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How do I deal with players who make friends with goblins?
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I want to run a campaign 'from the book' for a group of new players (played RPGs before, but stuff much much lighter then D&D, and I've not DMed this edition before. I DMed D&D 4e once: over prepared in some areas, under prepared in others, so the pacing was horrible and off putting. I didn't run it again (although the players seemed happy to try again).
My concern: by trying to run it 'from the book' I might accidentally railroad them too much, while they need to fight in order to earn the experience needed from that encounter in order to level for other parts of the adventure, or that changing events too far from the module will cause errors in continuity, that will force me to improvise too much for my first game.
How can I avoid the players 'making friends with goblins' or in other words, what is the motivation for various random encounter battles that are supposed to be had to level the players up?
dnd-5e monsters
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
I want to run a campaign 'from the book' for a group of new players (played RPGs before, but stuff much much lighter then D&D, and I've not DMed this edition before. I DMed D&D 4e once: over prepared in some areas, under prepared in others, so the pacing was horrible and off putting. I didn't run it again (although the players seemed happy to try again).
My concern: by trying to run it 'from the book' I might accidentally railroad them too much, while they need to fight in order to earn the experience needed from that encounter in order to level for other parts of the adventure, or that changing events too far from the module will cause errors in continuity, that will force me to improvise too much for my first game.
How can I avoid the players 'making friends with goblins' or in other words, what is the motivation for various random encounter battles that are supposed to be had to level the players up?
dnd-5e monsters
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
14
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
3
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
1
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
2
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
1
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
I want to run a campaign 'from the book' for a group of new players (played RPGs before, but stuff much much lighter then D&D, and I've not DMed this edition before. I DMed D&D 4e once: over prepared in some areas, under prepared in others, so the pacing was horrible and off putting. I didn't run it again (although the players seemed happy to try again).
My concern: by trying to run it 'from the book' I might accidentally railroad them too much, while they need to fight in order to earn the experience needed from that encounter in order to level for other parts of the adventure, or that changing events too far from the module will cause errors in continuity, that will force me to improvise too much for my first game.
How can I avoid the players 'making friends with goblins' or in other words, what is the motivation for various random encounter battles that are supposed to be had to level the players up?
dnd-5e monsters
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
I want to run a campaign 'from the book' for a group of new players (played RPGs before, but stuff much much lighter then D&D, and I've not DMed this edition before. I DMed D&D 4e once: over prepared in some areas, under prepared in others, so the pacing was horrible and off putting. I didn't run it again (although the players seemed happy to try again).
My concern: by trying to run it 'from the book' I might accidentally railroad them too much, while they need to fight in order to earn the experience needed from that encounter in order to level for other parts of the adventure, or that changing events too far from the module will cause errors in continuity, that will force me to improvise too much for my first game.
How can I avoid the players 'making friends with goblins' or in other words, what is the motivation for various random encounter battles that are supposed to be had to level the players up?
dnd-5e monsters
dnd-5e monsters
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
edited 4 mins ago
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
asked 18 hours ago
Ryan The Leach
23229
23229
14
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
3
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
1
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
2
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
1
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 5 more comments
14
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
3
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
1
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
2
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
1
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago
14
14
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
3
3
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
1
1
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
2
2
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
1
1
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 5 more comments
6 Answers
6
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up vote
53
down vote
Give them XP for resolving and surviving the encounter.
Yes, D&D is primarily a combat game. However, that doesn't always mean that all encounters must be handled via combat. In practice, combat is just one of several approaches. (The Three Pillars of Adventure in the game are exploration, social interaction, and combat(Basic Rules, p. 5)).
Player agency is important.
When the goblins show up, the players should choose how they want to handle this new challenge. Examples include any of the following:
Sneaking past the goblins, thereby not being attacked
Sneaking up to the goblins and then defeating them in a surprise attack
Charging the goblins head-on and defeating them in brutal combat
Using social skills to persuade, intimidate, or trick the goblins so that they don't attack
Creating a distraction to make the goblins go in a different direction
Whenever NPCs interact with the player characters in a potentially challenging way, the players should earn an amount of XP if they meet the challenge goals, which often means simply surviving the encounter. The Dungeon Master's Guide says
Each monster has an XP value based on its challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters - typically by killing, routing, or capturing them - they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves.
