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Tactics for Engaging and Dynamic Combat Encounters
Combat in 5e can get boring pretty fast. Starting 30 feet away and never moving after the first round or two gets stale. However, there are some easy steps you can take when building an encounter to breathe some life into them. The best part is you won’t have to add or remove any rules or mechanics to the game. Here is a list of tactics you can use to create more engaging and memorable combat encounters.
Number of Enemies. Add more or fewer enemies in the encounter depending on your party’s resources and intended difficulty. In general, some creatures equal to your PCs will be easier, and a number that is double or more will be closer to deadly.
Number of Attacks. This is a big part of the action economy. The side that has more attack actions will usually overpower the other. One way around this is to have a creature multi-attack if the first one misses. You can also not multi-attack if the first one misses.
Amount of HP. I use the average or max HP depending on the creature. Minions and lieutenants will have the average HP and bosses will have max HP. You can increase or decrease the HP to change the difficulty of the fight.
Elevation. Height can help or hinder the PCs depending on the situation. Include sections with varying heights and ways to get there (or not!). Allow the PCs to have the higher ground over the enemies sometimes and vice versa.
Distance. Not all creatures have both melee and ranged attacks. Start encounters further away to give time for the combatants to maneuver and position. If you have a PC with a feat or ability for extra distance give them a chance to use it!
Difficult Terrain. Limit movement and cause some damage to any creature in battle. Changing conditions of the terrain create hazards for both sides. Allow the PCs that can ignore difficult terrain to shine on the battlefield.
Multiple Waves of Enemies. This is a great way to put your PCs on their back foot and use resources. Have more enemies arrive at the top of a round or shortly after combat so they can’t rest. Alternatively, You can give the PCs a round or two in between waves to heal and prepare.
Multiple Types of Enemies. Use no more than 3 types or it gets hard to manage. Not all combat encounters have to be groups of the same creature. Different creatures with different tactics create multiple options of approach for the PCs.
Multiple Fronts of Enemies. Oh no, the squishy wizard is in melee!? Enemies arriving from behind create a unique challenge for those used to staying in the back. Get the PCs to change their tactics by attacking from multiple fronts at once.
Use Communication. Have the bad guys communicate with each other in short messages on their turn. Have enemies talk with the characters and if needed you can add charisma-based skill checks. Provide context and depth to the enemies with a little bit of backstory.
Alternate Win Conditions. Killing everything is not always possible. Other options include: making peace, protecting someone/something, retrieving an object, surviving a gauntlet, sneaking in, or stopping a ritual.
Changing Win Conditions. Have the objective change mid-combat. Use a twist to complicate the story and change the win condition in the middle of the encounter. Examples: a group of rival NPCs arrive, a timer starts/stops, the PCs discover their info is wrong, the PCs actions help the villain, or a prophecy is fulfilled.
Start with Roleplay and Exploration. Pull back and start as an exploration and roleplay encounter. While they are exploring you can describe the action, introduce new NPCs, let them interact with the environment, and don’t forget to reward their creativity. If they avoid an encounter or make it harder on themselves, it’s ok because they made the story together.
Create Choices. Allow the PCs to make choices that can change the balance of the encounter in either direction. The choices they make before or during combat can alter the terrain or change the win conditions, for better or worse. Give the PCs the chance to affect the encounter before the initiative is even rolled.
Be sure to think about the action economy when planning combat encounters. The action economy is how many attack actions each side of combat has. Not always, but usually, the side with more actions is going to win. As one side loses actions from creatures going to 0 HP it’s even easier for the larger side to succeed. This is why one monster battles go so favorably for the PCs. Multiattack and legendary actions don’t mean anything against six level 11 characters with haste, flurry of blows, and action surge. The number of enemies and how many attacks they have is important and it’s something you can change before combat even starts. Include elements that the PCs can interact with like potions, traps, and decorations. If you want the PCs to do it, have an enemy or NPC show them the way.
Keep in mind you don’t have to do all of this for every combat. Vary them by using different techniques from this list. Alternate between small theater of the mind encounters and big set-piece battles. I hope all of these tips help you create more engaging and creative combat encounters for your players.
Good luck with your next session, I believe in you. See you in the future!
