Leonine Roar

What makes the tiny encounter unique?  It’s not about the numbers or even tactics, so much as the strategy or potential outcomes.

The tiny encounter is a rarity in 4e.  With this edition of D&D designed with large set piece combat encounters in mind, the very small but outcome-rich encounters usually go by the wayside.

It doesn’t have to be that way in your 4e game.  Here are some things to look for, whether as a player or DM, when interacting with tiny encounters, including a gong and a certain tower the party is trying to break into to help illustrate the concepts.

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Remember how in 3.x and 2e or even Basic D&D, after a few years or sometimes much less, winging it as a DM became pretty easy? 

Or how, as a player, you knew the combat rules forwards and backwards?  Even some of the more complicated spells and magic items you knew by heart.

Whether you have or haven’t played or DM’ed other editions, let me tell you the why of it, and how it compares to 4e.

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Countless first adventures of D&D over the years and throughout the editions have shared the common trait of fighting the same sorts of savage humanoid monsters: typically kobolds, goblins, or orcs. 

Even the 4e DMG loyally continues this tradition with the mini-adventure Kobold Hall, which despite a familiar foe, serves its purpose as a good introduction to the D&D 4e game.

However, to do something different to wake up your regular gaming group or to simply stay away from the cliche low-level monsters – but save a lot of time and not create a whole new adventure from scratch – try re-skinning starter adventures like Kobold Hall, the DM’s Kit’s Reavers of Harkenwold, or any of the low level ones in Dungeon Delve. 

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With all of us right in the thick of summer, it’s likely one or more of your games is going to be missing a player or two thanks to a variety of summer vacations, parties and similar “get out of the house / get away” plans, celebrations and events.  As such, it’s a great time to revisit the the idea of simple companion characters (SCC’s) first seen in Companion Characters: Gather Your Allies! 

After all, you’re going to want (or almost need, assuming your leader’s player is away) someone to pinch play for the team so the heroes can continue their adventures with something close to full strength.  Companion characters or NPC party allies fill that important role nicely when needed to flesh out a party, whether you use DMG2‘s two styles or my bare-bones simple version.

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I love D&D podcasts – especially ones that discuss game design and game balance, and especially ones that include actual D&D writers and game designers and their takes and tips on various game aspects.  You often get something more energetic and “alive” out of the podcast format that goes above and beyond a written article.

Hearing an engaged conversation about the design and balance of game elements in D&D is a great source of inspiration for your own D&D game ideas and improvements.  In short, these lively dialogues make you a better DM and player.  As such, I’m a big fan of the Critical Hits podcasts.  This week, Mike Shea of Sly Flourish interviewed D&D designer Chris Sims. 

Here are a few of my big takeaways from this week’s Critical Hits podcast, related to creature (PC and monster) motivations and the encounter environment.  Do yourself a huge favor and find a way to fit in an occasional listening session into your day once in a while. 

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What should you save your gold for in the magic item rarity era of 4e? 

What  are the best things to spend all that unearthed, hard-earned currency and monetary wealth on?  Who and what will pry those coins, gems, jewelry and art objects from your pockets?

Similar to a more practical categorization of rituals, there’s also several areas where you could wisely invest your gold in 4e.  And by wise investment, I mean anything from increasing your personal power to amplifying your influence in the campaign setting’s world and every kind of brilliant purchase or entertaining expense in between. 

The list includes everything from combat power to roleplay and storytelling.  Use these lists below for inspiration when your or your playgroup’s coffers get too full or they’re itching to spend their shiny gold on something new and exciting – or just plain helpful. 

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You regain hit points as if you had spent a healing surge.

When it comes to healing, are there any sweeter-sounding words in the game?  Everyone likes being able to heal, especially in 4e, where we’re all pretty decent at recovery now.  That said, the holy grail of healing in 4e is surge-free healing. 

While there are a smattering of spells, prayers and other powers and abilities that invoke such precious and rare healing, there’s also a handful of mighty surge cost-free magic items that adventurers would be both proud and lucky to own – especially when they need it most.

Get these – or the ‘surge cost-free healing’ descriptor or tag – on your quick wish lists today.  Remember, there’s never enough backup options, especially backup healing!

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