![]() There are plenty of examples of big cat predators springing out, grabbing prey and then dragging it away quickly to a tree or place to safely finish it off. Top priority could be simply getting away with their meal. Well a big thing that you've touched on a little bit, is that a lot of ambush predators won't immediately kill their target because that isn't top priority in every circumstance. What are your thoughts on good ambush predator encounters?ĮDIT: My overall concern here is that I wish to have some degree of simulation-ism, but I don't want every single predator encounter to be: One predator monster gets beat-down by the whole party, because this scenario doesn't feel realistic, seems too easy, and is such a trope in the adventure novel/movie genre, but I also don't want the predators to be mastermind TPK planners. Others, such as Bullettes / Kamadans, Girallons, etc, would follow the crocodile pattern: Just pad around until they feel they have overwhelming force, or lead players into a trap, then strike, and flee if losing. I'm thinking of trying out the Mezro encounter idea where 4 Mantraps have created a "false floor" in a ruined street, and players drop into their mouths. But if there's 4-5 of them, they are so brutal and damaging, then players are utterly screwed. Unless there's 4-5+ numbers of them, they can't flee if overwhelmed, and then can't run and hide or take pot-shots, due to their practical immobility. I find it's really hard to make these encounters anything other than suicidal for the plant creatures. Plant creatures: Mantrap, Assassin Vine, etc. This should lead to a sense that "this was hella scary and we all had 1 chance to help." If overwhelmed, it flees. So, even if players didn't successfully notice it in its hiding mode (just eyes above water), I'd rule that there's a single round between being bitten, and then being swallowed/the creature diving. Still because it deals a lot of damage, you don't want players to feel like they got oneshotted by it. (3) It'd definitely take advantage of cramped spaces and distracting battles. (2) It'd have to have somewhere to hide from ranged attacks. (1) It'd have to have enough space to dive. So, I'd think a Froghemoth would show similar behavior to the crocodile, but it'd have to be even more careful to get a reliable meal. If surrounded by 5 lv 5 players on a flat field, it's toast. A Froghemoth is a big fat single creature. #AMBUSH PREDATORS MOD#Still, if a mage without appropriate spells falls off a bridge/boat, this could be a OHKO if the croc drowns him due to low CON mod (holding breath = 1 round + CON mod right?) Also, a croc's confidence will scale with the number of other crocodiles nearby. They will generally only bite/do their spinny-roll thing/drown a prey, if they really think they can get away with it: If there's already a battle on, or if 1 person falls in the water, far from the boat, etc. #AMBUSH PREDATORS HOW TO#While DMing Tomb of Annhiliation, I've been thinking a lot about how to run encounters with Ambush Predators, and I think I've gotten a better handle on it over time, but I'd love your thoughts.Ĭrocodiles/Giant Crocodiles/Sarcosuchus. ![]()
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