Even if the challenge is initially presented as a combat, as long as the players survive, they should get the XP for completing the challenge.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
33
down vote
You give your goblins personality
Making friends is not as simple as rolling a good persuasion check, you need to have things in common. In the case of goblins who usually see humans as prey (farmers) and death (adventurers / guards) they have no actual reason to trust the party.
A good persuasion check might get the goblins to stop attacking, or allow the party to pass an area, but the party would have to go to exceptional lengths to actually build trust. And friendship can't start until then.
If the party does go to lengths to build trust then just let them. You have already imbued the goblins with personality so it should be a bit easier figuring out what they want, and you have some new (Strange) quest givers!
Less specific to goblins
Every creature in the world has wants and needs, if you think of the world as a living ecosystem instead of wandering bags of hit points it starts to make more sense.
For example, the party runs into a group of wolves, or bandits. Ask yourself:
Why are they there (are they hunting/stalking something - is that the party?)
Why would they fight?
Under what circumstances would they flee? (Most creatures won't fight to the death)
How would they fight?
This makes each combat different: for example a hunting party might attack from stealth, a group of guards would try to raise an alarm of some kind.
When you have the answers to questions like this you know if making friends is possible, what would be needed in order to do so, and what might happen afterwards.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
What’s wrong with making friends with goblins?
The DMG says (p. 260) that you get XP “[w]hen adventurers defeat one or more monsters-typically by killing, routing or capturing them ...â€Â
That means there are atypical ways of defeating monsters - turning them into friends is one of these.
Naturally, there should be risk, sacrifice and challenge in the social encounter just as there would be in a combat encounter and as DM you are free to adjust the XP award as you see fit. Remember that players respond to incentives: if war-war pays better than jaw-jaw then that’s what you’ll get and vice versa.
Oh, and friendships in D&D always create complications.
A recent session saw us come face to face with a blue dragon. This is in a sandbox campaign so we had no way of knowing if this was a fight we could win. So we humiliated ourselves, flattered and bribed the dragon and lived to fight another day.
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
In a game of DnD I played a week or two ago (just a single-session one-shot) We pretty much talked to most of the characters we were meant to be fighting.
The one fight we started was because upon seeing a sleeping character our rogue thought it'd be a really good idea to try and disarm him before waking him (which naturally led to him assuming we were hostile when he should have been initially neutral).
Our DM was very accommodating of our largely neutral/friendly approach to what was meant to be a combat dungeon and did his best to roleplay and keep the narrative going to match.
He also awarded XP for social interaction similarly to combat, so he opted to reward the playstyle we clearly wanted rather than railroad us out of our comfort-zone.
The goal of the game was to have fun and ease us into playing DnD (most of us were completely new to the game) so in that regard, full success!
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
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Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Monsters are generally there to attack. Though if you give your monsters some personality or motivation then players may attempt dialog and try to resolve the situation without combat. If the monsters simply draw weapons and attack then the PCs are likely to do the same.
If the players still attempt a non-combat solution then that is fine too.
It is always going to be up to you as a DM whether this even has a chance of working. A bunch of blood-crazed cultists intent on sacrificing you to their dark lord may simply not listen to reason, regardless of Persuasion checks (and it's best not to roll dice if you know there is no point).
However, goblins who are simply trying to defend their home...they may be more amenable to resolving the encounter peacefully, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Some foes are just unintelligent monsters of course that will attack regardless. Others will have motivations that a wily player may be able to use to their advantage.
But remember that enemies can be successfully counted as "defeated" regardless of how that happens: whether it is with combat or through social interaction. Either way earns players XP!
