Source
r/dndnext•
Randomguy6644

DMing: How should I run an encounter with the party at severe disadvantage without it being plain unfun?

Question

Currently running a desert campaign and considering something like an encounter in a sandstorm, limiting visibility and possibly having disadvantage on attacks while pitting them against something with blindsight or tremorsense.

I figured it would be an interesting encounter, but I also feel like it would be really punishing to players and just downright unfun if they're always hitting with disadvantage (have a rogue, who would be near useless) and the enemies having normal or advantage on every attack.

I have run a somewhat similar encounter in a past campaign with the party crawling through a small tunnel, but it was also a very easy encounter (3-4 CR 1 creatures against 4-6 Level 7 characters). It felt pretty unsatisfying from a DMing level since it provided little challenge.

Suggestions on how to run such a fight? Party is 2 Shadow Monks, 2 Warlocks (Undying, Celestial, no EB), Grave Cleric, Swashbuckler, level 6.

Posted Oct 24, 2020, 6:44 PM UTC

29
ThePoIarBaer•

Give them a round or two before the sandstorm gets there. They see the wall of sand racing towards them as creatures erupt from the ground. Make sure to describe the creatures in a way that makes the party know it doesnt use sight to see, for example, no eyes, or milky white eyes. Now theyve got a fight against a real short clock. Have the sandstorm move on initiative 20, and you have a very tense encounter that will give the players a chance to come up with ideas to counteract the sand, or ways to burst down the monsters.

10
MagentaLoveCleric•

Generally, as long as the difficult encounter isn't forced on the party it's fine. Give them the opportunity to learn stuff prior to the fight, potentially avoid the fight or enter in a better way and then if they just go in guns blazing and get screwed it's on them.

2
Coldfyre_Dusty•

Run the encounter several times at varying levels of difficulty. First time the players are up against something weak, but at learning the mechanics of the environment. Second time, slightly harder enemies, but the players are learning tactics on how to deal with the environment. Finally, the last encounter against full strength dangerous enemies with the players knowing what tactics work in the sandstorm and what doesn't.

Dont make it obvious how to work around the sandstorm, but also reward players' creativity if they come up with interesting ways to solve the visibility problem, especially if doing so requires them to use resources like spell slots.

2
escapepodsarefake•

That Rogue will work his ass off to still get that sneak attack. Do it and let them try!

1
maxpot46•

If your party needs to win every time to have fun, they kinda need to grow up. It's only fun if you might lose.

Give 'em the business, and let 'em learn from the battle. It's a perfectly legitimate tactic for that monster. Will they not have fun if they're attacked by flying creatures too? What about creatures with a gaze attack? I mean, most monsters have cool abilities beyond straight hitting and doing damage.

0
Randomguy6644OP•

It's not so much the concern that it might be challenging, but rather that the challenge feels artificial because it would feel like I am going out of my way to nerf them in a fight. Like a wizard PC that always happens to find himself in fights in the middle of anti-magic fields or paladins fighting only enemies that fly, that sorta thing.

3
maxpot46•

It's only tedious if you're really out to screw them and the ability shows up all the time where it doesn't really belong. As long as you're a good-faith DM that is just presenting the multitude of legitimate attacks and abilities in this game, no one will hold it against you.

2
noneOfUrBusinesSorcerer is underpowered•

It's more like that the challenge here can be just plain unfun, rather than the concept of it being challenging.

2
maxpot46•

There's also no harm in teaching a party the value of judgment and occasional retreat. Winning them all just seems so boring.

1