Bandits get pack tactics automatically but we, the players do not?

[Xordania]

Feels a bit unfair that we the players get shafted and have no flanking bonus but it's okay for our level 3 random encounter to be 10 bandits with pack tactics and surprise us all? >.>

[Berserkr]

MY favorite are the undead guys with Razan that can move full move, do 3 full attacks then still do a disengage to get out of your wall of fire or whatever you have around, wish my character could do that lol

[Grumpy Old Dude]

welcome to the world of DnD. NPCs have ALWAYS had abilities, players dont.

[kbiz]

Originally posted by Xordania:

Feels a bit unfair that we the players get shafted and have no flanking bonus but it's okay for our level 3 random encounter to be 10 bandits with pack tactics and surprise us all? >.>

HAHA! Had the same experience. Thugs. Why does there always have to be sooo many thugs. Okay, let's go.

Gotta Dodge. They can attack from all sides. Pick a side. Starting moving towards them and kill them as soon as possible. Buy yourself a round to attack the other thugs as they approach. Get Spiritual Weapon going next to where the battle will take place. Then it's time to put two high AC characters in Dodge mode.

Focus fire on one thug at at time with your best spells and kill as many as possible as quickly as possible. Or else they will just overwhelm you. You gotta drop the thug count down fast.

Then you can heal your melee characters with your cleric. At some point you can switch from dodging to attacking.

It's a tough random encounter. Some would say imbalanced.

[psychotron666420]

In regular dnd, kobolds which are a challenge rating of 1/8 (which means 4 level 1s can fight 8 of them for even strength battle) have pack tactics. That's how DND works and is balanced around, enemies get abilities players don't, and vice versa.

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by psychotron666420:

In regular dnd, kobolds which are a challenge rating of 1/8 (which means 4 level 1s can fight 8 of them for even strength battle) have pack tactics. That's how DND works and is balanced around, enemies get abilities players don't, and vice versa.

In real D&D, if you're the DM and want to teach the party a lesson, just make a party of evil characters to go up against them. They usually stop complaining about unfair monsters shortly after that.

[DiceWrangler]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Originally posted by psychotron666420:

In regular dnd, kobolds which are a challenge rating of 1/8 (which means 4 level 1s can fight 8 of them for even strength battle) have pack tactics. That's how DND works and is balanced around, enemies get abilities players don't, and vice versa.

In real D&D, if you're the DM and want to teach the party a lesson, just make a party of evil characters to go up against them. They usually stop complaining about unfair monsters shortly after that.

Especially if your evil NPCs use melee attacks against Dying PCs. Not only is the attack at Advantage, due to the target being Prone, but it is an automatic critical hit and critical hits inflict TWO failed Death Saving Throws. Not fair, you say? Too bad, NPCs usually* just DIE when they reach 0 hit points and do not even get Death Saving Throws; or have a "healer" in their party. Please note that I discretely confirm the party has a Revivify scroll or spell handy before doing this; I am not really an Evil DM.

*: I gave my Named NPCs Death Saving Throws plus other features that normally only PCs have like healing potions, scrolls, and Inspiration!

Personally, I love throwing unexpected creatures, terrain, and tactics at the players and feel that the Monster Manual is just a collection of sample monsters. Think of how much fun you. the DM, will have when your players notice that "That troll just breathed FIRE!!!" while they argue about whether using fire against it is a good idea or not. . .

[kbiz]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

In real D&D, if you're the DM and want to teach the party a lesson, just make a party of evil characters to go up against them. They usually stop complaining about unfair monsters shortly after that.

So true. Let me introduce you to a fully-operational enemy party.

[Wizard of Woz]

Originally posted by kbiz:

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

In real D&D, if you're the DM and want to teach the party a lesson, just make a party of evil characters to go up against them. They usually stop complaining about unfair monsters shortly after that.

So true. Let me introduce you to a fully-operational enemy party.

Why do they have to be evil? Why are you assuming everyone plays good characters?

[kbiz]

Originally posted by wizard_of_woz:

Why do they have to be evil? Why are you assuming everyone plays good characters?

They don't have to be evil. I didn't focus on that word. They just have to be a party of characters. What is sooo true is that a group of high level enemy characters can be difficult to beat - especially if they're controlled by a DM - especially if they crowd-control your ass early. You know it and I know it - because we've experience it.

[Gamerzilla]

I once did an arena event in the middle of a 5E acquisitions incorporated campaign where the DM had us face off against a level 17 Githzerai as a party of 4 level 6's. We... got slaughtered :D Luckily the extraplanar being holding the tournament was just doing it for kicks and resurrected us after...

[psychotron666420]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Originally posted by psychotron666420:

In regular dnd, kobolds which are a challenge rating of 1/8 (which means 4 level 1s can fight 8 of them for even strength battle) have pack tactics. That's how DND works and is balanced around, enemies get abilities players don't, and vice versa.

In real D&D, if you're the DM and want to teach the party a lesson, just make a party of evil characters to go up against them. They usually stop complaining about unfair monsters shortly after that.

Yep, I ♥♥♥♥ tossed my tables party with a party of enemy characters all the same level as them, it was a learning experience.

[kbiz]

Originally posted by psychotron666420:

Yep, I ♥♥♥♥ tossed my tables party with a party of enemy characters all the same level as them, it was a learning experience.

I know the word behind the hearts isn't love, but is it rage? Soft? Just kidding.

Think about the mirror that creates duplicates of your party. If you, as the DM, had control of those duplicates, they would do some damage. And if they went down, and if you were controlling them, they would go down in a blaze of glory.