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
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up vote
2
down vote
Adding to what has been said, if you want an encounter to be a fight, it is relatively easy to get it there, without railroading it - imagine you are walking late at night through a dark alley in some big city (NYC, LA, etc.), and a gang comes by with the intention to rob you and beat you up.
Imagine yourself trying to make friends with them, and how that might go - and you will have an approach why it won't work for the players in that encounter. You shouldn't use that every single time, sure, but it's a plan to have in the pocket.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
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Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
53
down vote
Give them XP for resolving and surviving the encounter.
Yes, D&D is primarily a combat game. However, that doesn't always mean that all encounters must be handled via combat. In practice, combat is just one of several approaches. (The Three Pillars of Adventure in the game are exploration, social interaction, and combat(Basic Rules, p. 5)).
Player agency is important.
When the goblins show up, the players should choose how they want to handle this new challenge. Examples include any of the following:
Sneaking past the goblins, thereby not being attacked
Sneaking up to the goblins and then defeating them in a surprise attack
Charging the goblins head-on and defeating them in brutal combat
Using social skills to persuade, intimidate, or trick the goblins so that they don't attack
Creating a distraction to make the goblins go in a different direction
Whenever NPCs interact with the player characters in a potentially challenging way, the players should earn an amount of XP if they meet the challenge goals, which often means simply surviving the encounter. The Dungeon Master's Guide says
Each monster has an XP value based on its challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters - typically by killing, routing, or capturing them - they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves.
Even if the challenge is initially presented as a combat, as long as the players survive, they should get the XP for completing the challenge.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
53
down vote
Give them XP for resolving and surviving the encounter.
Yes, D&D is primarily a combat game. However, that doesn't always mean that all encounters must be handled via combat. In practice, combat is just one of several approaches. (The Three Pillars of Adventure in the game are exploration, social interaction, and combat(Basic Rules, p. 5)).
Player agency is important.
When the goblins show up, the players should choose how they want to handle this new challenge. Examples include any of the following:
Sneaking past the goblins, thereby not being attacked
Sneaking up to the goblins and then defeating them in a surprise attack
Charging the goblins head-on and defeating them in brutal combat
Using social skills to persuade, intimidate, or trick the goblins so that they don't attack
Creating a distraction to make the goblins go in a different direction
Whenever NPCs interact with the player characters in a potentially challenging way, the players should earn an amount of XP if they meet the challenge goals, which often means simply surviving the encounter. The Dungeon Master's Guide says
Each monster has an XP value based on its challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters - typically by killing, routing, or capturing them - they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves.
Even if the challenge is initially presented as a combat, as long as the players survive, they should get the XP for completing the challenge.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
53
down vote
up vote
53
down vote
Give them XP for resolving and surviving the encounter.
Yes, D&D is primarily a combat game. However, that doesn't always mean that all encounters must be handled via combat. In practice, combat is just one of several approaches. (The Three Pillars of Adventure in the game are exploration, social interaction, and combat(Basic Rules, p. 5)).
Player agency is important.
When the goblins show up, the players should choose how they want to handle this new challenge. Examples include any of the following:
Sneaking past the goblins, thereby not being attacked
Sneaking up to the goblins and then defeating them in a surprise attack
Charging the goblins head-on and defeating them in brutal combat
Using social skills to persuade, intimidate, or trick the goblins so that they don't attack
Creating a distraction to make the goblins go in a different direction
Whenever NPCs interact with the player characters in a potentially challenging way, the players should earn an amount of XP if they meet the challenge goals, which often means simply surviving the encounter. The Dungeon Master's Guide says
Each monster has an XP value based on its challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters - typically by killing, routing, or capturing them - they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves.
Even if the challenge is initially presented as a combat, as long as the players survive, they should get the XP for completing the challenge.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
Give them XP for resolving and surviving the encounter.
Yes, D&D is primarily a combat game. However, that doesn't always mean that all encounters must be handled via combat. In practice, combat is just one of several approaches. (The Three Pillars of Adventure in the game are exploration, social interaction, and combat(Basic Rules, p. 5)).
