tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255299705122830812.post5521571112836272784..comments2024-03-29T09:18:29.382+09:00Comments on What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse...: Mentzer Basic Cover to Cover: Introduction and DM's JobDennis Laffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255299705122830812.post-24568065835725423782015-02-16T03:02:51.972+09:002015-02-16T03:02:51.972+09:00It seems that the Flying swordsman files are unrea...It seems that the Flying swordsman files are unreachable :(Fabio Milito Pagliarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043436735116048822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255299705122830812.post-56799374606829820472015-02-14T23:07:22.223+09:002015-02-14T23:07:22.223+09:00Definitely. But even then, in a situation like yo...Definitely. But even then, in a situation like you describe, a reaction roll might help decide if a group of monsters carry through with their ambush or decide to break and run before hostilities ensue, due to the rumors of ferociousness of the party, or offer terms to end the rampage from their fortified position, etc.<br /><br />Like I mentioned above, I think video games influenced us to just have monsters attack when encountered when I was young. These days, I love the reaction roll, and some really great moments have arisen because of it.<br /><br />For example, in a Ravenloft (original module) game a few years back, there was a random encounter with spectres in the chapel during the night, but a reaction roll indicated non-hostile. I quickly decided that it was a procession of a black mass. The players wisely decided not to engage and were sorta freaked out by the events. If the spectres had just attacked, we never would have had that great bit of atmosphere building.Dennis Laffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255299705122830812.post-25902529021612192962015-02-14T06:33:10.429+09:002015-02-14T06:33:10.429+09:00Regarding the usual shtick of "open door, see...Regarding the usual shtick of "open door, see monsters, roll initi", I agree that this should be rare, in the beginning...<br /><br />If you run your adventures as "living dungeons", as you say, and the PCs kill first, ask questions later and allow, or are unable to prevent, survivors from escaping, eventually word will get around among the inhabitants of the dungeon that there's the group of wanna-be heroes heading down that will slaughter you on sight. In that scenario, I think it's entirely likely that monsters will be ready to go, difficult to surprise, and perhaps even have ambushes and tactics planned should the party show up in their lair.Darvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10909162939260320456noreply@blogger.com