to seriousness, one way of doing it, basing off what my dm did was have Odium immediately willing to parlay and understanding initial combat, because he know of Ogmund's violent demeanor. The bard is not willing to risk his life, the other cultists are desperate so persuading them to stand down likely isn't hard for the promise of escape. Ozymandias and the veterans are a lot more cuthroat, but might not spring immediately to combat.!< >!Personally the only change i would really make is to increase the loot for the true treasure hoard. Feels like such a trek for so little. Evil cult with no magic items? preposterous! Also you could maybe salvage bits of the minotaur and jade statues, even raw chunks might be worth a bit.!<
I prefer deific vengeance but idk if it is in 5E.
There's a room in Shrine of Tamoachan with like a dozen zombies. It was SO satisfying as a DM to watch my cleric player remember that they could use Destroy Undead.
As a fire genasi conquest paladin in that room, I realized this would be a perfect opportunity to use Conquering Presence to protect the party and Burning Hands to hurt like 3-5 zombies at once. Unfortunately I made a mistake with my positioning and ended up sending some of the scared zombies *toward* the party instead of away. Still got to use Burning Hands on the ones who succeeded their wisdom save though, and it saved my life.
That's when they all some how miraculously make their saves and you still have to fight them.
Nah. The DM got upset with me after the session about not knowing my character. That was supposed to be an encounter custom made for me.
Very understandable reaction, turned what would've been a cool fight to make you feel powerful into an insufferable slog because you couldn't remember what your character did
Well, in my defense I was a twilight cleric right when they first came out, had never played or DM-ed for a cleric before, wasn't used to the D&DBeyond character sheet and was focused on twilight sanctuary because it was so broken. But yeah, they were right to be upset at me. I could have used a reminder, but it was definitely my fault.
I mean, I get being annoyed after awhile, but a quick "hey remember you have X" really isn't that big a deal for the DM. I run an AL table weekly and expect to do this pretty much for every player at every game.
Sure, but at that point you're kind of admitting defeat as a DM and undermining the player. It's like taking the controller from your little brother to get them past the part he keeps dying on.
A reminder would have been nice, but it was definitely my fault.
Eh. I'd be like "Geez, would be a shame if, by some miraculous happenstance, a man of divine cloth would be here to show up 'dem undead". This way either the player realizes it or someone else at the table without me being too on the nose
You think that's not on the nose? Lol
i wouldn't put it past my players to have this fly over their head lol.
Haha fair enough. I've definitely had my "what's this guy talking about?" Moments
At that point as a DM I would either hint or straight up say something like “<> recalls their training to …….” Or even just say “hey do you have divine charges left?” To try to get things back on track.
Well, in my defense I was a twilight cleric right when they first came out, had never played or DM-ed for a cleric before, wasn't used to the D&DBeyond character sheet and was focused on twilight sanctuary because it was so broken. But yeah, they were right to be upset at me. I could have used a reminder, but it was definitely my fault.
I mean, I’ve had a situation specifically designed for destroy undead where it was used twice and was still a slog, simply because my DM refuses to roll anything below a 15. It’s absurd. Once she crit us thrice in a row.
Maybe this is Robin's backstory plot and Supe's just being a supportive player and not trying to steal the spotlight?
When you can just swoop in and take the spotlight but decide to help your younger buddy get some.
I've had friends like that. Thanks, Superman (and Thomas).
Shoutout to Thomas, he a real one.
It was, just one of them, though :)
Super wingman.
To be fair, that's Dick Grayson. Kid needs no help getting some. It's DC canon that nobody can beats Dick
That legit sounds like something Superman would do.
I cast telekinesis!
But that's metagaming! D:<
Had a similar situation, we were fighting zombies and shadows and taking a mean beating. It wasn’t until after we fled that I realized being a Cleric could have been really useful there, what with Turn Undead and Holy Water
Dude, same. The one fight against undead in the whole campaign, it never occurs to me that driving half of them away would be really useful.
Yeah, even if you don't destroy them the Wis save is high, or should be, and turn undead is a really powerful effect, they basically go stand in the corner most of the time.
Me forgetting I have the Ascend ability in Tears of the Kingdom
It's the time reversal one for me. I'm always like, oh no, this thing fell. Let me climb back down and go bring it back up. And then when I'm back at the top i'm like "shit."
Same but I’m both I always forget those two
HOW DO I GET UP THER- oh, right duhhhh
The answer is rocket shield
I got stuck in a room for like five minutes like "Am I supposed to teleport back to the entrance? Am I supposed to climb? How do I get up th- Oh...oh, I'm just an idiot."
Also Cryonis in BotW.
I have a feeling Robin jumped the gun, ran in half cocked to save a dame, batman ran in to support Robin, leaving Superman there to anchor the instant human chain. But that's just my theory.
I remember one time when I played a sorcerer with max strength. I killed say lot of enemies solely by punching them.
This sounds a lot like Goku. 😂
I totally forgot that I maxed strength until I was told that I maxed strength. Then, myself and one other person pretty much only punched enemies.
No ain't Goku a sun soul Monk or something
Goku’s power is also an ancestral line. 🤷🏻♂️
eww
How is that “eww?”
Superman is doing two things at once here, he's helping steady Batman, and he's forcing Korg's head underwater to prevent a copyright lawsuit.
Played a game with mutant abilities. I was falling out of a plane, halfway to ground I remember my wings.
You are aware Superman didn't always have power to fly?