Player agency is important.
When the goblins show up, the players should choose how they want to handle this new challenge. Examples include any of the following:
Sneaking past the goblins, thereby not being attacked
Sneaking up to the goblins and then defeating them in a surprise attack
Charging the goblins head-on and defeating them in brutal combat
Using social skills to persuade, intimidate, or trick the goblins so that they don't attack
Creating a distraction to make the goblins go in a different direction
Whenever NPCs interact with the player characters in a potentially challenging way, the players should earn an amount of XP if they meet the challenge goals, which often means simply surviving the encounter. The Dungeon Master's Guide says
Each monster has an XP value based on its challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters - typically by killing, routing, or capturing them - they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves.
Even if the challenge is initially presented as a combat, as long as the players survive, they should get the XP for completing the challenge.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
answered 18 hours ago
Mike Q
8,74431862
8,74431862
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
9
9
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
This is another reason why we have abandoned point-based XP in most of the games I'm in, in favor of basically just DM discretion as to when we've leveled.
– Graham
13 hours ago
6
6
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
I think it's also worth mentioning that the goblins will have their own motivations and make their own decisions. The players may try to make friends with the goblins, but it's by no means certain that they'll succeed. And if they fail, the goblins may be the ones to decide to initiate combat, regardless of what the players had been hoping for.
– Admiral Jota
11 hours ago
1
1
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
@AdmiralJota That may be true if the DM decides it. But I will leave it out, because this answer is meant to account for player motives rather than NPC motives.
– Mike Q
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
33
down vote
You give your goblins personality
Making friends is not as simple as rolling a good persuasion check, you need to have things in common. In the case of goblins who usually see humans as prey (farmers) and death (adventurers / guards) they have no actual reason to trust the party.
A good persuasion check might get the goblins to stop attacking, or allow the party to pass an area, but the party would have to go to exceptional lengths to actually build trust. And friendship can't start until then.
If the party does go to lengths to build trust then just let them. You have already imbued the goblins with personality so it should be a bit easier figuring out what they want, and you have some new (Strange) quest givers!
Less specific to goblins
Every creature in the world has wants and needs, if you think of the world as a living ecosystem instead of wandering bags of hit points it starts to make more sense.
For example, the party runs into a group of wolves, or bandits. Ask yourself:
Why are they there (are they hunting/stalking something - is that the party?)
Why would they fight?
Under what circumstances would they flee? (Most creatures won't fight to the death)
How would they fight?
This makes each combat different: for example a hunting party might attack from stealth, a group of guards would try to raise an alarm of some kind.
When you have the answers to questions like this you know if making friends is possible, what would be needed in order to do so, and what might happen afterwards.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
add a comment |Â
up vote
33
down vote
You give your goblins personality
Making friends is not as simple as rolling a good persuasion check, you need to have things in common. In the case of goblins who usually see humans as prey (farmers) and death (adventurers / guards) they have no actual reason to trust the party.
A good persuasion check might get the goblins to stop attacking, or allow the party to pass an area, but the party would have to go to exceptional lengths to actually build trust. And friendship can't start until then.
If the party does go to lengths to build trust then just let them. You have already imbued the goblins with personality so it should be a bit easier figuring out what they want, and you have some new (Strange) quest givers!
Less specific to goblins
Every creature in the world has wants and needs, if you think of the world as a living ecosystem instead of wandering bags of hit points it starts to make more sense.
For example, the party runs into a group of wolves, or bandits. Ask yourself:
Why are they there (are they hunting/stalking something - is that the party?)
Why would they fight?
Under what circumstances would they flee? (Most creatures won't fight to the death)
How would they fight?
This makes each combat different: for example a hunting party might attack from stealth, a group of guards would try to raise an alarm of some kind.
When you have the answers to questions like this you know if making friends is possible, what would be needed in order to do so, and what might happen afterwards.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
add a comment |Â
up vote
33
down vote
up vote
33
down vote
You give your goblins personality
Making friends is not as simple as rolling a good persuasion check, you need to have things in common. In the case of goblins who usually see humans as prey (farmers) and death (adventurers / guards) they have no actual reason to trust the party.
