{"product":{"product_id":"1982122668","title":"The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters (1)","price":"21.49","image_url":"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513Gv8Qcr0L._SL500_.jpg","url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982122668"},"comments":[{"body":"Highly recommend the book \"The Monsters know what their doing\" super helpful in making any combat serious.\r\n\r\n[This](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/ref=asc_df_1982122668/?tag=hyprod-20\u0026amp;linkCode=df0\u0026amp;hvadid=385498981350\u0026amp;hvpos=\u0026amp;hvnetw=g\u0026amp;hvrand=1916680422789992177\u0026amp;hvpone=\u0026amp;hvptwo=\u0026amp;hvqmt=\u0026amp;hvdev=m\u0026amp;hvdvcmdl=\u0026amp;hvlocint=\u0026amp;hvlocphy=9031545\u0026amp;hvtargid=pla-833017628102\u0026amp;psc=1\u0026amp;tag=\u0026amp;ref=\u0026amp;adgrpid=78303888706\u0026amp;hvpone=\u0026amp;hvptwo=\u0026amp;hvadid=385498981350\u0026amp;hvpos=\u0026amp;hvnetw=g\u0026amp;hvrand=1916680422789992177\u0026amp;hvqmt=\u0026amp;hvdev=m\u0026amp;hvdvcmdl=\u0026amp;hvlocint=\u0026amp;hvlocphy=9031545\u0026amp;hvtargid=pla-833017628102)","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"nix616"},{"body":"I would check out the book \"[The Monsters Know What They're Doing](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/)\". Features are much more subtle and pared down in 5E but really playing up the differences in combat styles will help make things feel more distinct between enemy types.\r\n\r\nAlso consider special mechanics tailored to a specific fight. Adventure Zone Balance, Dimension20 and NaDDPod all have great special boss fight mechanics. Portals that summon enemies and have to be closed. Terrain that moves and changes or can be controlled by players and enemies. Support minions that buff or protect the boss. Environmental hazards that explode or throw people around.\r\n\r\nWeird environments can add a lot too. One of my parties is about to have a boss fight that takes place on top of wagons that are racing down a road, wagons they have to protect. They can order the drivers of their wagons to maneuver, essentially rearranging the terrain. They can also target the enemy drivers/mounts, jump onto their carts or shove people off.","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"hagiologist"},{"body":"In general, you should take your monster's Intelligence and Wisdom into consideration.  \r\n\r\nAn intelligent creature should be able to come up with better plans and tactics. A wise one can read situations better and know that discretion is the better part of valor.   \r\n\r\n\r\n[There's actually a book that discusses, as well as the various tactics they can take.](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668)\r\n\r\nIn general, consider what they'd do in the situation, especially if they were ambushed, or if they were ambushing.  \r\n\r\n\r\n**A bloodthirsty gnoll** (Int 6 Wis 10) is smart enough to know how to lay an ambush, but may have difficulty with any plan above bash them until they're dead.  They'll probably run away if they think they're going to lose, but are hard to scare when they're in a bloodthirsty frenzy.  \r\n\r\n\r\n**A vampire** (Int 17, Wis 15) is probably a lot more difficult to take down. Given their high intelligence and wisdom, they would play tricks like the one you've noted. You don't live to be an ancient vampire without making a few plans.  \r\n\r\n\r\nThe only way to properly kill them would be to trick them into an area they can't escape, insult them to a degree that they'll want to fight to the death, or appeal to their valor.","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"snakebite262"},{"body":"Posts like this happen frequently. The answer is to not come up with bullshit like you are to kill certain players. Play your monsters intelligently and they would realize that they wouldn't even try to attack the Cleric or Paladin. You don't need to jack up +7 to hit (every Goblin isn't Strahd), just pit your players against enemies intelligent enough to know how to fight. \r\n\r\nWhich means you have to know how to fight: https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"Wolfengristl"},{"body":"I'll increase the initial monster group or have the monsters call for reinforcements if it starts going really badly.   I also don't believe in the \"all monsters fight to the death!\" scenario. Monsters would flee if they're quickly overwhelmed. 2 bugbears see a party of 8 decent adventurers coming? They're probably not going to take that fight.   \r\n\r\n\r\nThe Monsters Know What They're Doing is a great reference for playing monster encounters:  \r\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/ref=asc\\_df\\_1982122668/","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"nrmrvrk"},{"body":"Kobolds and goblins.\r\n\r\nKobolds are ambushers and they swarm a target, run away if enough of them die, and do it again. And traps. Get creative with those, but dropping rocks from above, a pit with a swarm of centipedes, collapsing a tunnel on a party, all good ways to make them a big enough challenge without needing to beef up an encounter. \r\n\r\nGoblins like to stay a good 40 feet away from their targets and try to attack a party member who is separated from the group. They attack from hiding, then move and hide as a bonus action to do it all over again. Your players will be trying to figure out where they are.\r\n\r\nAn encounter is more than throwing a beefy monster at them. It’s about playing an enemy tactically and intelligently. Even kobolds and goblins have their strategies even though they’re dumb as rocks. If your player is good at hitting hard, present encounters where hitting hard won’t work but will showcase other players’ strengths.\r\n\r\nEDIT: I would advise picking up a copy of “The Monsters Know What They’re Doing” by Keith Ammann. I started using this and man, my encounters have improved greatly.\r\n\r\nThe Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters (1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982122668/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EEAJXKSXR4HBVRY0Z09G","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"PortentBlue"},{"body":"Don't be too focused on absolute numbers. The rogue probably has a high dex to help him with his AC. If all your players are actually using the rules of the book, they have very few things they could do to actually 'break' the game.