but otherwise encounters should be challenging enough that death is a reality

No. I just make the game even more dangerous so they can make those experiences themselves. <:GWcorbinTopKek:384871333705678868> @wrath

In that case what would you throw at 4 level 5s? They basically are in the process of splitting the party to 2 different factions faction A gave them a mission to assassinate the leader of faction B 2 party members snuck off and took the mission and the other 2 buddied up with leader of Faction B next session is them starting in a Capitol tho

What I would throw? Whatever fits the story and region!

Fuck balance!

I will throw an adult red dragon at a level 4 party. if they are dumb enough to fight it thats on them.

Always reward your players for thinking outside the box

And make the encounters however you please

Lmao I generally try to keep it too safe then lmao

Yes. Dont do that. You'll make players who dont understand that death is very much a possibility.

Always keep in mind how many encounters they will have in a day!

If they will have multiple combats in a day; dont make them lose 80% of their HP, spellslots, and abilities in the first one.

Yeah I generally do good on the draining combat but I definitely need to start trying to kill them haha

trust me your players will always find a way!

thats the good part!

its more fun when players know there are stakes when they play

the trick is not trying to kill them

but presenting them with very real threats

are you playing 5e @wrath

exactly

in pathfinder they have "advanced templates"

which is basically a predetermined set of adjustments that you can just drop on a mob

It's basically +4 to all stats lmao

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/advanced-creature-cr-1/

yeah lol

it makes encounters more challenging without having to think real hard

or simply ` +2 on all rolls (including damage rolls) and special ability DCs; +4 to AC and CMD; +2 hp/HD.`

simple enough for a 5e player

we had a tpk last session because a creature was just too fuckin tough lol

didn't you live?

not really

Yeah I'm playing 5e @Dust

Ty tho I think I have a decent idea

@galesteppes @Dust Ideas for campaigns? Currently am planning a multitude of ideas for a campaign so I can let my players choose what to play. I got around 4 ideas to let them choose between

make them choose in game

their party gets approached by three people

and they gotta pick who to help

Would be rather hard atm! As the campaign rn is Very specific and its gonna be over in around 6-8 sessions

This was their first campaign ever for all the players and they’d like to make new characters for the new campaign

Ok in a hypothetical theoretical situation, where my PC has said multiple times that their character is suicidal. Would it be too dark to actually force them to attempt to go through with it. Like straightfaced the next time he says hes suicidal I'm just like ok you pull the 50 of rope out of you bag make a sleight of hand check