A good persuasion check might get the goblins to stop attacking, or allow the party to pass an area, but the party would have to go to exceptional lengths to actually build trust. And friendship can't start until then.
If the party does go to lengths to build trust then just let them. You have already imbued the goblins with personality so it should be a bit easier figuring out what they want, and you have some new (Strange) quest givers!
Less specific to goblins
Every creature in the world has wants and needs, if you think of the world as a living ecosystem instead of wandering bags of hit points it starts to make more sense.
For example, the party runs into a group of wolves, or bandits. Ask yourself:
Why are they there (are they hunting/stalking something - is that the party?)
Why would they fight?
Under what circumstances would they flee? (Most creatures won't fight to the death)
How would they fight?
This makes each combat different: for example a hunting party might attack from stealth, a group of guards would try to raise an alarm of some kind.
When you have the answers to questions like this you know if making friends is possible, what would be needed in order to do so, and what might happen afterwards.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
You give your goblins personality
Making friends is not as simple as rolling a good persuasion check, you need to have things in common. In the case of goblins who usually see humans as prey (farmers) and death (adventurers / guards) they have no actual reason to trust the party.
A good persuasion check might get the goblins to stop attacking, or allow the party to pass an area, but the party would have to go to exceptional lengths to actually build trust. And friendship can't start until then.
If the party does go to lengths to build trust then just let them. You have already imbued the goblins with personality so it should be a bit easier figuring out what they want, and you have some new (Strange) quest givers!
Less specific to goblins
Every creature in the world has wants and needs, if you think of the world as a living ecosystem instead of wandering bags of hit points it starts to make more sense.
For example, the party runs into a group of wolves, or bandits. Ask yourself:
Why are they there (are they hunting/stalking something - is that the party?)
Why would they fight?
Under what circumstances would they flee? (Most creatures won't fight to the death)
How would they fight?
This makes each combat different: for example a hunting party might attack from stealth, a group of guards would try to raise an alarm of some kind.
When you have the answers to questions like this you know if making friends is possible, what would be needed in order to do so, and what might happen afterwards.
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
edited 13 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
69.5k16217383
69.5k16217383
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
answered 18 hours ago
SeriousBri
4,66221239
4,66221239
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
What’s wrong with making friends with goblins?
The DMG says (p. 260) that you get XP “[w]hen adventurers defeat one or more monsters-typically by killing, routing or capturing them ...â€Â
That means there are atypical ways of defeating monsters - turning them into friends is one of these.
Naturally, there should be risk, sacrifice and challenge in the social encounter just as there would be in a combat encounter and as DM you are free to adjust the XP award as you see fit. Remember that players respond to incentives: if war-war pays better than jaw-jaw then that’s what you’ll get and vice versa.
Oh, and friendships in D&D always create complications.
A recent session saw us come face to face with a blue dragon. This is in a sandbox campaign so we had no way of knowing if this was a fight we could win. So we humiliated ourselves, flattered and bribed the dragon and lived to fight another day.
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
What’s wrong with making friends with goblins?
The DMG says (p. 260) that you get XP “[w]hen adventurers defeat one or more monsters-typically by killing, routing or capturing them ...â€Â
That means there are atypical ways of defeating monsters - turning them into friends is one of these.
Naturally, there should be risk, sacrifice and challenge in the social encounter just as there would be in a combat encounter and as DM you are free to adjust the XP award as you see fit. Remember that players respond to incentives: if war-war pays better than jaw-jaw then that’s what you’ll get and vice versa.
Oh, and friendships in D&D always create complications.
A recent session saw us come face to face with a blue dragon. This is in a sandbox campaign so we had no way of knowing if this was a fight we could win. So we humiliated ourselves, flattered and bribed the dragon and lived to fight another day.
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
up vote
19
down vote
What’s wrong with making friends with goblins?
