How to Run D&D at High Levels: Adjusting Story & Power 

Fully agreed

Ya wizards is lazy. They need to do alot to make game more fun. And free cheap etc. This game could ve really advamced. Combat styles.. helping dms make fun against power players etc...

I referring to wizards of coast ..lol

I have a book for high level campaigns. It is a game changer but only for high level characters.

​@@myrtislockett7792 What is it called?

Strahd is fairly weak all told. He's also very flawed as a personality.

So would Tiamat...

BiTD: I told my players that Strahd has an Intelligence & Wisdom of 18 or higher. He's smarter then I am & I'm not gonna hold back playing him that way. That got their attention.

Acererak seconds this

I like Shad as well. Shadiversity: Very Interesting.

kobolds are no challenge for MACHICOLATIONS!!!

@@stevevondoom4140 Ah, but kobolds can tunnel.

Why not both? (Just wrote an adventure for 13-15th with them and giants)

@@DreadPyriteBob Shad's a RU-vidr who happens to be a Medieval/Fantasy enthusiast. He likes to look at Fantasy tropes and see how they could be applied in a realistic setting. Case in point, fairies aren't armed with sewing needle-sized swords - no, because, due to the Square Cube Law, those fairies would carry swords that are the size of letter openers like 6 inches long compared to the average 3 inch tall fairy, either for stabbing folks in the eyes, or something like a fixed straight razor blade to make surgical cuts to vital areas that aren't well armored. Of course, the Sidekick rules can make kobolds, and other 1/2 cr or lower monsters, NPCs and animals a potent threat for higher leveled parties.

Yes, i want more Gary

Explain how Tucker did that please.

@@aralornwolf3140 if I recall the story correctly, tucker is a war veteran, and he played the kobolds as strategic geniuses. They designed devious and deadly traps to thwart the pcs. I don't know the whole story, but basically he used tons of traps and his expansive military knowledge to create a terrifying house of horrors for the players.

@@aralornwolf3140 It was a different game in a different time, where spells had more math involved in them, and monsters had skill and feat budgets to work with. Tucker's Kobolds had small tunnels, so that spells like fireball would have their concussive blast be channeled to hit the party too. Lightning bolt would bounce between walls, frying the kobolds on the way out, the way back, then your party until it bounces off the wall behind you and hits you again. The kobolds took up formations with twin shield users in front to provide cover for the crossbow sharpshooters behind them. The kobolds would engage the party at range, fire off a volley and flee. Pursuit would lead the party into some horrible trap with absolute certainty, which the kobolds themselves would avoid by taking small hidden side passages that are sized for small creatures. Fleeing the kobolds had a high (but not complete) chance of bringing the party into a room doused with oil, where portcullis slam shut over the doors and burning debris fall from the ceiling. Basically, use the most viscous and devious part of your brain to think up the most effective traps to kill intruders. Use your head and mastery of the rules to justify giving the kobolds every chance to whittle down the player's resources while exposing themselves to the least risk of harm.

@@GuardianTactician That sounds like a Monster Hunter video game except it's the players that are the Big Monsters.

