Gnoll Fight, you know the one I mean

[ViciousSatyr]

So yeah that first gnoll fight before the goblins is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Name ONE Player Character Class that can: shoot 3 times point-blank (i.e. WITHIN melee range) with a bow; AND THEN run away (without disengaging) farther than you can reach the next turn, without provoking ONE single attack of opportunity at level 3 or 4!!! Use the Playable races in this game. OR DON'T, hell give me ANY CREATURE IN THE ENTIRE LORE of D&D that could do this at Player Level 3 or 4 or Monster level CR1 or 2. And then explain how that's a Gnoll. Literally as throw away, intro bull-s a race as goblins or kobolds.

One shouldn't have to save scum or have prescient knowledge of a fight in order to beat ♥♥♥♥♥♥ mechanics and maneuver or save rolls and spell slots. Use these tactics at your next IRL Table, Oh Masterful DM, and see how your players react in the moment. Might just use my lvl 1 Kobolds to do the same ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ if this is what "RPGs and RNG are all about" according to these forums.

[Calv]

Originally posted by ViciousSatyr:

So yeah that first gnoll fight before the goblins is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Name ONE Player Character Class that can: shoot 3 times point-blank (i.e. WITHIN melee range) with a bow; AND THEN run away (without disengaging) farther than you can reach the next turn, without provoking ONE single attack of opportunity at level 3 or 4!!!

Numerous enemies have multi-attacks.
Various status effects can prevent reactions, including having already used your reaction.
Different races have different movement speeds, and lots of spells, potions, items and abilities can increase this.

[Runic Tunic]

It can be difficult but positioning and having some hard hitters can make all the difference,

I split my party up and had Astarion use his ranged sneak attacks from up top while my barb/monk, Karlach, and Lae'zel acted as a barrier. Astarion picked off the weak and ranged before assisting in cleaning up the main frontline, Lae'zel and myself just tried to stay alive and focus down one enemy at a time, and Karlach would either take out anything that made past our barrier to get to Astarion, or would jump in and assist front line.

Not the smartest decision not to have Shadowheart or Gale there, tbh, but it worked...barely. Astarion's extra bonus actions and stealth were the MVP.

[a.out]

I'm guessing you complain about the difficulty? Have you tried lowering that difficulty? Not everyone has to save scum that encounter you know ... your experience is not representative. For example, I did not have to reload that encounter on tactician. I scouted ahead and prepared my party. I set up an ambush with 3 of my 4 guys before sending one in. Possible that I had to revivify that guy, I can't remember ... but I was able to cope with it.

[HozzMidnight]

This fight is like the other tough Act 1 fights, if you go in blind you are going to get wrecked because you are likely L3. I'm sure it's doable at L3 but I found L4 to be way easier and not really a stretch to get to before taking this one. A couple of other things I have noticed:

On turn 2 you are supposed to get a dialogue interrupt with the chief. This allows you to flip him on your side making the fight much easier. However, this does not always happen and if it does not happen the fight is easily twice as difficult if not more so.

The more likely approach is from the South, but the ideal approach is from the eastern high ground. If they have to scale that cliff to get you, you can chew them up easier. Still got to focus on the Hunters...no idea why they get a 3 attack ability at that level.

[ViciousSatyr]

Everyone is missing the point. Of course I went in blind because, I'm playing the game for the first time! But I was prepped for ANYTHING: full health, all spell slots, long rested. But what you aren't getting is the lack of reaction attacks to not only Triple POINT BLANK range shots, but ducking in and out of combat WITHOUT disengage. i have my Reactions set to ask so no matter what, I should NOT miss an attack of opportunity! I met them at level 3 with both Karlach and Zel so SOMEBODY should have been getting a few extra hits per turn but NOTHING happened. Lost 2 people in the SECOND turn. This fight is BROKEN full stop.

Obviously, upon reload, I cheesed them knowing where they spawned. But that's NOT D&D, is it!!!!!! No creature, NPC or PC, can do what these guys did at Level 3. You wouldn't accept it at your table, don't accept it here.

[Antearz]

Originally posted by ViciousSatyr:

So yeah that first gnoll fight before the goblins is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Name ONE Player Character Class that can: shoot 3 times point-blank (i.e. WITHIN melee range) with a bow; AND THEN run away (without disengaging) farther than you can reach the next turn, without provoking ONE single attack of opportunity at level 3 or 4!!! Use the Playable races in this game. OR DON'T, hell give me ANY CREATURE IN THE ENTIRE LORE of D&D that could do this at Player Level 3 or 4 or Monster level CR1 or 2. And then explain how that's a Gnoll. Literally as throw away, intro bull-s a race as goblins or kobolds.

One shouldn't have to save scum or have prescient knowledge of a fight in order to beat ♥♥♥♥♥♥ mechanics and maneuver or save rolls and spell slots. Use these tactics at your next IRL Table, Oh Masterful DM, and see how your players react in the moment. Might just use my lvl 1 Kobolds to do the same ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ if this is what "RPGs and RNG are all about" according to these forums.

Well. Exactly this Monster does.
Excerpt from DND Wiki for 5th Edition


"""
Flind
Medium humanoid
·
Chaotic Evil
Armor Class:
16 ( chain mail)
hit Points:
127 (15d8 + 60)
Speed:
30ft.
Str
20
Dex
10
Con
19
Wis
13
Int
11
Cha
12
Saving Throws:
Con: +8, Wis: +5
Skills:
Intimidation +5, Perception +5
Senses:
darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 15
Languages:
Abyssal, Gnoll
Challenge:
9
Traits

Aura of Blood Thirst. If the flind isn't incapacitated, any creature with the Rampage trait can make a bite attack as a bonus action while within 10 feet of the flind.


Actions

Multiattack. The flind makes three attacks: one with each of its different flail attacks or three with its longbow.


Flail of Madness. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target must make a DC: 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target must make a melee attack against a random target within its reach on its next turn. If it has no targets within its reach even after moving, it loses its action on that turn.


Flail of Pain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage plus 22 (4d10) psychic damage.


Flail of Paralysis. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC: 16 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of its next turn.


Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d8) piercing damage.
"""

[Black Hammer]

Yep, "Challenge: 9"

[$CRWD]

That fight was like a fever dream.

I decide to throw the Beholder bottle into the group of Gnolls...from a cloud of darkness...while stealthed. Mistake. Combat starts immediately and all sights are on me. Very next turn, Alpha Gnoll gets first move, then my character. It rushes straight for me in the darkness and initiates dialogue. My turn comes around. I now have a Beholder and Alpha Gnoll slaughtering the other Gnolls together. I leave and come back to a Beholder with 30 health - everything else is dead.

[teksuo]

idk i was chilling sipping on coffee and then the leader chit chatted with me and it didnt end well for them. reload and approach differently if things go too haywire.. youre doing something wrong.

[Antearz]

Originally posted by Black Hammer:

Yep, "Challenge: 9"

Yep.
Which is to be Expected because its Supposed to be a Boss Encounter.

They also Followed the Guidebook here and Spread out the Encounter and massively Lowered the Hit Points to make the Fight Winnable.



When I First did this Encounter. I Actually Found it Fairly Difficult because I was Surprised by it.
But I still Won.

Second Time due to knowing the Encounter I actually just Sneaked up on them and Murdered them very Quickly....

[HozzMidnight]

Originally posted by teksuo:

idk i was chilling sipping on coffee and then the leader chit chatted with me and it didnt end well for them. reload and approach differently if things go too haywire.. youre doing something wrong.

I think there is supposed to be a dialogue on turn 2 but it does not always happen and that makes the fight like 300% harder.