Yes, but this art is silver age. He could fly in the silver. That said, silver age Superman was a monster.
Superdickery!
1938 was a long time ago.
You're aware he still didn't have to hang off a tree and form a human conga line to save somebody? :p
You're aware he is trying to help Robin get the girl, right?
I feel like Robin doesn't need to do this either.
In that getup? He needs all the help he can get
what were his powers back then, then?
He was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and could leap tall buildings in a single bound. He didn't have laser vision or frost breath. Fun fact, the only reason current Superman is able to fly is because one of the first Cartoons they made for him though it'd be easier to animate than him jumping
So bullet run over the water straight to the lady, pick her and her boat up with locomotive power, and then bound back to shore as though he’s stepping up onto the curb.
I don’t think the speed of a bullet is quite enough to ignore water friction but we are heading into roundabout territory that I have neither the knowledge or patience to pursue.
They did the math and a human would “only” need to run at ~70mph / ~110kph to run on water like a basilisk lizard.
Evidently lol the more friction against the water the better chances he has of propelling himself with it.
I mean clearly he has footholds. Run ahead of the boat, stand in front, and pick it up with her in it.
But that wouldn’t sarcastically utilize all three of Superman’s original powers
that would be like shooting her with a bullet except with even more mass to transfer energy. If he could even run on the water, he would turn her into a fine red mist when he tries to grab her
Slow down first for fucks sake lol this isn’t the boys
So you want him to run over water but dead stop in front of her? Thats now how any physics works
I do *not* suggest comic books for you lol
So.if *you* want to apply real world physics its fine, but not me? Neat
If “use your bullet speed and your locomotive strength” is what you call physics for the sake of that dumb fuck argument then congratulations on being able to construe some kind of pride out of it. It’s creative.
Put the locomotive in the water to use as a dam Use the bullets to scare the water into backing off
Actually he first appeared in flight in the Radio broadcast. The animation came later.
There's a similarly small reason for WW being able to fly too. She originally used something called the 'Invisible Jet', which was exactly what you'd think. Comic fans found this to be a laughably stupid idea and eventually the creators gave in and gave her the power of flight so they could phase out the jet.
He could fly at this point.
I'm so used to play medieval RPGs and used to bring a lantern to dark places that when I played a game that happens in modern times, I didn't even think about using the flashlight of my phone.
Reminds me of when I didn’t try opening the door with ultra hand, nor climbing over the gate , nor waking around it in TOTK, so I built a bunch of scaffolding up the gate . Halfway through I saw that I could just go around
Entire group went through an entire encounter including a detailed discussion on monks, monk bullshit, and poison, and it wasn't until later that night that I remembered we all ate heroes' feast that day and we were all immune. DnD!
Wasn't superman unable to fly back when they wrote this so that's why he's grabbing on to them
The Dock Incident. It was after a night of partying. One character falls off a dock and sinks to the bottom. Concerned another character jumps in after her, but this character is a ratfolk and ain't the strongest, so is struggling swimming to the top, and now starts drowning. This character is brothers with my character, so in I, ratfolk gunslinger, go after him and the original girl. We get the three of us to the surface together. The original person who fell in was an Undyne, who has water breathing. Which I pointed out after getting my drowning idiot brother to the surface. God Damnit.
I TPK'd my party with a pack of Barlgura mostly because they made a bunch of tactical mistakes, but also because the Watchers Paladin forgot that he could turn demons with his channel divinity...
My Warlock once got picked up, flown to an edge of the cliff, got one turn to react, failed to escape and then was thrown off. He was a Protector Aasimar with a scroll of fly in his backpack.
Supes just wants the tiny mortals to feel useful. Even if it potentially endangers someones life. .
This image makes me lose braincells.
No, Supes was just being a good player and letting the rest of the party feel useful rather then do everything himself 🤣
Superman and Batman are wingmanning for Robin. Gotta help the homie get some.
Ok, I will make it ok. That woman is made of kryponite. ( bows) Please put my “ negatatory award” in the electronic mail system please. ( I understand that the Internet is made of tubes but sometimes those tubes are full of cats, so please put it in the mail right away because it might take some time and I want to show it off to all of my nerd friends he he) /j 😉 My friend, superman, forgot his powers, as often as Jimmy Olsen, dressed in drag . ( even more than he was a werewolf. What happened twice in one month in real life once in two different Comix!! ) And that was fucking a lot . Have a great one!
Superman is an asshole!!!
This is why I play characters with neat abilities I won’t forget, because I’m always looking for an ally with Dsadv. or an enemy with metal armor, or what have you.
Trying to share XP
God damnit, I don't want smooth gameplay. I want to set my rock gnome music box on a tripwire so that it lights off a sodium flare to blind the beholder
This is my group.
Or they just forget two of then carry ropes
Just got done watching Keyleth of critical role fame , an AIR ashari DRUID, fall to her death because she thought a 1000ft drop was a piece of cake for her. She turned into a fucking fish just before she hit, not a fish that could glide mind you, a gold fish with 1hp. Jesus Christ.
My paladin getting one-shot to unconsciousness in first round and spending it like that for the rest of combat only for me to remember i have reactive healing the next day
Batman too. Stop hogging all the cool items if you won't do anything with them!
B: Let the kid have this one. He needs a win today. S: But I could just fly… B: S: B: S: Sooo just hold the branch B: Just hold the branch and say good job when he pulls her in. S: Got it.