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Combat is one of the most electrifying parts of anyDungeons & Dragonssession.
But whats a DM to do when your players are getting bored with the same types of combat encounters?
Hack-and-slashing your way through monsters for XP is great, but sometimes, its best to shake things up.
Don’t worry too much about the rules; just have fun and learn as you go.
Experienced players, comment below with your best tips for newbies!
The best way to do this is to create unconventional combat objectives.
Flying Fortress by Calder Moore
Heres everything you’re gonna wanna know to create unconventional combat objectives in your sessions.
By default,killing or defeating enemies in combat is the standard solutionfor encounters in D&D.
If you could get this idea out of your head, youll be in better shape from the start.
Flying Fortress by Calder Moore
The next thing to consider isalternative goals for your partyto achieve.
Ultimately, the core idea is to find waysto get players to use their other abilitiesthat arent just attacks.
Threading in the main quest your players are journeying on is always helpful, but particularlygreat for combat encounters.
An Adventuring Party by Viko Menezes
Taking this item back and returning it to their homeland is ofemotional significance to the characterand their family.
The partyhas a great affinityfor this character and would risk life and limb for them.
The party refuses to let theirfellow adventurer’s invention wreak havocon the world.
Art by Chris Rallis.
If they fail to stop the ritual,the party’s friends and family risk starvation.
How To Surprise Your Players
The element ofsurprise is always a DMs best friend.
Now, lets add to our sample encounter goal table.
An Exciting Chase by Simon Dominic
Surprise
If the player in question gets intomelee range of the magical item, have themroll a perception check.
If they roll above a certain DC, tell them thatthey recognizethe item hanging off their assailant’s person.
During combat, party membersclose enough to the ritualistic circlecan be asked to makeWisdom saves.
Those who fail may beginto see visions of their homelandswarmed by locusts and plague.
Including restrictions, twists, and stakes liketime limitsorother consequencesisimperative to unconventional combatgoals.
So, all-in-all, when youve tied everything together,your encounter should look like this.
Now, youre readyto create completely unexpected combat objectivesthatll keep even your most seasoned players on their toes.
The theatre of the mind runs at many speeds.