@@aralornwolf3140 Tucker's Kobolds, Dragon Magazine issue 127 by Roger E. Moore - November 1987 We get letters on occasion asking for advice on creating high-level AD&D® game adventures, and Tucker’s kobolds seem to fit the bill. Many high-level characters have little to do because they’re not challenged. They yawn at tarrasques and must be forcibly kept awake when a lich appears. The DMs involved don’t know what to do, so they stop dealing with the problem and the characters go into Character Limbo. Getting to high level is hard, but doing anything once you get there is worse. One of the key problems in adventure design lies in creating opponents who can challenge powerful characters. Singular monsters like tarrasques and liches are easy to gang up on; the party can concentrate its firepower on the target until the target falls down dead and wiggles its little feet in the air. Designing monsters more powerful than a tarrasque is self-defeating; if the group kills your super-monster, what will you do next - send in its mother? That didn’t work on Beowulf, and it probably won’t work here. Worse yet, singular supermonsters rarely have to think. They just use their trusty, predictable claw/claw/bite. This shouldn’t be the measure of a campaign. These games fall apart because there’s no challenge to them, no mental stimulation - no danger. In all the games that I’ve seen, the worst, most horrible, most awful beyond- comparison opponents ever seen were often weaker than the characters that fought them. They were simply well-armed and intelligent beings who were played by the DM to be utterly ruthless and clever. Tucker’s kobolds were like that. Tucker ran an incredibly dangerous dungeon in the days I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C. This dungeon had corridors that changed all of your donkeys into huge flaming demons or dropped the whole party into acid baths, but the demons were wienies compared to the kobolds on Level One. These kobolds were just regular kobolds, with 1-4 hp and all that, but they were mean. When I say they were mean, I mean they were bad, Jim. They graduated magna cum laude from the Sauron Institute for the Criminally Vicious. When I joined the gaming group, some of the PCs had already met Tucker’s kobolds, and they were not eager to repeat the experience. The party leader went over the penciled map of the dungeon and tried to find ways to avoid the little critters, but it was not possible. The group resigned itself to making a run for it through Level One to get to the elevators, where we could go down to Level Ten and fight ‘okay’ monsters like huge flaming demons. It didn’t work. The kobolds caught us about 60’ into the dungeon and locked the door behind us and barred it. Then they set the corridor on fire, while we were still in it. ‘NOOOOOO!!!’ screamed the party leader. ‘It’s THEM! Run!!!’ Thus encouraged, our party scrambled down a side passage, only to be ambushed by more kobolds firing with light crossbows through murder holes in the walls and ceilings. Kobolds with metal armor and shields flung Molotov cocktails at us from the other sides of huge piles of flaming debris, which other kobolds pushed ahead of their formation using long metal poles like broomsticks. There was no mistake about it. These kobolds were bad. We turned to our group leader for advice. ‘AAAAAAGH!!!’ he cried, hands clasped over his face to shut out the tactical situation. We abandoned most of our carried items and donkeys to speed our flight toward the elevators, but we were cut off by kobold snipers who could split-move and fire, ducking back behind stones and corners after launching steel-tipped bolts and arrows, javelins, hand axes, and more flaming oil bottles. We ran into an unexplored section of Level One, taking damage all the time. It was then we discovered that these kobolds had honeycombed the first level with small tunnels to speed their movements. Kobold commandos were everywhere. All of our hirelings died. Most of our henchmen followed. We were next. I recall we had a 12th-level magic user with us, and we asked him to throw a spell or something. ‘Blast ‘em!’ we yelled as we ran. ‘Fireball ‘em! Get those little @#+$%*&!!’ ‘What, in these narrow corridors?’ he yelled back. ‘You want I should burn us all up instead of them?’ Our panicked flight suddenly took us to a dead-end corridor, where a giant air shaft dropped straight down into unspeakable darkness, far past Level Ten. Here we hastily pounded spikes into the floors and walls, flung ropes over the ledge, and climbed straight down into that unspeakable darkness, because anything we met down there was sure to be better than those kobolds. We escaped, met some huge flaming demons on Level Ten, and even managed to kill one after about an hour of combat and the lives of half the group. We felt pretty good - but the group leader could not be cheered up. ‘We still have to go out the way we came in,’ he said as he gloomily prepared to divide up the treasure. Tucker’s kobolds were the worst things we could imagine. They ate all our donkeys and took our treasure and did everything they could to make us miserable, but they had style and brains and tenacity and courage. We respected them and loved them, sort of, because they were never boring. If kobolds could do this to a group of PCs from 6th to 12th level, picture what a few orcs and some low-level NPCs could do to a 12th-16th level group, or a gang of mid-level NPCs and monsters to groups of up to 20th level. Then give it a try. Sometimes, it’s the little things - used well - that count.

Lol man it’s been a looong time since I heard today that legendary tome

@@chadsmith8966 Yes, the sister tome to the Book of Vile Darkness.

Actually, the one to worry about is the one who has also read up on the Hero Vows as well. Conversely, a Villain would have to worry about a Hero who not only read the Hero Vows, but the Evil Overlord list too. Villain: I know every move you make. Hero: (Pulls out a gun and shoots.) Villain: Shield. (Bullet bounces off.) I knew you'd interrupt me by trying to shoot me before my monologue was over. Hero: That was just a distraction. How many folks do you see before you? Villain: Uh oh! Where's the rogue? (Turns around.) Hero: (Shoots again. Critical Hit!) I'm the Rogue. Villain: (Groaning in pain.) I thought that you were the Paladin! Hero: I multi-classed.

