TPK: The DM wins again

Last Friday, we experienced the second week of D&D Lair Assault: Forge of the Dawn Titan.  The turnout at the store has been great in the last two weeks. 

The party in question came into the Forge with a taste for revenge.  The previous week, the party was annihilated within a few rounds.  The problem with this type of game is that you have to be cooperative and work together to beat the DM.

This game is a brutal game and the DM has the tools to rain hell down on the party.  The one lesson taken away by the players is that a leader is necessary.  The first time they attempted the encounter, we had 4 defenders and 3 strikers in the party.  The whole party died with plenty of surges left to them.  No controllers, no leaders can make for a fairly quick session. 

Not only did the party not have a balanced party, they also split up and went around with the me me me attitude, thinking they could single-handedly defeated the villain.

The second attempt saw the players play a little smarter.  With a leader in the party, the strikers went to work and the defenders defended.  For some reason or another, no one seems to like to play controllers.  The party made it as far as the room of robes and when we broke for the evening, both standing players had 1 hp.  Interesting turn of events.

What players have to realise is that this game is a game of part chance and great cooperation.  The DM will always wil because his monsters are all working together.  Other players tend to ignore the fact that they have 840gp to buy consumables.  Only one player last week popped a potion of resistance into their belly.  This character survived over everyone else.

The players have to remember that this adventure is one big encounter, no time for short rests, no time for extended rests, just one big cluster of monsters that are trying to kill them.  They know what is in there now, so they should tweak their characters to be able to offer the DM some sort of challenge. 

Two words of advice: cooperate and strategise!  Be smart and play safe.  We are all having a lot of fun playing this encounter. 

Coming soon.  New season of D&D Encounters.  Stay Tuned!

Come and Die: D&D Lair Assault

I couldn't put it in any better words so I will borrow from dndinsider and let you read what the program is about.

Synopsis

"D&D Lair Assault has been designed for a quality, fun, super-challenging play experience that really encourages repeat play. We've designed the kits to accommodate as many players as possible by keeping the focus on the play experience, accomplishments, and bragging rights. Rather than making the challenge all about obtaining a physical "prize," it's about having a great time playing a fun D&D game available nowhere else."

 Character Creation

Wizards have outlined specific criteria on design for characters.  Here is the nitty-gritty of it:

"Each D&D Lair Assault challenge will specify a level. The first D&D Lair Assault, Forge of the Dawn Titan, is 5th level. Players bring characters of the challenge’s level to your scheduled event to participate. Characters higher or lower level than the challenge’s level are not allowed.

We use straightforward rules to equip characters for their deadly battles. Each character receives one magic item of one level higher than their level (level + 1), one of their level (level + 0), and one of one level lower than their level (level – 1). In addition, characters receive gold pieces equal to the value of one magic item of one level lower than their level (level – 1) to by other equipment they think they’ll need. Each character may have no more than two consumable items (like potions or magic ammunition) equal to or less than the challenge’s level, and no more than one rare magic item. Note that players may equip their characters with magic items that are less than the stated levels if they so choose.
So, to use our 5th level example above, each character would have one 6th level, one 5th level and one 4th level magic item, plus 840 gold pieces to spend on other equipment (both mundane and magical)."

Join us on Fridays at Sights&Sounds for your chance to try and prove your mettle against the DM.

Are You Ready to Roll?

Welcome to the site which will provide the information necessary for your gaming sessions.  

Our gaming sessions will take place in Sights and Sounds store basement.  This space has been courteously provided by the owner for a safe a relaxing place for us to game together.

We play every Friday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

A couple of things for the evening.

1) Make sure you bring your DCI number and make sure to sign your names on the signup sheet before sitting at the table.

2) Bring your pre-made character to the table.  Make sure it conforms to the rules stated in the following posts for the game we are playing.  If you do not have a character, you can choose from one of the many I have pre-generated for the specific event.  You must hand the character back at the end of the evening, in case you do not show up the following week.

3) We are there to have fun.  Please refrain from insulting, demeaning, or swearing at any other player while at the table.  The game is designed for all of you to work together, to socialize, and to enjoy yourselves for the entire evening.

I hope that these evenings will bring pleasure to you and bring you to enjoy the game as I have enjoyed it over the many years I have been playing it.

Cheers for now.