The DMG says (p. 260) that you get XP “[w]hen adventurers defeat one or more monsters-typically by killing, routing or capturing them ...â€Â
That means there are atypical ways of defeating monsters - turning them into friends is one of these.
Naturally, there should be risk, sacrifice and challenge in the social encounter just as there would be in a combat encounter and as DM you are free to adjust the XP award as you see fit. Remember that players respond to incentives: if war-war pays better than jaw-jaw then that’s what you’ll get and vice versa.
Oh, and friendships in D&D always create complications.
A recent session saw us come face to face with a blue dragon. This is in a sandbox campaign so we had no way of knowing if this was a fight we could win. So we humiliated ourselves, flattered and bribed the dragon and lived to fight another day.
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
What’s wrong with making friends with goblins?
The DMG says (p. 260) that you get XP “[w]hen adventurers defeat one or more monsters-typically by killing, routing or capturing them ...â€Â
That means there are atypical ways of defeating monsters - turning them into friends is one of these.
Naturally, there should be risk, sacrifice and challenge in the social encounter just as there would be in a combat encounter and as DM you are free to adjust the XP award as you see fit. Remember that players respond to incentives: if war-war pays better than jaw-jaw then that’s what you’ll get and vice versa.
Oh, and friendships in D&D always create complications.
A recent session saw us come face to face with a blue dragon. This is in a sandbox campaign so we had no way of knowing if this was a fight we could win. So we humiliated ourselves, flattered and bribed the dragon and lived to fight another day.
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
edited 15 hours ago
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
answered 18 hours ago
Dale M
96.5k19248440
96.5k19248440
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
3
3
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
A friend was regaling me yesterday with stories about O/AD&D gameplay from yesteryear where it was normal to always try to parley with goblins and such first — they are thinking creatures and nobody wants to get into a fight. I imagine there's a chance you might have similar past experiences, it might be good to describe this kind of thing on your answer as examples of just normal gameplay too.
– doppelspooker♦
16 hours ago
4
4
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
In a non-sandbox campaign I'd still consider flattery and bribery to be useful ways to deal with dragons.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
In a game of DnD I played a week or two ago (just a single-session one-shot) We pretty much talked to most of the characters we were meant to be fighting.
The one fight we started was because upon seeing a sleeping character our rogue thought it'd be a really good idea to try and disarm him before waking him (which naturally led to him assuming we were hostile when he should have been initially neutral).
Our DM was very accommodating of our largely neutral/friendly approach to what was meant to be a combat dungeon and did his best to roleplay and keep the narrative going to match.
He also awarded XP for social interaction similarly to combat, so he opted to reward the playstyle we clearly wanted rather than railroad us out of our comfort-zone.
The goal of the game was to have fun and ease us into playing DnD (most of us were completely new to the game) so in that regard, full success!
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
In a game of DnD I played a week or two ago (just a single-session one-shot) We pretty much talked to most of the characters we were meant to be fighting.
The one fight we started was because upon seeing a sleeping character our rogue thought it'd be a really good idea to try and disarm him before waking him (which naturally led to him assuming we were hostile when he should have been initially neutral).
Our DM was very accommodating of our largely neutral/friendly approach to what was meant to be a combat dungeon and did his best to roleplay and keep the narrative going to match.
He also awarded XP for social interaction similarly to combat, so he opted to reward the playstyle we clearly wanted rather than railroad us out of our comfort-zone.
The goal of the game was to have fun and ease us into playing DnD (most of us were completely new to the game) so in that regard, full success!
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
In a game of DnD I played a week or two ago (just a single-session one-shot) We pretty much talked to most of the characters we were meant to be fighting.
The one fight we started was because upon seeing a sleeping character our rogue thought it'd be a really good idea to try and disarm him before waking him (which naturally led to him assuming we were hostile when he should have been initially neutral).
Our DM was very accommodating of our largely neutral/friendly approach to what was meant to be a combat dungeon and did his best to roleplay and keep the narrative going to match.
