Comments on: When Bad Monsters Get Smart http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart A must-read Dungeons & Dragons blog for dungeon masters, D&D players and game designers. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:48:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Goodfellow http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-62483 Goodfellow Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:27:08 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-62483 Good stuff! I incorporated it into my campaign notes, (with the proper attribution of course). Good stuff! I incorporated it into my campaign notes, (with the proper attribution of course).

]]> By: Stripes http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-41721 Stripes Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:50:47 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-41721 "If a monster attacks PC’s because that’s what it eats, is it going to leave a PC alone once they’re disabled, or start crunching on the PC in the middle of combat" You can justify it either way. "Sure it wants it's yummy wizard treat, but before it munches down it will defend itself from thoes guys with pokey spears!", or "Grabs up the wizard and tries to scuttle off with it". If you have it scuttle off, you can reduce it's movment since it has a large (unless it was a halfling wizard) load, and a ungainly one at that (in a woods you can describe how the dire wolf is out pacing the persuing party, until it gets the downed wizard stuck between two trees, and wastes 3 rounds tilting it's head from side to side). “If a monster attacks PC’s because that’s what it eats, is it going to leave a PC alone once they’re disabled, or start crunching on the PC in the middle of combat”

You can justify it either way. “Sure it wants it’s yummy wizard treat, but before it munches down it will defend itself from thoes guys with pokey spears!”, or “Grabs up the wizard and tries to scuttle off with it”.

If you have it scuttle off, you can reduce it’s movment since it has a large (unless it was a halfling wizard) load, and a ungainly one at that (in a woods you can describe how the dire wolf is out pacing the persuing party, until it gets the downed wizard stuck between two trees, and wastes 3 rounds tilting it’s head from side to side).

]]> By: starsrift http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-41717 starsrift Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:20:15 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-41717 I think it's reasonable to assume that even the most stupid of creatures will go after those that appear to be weaker. Wolves harry the sick and the elderly from a herd, for instance. And most animals in our current, modern world are afraid of humans and will run away - I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that a powerful monster with no intelligence will know that people with shiny metal skins are much crunchier and harder to get at than the guy in a robe. Conversely, intelligent creatures might reasonably pick off the strongest person first in order to lower the personal threat to them. One thing I have trouble with, as a DM, is intelligence and motivation. If a monster attacks PC's because that's what it eats, is it going to leave a PC alone once they're disabled, or start crunching on the PC in the middle of combat, bringing them below -10 HP? As a DM, it seems like a cheap playerkill - especially since I can reasonably expect that the creature is going to be defeated anyway. I think it’s reasonable to assume that even the most stupid of creatures will go after those that appear to be weaker. Wolves harry the sick and the elderly from a herd, for instance. And most animals in our current, modern world are afraid of humans and will run away – I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume that a powerful monster with no intelligence will know that people with shiny metal skins are much crunchier and harder to get at than the guy in a robe. Conversely, intelligent creatures might reasonably pick off the strongest person first in order to lower the personal threat to them.

One thing I have trouble with, as a DM, is intelligence and motivation. If a monster attacks PC’s because that’s what it eats, is it going to leave a PC alone once they’re disabled, or start crunching on the PC in the middle of combat, bringing them below -10 HP? As a DM, it seems like a cheap playerkill – especially since I can reasonably expect that the creature is going to be defeated anyway.

]]> By: Juan Navarro http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-41285 Juan Navarro Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:42:42 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-41285 This is a great article and addressed something I as struggling wiht both as a player and as a DM. In the long run, Intelligence will also tell if a monster or NPC could even stike back at you. Sure the big dumb troll may fight to the death , calling you a puny punk even as your about to cast burning hands on it's limbless body, but a Mind Flayer may have an escape route or something, and believe me will plan on dining on your brain later. That was the other bone of contention I had with INT and monster. Again the dumb troll may think about going one on one with you but a Mindflayer may decide to take you through a maze or divide the group or even teaming with the troll to get you. My DM will sometimes jsut plop the mindflayer in the middle of a room surrounded by treasure for the "Big fight" but then be a gasp as the fighter charges, the rogue tumbles to back stab, the spell caster get lingual on him before the first mindblast. I hope people take this article to their DMs, if only to point out fo-paws. This is a great article and addressed something I as struggling wiht both as a player and as a DM. In the long run, Intelligence will also tell if a monster or NPC could even stike back at you. Sure the big dumb troll may fight to the death , calling you a puny punk even as your about to cast burning hands on it’s limbless body, but a Mind Flayer may have an escape route or something, and believe me will plan on dining on your brain later.
That was the other bone of contention I had with INT and monster. Again the dumb troll may think about going one on one with you but a Mindflayer may decide to take you through a maze or divide the group or even teaming with the troll to get you. My DM will sometimes jsut plop the mindflayer in the middle of a room surrounded by treasure for the “Big fight” but then be a gasp as the fighter charges, the rogue tumbles to back stab, the spell caster get lingual on him before the first mindblast.
I hope people take this article to their DMs, if only to point out fo-paws.

]]> By: TX http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-39429 TX Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:48:45 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-39429 This throws out pre-determined challenge ratings in most regards. I'd suggest determining the CR after the challenge, if any PC's are left. This may teach hot-head PC's to respect what encounters. GOOD STUFF! This throws out pre-determined challenge ratings in most regards. I’d suggest determining the CR after the challenge, if any PC’s are left. This may teach hot-head PC’s to respect what encounters. GOOD STUFF!

]]> By: Zaratustra http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-38942 Zaratustra Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:38:34 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-38942 Remember that, for supergenius NPCs, you can use your -own- knowledge of what the PCs are planning and just assume the villain had a plan regarding that (unless it's an extremely clever or obscure plan) Remember that, for supergenius NPCs, you can use your -own- knowledge of what the PCs are planning and just assume the villain had a plan regarding that (unless it’s an extremely clever or obscure plan)

]]> By: Yax http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-38881 Yax Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:31:14 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-38881 Combat with smart villains is hard to run because they are deadly. It's quite easy to come up with great tactics. It's harder to come up with great tactics that don't kill PCs. Combat with smart villains is hard to run because they are deadly. It’s quite easy to come up with great tactics. It’s harder to come up with great tactics that don’t kill PCs.

]]> By: Cole http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-38879 Cole Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:26:34 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-38879 My players once mistook my Listen checks for playing the monsters smarter than they were. I had told them, that if I had done that, they wouldn't have killed half as many monsters as they had done up to that point. Once I gave them some examples, they agreed with me. My players once mistook my Listen checks for playing the monsters smarter than they were. I had told them, that if I had done that, they wouldn’t have killed half as many monsters as they had done up to that point. Once I gave them some examples, they agreed with me.

]]> By: Steve http://www.d20source.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart/comment-page-1#comment-38866 Steve Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:51:36 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/02/when-bad-monsters-get-smart#comment-38866 Methinks that maybe other abilities (Wis and Cha, mostly) would benefit from such an analysis? Good article! Methinks that maybe other abilities (Wis and Cha, mostly) would benefit from such an analysis?

Good article!

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