Originally Posted by GM4Him
OK. Beat the Hag's lair. I didn't even stealth it. I did use Potions of Speed, but no Long Rest beforehand. No Magic Missiles either to kill the dupes. Just raw attack strength with a Cleric, Battlemaster, Ranger and Eldritch Knight with two familiars. Used 5e rules, though I will confess it gets pretty hard to determine if I'm hitting from behind or not or from raised terrain. I probably was. Still, I only used potions as Actions and tried to keep to the Hard Core 5e rules, and I could still beat her at Level 3. It can be done.

I will also confess, my first time through, though, failed utterly. It took me 2 tries. smile
I just murdered her in her teahouse without using any consumables or buffs or Larian fun exploits and she never even got a turn. Ok maybe I used "backstab" because it's infused in my spine now to always abuse it, and the 3rd attack they gave Thief. But these "surprise attacks" are way too powerful in a turn based system with just Sneak attack and Action Surge. Bosses should have some defenses against these, especially a hag who is a powerful teleporting spellcaster.

The double surprise round needs to go for sure since initiating combat with an attack is already a surprise round. Just one surprise round or attack and winning initiative on the following round makes for really one sided fights where someone just gets destroyed even if you restrict yourself to 5e raw.

Last edited by 1varangian; 06/04/21 09:23 PM.