He also awarded XP for social interaction similarly to combat, so he opted to reward the playstyle we clearly wanted rather than railroad us out of our comfort-zone.
The goal of the game was to have fun and ease us into playing DnD (most of us were completely new to the game) so in that regard, full success!
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In a game of DnD I played a week or two ago (just a single-session one-shot) We pretty much talked to most of the characters we were meant to be fighting.
The one fight we started was because upon seeing a sleeping character our rogue thought it'd be a really good idea to try and disarm him before waking him (which naturally led to him assuming we were hostile when he should have been initially neutral).
Our DM was very accommodating of our largely neutral/friendly approach to what was meant to be a combat dungeon and did his best to roleplay and keep the narrative going to match.
He also awarded XP for social interaction similarly to combat, so he opted to reward the playstyle we clearly wanted rather than railroad us out of our comfort-zone.
The goal of the game was to have fun and ease us into playing DnD (most of us were completely new to the game) so in that regard, full success!
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
answered 16 hours ago
Rowan
2012
2012
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Rowan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
3
3
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
I'd like to give your DM a +1 as well.
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Monsters are generally there to attack. Though if you give your monsters some personality or motivation then players may attempt dialog and try to resolve the situation without combat. If the monsters simply draw weapons and attack then the PCs are likely to do the same.
If the players still attempt a non-combat solution then that is fine too.
It is always going to be up to you as a DM whether this even has a chance of working. A bunch of blood-crazed cultists intent on sacrificing you to their dark lord may simply not listen to reason, regardless of Persuasion checks (and it's best not to roll dice if you know there is no point).
However, goblins who are simply trying to defend their home...they may be more amenable to resolving the encounter peacefully, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Some foes are just unintelligent monsters of course that will attack regardless. Others will have motivations that a wily player may be able to use to their advantage.
But remember that enemies can be successfully counted as "defeated" regardless of how that happens: whether it is with combat or through social interaction. Either way earns players XP!
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Monsters are generally there to attack. Though if you give your monsters some personality or motivation then players may attempt dialog and try to resolve the situation without combat. If the monsters simply draw weapons and attack then the PCs are likely to do the same.
If the players still attempt a non-combat solution then that is fine too.
It is always going to be up to you as a DM whether this even has a chance of working. A bunch of blood-crazed cultists intent on sacrificing you to their dark lord may simply not listen to reason, regardless of Persuasion checks (and it's best not to roll dice if you know there is no point).
However, goblins who are simply trying to defend their home...they may be more amenable to resolving the encounter peacefully, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Some foes are just unintelligent monsters of course that will attack regardless. Others will have motivations that a wily player may be able to use to their advantage.
But remember that enemies can be successfully counted as "defeated" regardless of how that happens: whether it is with combat or through social interaction. Either way earns players XP!
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Monsters are generally there to attack. Though if you give your monsters some personality or motivation then players may attempt dialog and try to resolve the situation without combat. If the monsters simply draw weapons and attack then the PCs are likely to do the same.
If the players still attempt a non-combat solution then that is fine too.
It is always going to be up to you as a DM whether this even has a chance of working. A bunch of blood-crazed cultists intent on sacrificing you to their dark lord may simply not listen to reason, regardless of Persuasion checks (and it's best not to roll dice if you know there is no point).
However, goblins who are simply trying to defend their home...they may be more amenable to resolving the encounter peacefully, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Some foes are just unintelligent monsters of course that will attack regardless. Others will have motivations that a wily player may be able to use to their advantage.
But remember that enemies can be successfully counted as "defeated" regardless of how that happens: whether it is with combat or through social interaction. Either way earns players XP!
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
Monsters are generally there to attack. Though if you give your monsters some personality or motivation then players may attempt dialog and try to resolve the situation without combat. If the monsters simply draw weapons and attack then the PCs are likely to do the same.
If the players still attempt a non-combat solution then that is fine too.