Hah. Hahahahha This is hilariously accurate.

At Level 13 the players are famous, the NPC's should be going on quests to find the power take them on. They should get more back up, military strategy. The Players tactics are famous too. As are their friends. The Joker wasn't the best villain because he was high level.

This was funnier when you said LVL 3. .-.

@@diversezebra6754 Ok, that is kinda funny.

There is definitely some quality advice in this video... But there's some real garbage too. You shouldn't negate your player's choices. If someone chooses a Paladin and that gives everyone better saves, _they deserve to save more often._ If the caster chooses fireball (especially spontaneous casters that only get a few spells known) then you had better not reduce the number of hordes. If the crossbow fighter is tripping flying enemies, don't artificially give Hover to fliers.

I put an anti-magic field in the area where the dungeon boss is. This keeps that pesky Arcane eye in check.

The big villains like a Lich or even some evil king would probably protect their most important places (office, treasury etc) against invisible creatures. They could use snakes who find their prey through body warmth or blind guards that only go after sound, you could even have vampires that smell blood and will kill anyone who doesn’t know a certain code gesture etc

@@quastor749 you right but it was a campaign module i felt that if i modified to challenge my players it was like cheating ç_ç

@@spoonyluv19 I imagine you mean a anti-magic barrier? Because a boss fight with no magic sounds really... Specific

@@Xelemich I wouldn’t worry about it just check in with your players whether they have fun or not and adjust accordingly. In the end as Long as everyone has fun you can change the module as much as you want, it’s up to you and you have to have fun too (you could also ask your player to not use it every time). So I guess do your thing and have fuuuuuuun 🤗

That's funny. I just pulled it out the other day from the attic. It's so....old.

Not only at higher levels... There are CR 3 Monster who can wipe a level 5 party with ease... CR is a joke^^

I’ve heard it’s broken at beginner levels.

I’ve heard it’s broken at 20 years ago.

It never hit my players either leaving the body of a hag or necromancer whole is a recipe to revival

Laughs maniacally in Lich.

Critical Role does that wonderfully with Briarwoods.

It's Elementary Alchemy: Take CR & combine it with LEVEL then you get: _Every child gets a precipitation trophy_ OMG, it sells so many books for WoTC.

THIS. It allows to bring forward at least two very powerful motives that can be well played off. One, there is the power fantasy - "look how far have you come". An encounter that would be CRAZY hard and deadly (a whole TRIBE of goblins, whoa, that's a lot) gets swept down nearly instantly. Two, there's the force of habit and the power morality, all back to the famous Spider-man quote about power and responsibility. "Look what have you become through all the life of hardships.". That tribe of goblins was NOT a lethal threat to them. Was it really necessary to eradicate them all on spot? On this power level, it hardly passes as self-defence and self-preservation thing. Could you spare them? Could you solve the situation without eradicating a whole tribe? And would it make sense on all the levels, from the character ones to the geopolitical ones? When is ruthlessness needed, when is it valuable and when is it superfluous?

Ineed some advice. I played years ag alot. I want to dm again small groups 3 to 4. Im still green on combat and spells and rules. I cant play alot with groups but groups want me to dm. Im creative and love the game. Should i attempt to dm ? How l9ng should i read before i start ? Should i play in groups to get basics? Shouldi use modules? I have created a campaign already 1 to 20th level with maps.. spending 40hrs on it. Need ur advice? Im soaking up alot online, Most of my group will be new players too

Btw i played 5 yrs 2.0 3,5.. i read most rules 9n 5e and pathfinder. But my cimbat rules are weak.. Like basics movement spells and all character abilities.