\r\n\r\nRun your monsters like they would behave, don't try to account for your players stats (too much). If there's one big guy in front taking all the damage while the rest of the party shoots at them, make the monsters take that into consideration. Perhaps a savage beast or monstrosity might push away the barb to jump into the backline, while a smarter spell caster might take a few steps back and hit them all together with the same spell.\r\n\r\nIf you struggle with this kind of thinking, I have heard glowing recommendations about the book [\"The Monsters Know\"](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668).","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"ShinyGurren"},{"body":"I love [The Monsters Know What They Are Doing](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/). Even if you aren't using official stat blocks, it gives you strategies for how to use enemies in combat other than just blindly running into the PCs.","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"thesilentman606"},{"body":"Maybe the problem is more in the way you use monsters than the monsters themselves.\r\n\r\nTake a look a this book: [The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Monsters+Know+What+They%27re+Doing%3A+Combat+Tactics+for+Dungeon+Masters\u0026amp;qid=1639751259\u0026amp;sr=8-1) for some ideas.\r\n\r\nAs other have said, while you can up the HP, this only means the combat last longer, but may not be more difficult.\r\n\r\nAs for the dice... try to keep a running count of the results. Luck is something (I know; I swear I always roll too low while I co-player rolls always too high!), but it should even out somewhat over time. It might just that you don't see it yet. \r\n\r\n(Also, check \"how\" they roll; sometimes if you don't \"shake the die enough\" they can control how it lands).","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"phixium"},{"body":"You should check out the book [The Monsters Know What They Are Doing](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1088KKQNZ56YV\u0026amp;keywords=the+monsters+know+what+they%27re+doing\u0026amp;qid=1639427601\u0026amp;sprefix=the+monster%2Caps%2C172\u0026amp;sr=8-1). Why play the monsters as dumb when in reality most enemy types are familiar with battle and tactics. They would also know how to effectively disengage, move around the battle to gain an advantage, or use the environment to their favor.","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"cantplay4crap"},{"body":"You need this: [The Monsters Know What They're Doing](https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EXHXOVBSCORU\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+monsters+know+what+they%27re+doing\u0026amp;qid=1633457382\u0026amp;sprefix=the+monsters+know%2Caps%2C223\u0026amp;sr=8-1)","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"Darkglow666"},{"body":"I find resources like The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters (1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982122668/ to be helpful. \r\n\r\nAlso keep in mind, all that “treasure”? If any of it is actually useful they’d be using that stuff. If anything survives it will be out of charges, scrolls would be used up, potions drunk, etc. \r\n\r\nAt high levels treasure changes from loot to research, components, pieces of artifacts, maps, etc. \r\n\r\nWhen I’m overloaded with NPC’S I’ll do what you’re doing here but with someone who will “play” the NPC as if it was their own character and see how they set up. Or better yet, substitute the campaign NPC with a high level players old character and gear. \r\n\r\nBad ass NPC’S didn’t make it that far by being screwups. :)","subreddit_name":"dndnext","author":"Stanseas"},{"body":"Environmental stuff.\r\n\r\nSURPRISE! Your bandit fight in the woods drew a few wolves!\r\n\r\nAerial beasts.\r\n\r\nA moving fight.\r\n\r\nDifficult terrain.\r\n\r\n\r\nAnything is possible! Watch action scenes in movies and tv shows for inspiration. I'd also recommend reading up on enemy tactics, the blog turned book [Monsters Know What They're Doing](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668) is a fantastic resource!","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"youshouldbeelsweyr"},{"body":"I use the encounter builder on DnD Beyond to help out with this same issue is having.  I’m a new DM and we are doing LMoP as well and we are about 5-6 sessions in. \r\n\r\nThe early battles my players were just steamrolling through and it was getting a little frustrating, at least on my side because I didn’t think they were having much fun. \r\n\r\nSo like the third session in, one of the players had some family stuff going on and wouldn’t be able to make the game. I created a side quest where the Phandelver jail was “haunted” and the players would have to clear it out before it could be used. I did that so the other players could play but wouldn’t necessarily advance the story until the other guy came back the next week. \r\n\r\nI used the encounter builder to create battles where the challenge rating would be high enough to offer a significant threat to the players who like to stand toe to toe with monsters and just roll the same attack over and over. It really helped. \r\n\r\nAlso realize that not every battle has to be super difficult, there can be several small skirmishes that appear easy, but are designed to whittle down the players resources until you bring in the big tough guy. Get them low on arrows (if you track that) or low on spells, then bust out that pack of Hobgoblins or Owlbears, etc.  There’s no right or wrong way to do it as long as you are having fun. \r\n\r\nAlso check out this book [ The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982122668/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MkzKFbT2YM4FH).  I just started reading this and it’s a great resource on monster motivations, how they move, how they think and how they react. It can really change how you operate them during combat.","subreddit_name":"DnD","author":"Fragzilla360"},{"body":"This is awesome - definitely going to try implementing it!\r\n\r\nAlso, for anyone who was interested there’s a book for The Monsters Know What They’re Doing now which is [pretty cool](https://www.amazon.ca/Monsters-Know-What-Theyre-Doing/dp/1982122668)","subreddit_name":"DMAcademy","author":"tylerhlaw"}]}