Related Posts
- Balancing Exploration, Roleplay, and Combat in Your D&D Campaign
- Three Secret Questions for Combat Encounter Locations
- The Dungeon Master’s Handbook: Adding Roleplay to Combat Encounters
My Favorite Posts
- d100 Magical Trinkets and Relics
- My #1 Tip For New Dungeon Masters
- Three Secret Questions for Combat Encounter Locations
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
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Level Up Your Games with Czepeku Maps
For years, Czepeku (pronounced: ‘Chey-peck-oo’) has been making awesome maps to use for your online D&D and TTRPG games. Recently, they have stepped up their game and are offering maps, scenes, and tokens for both fantasy and sci-fi themes. Stop by their Patreon for individual packs of beautifully crafted maps, scenes and tokens. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve been using.
tl;dr – For the best price, Czepeku’s Complete Fantasy Bundle gives you access to three subscriptions for the price of two. Get Maps, Scenes and Tokens all for one great price. https://go.czepeku.com/craig_inspiration
Scenes
Using a visual scene is one of my favorite ways to set the mood for a session or an adventure. My favorite ones to use so far are the animated scenes ‘Lair of the Elder Brain’ and ‘Flooded Fey Ruins’. Being able to pick between some variations in time of day, weather, and themes is really helpful. Although I do think the best part about the scenes is that each one is paired with an existing battlemap so you can transition easily from a social encounter into a tactical combat.
Maps
For many players and dungeon masters, maps are a crucial part of combat exploration. One thing I love about Czepeku maps is the amount of details and features packed into each one. It’s stuff like that that really makes a world, and a map, feel real and lived in. You’ll see random animals, graffiti, blood, and on the animated maps you’ll have flickering flames or rushing waters. Take this silly goblin bridge for example. This is telling me to have some goblinoids attack the PCs from both sides of the bridge. The blood is difficult terrain and may even cause someone to slip and fall. Sounds like a fun encounter to me!
Tokens
Time wasted with the token builder is not wasted. I have customized so many cool tokens using all the various assets they have available. You can choose various hairstyles and skin tones as well as accessories and token borders. It has been really helpful to personalize tokens for my D&D players when we play online. It’s the little things that can help players connect with their characters and foster immersion. I love using the goblin granny as a quest giver for one shots and silly adventures. However, Lemon the Duck should be used in everyone’s campaign no matter what TTRPG they are playing. For some reason she always has a blood feud with someone in the party.
If you are interested in any maps, scenes, or tokens the best place is czepeku.com/store. You can now subscribe to Czepeku Maps and Scenes on their website. However, Czepeku’s Complete Fantasy Bundle gives you access to three subscriptions for the price of two! Available at https://go.czepeku.com/craig_inspiration.
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3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
The Bloodied condition is a holdover from D&D 4th Edition, where when a monster reaches half HP, it has an ability it can use. The following are three of my favorite abilities you can give to almost any monster.
Berserk: as a reaction, the creature automatically attacks the nearest hostile creature to it.
This is great when those martial PCs are in melee and you want to keep them on their toes and moving around.Frenzy: the creature has advantage on attack rolls against hostile creatures missing HP.
This is great later in a combat encounter when the PCs have been hit and are missing some health.Recharge: as a reaction, the creature automatically recharges and uses an ability.
Imagine an ankheg or a dragon getting a second breath weapon in the same round. The players will freak out every time!Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.
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Simple Monster Stats by CR
A handy chart with dnd 5e monster stats organized by CR. Includes Skills, AC, HP, to hit Bonus, # of Attacks, and the 6 ability score bonuses.
This table is intended to be used a base stat block to build upon. Add your own special abilities or use something like the Forge of Foes to help you build your own. Inspired by the Guide to Shadowdark Monster Statistics by Matt Dietrich and Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating by Sly Flourish et al.You can also get this and more d&d resources in my ko-fi shop for no extra charge.
Ko-Fi Shop
DriveThru RPGLet me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck on your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
Support the Blog
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3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
These three tips are meant to help add some weight to death saving throws during a D&D session. When a PC is at 0 HP and making death saves it can feel like their turn was a loss because they just roll a die and move on. The first two tips are meant to make them more fun and the last one will make it easier for everyone.
Every Death Saving Throw Comes With A Memory
Have the player give a memory from when they were younger or with other party members. You can have the player give a memory and then roll afterward. Or have them roll first, with a success being a good memory, and a failure a bad memory. By giving the players time to think and providing a memory they are having more of a full turn rather than just rolling the dice and moving on.
Ask the Player If They Want To Roll In Secret
The player can roll behind the DM screen or hidden from the other players so only the 0 HP player and DM know the result. This way the other PCs have more choices because they don’t know if their friend is doing ok. I’ve seen a whole party’s tactics change because they didn’t know if their friend is going to make it.
Use an Action to Help a Downed Character
This is from Baldur’s Gate 3 and is great for one-shots and new players. Allow a character to use a help action to bring a downed character to 0 HP and stable or 1 HP. If your players are death averse, this is a great way to have stakes while keeping the character alive. You could even have an NPC risk their life to save a downed PC to add some drama and suspense to a scene.
Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck on your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
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Where To Find Me
Hi, my name is Craig and it’s my mission to help myself and 10,000 game masters level up their skills and abilities.
Care to join me?
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youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@craigofinspirationThe first 100 supporters on my Ko-fi page will receive a free custom D&D 5e stat block commission!
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d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs
I like to start my sessions with a fun ‘get-to-know-you’ question for the player characters. These questions serve two goals. The first is just getting the players to start thinking like their characters. The second is to build some character details that you can use later in the campaign, or even later in that session. Using these small details throughout the campaign will strengthen the connection the players have with their characters, and with the story. For example, when my group of PCs made it back home from their longest journey so far I described the sunset using their favorite colors that they told me about a few sessions previously. One time I had a PC’s family send him a batch of his favorite cookies that his parents made growing up, and I knew what they were because I asked. Seriously, just ask your players questions about their characters once a session and you will gain plenty of useful information to use
against themin the future.If you want this table as a random generator check out my perchance page: https://perchance.org/craigofinspiration
Grab a pdf of 300 Character Questions
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DriveThru RPG100 Questions to Start a TTRPG Session
- Are you a dog person or a cat person and why?
- Are you allergic to any foods?
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- Are you a picky eater or do you like to try new foods?
- Did you have a childhood pet?
- Do you have an insignificant memory that has stayed with you all these years?
- Do you want to settle down with a spouse and kids?
- Do you have any noticeable scars? If so, what are their stories?
- Do you have any unusual talents?
- Do you have a guilty pleasure?
- Do you have any nicknames or street names?
- Do you have any scars, tattoos, or birthmarks?
- Do you prefer camping outside of town, or staying at the inn?
- Do you have any unusual or nervous mannerisms, such as when talking, thinking, being afraid, under stress, or when embarrassed?
- Do you have a good luck charm?
- Do you have a favorite set of pajamas?
- Do you keep any houseplants?
- Do you cook meals or eat out?
- Do you keep a journal?
- Do you know how to swim?
- Do you have any phobias?
- Do you prefer hunting or fishing?
- Do you enjoy surprises?
- Have you ever broken the law and didn’t get caught, if so how?
- Have you ever been in love?
- Have you ever tended a garden?
- Have you kept any toys from childhood?
- Have you ever been fired or quit a job?
- Have you ever gone to a psychic?
- Have you ever let someone down?
- How do you like to spend your free time?
- How did you decorate your childhood bedroom?
- How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
- If you could go back and change one decision you made in the past, what would you change?
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- If you could retire with a big pile of gold, what would they do?
- If you could open a restaurant, what would it be like?
- If you were involved with a circus, what would they be doing?
- What is the best compliment that you’ve ever received?
- What is your favorite candy?
- What is your favorite color?
- What is your favorite holiday or celebration?
- What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
- What’s the worst play/street performance you ever saw?
- What was your first job?
- When was the last time you were in a place of worship?
- Who is the most important person in your life and why?
- What’s one place you’ve visited that you never want to return to?
- What’s one thing you’re determined to do before you die?
- Would you rather be hot or cold?
- What is your most favorite pair of shoes you’ve ever had?
- What was your greatest talent when you were younger?
- What was your dream job when you were younger?
- Would you change anything about your appearance?
- What was your favorite family tradition as a child?
- Who do you look up to?
- What temperature are you most comfortable at?
- Who was your best friend while growing up?
- What do you do better than anyone else?
- What’s one thing you would change about the person you love most in the world?
- Who do you wish was here with you now? How would they make things better?
- What did you dream about last night?
- What’s something you quit, that you now regret giving up on?
- What was the best party you ever went to?
- What do you do if you can’t sleep?
- What does your morning routine look like?
- What is your favorite dad joke?
- What’s the worst food you’ve ever had?
- Would your friends describe you as organized?
- What is your favorite season?
- What is your spirit animal?
- What is the biggest mistake your character has ever made?
- What is your theme song?
- Who would you trust the most with a secret?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
- What is your most annoying habit?
- What is the one task you would absolutely refuse to do?
- What annoys you the most?
- What is your favorite art form?
- Would you rather be deaf or blind?
- Who trained you in your skilled areas?
- What do you do with your gear when sleeping?
- What is your favorite piece of furniture?
- When was the last time you went on vacation?
- What’s the best haircut you ever received?
- What is your favorite physical activity?
- What is the tallest tree you have ever climbed?
- What is your favorite weather?
- What’s the first thing you buy for a new home?
- What do you do when you get bored?
- What do you daydream about?
- What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
- What is the last present you gave somebody?