DM's lair and Web DM for the win. Taking 20, XP to Lv 3 also

@@danielpayne1597 *Yes I'm aware of Taking 20 & XP to level 3 .* *An they are both good .* *But not in the same way and/or level as the ones i listed .* *XP to level 3 is more D&D entertainment .* *An taking 20 is more basic to mid level information + VTT gaming info .* *Note : just with D&D RU-vidrs , I'm subscribed to close to a 100 of them .* *An have watched 1,000s of videos .* *There are easily over a half dozen basic types of D&D channel .*

I knew he was the Rogue, but I didn't know he was the Rouge. My screen isn't big enough to see it I guess.

True but if isent ra after ut group the barbarian would be running loke a baby. Most level14s today are like level 28 when i played in 80s. But try to take ra on .... ac is 27... approx ..hps 700. No magic hurts him. He has powerful slaves.. he has powerful friends. Hecowns magical artifacts a boat that flies. His spellss level 9.. his rod and rays do 2 to 400 damage.. have ur dm put him on your party.. lololol Level 14s today are way powerful. So give them a tough match.. just idea and point... Level 14 monsters get creamed by levelt 14 groups i find and notice.. Have fun tell ur dm to add more powerful battles at ur characters..

@@joeharvey5556 yeah, but Ra is literally a god. The point is that by the time you're that high level, you're having tea with gods, not trying to kill them.

@@erikkennedy8725 yes but im hearing characters are too powerful..so monsters and the like must be used. I agree its a god but if ppl are walking through arch liches something is wrong. Either to much cheating or gameplay is not correct. I agree with u but u could modify and use a lesser god or ras son. Lol 5 characters at level 30.. 5e 15..could probably have fun. Just ideas .. When we played most cr monsters were anti magic so strong the party would be ripped apart. I feel dms still d9nt run hugh levels properly.. Eldrich blast wish etc are usueless against a dragon who easily could teleport away... comeback ... counterspell etc... Plus some high level monsters are immune to most basic magic. So wizards are out and hitpoints of over 450 would keep a party wailing for 4 hours not to memtion summoning etc etc.. no party should be able to walk through these monsters .. But what do i know i dont tons anymore ... I used to play alot ... I had so many low level dungeons and bad dms i quit...lol This game is fun.. hope u enjoy and make those cheaters powergamer start rolling stats in front of you. No players should have more than 1 18 up to level 12... All other rolls should be average,. There js way to much cheating ... I did a test roll for level 1 3 months ago and after 40 rolls i never had more than 4 characters with an 18... Maybe 17s... Avg roll was 5 9 14 16 12 16.. Hope u have fun. If ur dm is bad get another group Talk soon thanks for advice.

@@erikkennedy8725 if ur group is that powerful at level 14 then 5e is massviely flawed.. or there is alot of improper playing..

4 level 15s should be absolutely destroyed by a beholder. So thats why i commented. Cause these monsters are powerful.. so mechanics somewhere are flawed.. i will look into 8t to see why its so easy for parties. I will be honest.. matt mercer when he played critical role vecna made massive errors. Most of the spells they cast that series the liche would ha e laughed at. Maybe im wrong i will co ti ue to study. Maybe we need to talk to wozards for 6e to make new rules to keep it fun simple but hard. Talk soon

Yeah. It's like the bad guys are immoral or something. They treat their weaker troops like expendable meat shields. It's like they're gosh darn evil.

This. As part of my prepping, I usually run mock battles myself (using the PCs) to see how it might go and adjust as needed.

I do that too but my most recent session I had a medium encounter prepared and my players tore through them by vortex warping the sharks onto shore where they suffocated.

Correct. Most bards get more than enough physical intimacy. Ask the dragon that failed its save versus seduction.

I agree. Changing doors in half of the dungeon not explored yet is totally fine, as it is in no way cheating. The DM literally controls the entire multiverse (even in some lore, with Ao, the God of gods reporting to a figure of light or something like that) and they can do whatever they need or want to keep it fun for their players. However, a DM shouldn't change something already determined, such as putting a door where there wasnt one, trapping that arcane eye or invisible imp unfairly in two or three rooms.

Remove death saves from your game and return to 2nd ed. -10 and yer dead. And if you get healed you're at 1 hp and you lose all spells and are as weak as a kitten. Fixes the whack a mole problem death saves cause.

Another similar solution I’ve seen is to give anyone who goes down a point of exhaustion.