It is always going to be up to you as a DM whether this even has a chance of working. A bunch of blood-crazed cultists intent on sacrificing you to their dark lord may simply not listen to reason, regardless of Persuasion checks (and it's best not to roll dice if you know there is no point).
However, goblins who are simply trying to defend their home...they may be more amenable to resolving the encounter peacefully, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Some foes are just unintelligent monsters of course that will attack regardless. Others will have motivations that a wily player may be able to use to their advantage.
But remember that enemies can be successfully counted as "defeated" regardless of how that happens: whether it is with combat or through social interaction. Either way earns players XP!
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
answered 18 hours ago
PJRZ
5,9311434
5,9311434
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
4
4
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
I disagree with the first sentence. It seems to me that monsters are generally there as challenges to overcome.
– Codes with Hammer
9 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Adding to what has been said, if you want an encounter to be a fight, it is relatively easy to get it there, without railroading it - imagine you are walking late at night through a dark alley in some big city (NYC, LA, etc.), and a gang comes by with the intention to rob you and beat you up.
Imagine yourself trying to make friends with them, and how that might go - and you will have an approach why it won't work for the players in that encounter. You shouldn't use that every single time, sure, but it's a plan to have in the pocket.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Adding to what has been said, if you want an encounter to be a fight, it is relatively easy to get it there, without railroading it - imagine you are walking late at night through a dark alley in some big city (NYC, LA, etc.), and a gang comes by with the intention to rob you and beat you up.
Imagine yourself trying to make friends with them, and how that might go - and you will have an approach why it won't work for the players in that encounter. You shouldn't use that every single time, sure, but it's a plan to have in the pocket.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Adding to what has been said, if you want an encounter to be a fight, it is relatively easy to get it there, without railroading it - imagine you are walking late at night through a dark alley in some big city (NYC, LA, etc.), and a gang comes by with the intention to rob you and beat you up.
Imagine yourself trying to make friends with them, and how that might go - and you will have an approach why it won't work for the players in that encounter. You shouldn't use that every single time, sure, but it's a plan to have in the pocket.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Adding to what has been said, if you want an encounter to be a fight, it is relatively easy to get it there, without railroading it - imagine you are walking late at night through a dark alley in some big city (NYC, LA, etc.), and a gang comes by with the intention to rob you and beat you up.
Imagine yourself trying to make friends with them, and how that might go - and you will have an approach why it won't work for the players in that encounter. You shouldn't use that every single time, sure, but it's a plan to have in the pocket.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
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Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
answered 12 hours ago
Aganju
12113
12113
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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14
Seeing the broad diversity of answers, I wonder if your question might be helped by narrowing down your specific concern with your players befriending goblins. Is it an XP issue (as Mike Q addresses) or a roleplay/narrative question (SeriousBri)? Are you worried about having to do extensive improvisation if your players turn mob NPCs into persistent allies? Would you prefer to stick "to the book", and are soliciting narrative devices for avoiding persistent (rather than just encounter-limited) goblin friendship? What exactly are you worried about?
– Pink Sweetener
15 hours ago
3
When you say "runs counter to the books" do you mean the published adventure books, or the core rule books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual). Also, when you say "when monsters attack" do you mean "players encounter monsters" or the actual case of "monsters attack" (and you have everyone roll initiative)?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
1
Second question: have you read the first seven pages of the basic rules, or the first ten pages of the PHB?
– KorvinStarmast
13 hours ago
2
Could you clarify the point "what happens if it runs counter to the books"? I was in a game where a barn was full of undead, so rather than very risky combat, we tossed a torch in and closed the door and let the fire do the job. Turns out that an extremely vital plot point was written on paper in the barn. Yes, the barn we just burned to the ground. Is that a type of example which is counter to the books?
– Fering
7 hours ago
1
"Regarding the latter: one player is immediately off-put by ... 1. No dragons when it says dragon in the name" Just an aside; with regard to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, "dragon" is a Waterdhavian term for a gold piece; the title of the adventure refers to the theft of such, so no spoilers.
– rbstickplayer
6 hours ago