- What’s on your grocery list?
- What is the biggest lie your character has ever told?
- What one item do you save from a house fire?
- When was the last time you sang to someone?
- Would you rather have a housekeeper or a personal chef?
- What do you do to relax?
Note that this exercise can be used in most if not all tabletop games. Besides Dungeons & Dragons, I could see it being used in games like Pathfinder, Worlds Without Number, Blades in the Dark, Call of Cthulhu, Mörk Borg, Starfinder, Fiasco, Numenera, 13th Age, Fantasy Age, Old School Essentials, Shadow of the Demon Lord, or even Level Up Advanced 5e.
Are there any questions you think should be added to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
Good luck with your next session, I believe in you. See you in the future!
Related Posts
- Three-Point Planning, or How to Session Prep Like a Zelda Game
- The Best Supplement For Your Session Zero (for any game system)
- 10 Questions To Ask During A Session for PC Worldbuilding
My Favorite Posts
- d100 Magical Trinkets and Relics
- My #1 Tip For New Dungeon Masters
- Three Secret Questions for Combat Encounter Locations
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
Support the Blog
- Free dungeon master resources in my kofi shop https://ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration/shop
- Support the page when you make a purchase at Dice Envy https://bit.ly/3Rmr4tT
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Goblin on the Road | Free DnD 5e Adventure
A quick 15 minute 5E compatible scenario intended for experienced DMs to run for brand new players.
Goblin on the Road is designed to be a scenario to show people new to Dungeons & Dragons how it can be played. Very little stats are needed and you can even play without dice! The goal is to provide a quick scenario for someone who has never played the game before to get a feel for how it’s played. Use basic 5th edition rules as a base and remember to keep it fast, fun, and fair.
The PC starts off on the road back home from a nearby village with food and other supplies for the week ahead where they meet a goblin that asks for help.
Download here or head over to my ko-fi page for this and more free d&d resources
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DriveThru RPGPlease let me know what you think of the adventure. As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you. See you in the future.
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
Support the Blog
- Free dungeon master resources in my kofi shop https://ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration/shop
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10 Dungeon Master Tips from June 2024
Here are the top ten Dungeons & Dragons tips I posted on various social media channels in June 2024.
- Use NPCs to show the players what is possible in the world.
- Have a friend who can’t play give you ideas for bad guy plans. Or even just reactions the world or NPCs would have to the party’s actions
- Quick session starter: Someone is cooking nearby and it reminds the PCs of their favorite dish.
- If you find yourself wondering what the players may want, instead of guessing you can ask them.
- If you’re worried about being a new D&D player just know that every player at one point was in your shoes, not knowing any of the rules.
- Have a recap at the beginning of the session. Both sides should participate in discussing what happened in previous sessions. Not what they remember as important and it’s ok to remind them of what’s going on.
- Some things can be handled between sessions. Shopping, quest picking, rumors, can be handled out of game especially with the use of discord and email.
- Let your players feel powerful! Lean into their abilities from time to time.
- Players: have your character ask questions about other PCs and be genuinely interested in them
- Include details that directly involve a characters past, present, or future in each session. Rotate characters each session so all players feel connected to the plot.
As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you! See you in the future.
Related Posts
- Three-Point Planning, or How to Session Prep Like a Zelda Game
- Get to the Good Part, or Starting ‘in media res’
- The Dungeon Master’s Handbook: Adding Roleplay to Combat Encounters
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
Support the Blog
- Support me on Ko-fi! Ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration
- Dice Envy: support the page when you make a purchase at https://bit.ly/3Rmr4tT
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Dungeon of Inspiration Discord Server
The Dungeon of Inspiration discord server is now up and running.
Join us in the Dungeon of Inspiration where you can talk about all things d&d and TTRPGs. DMs can find players for a group, and players can find a group to play with. DMs and players alike can ask questions and get advice on anything from running the game, home brew, and even resources. Share your coolest memes, art, and home brew.
See you there!
My Favorite Posts
- d100 Magical Trinkets and Relics
- My #1 Tip For New Dungeon Masters
- Three Secret Questions for Combat Encounter Locations
Recent Posts
- Happy International Game Masters Day!
- Top 10 DnD Resources So Good They Should Be Illegal- Experience Points Vol. 7
- How to Make DnD Combat More Fun – Experience Points Vol. 6
- Dungeons & Dragons Takes Center Stage!
- 5 Must-Read Blog Posts for Dungeon Masters – Experience Points Vol. 5
Support the Blog
- Support me on Ko-fi! Ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration
- Dice Envy: support the page when you make a purchase at https://bit.ly/3Rmr4tT
- As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases https://amzn.to/4bg50tj
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